This book illustrates a transition  period (1300-1000 B.C.) between Joshua, the strong national leader who brought the Israelites into the promised land, and the later kings who established a central administration for the tribes.

The story opens with a realistic description of the Jews in their promised land—they have succeeded in conquering the hill country of the interior, but they have not subdued vast areas of land, especially along the coast where people have mastered the use of iron and have become good horsemen.

Since the Israelites have accomplished neither of these two things, they are at a disadvantage in war. One of the prominent coastal people mentioned are the Philistines, a maritime nation known for wealth and a high civilization. It’s strange that today the term “philistine” suggests someone who lacks taste and sophistication when it was just the opposite during the time of the judges–the Jews were the ones who were unsophisticated and backward, according to the culture of the times. Coming on the scene to help the scattered and beleaguered tribes are the judges, more like charismatic tribal warlords than judicial officers.

Compared to Joshua, this book seems less epic with more of a focus on individuals. There is less of a feeling of progress; instead, Judges appears cyclical with periods of great distress followed by brief successes only to be followed by further troubles. Sounds familiar–people get in trouble, they cry out for help, the get out of the jam, and they fall right back into trouble.

One classic part of the book recounts in prose the success of Deborah (chapter 4), and then the next chapter tells the same story but this time in the form of a poem. Read these together to see how poetry differs from prose.