Bible Study on Judges
Session 1
1.
Read any introductions to the book of Judges you can find. When is this happening? What
has gone before, and what will follow?
2.
Read Judges 1:1-7. How do you react? How many Israelites are involved?
3.
Read Judges 1:8-10. Compare v8 with v21; what do you think is happening here?
4.
Read Judges 1:11-15. Othniel is the first “Judge” – what does he do?
5.
Read Judges 1:16-21. The beginning of a problem? We read of settlement among the people
already living there. What results would you expect?
6.
Read Judges 1:22-36. Who is in charge – and who is meant to be in charge?
7.
Read Judges 2:1-5. This is the fundamental problem through this book – compromise. Do
you think today’s Christians face any similar difficulties?

Session 2
1
Read Judges 2:6-23. What does this chapter describe? Sometimes there was a good leader,
but why didn’t this stop the problem?
2
Israel didn’t give up religion. Does it matter that they worshipped other gods? Why?
3
We are often told to be tolerant of other lifestyles. How do we do this without being
unfaithful? What are the signs of “bad religion”?
4
Read Judges 3:1-11 (compare Judges 1:11-15). In what ways were the remaining non-
Israelites “a test for Israel” v4? What sort of “tests” do Christians today face?
5
The story of Othniel is repeated with other leaders. Do you think we still experience the
pattern: hardship – repentance – deliverance – forgetting and backsliding?
6
Read Judges 3:12-31. The “Judges” pattern is repeated, with a brave assassination we might
call unethical. Should we be concerned about what is morally right in warfare?
7
We have begun to see the degeneration of a people who forget their God and their unity –
but the answers come in later books of scripture (which?).

Session 3
Deborah and Barak Judges 4 (and 5)
1
Read Judges 4:1-3 What is familiar about what is happening?
2.
Read Judges 4:4-7 What is Deborah doing? What is Barak’s position? (Note: “ten thousand”
may be “ten clans” – far fewer men). This is happening in the North West of Palestine.
3
Read Judges 4:8-12 What sort of men is Barak leading? And Sisera? If Sisera had iron
chariots, what did Barak’s men have?
4
Read Judges 4:14-17 Why do you think Sisera fled on foot, not by chariot? Does this give
you any suggestions to why the victory went to Barak?
5
Read Judges 4:18-24 Who gets the credit for the victory: Barak, Deborah, Jael, or God?
6
Judges 5 is a song – probably much older than the account in chapter 4. Read Judges 5:1-12.
Who is being praised for the victory? What is described in vv6,7?
7
Read Judges 5:13-23 Why are some praised and others blamed? Do vv20,21 agree with
your answer to Q4?
8
Read Judges 5:24-31 Who is contrasted with Sisera’s mother, waiting in vain for his return
with the spoils of victory?
9
This story paints an interesting picture of the role of women – validated by the early song.
Do you think it was popular? How many other Judges were women?

Session 4
Judges 17 and 18.
Remember that we said the book of Judges describes what can go wrong!
Read Judges 17:1-4. How much of the 1100 shekels did the woman take to the silversmith? Where
are we told idols are not allowed – and why?2.
Read Judges 17:4-6. How many of these actions go against what had been commanded?
3.
Read Judges 17:7-13. What was the role given the Levites? What is Micah’s attitude to what
he has done?
4.
Read Judges 18:1-6. It seems that the purpose of Micah’s shrine is to provide answers – as
here. How do you think they recognised the Levite?
5
Read Judges 18:7-13. 600 men suggests a small group; this seems to be part of a move of the
tribe from the south to live in the north of the country.
6
Read Judges 18:14-21. What do you think about this? Would you like to live in this sort of
community?
7
Read Judges 18:22-26. Micah expected good fortune from his actions, what did he get?
8.
Read Judges 18:27-31. Do you know when the “captivity” happened?
This is a sad story of violence and lawlessness. The encouraging part is that God does not desert his
people, in fact the next years will be much better!