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APRIL 19
DAY 18:Why was there a need for the judges?
“Another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had
done” (Judg. 2:10).The first people in the land had vivid recollections of all the miracles and judg-
ments and were devoted to faith,duty,and purity.The new generation were ignorant of the experiences
of their parents and yielded more easily to corruption.To a marked degree the people of this new
generation were not true believers.
The new generation “followed other gods” (v. 12). Idol worship, such as the golden calf in the
wilderness (Ex. 32), flared up again. Spurious gods of Canaan were plentiful. El was the supreme
Canaanite deity, a god of uncontrolled lust and a bloody tyrant, as shown in writings found at Ras
Shamra in northern Syria.His name means “strong,powerful.”Baal,son and successor of El,was “lord
of heaven,”a farm god of rain and storm, his name meaning “lord, possessor.”His cult at Phoenicia
included animal sacrifices,ritual meals,and licentious dances.Chambers catered to sacred prostitution
by men and women (see 1 Kin.14:23,24; 2 Kin.23:7).Anath, sister-wife of Baal, also called Ashtoreth
(Astarte),patroness of sex and war,was called “virgin”and “holy,”but was actually a “sacred prostitute.”
Many other gods besides these also attracted worship.
“The anger of the LORD was hot” against them (v. 14), which was followed by plunderers and
calamities designed as chastisement to lead the people to repentance. During these times,“the
LORD raised up judges” (v. 16). A “judge” or deliverer guided military expeditions against foes and
arbitrated judicial matters (see 4:5).There was no succession or national rule.They were local deliverers,
lifted up to leadership by God when the deplorable condition of Israel in the region around them
prompted God to rescue the people.

up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who
April 19 delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Ca-
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leb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the LORD
came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went
out to war, and the LORD delivered Cushan-
Judges 3:1–4:24
Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his
Now these are the nations which the LORD hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-
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3 left, that He might test Israel by them, that Rishathaim. So the land had rest for forty
is, all who had not known any of the wars in years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
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Canaan (this was only so that the generations 12 And the children of Israel again did evil in
of the children of Israel might be taught to the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strength-
know war, at least those who had not formerly ened Eglon king of Moab against Israel,
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known it), namely, five lords of the Philistines, because they had done evil in the sight of the
all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the LORD. Then he gathered to himself the people
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Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from of Ammon and Amalek, went and defeated Is-
Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. rael, and took possession of the City of Palms.
4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by 14 So the children of Israel served Eglon king of
them, to know whether they would obey the Moab eighteen years.
commandments of the LORD, which He had 15 But when the children of Israel cried out to
commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for
5 Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the
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Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And
they took their daughters to be their wives,
and gave their daughters to their sons; and 3:10 The Spirit of the LORD came. Certain
judges were expressly said to have the Spirit
they served their gods.
7 So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord come upon them (6:34; 11:29;
of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God, 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14); others apparently also
had this experience. This is a common Old
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and served the Baals and Asherahs. There- Testament expression signifying a unique act
fore the anger of the LORD was hot against Is- of God which conferred power and wisdom
rael, and He sold them into the hand of for victory. But this did not guarantee that the
Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and will of God would be done in absolutely all
the children of Israel served Cushan- details, as is apparent in Gideon (8:24–27,30),
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Rishathaim eight years. When the children of Jephthah (11:34–40), and Samson (16:1).
Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised
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