If we talk in detail about the period of the judges in the Old Testament,

The period of the judges in the Old Testament refers to the period that lasted for about 300 years after the Israelites settled in the land of Canaan and before the establishment of a king. This period is mainly recorded in the Book of Judges (Judges), and is the period from the death of Joshua until the appearance of Samuel. This period was characterized as a time when the Israelites lived mainly in tribal units and experienced a repeated cycle of sin and salvation.

Key Features

1. Judge's role :
   • Judges are equivalent to today's judges or military leaders, and are leaders appointed by God when the Israelites were experiencing difficulties due to invasion by external enemies or internal problems.
   • Judges mainly acted as military and political leaders, but sometimes they also served as religious leaders, leading the people to God.
2. Repeating pattern :
   • One of the main characteristics of the period of the judges is the repeated cycle of sin and salvation.
   • The Israelites leave God and commit sins such as idolatry, and as a result, they are invaded and oppressed by external enemies.
   • When you cry out to God in pain, God appoints a judge to save you, and a period of peace follows.
   • However, when the judge dies, he sins again, and the cycle repeats.
3. Major teachers :
   • Othniel : Caleb's nephew and the first judge who saved Israel from the oppression of Cushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia.
   • Ehud : Assassinated Eglon, king of Moab, and saved Israel from Moabite oppression.
   • Deborah : A female judge who defeated the Canaanite army along with Barak.
   • Gideon : A judge who saved Israel from the oppression of Midian, and is famous for the story of defeating Midian with 300 warriors.
   • Jephthah : A judge who won a battle against the Ammonites, and is well known for the story of his vow to sacrifice his daughter as a burnt offering.
   • Samson : A judge active in the fight against the Philistines, famous for his strength and his story with Delilah.
4. Social chaos and moral decay :
   • In the second half of the Book of Judges, Israel's moral corruption and social chaos stand out.
   • Ethnic strife, violence, and idolatry were rampant, which can be summarized in the phrase, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
5. Israel's United Tribal System :
   • The period of the judges was a time when Israel existed as a tribal confederation rather than a centralized kingdom.
   • Each tribe lived independently, and judges temporarily united them to respond to external threats.

conclusion

The period of the judges was a period of confusion and salvation that the Israelites experienced as they settled in the land of Canaan. The judges were leaders established by God and played a role in saving Israel, and the repeated cycle of sin and salvation during this period clearly shows Israel's religious lessons. The period of the judges was a transitional period before Israel established a king, and became an important background for the subsequent dynasties of Saul and David through Samuel.