What Is a Judge in the Bible?
In the Hebrew Bible, we find several descriptions of judges. Most of these are in the Book of Judges. During the period before the Israelite monarchy was established, judges served as military leaders in times of crisis. Some of these characters are Deborah, Othniel, and Elon the Zebulonite.
Elon the Zebulonite
Elon the Zebulonite is buried in Zebulun and served as judge over Israel for 10 years. The name Elon can be confusing. It could also mean the town. But the actual name is Aeylvon, which means “oak” or “mighty one.”
Elon was a wise judge during this time, ensuring that justice was served. He also ruled on disputes between families, neighbors, and tribes. He helped keep the people focused on the true religion, and prevented them from practicing idolatry. As a result, enemies didn’t move against the Israelites during his reign. Elon was a blessing to Israel for ten years, and died at the age of 80.
Elon was the tenth judge in Israel, and came from the tribe of Zebulun. He ruled over Israel for ten years, from 1075 B.C. Elon was buried in Aijalon, his ancestral town. Elon’s reign was followed by that of Ibzan, and then by the government of Abdon. Though Elon is a forgotten judge in the bible, he was an important figure in Israel’s history.
Deborah
In the Bible, Deborah is a woman who played a pivotal role in the history of Israel. As a result of her leadership role, she became one of the most influential women in Scripture. While Deborah was not a savior or hero, her role was still essential in the story. Her faith in God gave her the ability to act, and she received the necessary resources to accomplish God’s will.
Deborah was the only woman in the Bible who served as a judge. She is also the only one described as a prophet. As a judge, Deborah was instrumental in the nation’s victory over the Canaanites. The story of her victory is chronicled in the prose narrative in Judges 4 and in the poem Song of Deborah in Judges 5. While many scholars argue over the dating of the two accounts, the prose version is believed to be older.
The Bible records that the Israelites had been under the control of a king named Jabin for twenty years. Under his rule, the Israelites had been subjected to harsh treatment. This led to a low spirit among the people. As a result, Deborah describes the difficult lives of her people under Jabin. Among other things, they had been restricted to hilltops, and had no commercial access to the highways.
The Bible also describes Deborah as the first woman judge in Israel. She ruled between 1237BC and 1198BC. The Bible also mentions that she was the wife of Lapidoth. The palm tree on which she held court might have been her home for more than thirty years. According to her story, she could have lived until her seventies. The palm tree was situated between Bethel and Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim.
Jephthah
Jephthah is a man who is mentioned in the Bible. He was a judge who took a vow to God to judge the people of Israel. After the ten years were over, he realized that his vow had become a foolish one. In order to be released from his vow, he had to pay a certain sum of money to the Temple treasury.
Jephthah’s story is both tragic and encouraging. He sacrificed his loved ones for an unnecessary vow. His birth mother was a prostitute. Jephthah’s brothers rejected him and drove him out of the family home. After that, he escaped to a village called Tob and gathered together powerful warriors. His rise to prominence in the Bible came when the Ammonites threatened to attack Israel. The elders of Gilead requested his assistance when they were attacked by the Ammonites.
Jephthah made a vow to God before he went to war. This vow was misunderstood by most people. The vow concerned his daughter. Some people believed that he would sacrifice her as a human sacrifice to please God.
Jephthah’s story is a tale of sacrifice. He made a vow to sacrifice his daughter when he returned from war. Later, he realized that his vow was rash, and he tore his clothes in dismay. His daughter was preserved, but she remained a virgin.
Jephthah’s story is divided into three scenes. In the first, he tries to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Ammonite incursion. His efforts are fruitless as the Ammonites reject his argument. As a result, war ensues.
Othniel
Othniel is one of the first judges in the Bible. His story is similar to King David’s, and he is a powerful warrior and leader. He is also mentioned in the Song of Deborah. During his life, God brought about a change in the people of Israel, and he ruled in peace.
According to the Bible, Othniel was a judge who saved the Israelites from the Canaanites. His name is derived from the Hebrew word ‘oth’, meaning ‘lion’. He lived during a time when the people of Israel had turned away from God and sinned. His life span is about 40 years, and his role is often viewed as crucial in saving the Jewish people.
The Bible gives us only a few details about his life. We know that he ruled Israel for three years. But he also fought with many of his people, resulting in his death. It is not clear who his descendants were, but some scholars believe that he was a descendant of an earlier Jair, who named thirty towns Havvoth Jair. Although his name is not given in the Bible, he is referred to as a minor judge.
Ehud was a left-handed man. In ancient times, left-handed people were compelled to become right-handed, so he stood out. Ehud, however, was the one who was able to kill the Philistines. In the end, he killed 600 of them.
Gideon
The Bible tells the story of Gideon, a mighty warrior from the tribe of Manasseh. His life is described in the book of Judges. Gideon was a man endowed with the Spirit of God and sent to deliver Israel from oppression. His spirit and his military skills helped him defeat the Midianites and their allies. His story also shows how God can use people from different backgrounds and make them stand together.
After Gideon had gathered an army, he overheard a dream of his enemy’s guards. He went and gathered them together, but he was afraid of what would happen to his family and the townspeople. He had taken the first cautious step in faith, but the Midianites and the Amalekites had already formed an army. Gideon’s men were commanded to destroy the altar of Baal, which was evidence of the Israelites’ apostasy. Gideon and his men then go and destroy the altar, although they are threatened with death from the townspeople.
God hears the cries of His people and sends an angel to call Gideon into his service. He comes from an undistinguished family and had no idea what God would ask of him, but the angel reassures him that his actions would bring salvation to the Israelites. In the beginning, Gideon doesn’t believe in God’s call and doubts his calling. But eventually he begins to believe in the Lord and begins to serve His people.
Despite his shortcomings as a leader and a mighty warrior, Gideon ends up being a godly man. His faith and ability to obey God led him to overcome his enemy. The Bible says that Gideon was a man of faith. The Bible also praises his faith.