The book of Judges.

This book contains the history of the chosen nation from the death of Joshua the son of Nun to

the time of Judge Samson (1425-1150 B.C.). Having settled in the land of Canaanites, the Jews

began to get closer to them, to intermarry and borrow their  idolatry and disgusting pagan  cus-

toms. God punished the Jews for these sins. He allowed their neighbors . Ammonites, Philis-

tines, Moabites and others to enslave and oppress them. Exhausted under their enemies. oppres-

sion, the Israelites would repent and turn to God. Then He would have mercy on them and send

them His chosen one in the person of a judge. The judge would organize the army and,  with

God.s help, drive away the oppressor. Yet after some number of years the Israelites would again

forget God, start worshipping idols and commit sin and would again be oppressed by foreigners.

Then  they  would  again  repent, and God would send them another judge to deliver them. Six

times Israel came under foreign oppression, and six  times  God  delivered  the  nation  through

judges.

  One of the principles clearly illustrated by the book of Judges is that an apostasy from God.s

Law is followed by oppression, and repentance . by deliverance. And God.s help is manifested

in miraculous ways: the number of soldiers and weapons and other military advantages are not a

factor in the outcome. This is clearly demonstrated by the example of judge Gideon. With only

300 soldiers, he vanquished a huge Midianite army and delivered the Jews from cruel oppression

(Ch. 6-7). Also remarkable is the life of Samson. Having received an unusual physical strength

from God, he  several  times  seriously  defeated the Philistines who were oppressing the Jews at

the time (Ch. 13-16). His life, which was full of adventure, his marriage to treacherous Delilah,

and his death as a hero have been a basis for an opera and a few movies.