Judges

Judges, the Book of, a canonical book of the Old Testament, is a sequel to the Book of Joshua, and relates to the period between his death and the birth of Samuel. Its author, or rather authors - for it must be the work of more than one - are unknown. It has two beginnings (Chap. i. 1; ii. 6). Chapter i. is a history of Joshua's time, and therefore the words "after the death of Joshua" must have been written by someone who wished to make the whole book read continuously with that which precedes it. The history keeps repeating itself. The people fall away and are punished, until Jehovah, pitying them, raises up a judge to deliver and recall them. Then on the death of the judge they again fall away. The principal judges are Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephtbah, and Samson, It was probably composed about the 8th century B.C.