The book Of The Bible Judges

Judges derives its name from twelve warriors or judges who were leaders raised up by God to deliver the people from the threat of their enemies. The events of this narrative occurred from the time of the death of Joshua until just prior to the birth of Samuel. The series of various stories is set in the context of a recurring pattern of in fidelity to God followed by oppression that, in turn, is reversed by repentance of the people and deliverance by the leadership of The warrior/judge. On the surface, the stories seem to portray the heroics of powerful regional leaders.

On a deeper level, how ever, they highlight the prophetic role in which God raises up leaders to restore the people to obedience and fidelity to the covenant. Passages from the book of Judges are read during Mass from Monday through Thursday of the Twentieth Week of Year I and during the Advent season anticipating Christmas, when the story of Samson’s birth is recalled as a prefiguring or back drop to the Gospel text from Luke depicting the birth of John the Baptist (13.2-7; 24-25)