Judges 2:16
Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.
Then the LORD
The phrase "Then the LORD" signifies a divine intervention at a critical juncture in Israel's history. The Hebrew name for God used here is "Yahweh," which emphasizes His covenantal relationship with Israel. This intervention is not merely a reaction but a fulfillment of His promises to His people. Historically, this reflects the cyclical pattern in Judges where Israel falls into sin, faces oppression, cries out to God, and then God raises a deliverer. It underscores God's faithfulness and mercy despite Israel's repeated unfaithfulness.

raised up
The Hebrew verb "qum" is used here, meaning to "establish" or "appoint." This action is sovereign and purposeful, indicating that the judges were not self-appointed leaders but divinely chosen. This reflects God's active role in the governance and deliverance of His people. Archaeologically, this period is marked by decentralized tribal leadership, and the raising of judges was a divine solution to the lack of centralized authority.

judges
The term "judges" (Hebrew: "shofetim") refers not only to judicial figures but also to military leaders and deliverers. These individuals were charismatic leaders endowed with God's Spirit to lead Israel both in battle and in spiritual renewal. The role of a judge was multifaceted, combining governance, military leadership, and spiritual guidance. Scripturally, this period is characterized by a lack of kingship, and the judges served as temporary leaders raised by God to address specific crises.

who saved them
The phrase "who saved them" highlights the primary function of the judges as deliverers. The Hebrew root "yasha" means to deliver or rescue, pointing to the judges as instruments of God's salvation. This salvation is both physical, from oppression, and spiritual, as it often led to a period of repentance and renewal. Theologically, this prefigures the ultimate salvation through Christ, who delivers from sin and death.

from the hands of these raiders
The "raiders" refer to the various oppressors that plagued Israel during this period, including the Moabites, Ammonites, and Philistines. The phrase "from the hands of" indicates the severity of the oppression, as being in someone's hands implies control and domination. Historically, this reflects the constant threat from surrounding nations due to Israel's disobedience and failure to fully conquer the land. The deliverance from these raiders is a testament to God's power and faithfulness in protecting His covenant people despite their shortcomings.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who intervenes in the lives of His people by raising up judges to deliver them.

2. Judges
Leaders appointed by God to deliver Israel from oppression. They were not judges in the modern legal sense but were military leaders and deliverers.

3. Israelites
The people of God who repeatedly fell into sin and idolatry, leading to their oppression by surrounding nations.

4. Raiders
The oppressors or enemies of Israel, often neighboring nations that God allowed to discipline Israel for their disobedience.

5. Canaan
The land promised to the Israelites, where they faced constant threats from surrounding nations due to their failure to fully obey God’s commands.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in Deliverance
Despite Israel's repeated disobedience, God remains faithful to His covenant by raising up judges to deliver them. This demonstrates His mercy and commitment to His people.

The Cycle of Sin and Redemption
The book of Judges illustrates a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. This cycle is a reminder of the human tendency to stray from God and the need for continual repentance and reliance on Him.

The Role of Leadership
God uses leaders to guide and deliver His people. This underscores the importance of godly leadership and the impact it can have on a community or nation.

Dependence on God for Salvation
The judges were instruments of God's salvation, pointing to the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ. Believers are reminded to depend on God for salvation and deliverance from sin.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the judges in Israel's history reflect God's character and His relationship with His people?

2. In what ways do you see the cycle of sin and redemption in your own life, and how can you break free from it?

3. How can the account of the judges inspire us to seek and support godly leadership in our communities today?

4. What lessons can we learn from the Israelites' failure to fully obey God's commands, and how can we apply these lessons to our spiritual walk?

5. How does the deliverance through the judges point to the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, and how can this understanding deepen your faith?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 7
This chapter outlines God's commands to Israel to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan and avoid idolatry, which they failed to do, leading to the need for judges.

1 Samuel 12
Samuel recounts the history of the judges, emphasizing God's faithfulness in raising leaders to deliver Israel despite their unfaithfulness.

Hebrews 11
The "Hall of Faith" includes some of the judges, highlighting their faith and God's power working through them.
Mercy is the Midst of JudgmentA.F. Muir Judges 2:14-18
The Judges, Their Choice, Function, and AdministrationL. H. Wiseman, M. A.Judges 2:16-23
People
Israelites, Joshua, Nun
Places
Bochim, Egypt, Gaash, Gilgal, Timnath-heres
Topics
Cruel, Delivered, Despoiled, Hands, Judges, Nevertheless, Plundered, Power, Raiders, Raised, Raiseth, Save, Saved, Saviours, Spoiled, Spoilers
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Judges 2:16

     1320   God, as Saviour
     6634   deliverance
     7735   leaders, political

Judges 2:6-23

     8705   apostasy, in OT

Judges 2:10-19

     8151   revival, corporate

Judges 2:10-23

     8728   enemies, of Israel and Judah

Judges 2:11-16

     9210   judgment, God's

Judges 2:16-17

     6243   adultery, spiritual
     8840   unfaithfulness, to God

Judges 2:16-19

     5358   judges
     5489   rank

Library
A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
'And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. 2. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? 3. Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Israel's Obstinacy and God's Patience
'And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim; 12. And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger. 13. And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Whether the Female Sex is an Impediment to Receiving Orders?
Objection 1: It would seem that the female sex is no impediment to receiving Orders. For the office of prophet is greater than the office of priest, since a prophet stands midway between God and priests, just as the priest does between God and people. Now the office of prophet was sometimes granted to women, as may be gathered from 4 Kings 22:14. Therefore the office of priest also may be competent to them. Objection 2: Further, just as Order pertains to a kind of pre-eminence, so does a position
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Judges.
Judges 1; 1 Sam. 7. The Characteristics of the Times. This is a period of transition for Israel Nothing was quite certain, and "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (17:6). In consequence of this there was lack of organization, cooperation or leadership. While we do not have all the history covered by the period and while we do not easily understand or explain its events, it is clear that things did not run smoothly. In Judges 2:16-19 the author gives a vivid picture of the conditions
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

The Unmistakable Honesty of the Writers of the Bible Attests to Its Heavenly Origin
The title of this chapter suggests a wide field of study the limits of which we can now only skirt here and there. To begin with the writers of the Old Testament. Had the historical parts of the Old Testament been a forgery, or the production of uninspired men, their contents would have been very different to what they are. Each of its Books was written by a descendant of Abraham, yet nowhere do we find the bravery of the Israelites extolled and never once are their victories regarded as the outcome
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

The Death of Abraham
'Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.'--GENESIS xxv. 8. 'Full of years' does not seem to me to be a mere synonym for longevity. That would be an intolerable tautology, for we should then have the same thing said three times over--'an old man,' 'in a good old age,' 'full of years.' There must be some other idea than that in the words. If you notice that the expression is by no means a usual one, that it is only
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible

The Doctrine of Angels.
I. THEIR EXISTENCE. 1. THE TEACHING OF JESUS. 2. THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. II. THEIR NATURE. 1. CREATED BEINGS. 2. SPIRITUAL BEINGS. 3. GREAT POWER AND MIGHT. 4. VARIOUS GRADES. 5. THE NUMBER OF ANGELS. III. THE FALL OF ANGELS. 1. TIME AND CAUSE. 2. THE WORK OF FALLEN ANGELS. 3. THE JUDGMENT OF FALLEN ANGELS. IV. THE WORK OF ANGELS. 1. THEIR HEAVENLY MINISTRY. 2. THEIR EARTHLY MINISTRY. a) In Relation to the Believer. b) In Relation to Christ's Second Coming. THE DOCTRINE OF ANGELS. We are not
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible

A Case of Conscience Resolved
WHETHER, WHERE A CHURCH OF CHRIST IS SITUATE, IT IS THE DUTY OF THE WOMEN OF THAT CONGREGATION, ORDINARILY, AND BY APPOINTMENT, TO SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR BRETHREN, AND SO TO ASSEMBLE TOGETHER, TO PERFORM SOME PARTS OF DIVINE WORSHIP, AS PRAYER, ETC., WITHOUT THEIR MEN? AND THE ARGUMENTS MADE USE OF FOR THAT PRACTICE, EXAMINED. BY JOHN BUNYAN. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. This exceedingly rare tract was first published in 1683, and was not reprinted, either separately, or in any edition of Bunyan's
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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