Judges 1 Resources


Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission
Chart on Judges - Charles Swindoll

RECYCLING SIN
(The High Cost of Compromise)

Jdg 1:1-3:6 Jdg 3:7-16:31 Jdg 17:1-21:25
Introduction History of the Judges Appendix
Causes of the
Cycles

THE REASON

Curse of the
Cycles

THE RECORD

Conditions in
the Cycles

THE RESULTS

Failure to Complete Conquest Jdg 1:1-36
God's Judgment for
Failure Jdg 2:1-3:6
Curse of the
Cycles
Conditions in
the Cycles
Living with
Canaanites
War with the
Canaanites
Living Like the
Canaanites
Religious
Laxity
Political
Uncertainty
Moral
Anarchy
About 350 Years of Israel's History - Almost 25%!
From Compromise to Confusion!
A TIMELINE OF ISRAEL'S HISTORY
"in the days when the JUDGES governed"
(Note: All dates are approximations & time gaps NOT to scale)
Exodus 40 Years Israel Enters Canaan JUDGES Saul David   Messiah

Redemption from Slavery

Wilderness Wandering

Canaan Conquered
Joshua Dies

LIGHT of book of RUTH
Shines forth
in Dark Days of Judges

To obey is better than sacrifice

Man after God's Own Heart

The Lamb that was slain

-- 40 yrs ~24 yrs

350+ yrs

40 yrs 40 yrs Forever
MESSIAH'S LINE   To Salmon was born Boaz by Rahab To Boaz was born Obed by Ruth To Obed was born Jesse To Jesse was born David the King Jesus Christ the Lord
1445BC

1445 -1405

1405 -1381

1381-1051

1051-1011 1011-971 4AD


Another Timeline of Israel's History
Click to Enlarge

from Jensen's Survey of the OT


Click to Enlarge


Other ways to describe Israel's cycle…

  • Rest > Rebellion > Retribution > Repentance (???) > Restoration
  • Sin > Suffering/Servitude > Supplication > Salvation
  • Apathy > Apostasy > Affliction > Answered Prayer
  • Disobedience > Desperation > Deliverance
  • Disobedience > Bondage >Misery > Liberation and Rest > Compromises

The Book of Judges
Contrasted with
The Book of Joshua

JOSHUA JUDGES
Victory Defeat
Freedom Servitude
Faith Unbelief
Progress Declension
Spiritual vision Earthly emphasis
Fidelity to the Lord Apostasy from the Lord
Joy Sorrow
Strength Weakness
Sense of unity Declension, anarchy
Sin judged Sin lightly regarded

The New Unger's Bible Handbook- Merrill F. Unger - page 129

The Book of Judges
Contrasted with
The Book of Ruth

RUTH JUDGES
Spiritual
light
Spiritual
darkness
Purity Immorality
Deciding for
the One true God
Pursuing Idols
who are no gods
Devotion Disloyalty
Love Lust
Peace War
Kindness Cruelty
Obedience
brings blessing
Disobedience
brings sorrow
Oasis
of righteousness
Desert
of rebellion
Faithfulness
of a Gentile alien
Faithlessness
of the "chosen people"

ARCHIVE.ORG
MODERN COMMENTARIES 

Most of these books are newer resources which previously were available only in book form or purchasing in a Bible computer program. This is potentially a very useful resource to supplement your study. In general these books do not allow you to copy and paste. 

Note - NO CHARGE. But you must log in to borrow most of these books by creating a login account! Click picture of the person in right upper corner and set up your free login. Then you can read many excellent modern commentaries free of charge! After you have checked it out for an hour, in my experience you can usually check it out again which gives you sufficient time to read the section in which you are interested. 


DANIEL BLOCK - Judges, Ruth. Vol. 6: New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman - 1999

Cyril Barber says this is "An exceedingly valuable exegetical and theological exposition. Based on the NIV, though Block gives evidence of working from the Hebrew text. Readers will find this a learned, discerning discussion that readily explains the meaning and message of these twin books. Recommended.

Rosscup - An evangelical contributes 586 pp. on Judges and 151 on Ruth. Introductory sections for both books survey the state of scholarly opinion and his belief in the integrity and reliability of the biblical books. Copious footnotes, often lengthy, reflect on others’ views, verifications of points in the books and also in other scripture, etc. Verse by verse work offers detail on grammar, word meaning, background, customs, and interpretive problems. Block holds that Jephthah sacrificed his daughter in death. On passages overall, this is a standout commentary, yet at times it states convictions without a specific answer to other leading views. One instance is in not commenting on the view that Ruth acted indecently with Boaz at night. Some accounts, as episodes of Samson, seem for the most part to be explained in reasonable detail. (Commentaries for Biblical Expositors: An annotated bibliography of selected works)

Read more user reviews.


DONALD CAMPBELL - Leaders in Crisis times (Living for God in a Society that has Forgotten God!)

Former president of Dallas Theological Seminary - has wonderful insights, illustrations and practical applications. Unfortunately this book is no longer being published but you may be able to find used copies.  Excellent practical commentary on Judges with good illustrations for sermons.

Review by Cyril Barber - A well-informed, judicious exposition that combines a timely handling of the text with a practical application of it. Ideal for adult discussion groups. Recommended.

  • Judges Commentary - archive.org allows you to borrow for an hour at no charge and renew. While you cannot copy and paste, this is still a useful resource. 

ARTHUR CUNDALL - Tyndale Old Testament Commentary (Judges and Ruth) (1968)

Arthur Cundall writes the commentary on Judges and Leon Morris writes the commentary on Ruth. These both get excellent reviews - see reviews by several users

Here is a more generic review - "The Tyndale volumes have long been the premier shorter-length commentary series on both Testaments throughout the English-speaking world." (Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary)


PAUL ENNS - Everyman's Bible Commentary (1982) (Zondervan)

Cyril Barber - A practical, clearly outlined, conservative treatment. Ideal for laypeople.

  • Judges Bible Study Commentary: Judges.  archive.org allows you to borrow for an hour at no charge and renew. While you cannot copy and paste, this is still a useful resource. 

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible - Judges by Andrew Boling (20 pages); editor Walter Elwell (1989) 1239 pages. User reviews. (See also his 380 page commentary on Judges the Anchor Bible Series)


GARY INRIG - Judges shows us our potential for greatness...our capacity for catastrophe (2005)

This is one of my favorite practical commentaries on Judges. - see reviews by users

Rosscup -  This little book is a "sleeper" and has flown under the radar of many evangelicals. I highly recommend it to supplement your teaching and/or preaching through the Book of Judges. Notice that all the reviewers have given it the highest rating possible..

  • Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay - archive.org allows you to borrow for an hour at no charge and renew. While you cannot copy and paste, this is still a useful resource. 
  • Journey Through Judges - This is a 50 part series online (no charge) walking you through the entire book of Judges (recommended)! 

KJV BIBLE COMMENTARY - JUDGES - Judges - Hindson, Edward E; Kroll, Woodrow Michael. Over 3000 pages of the entire OT/NT - no restriction on length of time one can use  it. No copy and paste. Well done conservative commentary that interprets Scripture from a literal perspective.  User reviews - it generally gets 4/5 stars from users.


New Bible Commentary - Barry G Webb authored Judges. (1994) See user reviews


WYCLIFFE BIBLE COMMENTARY - JUDGES - Charles Pfeiffer - 1560 pages (1962). This book needs to be borrowed for an hour. Less detailed than the KJV Bible Commentary.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
JUDGES 1

DONALD CAMPBELL -

  • Judges Commentary - sign in, borrow and go to page 11 - Diagnosis of a National Disaster

ARTHUR CUNDALL -

GARY INRIG


PAUL APPLE

BRIAN BELL Teaching Notes

DICTIONARY

WAYNE BARBER - audio but worth listening 

ALBERT BARNES

BIBLE FOR HOME

BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR

DANIEL BLOCK - Judges, Ruth. Vol. 6: New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman - 1999

Cyril Barber says this is "An exceedingly valuable exegetical and theological exposition. Based on the NIV, though Block gives evidence of working from the Hebrew text. Readers will find this a learned, discerning discussion that readily explains the meaning and message of these twin books. Recommended.

Read more user reviews.

  • Judges, Ruth. Vol. 6: New American Commentary archive.org allows you to borrow this book for an hour at no charge and renew. While you cannot copy and paste, this is still a useful resource. 
  • Note you must log in to borrow this book but login is free! Click picture of the person in right upper corner and set up your free login. Then you can read many excellent modern commentaries free of charge! 

JIM BOMKAMP

GEORGE BUSH Judges Notes  1852

Spurgeon: Like other works of this author—of considerable value.

Cyril Barber -  A pleasing synthesis of scholarship and devotion, historical background and relevant exposition. Bible students, whether laypeople or pastors, should eagerly acquire the writings of this fine biblical scholar and for their own edification and enrichment read what he wrote. This valuable reprint of the 1852 edition makes available the rare and rich homiletic suggestions of this Princeton scholar.

CAMBRIDGE BIBLE FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES John James Lias

CAMBRIDGE BIBLE COMMENTARY 

DONALD CAMPBELL - Leaders in Crisis times (Living for God in a Society that has Forgotten God!)

Former president of Dallas Theological Seminary - has wonderful insights, illustrations and practical applications. Unfortunately this book is no longer being published but you may be able to find used copies.  Excellent practical commentary on Judges with good illustrations for sermons.

Review by Cyril Barber - A well-informed, judicious exposition that combines a timely handling of the text with a practical application of it. Ideal for adult discussion groups. Recommended.

  • Judges Commentary - archive.org allows you to borrow for an hour at no charge and renew. While you cannot copy and paste, this is still a useful resource. 
  • Note you must log in to borrow books but login is free! Click picture of the person in right upper corner and set up your free login.

ALAN CARR - SERMON

RICH CATHERS

ROBERT CHISHOLM, JR - ARTICLE

ADAM CLARKE 

THOMAS CONSTABLE 

W A CRISWELL

ARTHUR CUNDALL - Tyndale Old Testament Commentary (Judges and Ruth) (1968)

Arthur Cundall writes the commentary on Judges and Leon Morris writes the commentary on Ruth. These both get excellent reviews - see reviews by several users

Here is a more generic review - "The Tyndale volumes have long been the premier shorter-length commentary series on both Testaments throughout the English-speaking world." (Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary)

  • TOTC Judges & Ruth: Tyndale Old Testament Commentary - archive.org allows you to borrow for an hour at no charge and renew. While you cannot copy and paste, this is still a useful resource. 
  • Note you must log in to borrow books but login is free! Click picture of the person in right upper corner and set up your free login.

RON DANIEL 

J N DARBY

JOHN DUMMELOW Commentary

DAN DUNCAN - MP3

EASY ENGLISH COMMENTARY

PAUL ENNS - Everyman's Bible Commentary (1982) (Zondervan)

Cyril Barber - A practical, clearly outlined, conservative treatment. Ideal for laypeople.

  • Judges Bible Study Commentary: Judges.  archive.org allows you to borrow for an hour at no charge and renew. While you cannot copy and paste, this is still a useful resource. 
  • Note you must log in to borrow this book but login is free! Click picture of the person in right upper corner and set up your free login. Then you can read many excellent modern commentaries free of charge! 

THEODORE EPP

EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - R A WATSON

ARNO GAEBELEIN Annotated Bible on Judges

GENE GETZ PRINCIPLES FROM JUDGES

These are short videos with practical principles.

  • Judges 1:1-2Consulting God: To make right decisions, we are first and foremost to consult God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Video
  • Judges 1:17-19Partial Obedience: We should guard against our human tendency to retreat when we face difficult challenges. Video
  • Judges 1:20-36Tests of Faith: We should view various difficulties in our walk with God as opportunities to demonstrate our faithfulness. Video

JOHN GILL

DAVID GUZIK

HOMER HEATER, JR - Judges

MATTHEW HENRY 

A C GAEBELEIN

GOTQUESTIONS BOOK OF JUDGES

Have also included selected articles from Fausset's Bible Dictionary which is an older but excellent resource.

L M GRANT

SCOTT GRANT Sermons on Judges

DAVE HATCHER - NOTES

ROBERT HAWKER Poor Man's Commentary Judges

GARY INRIG - Judges shows us our potential for greatness...our capacity for catastrophe (2005)

This is one of my favorite practical commentaries on Judges. - see reviews by several users

  • Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay - archive.org allows you to borrow for an hour at no charge and renew. While you cannot copy and paste, this is still a useful resource. 
  • Journey Through Judges - This is a 50 part series online (no charge) walking you through the entire book of Judges (recommended)! 

INTERNATIONAL CRITICAL COMMENTARY

JAMIESON, FAUSSET, BROWN

JUDGES DEVOTIONALS AND ILLUSTRATIONS 

Today in the Word, Back to the Bible, Our Daily Bread, et al

WILLIAM KELLY

KEIL AND DELITZSCH

JOHN KITTO

KEITH KRELL - sermons

PAUL E. KRETZMANN The Popular Commentary

Lutheran Perspective

LANGE'S COMMENTARY Paulus Cassel

DAVID LEGGE Sermons on Judges

WILLIAM MACDONALD

J VERNON MCGEE

F B MEYER

Rosscup comments: Meyer (1847–1929) published this originally in 1895. He left a big witness as a Christian, husband and expositor on the spiritual life. Here he is clear, simple, to the point, and practical in application. The book is especially suited for pastors, Sunday School teachers and laypersons. Sometimes he overdoes things, as in seeing Hittites and confederates as depicting “The evil habits of the old past” (p 12). Yet in many cases he is apt, as using Gideon to show the need to look to God for adequacy. He sees Saul as unsaved, having the Spirit on him but not in him (Commentaries for Biblical Expositors: An annotated bibliography of selected works)

G CAMPBELL MORGAN

ROBERT NEIGHBOUR

TOMMY NELSON - Mp3's only - click here for messages below

  • Judges 1:1-7: The Faithfulness of Old to a New Generation
  • Judges 1:8-18: A Tale of Four Cities
  • Judges 1:18-2:20: The Art of Destroying a Civilization

JAMES NISBET Church Pulpit Commentary

MYER PEARLMAN

NET BIBLE NOTES

PHIL NEWTON - SERMON

PETER PETT Commentary on Judges

PREACHER'S HOMILETICAL COMMENTARY

PULPIT COMMENTARY

REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE

AREND REMMERS

KIM RIDDLEBARGER

RICHARD OWEN ROBERTS

HENRI ROSSI

ROB SALVATO - SERMON

RAYMOND H SAXE - expository notes

JOHN SCHULTZ - former missionary to Papau, New Guinea

CHARLES SIMEON -SERMONS

Click for sermons below

  • Judges 1:6, 7 Adoni-Bezek's Punishment
  • Judges 1:14-15 Christ's Coming to Judgment
  • Judges 1:20-21 The Christian's Duties
  • Judges 1:24-25 An Ascription of Praise to Jehovah

CHUCK SMITH

SPEAKER'S BIBLE COMMENTARY

C H SPURGEON

RAY STEDMAN

JOHN STEVENSON

G W THATCHER - generally verse by verse comments

THIRD MILLENNIUM Book of Judges

DAVID THOMPSON JUDGES SERMONS

JOHN TRAPP Commentary on Judges

JAMES VAN DINE

DAVID WASHBURN

LUKE WISEMAN

Spurgeon comments: Mr. Wiseman in this work tells “of Gideon and Barak, of Samson and of Jephthah,” and he does it in a powerful style. He was one of the best preachers in the Wesleyan body. A man of fulness, and judiciousness; in fact, a wise man.

Cyril Barber - Men of Faith... contains a wealth of practical material; applications are offered to encourage and challenge us today. The author presents a general view of the period of the judges along with an in depth study of the lives of Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson.

STEVE ZEISLER

SERMONS BY VERSE - older works

Spiritual Initiatives A.F. Muir Judges 1:1
The Death of the Great W.F. Adeney Judges 1:1, 2
Transfer of Authority A.F. Muir Judges 1:1, 2
A Thrilling Life and its Lessons Homiletic Review Judges 1:1-10
Adoni-Bezek; Or, Righteous Retribution Fred. Hastings. Judges 1:1-10
Adoni-Bezek's Confession Joseph Mede, B. D. Judges 1:1-10
Dead Heroes Missed R. Rogers. Judges 1:1-10
Dead Leaders and Living Duties F. G. Marchant. Judges 1:1-10
God Sovereign Over His Servants L. H. Wiseman, M. A. Judges 1:1-10
Punishment Delayed Joseph Mede, B. D. Judges 1:1-10
Retribution Inevitable G. A. Sowter, M. A. Judges 1:1-10
Simplicity in Prayer J. Parker, D. D. Judges 1:1-10
The Law of Retribution J. Jackson Wray. Judges 1:1-10
The Punishment of Adoni-Bezek W. Jay. Judges 1:1-10
The Retribution of God Acknowledged R. Rogers. Judges 1:1-10
The Story of Requital J. Parker, D. D. Judges 1:1-10
Alliances in the Holy War A.F. Muir Judges 1:3
Mutual Help W.F. Adeney Judges 1:3
Retribution W.F. Adeney Judges 1:6, 7
Correspondence of Crime and Requital A.F. Muir Judges 1:7
The Book-Town R. A. Watson, M. A. Judges 1:11
The Public Spirit of Caleb A.F. Muir Judges 1:11-15
Achsah's Asking a Pattern of Prayer Spurgeon, Charles Haddon Judges 1:12-15
Difficulties and Hardships in Life R. Rogers. Judges 1:12-15
The Blessings Given in the Gospel F. Tucker, B. A. Judges 1:12-15
The Upper Springs and the Nether Springs Arthur Ritchie. Judges 1:12-15
Compensations A.F. Muir Judges 1:14, 15
Chariots of Iron   Judges 1:17-19
What Hinders the Gospel Homilist Judges 1:17-19
Zephath and Hormah R. A. Watson, M. A. Judges 1:17-19
Divine Help Versus Material Obstacles A.F. Muir Judges 1:19
The Presence of Cod in the Battle of Life W.F. Adeney Judges 1:19
A Title to be Made Good A.F. Muir Judges 1:19-21
An Unwilling Helper of the Cause of God A.F. Muir Judges 1:22-26
Success in Carrying Out God's Commands R. Rogers. Judges 1:22-26
The Spies and the Man of Bethel R. Rogers. Judges 1:22-26
A Good Work Forsaken R. Rogers. Judges 1:27-28
Attitude of the World Towards the Church L. H. Wiseman, M. A. Judges 1:27-28
Forsaking the Lord's Work F. G. Marchant. Judges 1:27-28
Human Wisdom Versus Divine A.F. Muir Judges 1:28
The Failure of Duty of One an Occasion of Inconvenience to Another A.F. Muir Judges 1:34, 35
A Neglect of Duty Injurious to Others R. Rogers. Judges 1:34-36

Book

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