Precept Austin

Judges 2 Resources

Updated: Wed, 11/23/2022 - 14:06 By admin
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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

ARCHIVE.ORG
MODERN COMMENTARIES 

Explanation - Most of the resources below are newer commentaries (written after 1970) and other Bible resources which previously were available only for purchase in book form or in a Bible computer program. The resources are made freely available by archive.org but have several caveats - (1) they do not allow copy and paste, (2) they can only be checked out for one hour (but can be checked out immediately when your hour expires giving you time to read or take notes on a lengthy section) and (3) they require creating an account which allows you to check out the books free of charge. To set up an account click archive.org and then click the picture of the person in right upper corner and enter email and a password. That's all you have to do. Then you can read these more modern resources free of charge! I have read or used many of these resources but not all of them so ultimately you will need to be a Berean (Acts 17:11+) as you use them. I have also selected works that are conservative and Biblically sound. If you find one that you think does not meet those criteria please send an email at https://www.preceptaustin.org/contact. The resources are listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name and some include reviews of the particular resource. 

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)

Tim Challies - Tremper Longman, who has not reviewed Dale Ralph Davis’ volume, gives Block’s commentary a 5-star rating and says, “This contribution is clearly the best thing available on the book of Judges. Block is thoroughly aware of all the literature that precedes his own, and he incorporates what is good and criticizes what is bad.” He also praises Block’s insights along with his literary and theological analysis. This commentary is slightly more advanced and in-depth than Davis’.

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.

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

LEWIS, ARTHUR

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. 

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)! 

ROBERT G BOLING - Judges The Anchor Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday and Co., 1975.

Cyril Barber's critique - A new translation with scholarly notes and commentary. Neither as helpful to the expository preacher as Fausset's exemplary treatment, nor as abreast of the latest scholarly research as Wood's invaluable work. What is presented, however, is valuable for its correlation of linguistic and historical data.

JOHN GARSTANG - Joshua Judges: The Foundations of Bible History. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1978.

Cyril Barber's critique - Reprinted after years of neglect, this epochal work treats history, geography, archaeology, and the settlement of Israel in the land. Though he adheres to a modified form of the documentary hypothesis, Garstang's treatment is nevertheless possessed of a freshness and vitality seldom found in works of this nature.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
JUDGES 2

DONALD CAMPBELL -

ARTHUR CUNDALL -

GARY INRIG

PAUL APPLE

BRIAN BELL Teaching Notes

DICTIONARY

WAYNE BARBER - audio but worth listening 

ALBERT BARNES

BIBLE FOR HOME

BIBLE.ORG - Articles

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 - J J 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. 

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)

RON DANIEL 

J N DARBY

BOB DEFFINBAUGH Judges Sermon Notes

"The Dark Days of Israel's Judges - A Study of the Book of Judges"

JOHN DUMMELOW Commentary

DAN DUNCAN - MP3

CHARLES ELLICOTT COMMENTARY FOR ENGLISH READERS

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

EXPLORE THE BIBLE

EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE COMMENTARY - R A WATSON

EXPOSITOR'S DICTIONARY OF TEXTS

A R FAUSSET Judges - An Expository Commentary

Cyril Barber - A work of immeasurable value. Remains one of the finest treatments extant. A must for the expositor.

Well Done If part of a page does not show switch to the two page view or try "refresh" (F5 Key)

DON FORTNER

ARNO GAEBELEIN Annotated Bible on Judges

GENE GETZ PRINCIPLES FROM JUDGES

These are short videos with practical principles.

  • Judges 2:1-5; Forsaking Sin: When we persist in sin, we must understand that we are offending God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Video
  • Judges 2:6-13; Modeling and Teaching: Adults are to model and teach God's will to the younger generation. Video
  • Judges 2:14-15; God's Discipline: When we persistently disobey God, He will discipline us in order to help us live more godly lives. Video
  • Judges 2:16-18; God's Compassion: Though the Lord will eventually judge all those who ultimately reject His gift of salvation, we should be assured that He is a God of love, mercy, and forgiveness. Video
  • Judges 2:19-23; Internalizing God's Values: With God's help we are to internalize biblical values. Video

JOHN GILL

DAVID GUZIK

MATTHEW HENRY 

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

DAVID HOLWICK

KEITH KRELL - sermons

INTERNATIONAL CRITICAL COMMENTARY

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)! 

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

HOMER HEATER, JR - Judges

JOHN KITTO

PAUL E. KRETZMANN The Popular Commentary Lutheran Perspective

LANGE'S COMMENTARY Paulus Cassel

DAVID LEGGE Sermons on Judges

WILLIAM MACDONALD

ALEXANDER MACLAREN

MARTIN MANSER - Dictionary Bible themes - interesting 

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 1:18-2:20: The Art of Destroying a Civilization
  • Judges 2:11-3:11: Cycles of Sin and The first National Hero

NET BIBLE NOTES

JAMES NISBET Church Pulpit Commentary

OUR DAILY BREAD

MYER PEARLMAN

PHIL NEWTON - SERMON

PETER PETT Commentary on Judges

JOHN PIPER

PREACHER'S HOMILETICAL COMMENTARY

PULPIT COMMENTARY

REFORMATION STUDY BIBLE

AREND REMMERS

KIM RIDDLEBARGER

RICHARD OWEN ROBERTS

RON RITCHIE

HENRI ROSSIER

ROB SALVATO - SERMON

RAYMOND H SAXE - expository notes

  • Judges 2:1-13 (pdf)
  • Judges 2:14-23 (pdf)

JOHN SCHULTZ - former missionary to Papau, New Guinea

CHARLES SIMEON -SERMONS

CHUCK SMITH

JAMES SMITH 

"WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS?" Judges 2:1-5.

The "angel of the Lord" may mean "the angel of His Presence," that angelic form which makes the presence of the Lord, a powerful reality. This the Holy Spirit now does. Wherever He is the presence of God is felt. The journey from Gilgal (rolling away) to Bochim (weepers) may in a moral sense be very short. If we do not walk in the light of His will the distance between our successes and failures will never be very great. We observe here—

I. A Work of Grace. This grace was manifested in—

1. A Merciful Compulsion. "I made you to go up out of Egypt" (v. 1). It is a blessed thing when salvation becomes a pressing necessity. Compelled to forsake our godless ways through the force of constraining grace. It was so with Saul while on the way to Damascus (Acts 9). The compulsion of Almighty love.

2. The Gift of a Rich Possession. "I brought you unto the land" (v. 1). This good land was the land of promise. To Israel it meant freedom, peace, plenty, progress, and power. Typical of the possessions the believer has in Christ Jesus.

3. An Unfailing Assurance. "I will never break My covenant with you" (v. 1). The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. God Himself will not alter the thing that has gone out of His lips (Psalm 89:34). We may fail, yet He abides faithful to His own promise. The bargain will never be broken on God's side. He cannot deny Himself.

4. A Needful Warning. "You shall make no league with the inhabitants; you shall throw down their altars" (v. 2). The inhabitants of the land were bitterly opposed to the purposes of God, therefore the children of God must make no covenant with them. The servants of Christ must in no way identify themselves with that spirit that works in the children of disobedience. Their false gods must be thrown down, and the Lord alone exalted.

II. A Miserable Failure. "But you have not obeyed My voice" (v. 2). The failure came in their case, as it often comes in ours, through unbelief. O fools and slow of heart, to believe all that He has spoken! The voice of God is still in His Word, because His Word is the breathings of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). The Scriptures are always living and active (see Hebrews 4:12, R.V.). To turn away from His revealed will is to close our ears to the voice of God. Be not deceived, God knows when His voice is obeyed. He is personally interested in every individual child of His. How often have we complained of our failures? May not the cause be here: "You have not obeyed My voice?"

III. A Searching Question. "Why have you done this?" The "angel of His presence" is jealous for the honor of God. What answer can a disobedient one give to this personal, pointed inquiry? An honest answer would be: "I feared man more than God, and was better pleased with my own thoughts and plans than with His." Paul's "Not I, but Christ," has been changed into "Not Christ, but I." You know that, apart from the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within you, you cannot live or witness for God as you ought; yet you have gone leaning on your own strength and wisdom, and came away defeated. "Why have you done this?" You know that to obey His voice is the secret of heart-restfulness, yet you have not walked in this light. "Why have you done this?"

IV. An Expressive Answer. They answered not by words, but by deeds. Acts speak louder than words—

1. They Wept. "The people lifted up their voice and wept" (v. 4). The message from him who represented the presence of God had gone home to their hearts. "Why have you done this?" smote them with the silence of self-condemnation that could only find expression in tears of repentance. It was a heart question that wrung out this heart-melting response. The crowing of a rooster sent the same burning question into the heart of self-confident Peter, and with the very same result. "He went out and wept bitterly" (Matthew 26:75). "Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of" (2 Corinthians 7:10).

2. They Sacrificed. "And they sacrificed there unto the Lord" (v. 5). Sacrificing unto God is the only possible way of redeeming what we have lost by disobedience. The tears that are not followed with self-denying deeds are not very hot. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit" (Psalm 51:17). The broken spirit allows all that is in it to flow out for God. "I beseech you therefore by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).

PHILIP SMITH

SPEAKER'S BIBLE COMMENTARY

C H SPURGEON

RAY STEDMAN

JOHN STEVENSON

ALAN STEWART

G W THATCHER - generally verse by verse comments

THIRD MILLENNIUM Book of Judges

DAVID THOMPSON SERMONS

TODAY IN THE WORD

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

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