Bible Survey Notes for the Book of Judges.

Bible Survey: The Book of Judges

1. Title

  • Judges – So called because of the leaders ("judges") God raised up to deliver Israel during a time of repeated national decline.

2. Author

  • Unknown, but Jewish tradition credits Samuel.
  • Internal evidence shows it was written after the monarchy began (cf. Judges 17:6, 21:25).

3. Date of Events

  • Covers the period between the death of Joshua (~1400 B.C.) and the rise of the monarchy (~1050 B.C.).
  • About 350 years of history.

4. Key Theme

  • Israel’s repeated cycle of sin, suffering, supplication, salvation, and relapse.
  • “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6, 21:25)

5. Purpose

  • To show the spiritual and moral decline of Israel after Joshua.
  • To demonstrate God’s faithfulness and mercy in repeatedly raising up deliverers.

6. Outline

I. Introduction (1:1–3:6)

  • Failure to fully conquer the land
  • Spiritual compromise and idolatry
  • God's anger and testing Israel

II. Cycles of the Judges (3:7–16:31)
Each judge shows a pattern: Sin → Servitude → Supplication → Salvation → Silence

  • Othniel (3:7–11)
  • Ehud (3:12–30)
  • Shamgar (3:31)
  • Deborah and Barak (4–5)
  • Gideon (6–8)
  • Tola and Jair (10:1–5)
  • Jephthah (10:6–12:7)
  • Ibzan, Elon, Abdon (12:8–15)
  • Samson (13–16)

III. Moral Chaos in Israel (17–21)

  • Religious confusion: Micah and the Levite (17–18)
  • Civil war and moral corruption: The crime at Gibeah (19–21)

7. Key Verses

  • Judges 2:16: "Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them."
  • Judges 21:25: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

8. Spiritual Lessons

  • God is faithful even when His people are not.
  • Leadership matters in preventing spiritual decline.
  • Compromise with the world leads to bondage.
  • God uses weak and flawed people to accomplish His purposes.

9. Christ in Judges

  • The judges were imperfect deliverers—Christ is the perfect and final Deliverer.
  • Samson’s life, though flawed, foreshadows Christ’s sacrificial victory over enemies (Judges 16:30).

10. One Word Summary

  • Apostasy – The book of Judges reveals Israel’s repeated turning away from God to idolatry and immorality, followed by divine judgment and merciful deliverance.

Bible Survey: The Book of Ruth

1. Title

  • Ruth – Named after the Moabite woman whose story is central to the book. She became the great-grandmother of David.

2. Author

  • Unknown. Jewish tradition attributes it to Samuel.

3. Date of Events

  • During the time of the judges (Ruth 1:1), likely around 1100 B.C.

4. Key Theme

  • Redemption and loyal love—Ruth's story of devotion and God's providence.

5. Purpose

  • To show God’s providential care and inclusion of a Gentile in the Messianic line.
  • To highlight the concept of the kinsman-redeemer.

6. Outline

I. Ruth’s Decision (1) – Loyalty to Naomi and return to Bethlehem.

II. Ruth’s Service (2) – Gleaning in Boaz’s field.

III. Ruth’s Request (3) – Appeal for redemption at Boaz’s feet.

IV. Ruth’s Reward (4) – Marriage and lineage to David.

7. Key Verses

  • Ruth 1:16: "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
  • Ruth 4:17: "And they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David."

8. Spiritual Lessons

  • God honors faithfulness and loyalty.
  • God includes outsiders in His redemptive plan.
  • God's providence is at work even in ordinary lives.

9. Christ in Ruth

  • Boaz as a kinsman-redeemer is a picture of Christ who redeems us.
  • Ruth in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:5).

10. One Word Summary

  • Redemption – Ruth's story illustrates God's power to redeem lives and restore legacy.

Bible Survey: The Book of 1 Samuel

1. Title

  • 1 Samuel – Named after Samuel, the last judge and prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel.

2. Author

  • Possibly Samuel (1–25), then Nathan and Gad (1 Chronicles 29:29).

3. Date of Events

  • From Samuel’s birth (~1105 B.C.) to Saul’s death (~1011 B.C.).

4. Key Theme

  • Transition from judges to monarchy.

5. Purpose

  • To record the rise of Samuel, the failure of Saul, and the anointing of David.

6. Outline

I. Samuel’s Ministry (1–7) – Birth, call, and leadership of Samuel.

II. Saul’s Reign (8–15) – Israel demands a king; Saul’s disobedience.

III. David’s Rise (16–31) – David anointed; Saul’s jealousy and final defeat.

7. Key Verses

  • 1 Samuel 15:22: "To obey is better than sacrifice."
  • 1 Samuel 16:7: "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

8. Spiritual Lessons

  • Obedience to God is more important than outward religion.
  • God uses humble hearts for great purposes.

9. Christ in 1 Samuel

  • David as a type of Christ: anointed, rejected, and eventually exalted.
  • Hannah’s song (2:1–10) parallels Mary’s Magnificat.

10. One Word Summary

  • Transition – From the rule of judges to the rule of kings.

Bible Survey: The Book of 2 Samuel

1. Title

  • 2 Samuel – Continues the story of Israel’s monarchy, focusing on David’s reign.

2. Author

  • Possibly compiled by prophets Nathan and Gad (1 Chronicles 29:29).

3. Date of Events

  • Covers David’s reign: ~1011–971 B.C.

4. Key Theme

  • The reign of King David – triumph and tragedy.

5. Purpose

  • To show the establishment of David’s kingdom and God's covenant with him.

6. Outline

I. David’s Triumphs (1–10) – Uniting the kingdom, military success.

II. David’s Transgression (11) – Sin with Bathsheba.

III. David’s Troubles (12–24) – Family crisis, rebellion, national issues.

7. Key Verses

  • 2 Samuel 7:16: "Thy throne shall be established for ever."
  • 2 Samuel 22:2: "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer."

8. Spiritual Lessons

  • Sin has lasting consequences even for forgiven people.
  • God keeps His covenant promises.

9. Christ in 2 Samuel

  • The Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7) points to Christ, the eternal King.

10. One Word Summary

  • Kingship – David’s rule foreshadows Christ’s eternal kingdom.

Bible Survey: The Book of 1 Kings

1. Title

  • 1 Kings – Focuses on the reign of Solomon and the division of the kingdom.

2. Author

  • Traditionally Jeremiah or another prophet during exile.

3. Date of Events

  • From Solomon’s reign (~971 B.C.) to the death of Ahab (~853 B.C.).

4. Key Theme

  • Rise and division of the kingdom.

5. Purpose

  • To show the consequences of obedience and disobedience in leadership.

6. Outline

I. Solomon’s Reign (1–11) – Wisdom, temple building, later decline.

II. Kingdom Divided (12–22) – Rehoboam and Jeroboam; Elijah’s ministry.

7. Key Verses

  • 1 Kings 8:61: "Let your heart...be perfect with the LORD our God."
  • 1 Kings 18:21: "How long halt ye between two opinions?"

8. Spiritual Lessons

  • Great beginnings can be ruined by compromise.
  • God raises prophets to call His people back.

9. Christ in 1 Kings

  • Solomon’s wisdom foreshadows Christ (cf. Matthew 12:42).
  • Elijah as a type of John the Baptist.

10. One Word Summary

  • Division – The unified kingdom splits due to sin and pride.

Bible Survey: The Book of 2 Kings

1. Title

  • 2 Kings – Continues the history of Israel and Judah to their captivities.

2. Author

  • Possibly Jeremiah or another prophet.

3. Date of Events

  • From Ahaziah’s reign (~853 B.C.) to Babylonian exile (~586 B.C.).

4. Key Theme

  • Decline and fall of the kingdoms.

5. Purpose

  • To explain the reasons for Israel’s and Judah’s fall.

6. Outline

I. Elijah to Elisha Transition (1–8) – Miracles and messages.

II. Fall of Israel (9–17) – Northern kingdom conquered by Assyria.

III. Fall of Judah (18–25) – Southern kingdom conquered by Babylon.

7. Key Verses

  • 2 Kings 17:18: "Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel... and removed them."
  • 2 Kings 23:25: "Like unto Josiah...turned to the LORD with all his heart."

8. Spiritual Lessons

  • National sin brings national judgment.
  • God is patient but will judge persistent rebellion.

9. Christ in 2 Kings

  • Elisha’s miracles prefigure Christ’s miraculous ministry.

10. One Word Summary

  • Captivity – Sin leads to destruction and exile.

Bible Survey: The Book of 1 Chronicles

1. Title

  • 1 Chronicles – A priestly perspective on Israel’s history, focusing on David.

2. Author

  • Traditionally Ezra.

3. Date of Events

  • Covers from Adam to David’s death (~1000 B.C.).

4. Key Theme

  • God’s covenant faithfulness and David’s preparation.

5. Purpose

  • To encourage post-exilic Jews by highlighting God’s plan through David.

6. Outline

I. Genealogies (1–9) – Emphasizing continuity of God’s people.

II. Reign of David (10–29) – His heart for worship, temple plans.

7. Key Verses

  • 1 Chronicles 28:9: "Serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind."
  • 1 Chronicles 29:11: "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness... and the victory."

8. Spiritual Lessons

  • God's promises are sure across generations.
  • Worship and preparation matter to God.

9. Christ in 1 Chronicles

  • David’s throne prefigures Christ’s eternal reign.
  • Emphasis on temple worship anticipates Christ’s priesthood.

10. One Word Summary

  • Covenant – God’s promise through David remains central.

Bible Survey: The Book of 2 Chronicles

1. Title

  • 2 Chronicles – Continues the priestly view of Judah’s kings, from Solomon to exile.

2. Author

  • Traditionally Ezra.

3. Date of Events

  • From Solomon’s reign (~971 B.C.) to Cyrus’s decree (~538 B.C.).

4. Key Theme

  • God’s dealings with Judah’s kings in light of worship and faithfulness.

5. Purpose

  • To encourage post-exilic Jews to be faithful by learning from their history.

6. Outline

I. Solomon’s Reign (1–9) – Wisdom, temple, glory.

II. Kings of Judah (10–36) – Emphasis on reformers and temple worship.

7. Key Verses

  • 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people...shall humble themselves...then will I hear from heaven."
  • 2 Chronicles 36:23: "The LORD God...hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem."

8. Spiritual Lessons

  • True reform begins with the heart.
  • God's mercy reaches beyond judgment.

9. Christ in 2 Chronicles

  • The temple points to Christ as the true meeting place between God and man.

10. One Word Summary

  • Worship – The rise and fall of Judah tied to temple faithfulness.

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