Page 17 - Divinity_F5

Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

they promoted equality, understanding are two categories of Judges: the major
and justice among the Israelites. and minor. Major Judges were political
and military leaders, whereas the minor
Furthermore, biblical judges, in their were civil leaders. In addition, as the
functions, promoted a good relationship stories of the major Judges are narrated
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between God and his people. They in detail, those of minor judges are very
were messengers of God and covenant short narrated. However, there was no

mediators. During the lifetime of judges, line of succession among the Judges;
Israel was loyal to God. However, each appeared as a new helper God
after the death of a judge, they turned chose. Their appearance is not by human
against God. Some biblical judges were ability but by God’s initiative.
priests. Hence, they performed spiritual The minor Judges mentioned in the
functions. For instance, Samuel was a book of Judges are Shamgar against the
priest and offered sacrifices to God.
Philistines (3:31), Tola (10:1-5), Ibzan
(12:8-10), Elon (12:11-12), Abdon
Activity 2.1
(12:13-15) and Jair (10:3-5).
Visit the library and search the internet,
read the book of Judges, and identify Comparison between Biblical Judges
cases showing that the conquest of and judges in the modern world
Canaan was not fully accomplished In the modern world, Judges are usually
until Joshua’s death. in the office of the Judiciary. That is to
say, they are members of the Judiciary

Exercise 2.1 whose duty is to interpret laws and
make them available to the people for
1. One of the issues dealt with in the implementation. They also supervise
book of Judges is disunity. Explain the implementation of the laws and are
the effects of disunity among concerned with administering justice and
family members in our society. imposing just penalties on lawbreakers.
2. Determine the significance of The Judges in the modern world relate to
unity in promoting development in biblical judges on the following grounds:
society. Both judges in the modern world and

3. Identify forms of idolatry which judges in the Bible are defenders of
exist in the modern world. justice, dealing with social conflicts and
disputes.

Major and Minor Judges As judges in the modern world impose
The book of Judges shows that there just penalties on law-breakers, biblical

8 Form Five Student’s Book