Days 91-102, April 1-12

The Chronology of the book of Judges Bible references and insight from The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, edited by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, pp. 373-374. Dates and Scriptures Justification April 1: Judges 1:1-3:6 After Joshua and elders died (1:1; 2:7-10) April 2: Judges 17-21 1Chron. 6:4b-15 Dan had not yet received its inheritance (18:1 ) Phinehas was High Priest shortly after Joshua's death (Joshua 24:33; Judges 20:28) April 3: Judges 3:7- 5:31   First judges: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah April 4: Judges 6-7   Gideon April 5: Judges 8-9   Gideon, Abimilech April 6: Judges 10:1- 13:25   Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon; Birth and childhood of Samson April 7: Ruth; 1 Chron. 2:3-16 Ruth and Boaz are King David's great grandparents (Ruth 4:17)* April 8: 1 Samuel 1:1- 4:1a; Psalm 113 Birth and childhood of Samuel (last judge) April 9: Judges 14:1- 16:31   Samson as deliverer and judge April 10-24: 1 Samuel 4:1- 28:3 Samuel as prophet and judge . The Judges and their reigns References Oppression by Aram, 8 years Judges 3:7-8 Othniel led Israel 40 years Judges 3:9-11 Oppression by Moab, 18 years Judges 3:12-14 Ehud led Israel 80 years Judges 3:15-30 Oppression by Philistines (uncertain length of time)   Shamgar (uncertain, possibly short) Judges 3:31 Oppression by Jabin, king of Hazor, 20 years Judges 4:1-3 Deborah (40 years) Judges 4:4- 5:31 Oppression by Midianites, 7 years Judges 6:1-6 Gideon led Israel 40 years Judges 6:7- 8:32 (Abimilech's treacherous reign 3-4 years; not a judge) Judges 8:33- 9:57 Years of oppression (uncertain length)   Tola led Israel 23 years Judges 10:1-2 Years of oppression (uncertain length)   Jair led Israel 22 years Judges 10:3-5 Oppression by Ammonites and Philistines, 18 years Judges 10:6-10 Japheth led Israel 6 years* Judges 11:1- 12:7 Years of oppression (uncertain length)   Ibzan led Israel 7 years Judges 12:8-10 Years of oppression (uncertain length)   Elon led Israel 10 years Judges 12:11-12 Years of oppression (uncertain length)   Abdon led Israel 8 years Judges 12:13-15 Oppression by the Philistines 40 years Judges 13:1 Birth and childhood of Samson Judges 13:2-25 Ruth marries Boaz (Ruth was David's grandmother); Birth and early childhood of Samuel Ruth; 1Samuel 1:1- 3:18 Samson led Israel 20 years Judges 14:1 -16:31 Years of oppression by Philistines (uncertain length)   Samuel led Israel (last of the judges) 1 Samuel 3:19- 28:3 Judges 11:26: Jephthah's reign starts 1106 B.C., 300 years after the Israelite occupation of the region east of the Jordan River (Trans jordan) in 1406 B.C., assuming the traditional date of the exodus, 1446 B.C. Note: it is possible that some judges ruled at the same time but in different regions of Israel. There appears to be a chronological conflict between Boaz living in the time of the judges and his “mother” Rahab, living in the time of Joshua. According to Ruth 4:21, Salmon was the father of Boaz. According to Matthew 1:5, Boaz's “mother” was Rahab, the Canaanite harlot from Jericho. However, Rahab lived in Joshua's time, about 250-300 years earlier. How are we to answer the discrepancy? It is probable that Rahab was Boaz's mother in the sense that she was his ancestress (cf. “our father Abraham,” Romans. 4:12, which means “our ancestor Abraham”). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., edited by Walvoord and Zuck, ©1985, p.428)

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