Due at the end of class today:
Please choose which judge you want to focus on. What did you choose this specific Judge?
Who were the Shoftim?
The theme of the Judges’ leadership was spiritual maintenance. While the Jews were led by these dynamic personalities, they maintained their relationship with G-d, and during the brief intermissions of leadership between shoftim’s terms, they neglected their relationship with G-d. The shoftim’s role was more reactive than proactive, repairing breaches in the dam of Jewish identity as opposed to building and fortifying new dams.
1. The Names and Dates (for more info – https://www.sefaria.org/Judges?lang=bi)
a) Otniel Ben-Knaz ruled from 1228 to 1188 BCE;
b) Ehud Ben-Gerah ruled from 1188 to 1107 BCE;
c) Shamgar Ben-Anat ruled during Ehud’s final years, died 1107 BCE;
d) Devorah (the only woman among the Judges) ruled from 1107 to 1067 BCE;
e) Gideon Ben-Yo’ash ruled from 1067 to 1027 BCE;
f) Avimelech Ben-Gideon ruled from 1027 to 1024 BCE;
g) Tolah Ben-Puah ruled from 1024 to 1001 BCE;
h) Yair HaGil’adi ruled from 1003 to 981 BCE (overlapping Tolah and Yiftach);
i) Yiftach HaGil’adi ruled from 982 to 976 BCE;
j) Ivtzan ruled from 976 to 969 BCE,
k) Eylon HaZevulon’i ruled from 969 to 959 BCE;
l) Avdon Ben-Hillel HaPir’atoni ruled from 959 to 951 BCE;
m) Shimshon ruled from 951 to 931 BCE;
n) Ayli HaKohen ruled from 931 to 891 BCE; and
o) Shmuel Hanavi ruled from 890 to 877 BCE.
2. The Warriors
Many of the Shoftim led the Jewish people into battle against foreign powers who held military domination over ancient Israel during their reigns. These warriors include Otniel Ben-Knaz, Ehud, Devorah, whose army routed the Canaanites, and of course, Shimshon, whose legendary physical strength crushed the might and morale of the Philistines during his reign and for twenty years after his death.
3. The Career Highlights
While some of the Judges are sparsely described, and others’ careers are richly detailed, each of the Judges offered their unique contributions. Most engaged in political and/or military battles with hostile kingdoms and forces surrounding Israel, while others maintained short and/or peaceful rules. Above all, though, they were judges—above their political and social duties, they judged their people, serving as Halachic authorities in all cases of Jewish law.