Topical Bible: Israel: Under the Judges: People Turn to Idolatry

◄ Israel: Under the Judges: People Turn to Idolatry ►

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During the period of the Judges, the nation of Israel experienced a recurring cycle of faithfulness and apostasy, characterized by a turning away from God and a return to idolatry. This era, spanning from the death of Joshua to the establishment of the monarchy, is marked by a decentralized tribal confederation where judges served as leaders and deliverers raised by God in times of crisis.

Historical Context

After the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, the Israelites settled in the Promised Land. However, they failed to fully drive out the Canaanite inhabitants, as commanded by God. This incomplete conquest led to the Israelites being influenced by the surrounding pagan cultures. Judges 2:10-12 describes the spiritual decline: "After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works that He had done for Israel. So the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt."

Cycle of Apostasy

The Book of Judges outlines a repetitive cycle: Israel falls into idolatry, God allows them to be oppressed by their enemies, the people cry out for deliverance, and God raises a judge to rescue them. This cycle is vividly illustrated in Judges 3:7-9 : "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, and the Israelites served him eight years. But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, as a deliverer to save them."

Influence of Canaanite Religion

The Canaanite religion, with its pantheon of gods and goddesses, was a constant temptation for the Israelites. The worship of Baal and Asherah, fertility deities, was particularly alluring due to its promises of agricultural prosperity and its ritualistic practices. Judges 6:25-26 recounts God's command to Gideon to tear down his father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it, highlighting the pervasive nature of idolatry even within Israelite families.

Consequences of Idolatry

The spiritual infidelity of Israel had dire consequences. Judges 10:6-7 states, "Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, as well as the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites." This passage underscores the severity of God's judgment upon His people for their unfaithfulness.

Role of the Judges

The judges served as instruments of God's mercy, delivering Israel from oppression and calling them back to covenant faithfulness. Notable judges such as Deborah, Gideon, and Samson were raised up during times of national distress. Each judge's account reflects the ongoing struggle between faithfulness to Yahweh and the temptation of idolatry. Judges 2:16-17 summarizes their role: "Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of these raiders. Yet they would not listen to their judges, but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them."

Spiritual Lessons

The period of the Judges serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of syncretism and the human tendency to stray from God. Despite the repeated failures of the Israelites, God's faithfulness and willingness to deliver His people when they repented is a testament to His enduring mercy and covenant love. The narrative of Israel under the judges highlights the importance of obedience, the consequences of idolatry, and the need for continual reliance on God.

Nave's Topical Index

Judges 2:10-23
And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Book of the Law
... a Passover from the days of the judges that judged ... and made them an ordinance in
Israel: and, behold ... lessons they had refused to learn under circumstances more ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 33 the book of.htm

Israel in Canaan.
... wilderness, they obeyed, and felt themselves under the rule ... breastplate of the High
Priest, while judges and elders ... became ruler and judge over Israel; but no ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson v israel in canaan.htm

The Unmistakable Honesty of the Writers of the Bible Attests to ...
... as is well known, under the period of the judges their history ... Under the kings it
was no better ... number of idolatrous rulers, and the path of Israel ran farther ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter three the unmistakable honesty.htm

Place of Jesus in the History of the World.
... Far beyond the confines of history, resting under his tent ... prophetic force of the
genius of Israel seemed concentrated ... of the time of the Judges, inspired tones ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter i place of jesus.htm

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
... use of the barley-bread in Judges 7:13. ... redemption that the exhortation to the people
is founded ... the representation of God's relation to Israel under the figure ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the section chap i -iii.htm

The Holy Ghost, Throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, Made ...
... in the congregation of the gods, He judges among the ... let them perish from the earth
which is under the heaven ... Elias, too, when all Israel was assembled at Mount ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter vithe holy ghost throughout.htm

The Census of Israel
... had not been for the great sin of Israel at Kadesh ... not forget that all this change
was still under the divine ... present: but then, we are not fair judges; for we ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the census of israel.htm

The Historical Books.
... assistance of Jehovah; the book of Judges describes the ... With the division of Solomon's
kingdom under his son ... the extinction of the kingdom of Israel took place ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

Samuel
... like the same extent as Judges or Kings. ... the Philistines represented as won for Israel
by Samuel's ... and unimportant, are related twice under circumstances which ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/samuel.htm

CHAPTER III.
... The four objects mentioned in Judges 17.and xviii. ... If the fundamental prophecy refer
to all Israel, the same ... be the case with the prophecy under consideration. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chapter iii.htm