Israel had many judges before they got a king. God would raise up a judge to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. Here is a list of the first 12 judges of Isreal.
| Judge | Scripture Reference | Oppressor | Years in bondage | Years of Peace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Othniel | Judges 3:7-11 | The king of Mesopotamia | 8 Years | 40 years of rest |
| Ehud | Judges 3:12-30 | Eglon, king of Moab | 18 Years | 80 Years of rest |
| Shamgar | Judges 3:31 | The Philistines | ? Doesn’t say | ? Doesn’t say |
| Deborah and Barak | Judges 4:1-5:31 | Jabin, king of Canaan | 20 years | 40 years of rest |
| Gideon | Judges 6:1-8:35 | The Midianites | 7 years | 40 years of rest |
| Tola | Judges 10:1-2 | ? not listed | ? Doesn’t say | 23 years that he judged |
| Jair | Judges 10:3-5 | ? not listed | ? Doesn’t say | 22 years that he judged |
| Jephthah | Judges 10:6-12:7 | The Ammonites | 18 years | 6 years |
| Ibzan | Judges 12:8-10 | ? not listed | ? Doesn’t say | 7 years |
| Elon | Judges 12:11-12 | ? not listed | ? Doesn’t say | 10 years |
| Abdon | Judges 12:13-15 | ? not listed | ? Doesn’t say | 8 years |
| Samson | 13:1-16:31 | The Philistines | 40 Years | 20 years |
For more information on the Judges read Understanding the Judges of Israel: A Deep Dive
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