Conclusion (Judges 17:1-21:25)

 In chapter 1, many of the tribes failed to completely conquer the land that Joshua gave them. They needed a king to lead them (18:1,19:1) and unite them in worship at the temple in Jerusalem. Without this everyone does what is right in their own eyes (17:6, 21:25) and things go very wrong.

The tribe of Dan were given the territory next to Judah, and should have followed Samson into battle with the Philistines. Chapters 17 and 18 tell a story of shrines and idol worship, which ends up with the tribe of Dan settling in Laish, right in the north of the land, far away from where they should be.

In chapter 19, a terrible sin occurs in Gibeah. Everyone is shocked and outraged, but the tribe of Benjamin refuse to deal with it, and instead fight the rest of the Israelites to defend Gibeah (chapter 20). At first the Israelites are losing, until they come in tears to the Lord, and then they are victorious and destroy most of Benjamin. They try and put things right but only make things worse, leading to more violence, death, and abuse of women (chapter 21).

They fail to realise how badly things go when they do what is right in their own eyes. Their first king will be Saul from Benjamin, who looks tall and strong instead of David from Judah, the man after God’s heart.

Will we learn the lessons of the book of Judges? Are we willing to let King Jesus reign in our lives by the Spirit? Or will we just follow what is right in our own eyes, trusting in human strength and wisdom?