JUDGES OF ISRAEL (Helm, sh4ph7tin)). A name given to the leaders who at various, inter vals directed the affairs of the Israelites from the death of Joshua to the reign of Saul. Their names were Othniel and. Shanymr. Barak, Gideon, Iola, Jephthrth, E1011, Aialon, Samson. Eli. Samuel. The aecount of their deeds is given in the Book of Judges and the 1.11.4 Book of Samuel (qq.v.). Without the last two, whose careers are recorded in the Book of Samuel. the number of is twelve: with Eli and Samuel, as well as Deborah and Abimeleeh, the number is sixteen. In reality the 'judges' are merely a series of heroes and ehampion:, quite independent of one another. Certain recollections of them survived to later times, and, combined with legends, folk lore, and myth, gradually took shape as a con tinuous narrative. The verb underlying the word 'judge' signifies also to vindicate,' and hence they may be called 'deliverers.' which conveys a more accurate idea of their real position. Tribal his tory among the Hebrews, as among Arabs, is largely taken up with disputes and quarrels among clans. with petty wars, with warding off
attacks, or with making sallies upon other clans. Of the sixteen names included by tradition under the appellation 'judges,' nine are heroes belong ing to one clan or the other, of whom some mighty deeds are told; three (lbzan. Lion. and Abdon) represent clans rather than individuals; one (De borah) is a prophetess who by her influence brought about a great combination of clans for the attack upon a common enemy; another (Sam son) is a semi-mythical personage, totally differ ent in character from the other judges; a third (Eli) is essentially a priest; while Samuel is an influential 'seer.' It will be seen from this bow confusing it is to group these names together, and regard them as performing the same functions. According to tradition, the period covered by the 'judges' is 400 years. As a matter of fact. from the death of Moses to the days of Saul is not more than 250 years, and perhaps even somewhat less, See JUDGES, BOOK OF, and the articles on individual judges.