The seventh book of the Bible. It is thus called because it relates the deeds of those temporary leaders who, under the name of "Judges" (practically they were dictators), ruled over a part at least of the Tribes of Israel, between the death of Josue and the days of Samuel. The book may be divided as follows:

The purpose of the author is evidently to illustrate this truth which is the key to the whole history of the Jewish people, viz., that their apostasies are invariably punished and their fidelity to God invariably rewarded.