Judge: (Heb. shophet, pl. shophetim), properly a magistrate or ruler, rather
than one who judges in the sense of trying a cause. This is the name
given to those rulers who presided over the affairs of the Israelites
during the interval between the death of Joshua and the accession of
Saul
(Judges 2:18) a period of general anarchy and confusion. "The office
of judges or regents was held during life, but it was not hereditary,
neither could they appoint their successors. Their authority was
limited by the law alone, and in doubtful cases they were directed to
consult the divine King through the priest by Urim and Thummim
(Numbers 27:21) Their authority extended only over those tribes by whom
they had been elected or acknowledged. There was no income attached to
their office, and they bore no external marks of dignity. The only
cases of direct divine appointment are those of Gideon and Samson, and
the latter stood in the peculiar position of having been from before
his birth ordained 'to begin to deliver Israel.' Deborah was called to
deliver Israel, but was already a judge. Samuel was called by the Lord
to be a prophet but not a judge, which ensued from the high gifts the
people recognized as dwelling in him; and as to Eli, the office of
judge seems to have devolved naturally or rather ex officio upon him."
Of five of the judges, Tola
(Judges 10:1) Jair
(Judges 10:3) Ibzan,
Elon, and Abdon
(Judges 12:8-15) we have no record at all beyond the bare
fact that they were judges. Sacred history is not the history of
individuals but of the kingdom of God in its onward progress. In
(Exodus 2:14) Moses is so styled. This fact may indicate that while for
revenue purposes the "taskmasters" were over the people, they were yet,
just as at a later time when under the Romans, governed by their own
rulers.
