Old Testament Judge and King.
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Judges and kings are definitely different, though the difference appears to be quite subtle. In 1 Samuel 8, when Samuel is old, the people of Israel demand that he appoint a king to judge them, "like the other nations". God was Israel's king, but they had rejected Him.
Clearly He was not pleased with their demand, but He didn't seem to have a problem with raising up judges.
Clearly He was not pleased with their demand, but He didn't seem to have a problem with raising up judges.
Because the Israelites did not obey God perfectly in the matter of cleaning out their (and God's) enemies from the land of Canaan, they were constantly troubled by them. Therefore God gave them *deliverers* or *saviors* to ward off their enemies, called judges [שֹֽׁפְטִ֑ים (šō-p̄ə-ṭîm or shophetim)].
These were NOT kings, and were not given rule over Israel, since God was their King. But they were governors or judges given extraordinary powers (e.g. Samson) or extraordinary help (e.g. Gideon) to overcome their enemies.
Strong's Concordance
shaphat: to judge, govern
Original Word: שָׁפַט
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shaphat
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-fat')
Definition: to judge, govern
Thanks so much Dino!
I was wondering what would be the list of duties of a king verses the duties of the judges.
Thanks so much Nehemiah6, But doesn't a governor or judge kind of rule over the people. What would be a list of duties that would describe the differences between the two? Thanks so much!
The time of judges came before kings ruled Israel; in the texts it says the judges ruled Israel.
Judges ruled Israel for a period of time that was about 325 to 350 years (beginning around 1400 - 1350 B.C.)
1. Othniel ruled 40 years; Judges 3:9-11
2. Ehud ruled 80 years; Judges 3:15-30
3. Shamgar; Judges 3:31 and Judges 5:6
4. Deborah/Barak ruled 40 years; Judges 4:4-5:31
5. Gideon ruled 40 years; Judges 6:11-8:32
6. Abimelech ruled 3 years; Judges 9:1-57
7. Tola ruled 23 years; Judges 10:1-2
8. Jair ruled 22 years; Judges 10:3-5
9. Jephthah ruled 6 years; Judges 11:1-12:7
10. Ibzan ruled 7 years; Judges 12:8-10
11. Elon ruled 10 years; Judges 12:11-12
12. Abdon ruled 8 years; Judges 12:13-15
13. Samson ruled 20 years; Judges 13:1-16:31
14. Eli ruled 40 years; 1 Sam 1:1-4:18
15. Samuel ruled about 12 years uSaul was anointed as Israel's first king
Does that help?
Judges ruled Israel for a period of time that was about 325 to 350 years (beginning around 1400 - 1350 B.C.)
1. Othniel ruled 40 years; Judges 3:9-11
2. Ehud ruled 80 years; Judges 3:15-30
3. Shamgar; Judges 3:31 and Judges 5:6
4. Deborah/Barak ruled 40 years; Judges 4:4-5:31
5. Gideon ruled 40 years; Judges 6:11-8:32
6. Abimelech ruled 3 years; Judges 9:1-57
7. Tola ruled 23 years; Judges 10:1-2
8. Jair ruled 22 years; Judges 10:3-5
9. Jephthah ruled 6 years; Judges 11:1-12:7
10. Ibzan ruled 7 years; Judges 12:8-10
11. Elon ruled 10 years; Judges 12:11-12
12. Abdon ruled 8 years; Judges 12:13-15
13. Samson ruled 20 years; Judges 13:1-16:31
14. Eli ruled 40 years; 1 Sam 1:1-4:18
15. Samuel ruled about 12 years uSaul was anointed as Israel's first king
Does that help?
A judge is accountable to the king, but the king is accountable to God (and despots are accountable to no one). Governors have limited powers, but up until very recently kings had almost unlimited powers. Study Daniel. In any event, when you go through the book of Judges, it is more about delivering Israel than judging Israel.Thanks so much Nehemiah6, But doesn't a governor or judge kind of rule over the people. What would be a list of duties that would describe the differences between the two? Thanks so much!
Thanks Magenta! I'm studying Judges right now and we were asked a question what the difference is between the two. There's a scripture that says, "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes, because there was no king." That's why we have the question.
Thanks again Nehemiah. I'm studying Judges right now and we were asked a question what the difference is between the two. There's a scripture that says, "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes, because there was no king." That's why we have the question.
Had the Israelites kept in mind that God was their King, they would have done what He commanded. Instead the went after idols and paid the price. The judges were there to simply deliver them from their enemies, but in the end they clamored for a human king, and paid the price for that.
Judges as those sent (apostles. . "sent ones" ) as prophets . .Those who declare the word of God. (prophesying) were used to represent the King of kings and Lord of lords.
The unbelieving faithless, atheistic Jews became jealous of the surrounding pagan nation that did not walk by faith in respect to our unseen King in heaven .
They did not reject Samuel seen as king, But did reject our unseen King of kings .Revealing they had no faith that comes from hearing our unseen King
And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them 1 Samuel 8:7
God in his foreknowledge gave them over temporally to do what they should not. Appoint, a human respresetive to stand in the holy unseen place of our king in heaven as a abomination of desolation .
The time of reformation came and that period time with Kings in Israel used as a parable fulfilled its desire the many shadows became sight . This was in order To restore the government of God .It was restored to the period of Judges as prophesied in Joel . Men and woman children alike prophets sent from all nations of the world, as a new kingdom of priest holding out the gospel .
jewish men were no allowed to participate in the ceremonies. Just like the gentile were forbidden. The 15 foot walls that separated Jewish woman from men, and another wall that separated the Jews from the gentiles were broken down never to rise again.
Giving Jew and gentiles. . men and woman a new ordnance using multiple symbols (1 Corinthians 11) that they could celebrate together as one representative glory of the unseen holy place .The new heaven and earth
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
You are welcome, Desertsrose
Their problem was always not wanting to follow God, which is why they asked for a king, even despite their last judge (Samuel) telling them that a king would basically enslave them and take all the best of everything from them, which he (Saul) did. God told Samuel their rejection was not of Samuel but of God Himself. Judges' heirs did not automatically inherit the rule of the kingdom, while king's heirs generally did. Deuteronomy 16 is where judges are introduced. 18 Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. 19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. 20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. Cases that were too difficult to judge were taken to the priest.
In Deuteronomy 17 God says, 14 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
In Deuteronomy 18 we are told, 14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”
17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
Jesus fulfilled the roles of priest, judge, prophet and king
Judges were appointed in dire times to deliver the people after a cycle of sin, judgment, oppression.....God would raise up a judge, deliver the people and as long as the judge was alive seemed to to the proverbial line, then they would apostate, be judged, oppressed by a wicked kingdom around them, suffer oppression for a while, beg God to be delivered and he would raise up another judge......A judge did not have the same authority that a KING held.......to see what a KING would do, which GOD told them when they rejected GOD as king over them is found right before Saul is chosen.....
Taxes
Required Military service
Seizure of lands, crops etc.
Go list them....a good study on what a KING will require
Very, very well done Magenta, great research, i think that you nailed it!You are welcome, Desertsrose
Deuteronomy 16 is where judges are introduced. 18 Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. 19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. 20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. Cases that were too difficult to judge were taken to the priest.
In Deuteronomy 17 God says, 14 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
In Deuteronomy 18 we are told, 14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”
17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
Jesus fulfilled the roles of priest, judge, prophet and king
You are welcome, Desertsrose
Deuteronomy 16 is where judges are introduced. 18 Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. 19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. 20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you. Cases that were too difficult to judge were taken to the priest.
In Deuteronomy 17 God says, 14 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
In Deuteronomy 18 we are told, 14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.”
17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
Jesus fulfilled the roles of priest, judge, prophet and king
That's really great research Magenta! Thank you so much!
Judges are prophets as those sent to bring the gospel as old testament apostles (sent of God) .
Kings, the pagan foundation of this world are also referred fathers or princes. They are recognized as faithless as those who see no evil in making the word of God to no effect . . so that they can rather in exchange serve their own flesh. (we will not hearken unto thee.)
As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. Jerimiah 44:16- 17
The witness of men.
God whose witness is as it is written is greater. He gave over the unbelieving Jew who because of their jealousy of the surrounding pagan nations to do that which they should not of. They rejected walking by faith. . in respect to a invisible King of kings.
It was description of the abomination of desolation standing in the place of faith by which alone we can believe God .Again giving that over to what the eyes see.
When the time of reformation came the time period of Judges as believer today showed. . The reforming, restoring work of all things written in the law and the prophets (sola scriptura).it as it is written made the things of men "fathers, our kings, and our princes" without effect.
Joel spoke of the time period restored to the previous order of Government under the Judges as prophets and apostles . After the new priesthood of believers . When all flesh. . no longer the flesh of a Jew. . . men and woman from all nations just as in the time of judges They were sent out prophesying with the gospel as apostles.
Acts 2:15-17 King James Version (KJV) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: