17 Judges or Leaders of Israel »

1. OTHNIEL in Hebrew means: God is force – Tribe of Judah – 40 years of peace until he died – 1373BC-1334BC – Judges 3:9-11.
Othniel’s father Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb. Married Caleb’s daughter Achsa (Achsah), which in Hebrew means: serpent-charmer, because of a promise Caleb made to his troops.

2. EHUD in Hebrew means: strong. He was the 2nd Left handed son of Gera the Benjamite 1316BC-1237BC. Peace for 80 years. Judges 3:12-30.

3. SHAMGAR in Hebrew means: cupbearer, fleer – Tribe of Benjamite – ? years. Son of Anath Judges 3:31.

4. DEBORAH in Hebrew means: bee, wasp (prophetess) 40 years 1237BC-1198BC – Judges 4-5. Tribe of Ephraim. Wife of Lapidath.

4a. BARAK in Hebrew means: Lightning – Tribe of Naphtali. Asked to lead by Deborah but did not.

5. GIDEON in Hebrew means: Feeler, Hewer, also known as Jerub-Baal. Ruled or Judged Israel for 40 years – 1191BC-1151BC – Judges 6:1-8:35. Son of Joash which in Hebrew means: great warrior – Gideon was from the tribe of Manasseh. Jerub-Baal in Hebrew means: let baal contend.

6. ABIMELECH in Hebrew means: father of a king (bad) 3 years – 1151BC-1149BC. Judges 9:1-57 son of Gideon by a concubine – Tribe of Manasseh – Judge or King?

7. TOLA in Hebrew means: crimson/warm color – Tribe of Issachar – Ruled for 23 years 1149BC-1129BC. Judges 10:1-2.

8. JAIR the Gileadite in Hebrew means: JAH(GOD) enlightens 22 years 1126BC-1105BC Judges 10:3-5 Manasseh. 30 sons on 30 donkeys. The marriage of BOAZ and RUTH 1120BC approximately. See book the of Ruth. Ruth is the great grandmother of King David.

9. ELI ( at Shiloh) in Hebrew means: JAH is High – Levi-high priest 40 years 1107BC-1067BC not in Judges died at 98 1st Samuel 4:14-18 lead Israel for 40 years. Descent via Ithamar younger of Aaron’s 2 surviving sons Samuel took over from Eli.

10. JEPHTHAH the Gileadite in Hebrew means: opposer – 6 years 1087BC-1081BC, Judges 10:6-12:7. Son of Gilead and a harlot.

11. IBZAN of Bethlehem in Hebrew means: splendid – Tribe of Zebulun, ruled for 7 years – 1081BC-1073BC Judges 12:8-10 30 sons 30 daughters.

12. ELON the Zebulunite in Hebrew means: oak, strong – Tribe of Zebulun 10 years 1075BC-1063BC Judges 12:9-10.

13. ABDON in Hebrew means: service, servile – Tribe of Ephraim – 8 years 1063BC-1058BC Judges 12:13-15 son of Hillel the Pirathanite 40 sons and 30 grandsons on 70 asses or colts.

14. SAMSON in Hebrew means: distinguished, strong – Tribe of Dan 20 years, 1069BC-1049BC Judges 11-16 south west gates of Gaza, house of Dagon. Lady friend Delilah in Hebrew means: languishing – Trouble 2nd trouble Judges 17:1-21:24.

15. SAMUEL in Hebrew means: heard of God – Tribe of Levi, Birth 1105BC – ruled or Judged 1067BC-1020BC for 47 years, died at the age of 85 – 1 Samuel 3 (at Bethel, Gilgal, Mizpah) – one of the last judges and first in a line of prophets that lasted till Malachi and John the Baptist in New Testament. Anointed both Saul and David as kings.

16. JOEL (Vashni) in Hebrew means: JAH is God – 1st son, 1049BC-1043BC Both were so wicked, they were Judges in Beersheba, and Samuel was so old that Israel who wanted to be like the other nations asked for and got a king. So Samuel anointed Saul in 1043BC to be King. Then God asked Samuel later to anoint David as king.

17. ABIJAH (Abiah) in Hebrew means: JAH is Father – 2nd son. Both were so wicked, they were Judges in Beersheba, and Samuel was so old that Israel who wanted to be like the other nations asked for and got a king.
So Samuel anointed Saul in 1043BC to be King. Then God asked Samuel later to anoint David as king.


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