Take our book of Judges quiz right now to see how much you know about the 12 Judges of Israel. The Book of Judges is a Deuteronomic historical book found in the Old Testament. It is the seventh book in the Holy Bible.
The book chronicles the tale of the Israelites after Joshua’s death, and how they beat their adversaries when they followed God’s instructions, but were crushed and afflicted when they sinned against the Holy One. The title of the book refers to the Israelites’ leaders during this period when they lacked a monarch.
The book can be broken down into six sections: 1) A look back at the history of the office of Judge, 2) The five Judges, 3) Gideon, 4) The six Judges, 5) Samson, and 6) Israel’s confusion and distress.
The book focusing on the Israelite leaders describes the tragedies that might result when individuals make their own rules rather than following a set of moral guidelines. “There was no king in Israel in those days,” the Book of Judges notes twice, “but every man did what was right in his own sight” (Judges 17:6, 21:25).
Yahweh’s sovereignty is a key theme in the book, as is the need of being devoted to the Almighty and His laws above all other deities and rulers. Indeed, the judges’ authority is derived from the Spirit of God, rather than through prominent bloodlines, elections, or nominations.
The Book of Judges Quiz
The 12 judges in the Bible were the following: Othniel (1373-1334 B.C.), Ehud (1316-1237 B.C.), Shamgar (1262-1247 B.C.), Deborah (1237-1198 B.C.), Gideon (1191-1151 B.C.), Tola (1149-1126 B.C.), Jair (1126-1105 B.C.), Jephthah (1087-1081 B.C.), Ibzan (1081-1075 B.C.), Elon (1075-1065 B.C.), Abdon (1065-1058 B.C.), and Samson (1069-1049 B.C.).
Questions about the judges of Israel are included below. These questions can be used in a Sunday school or bible study setting to assist all new believers in studying the scriptures. Let’s see how much you know about the Judges of Israel.
Take this quiz, and don’t forget to share it with your family and friends once you’ve finished, so they can also get to know more about the judges of Israel. May God continue to bless you.
Results
#1. Othniel was the first judge of Israel. To which famous Bible personality was he closely related?
Othniel was the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother (Judges 1:13).
#2. Who was the judge described as "a Benjamite, a left-handed man," who killed Eglon, the King of Moab, by bringing tribute into the palace and then assassinating the king sitting in his cool private chamber?
Ehud was the son of Gera of the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe of Israel. He governed the longest of all the judges, 80 years.
#3. Gideon assembled 32,000 troops to confront Israel's foes, but God told him he didn't need that many. How many men did actually fight the Midianites?
Gideon was instructed by God to approach the opposing camp and surround them, then to light their torches and blow trumpets. As a result of Gideon’s actions, the Midianites battled amongst themselves before fleeing.
Judges 7:22
“And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath”
#4. God, according to His word, gave the Israelites victory against the Canaanites' army when Deborah was the Judge. Sisera, the Canaanite commander, fled and took refuge in the tent of Heber, a Canaanite ally. Heber's wife, on the other hand, killed Sisera in the tent. What was her name, exactly?
Jael waited until Sisera was sound asleep before inserting a tent peg into his temples.
“Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.” Judges 4:21
The Song of Deborah, which may be found in Chapter 5 of the Book of Judges, praises Jael for her assistance.
#5. After Ehud's reign, the Israelites rebelled against God once more. God punished them by allowing the Canaanite King Jabin to afflict them for a period of 20 years. What distinguished the 4th Judge, who assisted in the defeat of the Canaanites?
Deborah was the fourth judge, who was a prophetess, judge, and warrior. She urged Israel’s men to battle the Canaanites, promising that God would provide them victory. She fought to defeat Jabin the king of Canaan.
Judges 4:6-7
“And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand”
#6. The Israelites were once again harassed by adversaries, this time the Ammonites. Jephthah, the Judge who fought the Ammonites, pledged to God before the battle that if he triumphed, he would sacrifice the first thing he saw when he came back home. When he arrived after winning the war, what's the first thing he saw?
On Jephthah’s return, his only daughter rushed to greet him. Jephthah loved his daughter and extended her life by two months, but he honored his promise to God.
Judges 11:39-40
“And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, that the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year”
#7. Samson was a powerful man and an Israelite Judge. What gave him his strength?
Samson was a Nazarite, which meant he had committed to God that he would never consume alcohol, touch a carcass, or cut his hair. His strength would weaken if he violated his pledge. As an angel of God told his parents, Samson was destined to be a Nazarite from the time he was born
#8. This judge had thirty sons, each of whom rode thirty donkeys, and they owned thirty cities in Gilead?
Jair was a person of great riches and power.
Judges 10:3-4
He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair.
#9. In the Book of Judges, how many judges are mentioned?
Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tolah, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson were the names of the judges. Although some consider Abimelech to be the 13th judge, he is not traditionally listed among the judges and is considered a usurper.
#10. This judge had 30 sons and 30 daughters, which gave him huge influence as he arranged marriages for them outside his clan, creating alliances with other Israelites.
Ibzan was a socially well-known and wealthy judge of Israel who hailed from the tribe of Benjamin.
#11. The name of this judge from the tribe of Zebulun means "oak tree" or "strong".
Judges 12:11-12
After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. Then Elon died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
#12. With an oxgoad, this judge killed 600 Philistines and saved Israel.
Judges 3:31
After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel.
#13. The name of this judge means "Crimson Worm" or "Scarlet Stuff". He succeeded Abimelech, who was the son of Gideon's concubine, whose three-year reign of terror threw Israel into chaos.
Judges 10:1-2
After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.
#14. This judge had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 ass colts or donkeys. He was the 11th judge of Israel.
Abdon was very affluent and influential. He restored order in Israel after the catastrophic civil war between the Gileadites and Ephraimites. He led Israel eight years.
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