Gideon

The Israelites settled in their land, in the areas designated for each tribe. This tribal organization is reflected in the early period of settlement, the time of the “judges,” or tribal chieftains. Repeatedly, when Israel sinned, a neighboring nation would attack one or more Israelite tribes until the people turned back to God. God would then raise up a chieftain to defeat the enemy and ensure safety for the tribes. This repeating pattern emphasized the overall theme of the book of Judges: the welfare of Israel depends on fidelity to YHWH, Israel’s God. The book celebrates the heroism of these tribal leaders, but also plants the seeds for a new and more cohesive form of organization, the monarchy.