Judges 3–16 · 1 Samuel 1–8

The Judges of Israel

The twelve judges of the book of Judges, Eli, Samuel and his sons, with their families, tribes and the people around them.

Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition

Between Joshua and the kings, Israel was led by judges — leaders the LORD raised up to deliver the people from oppression, who then judged Israel. The book of Judges tells of twelve: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon and Samson. Judges 2:16–19 Judges 3:9–11

1 Samuel adds Eli, who "judged Israel forty years", and Samuel, who judged Israel all his life and appointed his sons Joel and Abijah as judges. Gideon's son Abimelech made himself king at Shechem but is not called a judge. 1 Samuel 4:18 1 Samuel 7:15 1 Samuel 8:1–3 Judges 9:6

Lists of "the judges" differ depending on whether they count only the twelve in Judges, add Eli and Samuel, or include others such as Abimelech. The order below is the order of the biblical account, not a reconstructed timeline; some periods may have overlapped. Judges 10:1–3 Judges 12:7–15

The judges in the order of the account

Othniel Judges 3:7–11 The Story of Othniel
The Spirit of the LORD came on Othniel; he went to war and prevailed over Cushan Rishathaim.
Oppressor
Cushan Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia — 8 years Judges 3:8
Recorded period
The land had rest 40 years Judges 3:11
Tribe or region
Judah (Caleb's family)
Family
Parents: Kenaz · Spouse: Achsah
Ehud Judges 3:12–30 The Story of Ehud
A left-handed Benjamite who killed Eglon and led Israel to subdue Moab.
Oppressor
Eglon, king of Moab — 18 years Judges 3:14
Recorded period
The land had rest 80 years Judges 3:30
Tribe or region
Benjamin (tribe stated: Benjamin)
Family
Parents: Gera
Shamgar Judges 3:31 The Story of Shamgar
Struck down six hundred Philistines with an ox goad; Deborah's song recalls "the days of Shamgar" (Judges 5:6).
Oppressor
The Philistines
Tribe or region
Not recorded
Family
Parents: Anath
Deborah Judges 4–5 The Story of Deborah
A prophetess who judged Israel; she called Barak to battle, and Jael killed Sisera.
Oppressor
Jabin, king of Canaan, and his commander Sisera — 20 years Judges 4:3
Recorded period
The land had rest 40 years Judges 5:31
Tribe or region
Hill country of Ephraim
Family
Spouse: Lappidoth
Gideon Judges 6–8 The Story of Gideon
Called while threshing in hiding; defeated Midian with three hundred men and refused to be king.
Oppressor
Midian — 7 years Judges 6:1
Recorded period
The land had rest 40 years Judges 8:28
Tribe or region
Manasseh (Abiezrite clan) (tribe stated: Manasseh)
Family
Parents: Joash · Spouses: Gideon's wives, Gideon's concubine in Shechem · 4 children recorded
Abimelech son of Gideon ruler, not called a judge Judges 9 The Story of Abimelech son of Gideon
Gideon's son by his concubine; killed his brothers and was made king at Shechem. Judges does not call him a judge.
Recorded period
Prince over Israel 3 years Judges 9:22
Tribe or region
Shechem
Family
Parents: Gideon, Gideon's concubine in Shechem
Tola Judges 10:1–2 The Story of Tola
Arose "to save Israel" after Abimelech.
Recorded period
Judged Israel 23 years Judges 10:2
Tribe or region
Issachar; lived in Shamir in Ephraim (tribe stated: Issachar)
Family
Parents: Puah
Jair Judges 10:3–5 The Story of Jair
Had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys and held thirty towns.
Recorded period
Judged Israel 22 years Judges 10:3
Tribe or region
Gilead
Family
1 child recorded
Jephthah Judges 10:6–12:7 The Story of Jephthah
Driven out by his half-brothers, recalled to fight Ammon; his vow cost him his only child.
Oppressor
The Ammonites — 18 years Judges 10:8
Recorded period
Judged Israel 6 years Judges 12:7
Tribe or region
Gilead
Family
Parents: Gilead, Jephthah's mother · 1 child recorded
Ibzan Judges 12:8–10 The Story of Ibzan
Arranged marriages outside his clan for his thirty sons and thirty daughters.
Recorded period
Judged Israel 7 years Judges 12:9
Tribe or region
Bethlehem
Family
2 children recorded
Elon Judges 12:11–12 The Story of Elon
Buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
Recorded period
Judged Israel 10 years Judges 12:11
Tribe or region
Zebulun (tribe stated: Zebulun)
Family
Family details not recorded in the cited passages.
Abdon Judges 12:13–15 The Story of Abdon
Had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode seventy donkeys.
Recorded period
Judged Israel 8 years Judges 12:14
Tribe or region
Pirathon in Ephraim (tribe stated: Ephraim)
Family
Parents: Hillel · 1 child recorded
Samson Judges 13–16 The Story of Samson
A Nazirite from birth whose strength the LORD gave; betrayed by Delilah, he died bringing down the temple of Dagon.
Oppressor
The Philistines — 40 years Judges 13:1
Recorded period
Judged Israel 20 years Judges 16:31
Tribe or region
Dan (Zorah) (tribe stated: Dan)
Family
Parents: Manoah, Manoah's wife · Spouse: The woman of Timnah

Judges in 1 Samuel

Eli 1 Samuel 1–4 The Story of Eli
Priest at Shiloh who raised Samuel; died when he heard the ark was taken.
Oppressor
The Philistines
Recorded period
Judged Israel 40 years 1 Samuel 4:18
Tribe or region
Shiloh
Family
2 children recorded
Samuel 1 Samuel 1–12 The Story of Samuel
Prophet and judge who anointed Saul and David.
Oppressor
The Philistines
Recorded period
Judged Israel all the days of his life 1 Samuel 7:15
Tribe or region
Ramah; circuit of Bethel, Gilgal and Mizpah (tribe stated: Levi)
Family
Parents: Elkanah, Hannah · 2 children recorded
Joel son of Samuel 1 Samuel 8:1–3 The Story of Joel son of Samuel
Samuel's firstborn, made judge with his brother Abijah; they took bribes and perverted justice.
Tribe or region
Beersheba
Family
Parents: Samuel · 1 child recorded
Abijah son of Samuel 1 Samuel 8:1–3 The Story of Abijah son of Samuel
Samuel's second son, judge with Joel at Beersheba.
Tribe or region
Beersheba
Family
Parents: Samuel

People in the judges’ stories

Barak military associate of Deborah
Son of Abinoam from Kedesh Naphtali, who led Israel's army against Sisera at Deborah's call.
Jabin opponent of Deborah
King of Canaan who reigned in Hazor in Deborah's day; Joshua 11 records an earlier Jabin of Hazor
Eglon opponent of Ehud
King of Moab who oppressed Israel eighteen years
Joash father of Gideon
Joash the Abiezrite, father of Gideon; not King Joash of Judah
Jotham son of Gideon; half-brother of Abimelech son of Gideon; opponent of Abimelech son of Gideon
Youngest son of Gideon, who escaped Abimelech; not King Jotham of Judah
Manoah father of Samson
A Danite of Zorah, father of Samson, to whom the angel of the LORD appeared.
Delilah opponent of Samson
Woman of the valley of Sorek whom Samson loved, who handed him over to the Philistines.
Achsah wife of Othniel
Daughter of Caleb; wife of Othniel
Hannah mother of Samuel
Mother of Samuel, who prayed for a son and dedicated him to the LORD.
Hophni son of Eli
Son of Eli; priest at Shiloh
Phinehas son of Eli
Son of Eli; priest at Shiloh; not Phinehas son of Eleazar
Jael
Wife of Heber the Kenite, who killed Sisera in her tent.
Sisera
Commander of the army of Jabin king of Canaan, defeated by Barak and killed by Jael.
Micah
Man of the hill country of Ephraim who kept an idol and a hired Levite; not the prophet Micah

From the Judges to the Kings

Key passages

Judges 2:6–23 Judges 3–16 1 Samuel 1–8 Hebrews 11:32

Every relationship here comes from a cited passage. Solid lines are stated parent links; dashed lines mean generations are not all listed; dotted lines mark legal or adoptive parents; a question mark marks a disputed or interpretive link. Political succession and office are never drawn as family.