Judge

Appointed by the Persians

• Ezra 7:25

  And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.

Kings and other rulers as

• 2 Samuel 8:15

  And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

• 2 Samuel 15:2

  And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

• 1 Kings 3:16–28

  Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. …

• 1 Kings 10:9

  Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.

• 2 Kings 8:1–6

  Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years. And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land. …

• Psalms 72:1–4

  A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. …

• Matthew 27:11–26

  And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? …

• Acts 23:34

  And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

• Acts 23:35

  I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

• Acts 25:11

  For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cæsar.

• Acts 25:12

  Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? unto Cæsar shalt thou go.

Acts 24

Priests and Levites as

• Deuteronomy 17:9

  And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

• 2 Chronicles 19:8

  Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.

• Ezekiel 44:23

  And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

• Ezekiel 44:24

  And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

• Matthew 26:57–62

  And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; …

Women as, Deborah

• Judges 4:4

  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

Held circuit courts

• 1 Samuel 7:16

  And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.

Character of, and precepts relating to

• Exodus 18:21

  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

• Exodus 18:22

  And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

• Exodus 22:9

  For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

• Exodus 22:28

  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

• Leviticus 19:15

  Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

• Deuteronomy 1:12–17

  How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do. …

• Deuteronomy 16:18–20

  Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

• Deuteronomy 17:8–11

  If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: …

• Deuteronomy 19:16–19

  If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; …

• Deuteronomy 25:1–3

  If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

• 1 Samuel 2:25

  If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

• 1 Samuel 8:3

  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

• 1 Kings 3:9

  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

• 2 Chronicles 19:5–10

  And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. …

• Psalms 58:1

  To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

• Psalms 58:2

  Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

• Psalms 72:1

  A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

• Psalms 72:2

  He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.

• Psalms 72:4

  He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

• Psalms 72:12–14

  For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.

• Psalms 82:2–4

  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

• Proverbs 24:23

  These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

• Isaiah 5:22

  Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

• Isaiah 5:23

  Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

• Isaiah 28:5

  In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

• Isaiah 28:6

  And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

• Ezekiel 44:24

  And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

• Daniel 9:12

  And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

• Micah 7:3

  That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

• Zephaniah 3:3

  Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

• John 7:24

  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Corrupt, instances of

God as

Judges (outstanding leaders) of Israel

1. Othniel

• Judges 3:9–11

  And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim. And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

2. Ehud

• Judges 3:15–30

  But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. …

3. Shamgar

• Judges 3:31

  And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

4. Deborah

Judges 4, Judges 5

5. Gideon

• Judges 6:11–40

  And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. …

Judges 7, Judges 8

6. Abimelech

• Judges 9:1–54

  And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. …

7. Tola

• Judges 10:1

  And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.

• Judges 10:2

  And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

8. Jair

• Judges 10:3–5

  And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

9. Jephthah

• Judges 12:1–7

  And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands. And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me? …

Judges 11

10. Ibzan

• Judges 12:8–10

  And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel. And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Beth-lehem.

11. Elon

• Judges 12:11

  And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

• Judges 12:12

  And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

12. Abdon

• Judges 12:13

  And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

• Judges 12:14

  And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

13. Samson

Judges 13, Judges 14, Judges 15, Judges 16