Overview – Sefer Shofetim/0

Overview – Sefer Shofetim

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General Themes

Structure

Shofetim can be divided into three, an introduction (Chapters 1–2), stories of the various judges (Chapters 3–16), and various addendums (Chapters 17–21). The middle section seems to divide at Chapter 10, with Verses 6–16 serving as a transition between the two halves. For further analysis, see Structure – Sefer Shofetim.

Additionally, the book portrays a cycle of sin, punishment, redemption. Why does this cycle repeat itself?

Chronology

The chronology of the book is problematic, and features multiple issues:

• Did any of the judges overlap?
• When did the stories in Chapters 17–21 occur?
• When did the book occur in terms of absolute dates?

Parallels

• External mentions – Some of the judges are mentioned elsewhere in Tanakh. How do these mentions compare to what is told in Shofetim?
• Models of leadership – how do the Shofetim compare, generally and specifically, to other leaders in Tanakh, such as prophets and kings?

Other Motifs

• View of monarchy – The book seems conflicted regarding monarchy: the stories of Gideon and his family imply a negative view of kingship, while the repeated comment "אֵין מֶלֶךְ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל" shows the problem with anarchy.
• Individual tribes or a unified nation? Throughout the whole book one feels the tension between the various tribes, and one sees the problems with each tribe working alone, but also the disaster when everyone unites at פלגש בגבעה.

Individual Issues

Chapters 1–2: Introduction

• "מַלְאַךְ ה'‏" – Who or what was he?

Chapter 3: Otniel, Ehud, and Shamgar

• Who was Ehud? What was his position before the assassination of Eglon? Was he an ambassador, a tribal leader, or something else?
• Military, geographical, and realia analysis of the Ehud story – How did Ehud manage to assassinate Eglon and rally the people?

Chapters 4–5: Devorah and Barak

• Who were Devorah and Barak? What was the relationship between them? Was Devorah a judge?
• חֶבֶר הַקֵּינִי – Who were they, and how do they relate to the Midianites?
• Military, geographical, and realia analysis of the Devorah and Barak story
• Purpose of Devorah's song

Chapters 6–8: Gidon

• Parallels – Gidon and Shaul; Gidon and other reluctant appointments in Tanakh.
• Gidon's Testing of Hashem
• Military, geographical, and realia analysis of the Gidon story
• Inter-tribal rivalries – Gidon's relationship with the tribe of Menasheh, and with the cities of Sukkot and Penuel.

Chapter 9: Avimelekh

• Parallels – Botanical parallels in Tanakh; Sibling rivalries in Tanakh.
• Military, geographical, and realia analysis of the Avimelekh story

Chapter 10: Tola, Yair, and Intermission

• Heavenly admonition in Shofetim – Sefer Shofetim contains three heavenly admonitions directed at בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל in general: a revelation from a מַלְאַךְ in 2:1–4, the appearance of an אִישׁ נָבִיא in 6:8–10, and a direct revelation in 10:11–14. How do these revelations relate to each other, and why does each use a different medium?

Chapters 11–12: Yiftach

• Yiftach's character – Was Yiftach a leader of אֲנָשִׁים רֵיקִים‎ (11:3), or a spiritual leader granted רוּחַ ה'‏‎ (11:29)?
• Yiftach's Vow
• Military, geographical, and realia analysis of the Yiftach story

Chapters 13–16: Shimshon

• Parallels – Shimshon and Shemuel; Nezirut in Tanakh.
• Shimshon's character – Did Shimshon observe Halakha? Specifically, how could he marry Philistine wives?
• Military, geographical, and realia analysis of the Shimshon story

Chapters 17–18: Michah's Altar

• Private temples and priests in Tanakh
• What are "אֵפוֹד וּתְרָפִים"?
• Military, geographical, and realia analysis of the Michah story

Chapters 19–21: Concubine at Giv'ah

• Parallels to Sedom
• Military, geographical, and realia analysis of the Concubine at Giv'ah story