The Judges of Israel

Judge

Years of Judging

Memorable Act(s)

Reference

Othniel

40

He captured a powerful Canaanite city

Judges 3:7-11

Ehud

80

He killed Eglon and defeated the Moabites

Judges 3:12-30

Shamgar

unrecorded

He killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad

Judges 3:31

Deborah (w/Barak)

40

She defeated Sisera and the Canaanites and later sang a victory song with Barak

Judges 4, 5

Gideon

40

He destroyed his family idols, used a fleece to determine God's will, raised an army of 10,000, and defeated 135,000 Midianites with 300 soldiers

Judges 6-8

Tola

23

He judged Israel for 23 years

Judges 10:1, 2

Jair

22

He had 30 sons

Judges 10:3-5

Jephthah

6

He made a rash vow, defeated the Ammonites, and later battled jealous Ephraim

Judges 10:6–12:7

Ibzan

7

He had 30 sons and 30 daughters

Judges 12:8-10

Elon

10

unrecorded

Judges 12:11, 12

Abdon

8

He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, each of whom had his own donkey

Judges 12:13-15

Samson

20

He was a Nazirite, killed a lion with his bare hands, burned the Philistine wheat fields, killed 1,000 Philistines with a donkey's jawbone, tore off an iron gate, was betrayed by Delilah, and destroyed thousands of Philistines in one last mighty act

Judges 13–16