The Judges’ Functions
Judges 3

Judges of Israel could be

saviors (deliverers) and redeemers (Gideon)

or mediators and administrators (Tola)

providers of rest and peace (Ehud and Jair)

or rude, petty dictators (Jephthah)

famous and powerful (Samson)

or hardworking yet unsung (Elon and Abdon)

leaders of the nation (Othniel and Deborah)

or local heroes (Shamgar and Ibzan)

Regardless of an individual judge's leadership style, each one demonstrated that God's judgment follows apostasy, while repentance brings restoration.