During this period of more than 300 years, God periodically raised up judges to rescue and rule over Israel as the Israelites struggled with indigenous peoples over control of the land. In this issue we focus on a tumultuous time in ancient Israel's history, the era covered by the book of Judges.
Judges begins by describing the settlement of the Israelite tribes in Canaan.
The aged Joshua distributes the territory among the tribes. Then comes a period during which faithful elders who had lived over from Joshua's time governed Israel. When they died, no leader immediately succeeded them. A dangerous political void existed. Many among the younger generation, born in the land of Canaan, had largely forgotten the miracles accomplished during Moses' and Joshua's time.