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The Cycle of Sin in Judges

When a generation tolerates sin, the next generation will celebrate it, and the next generation after them won’t even know it’s sin (J. C. Ryle 1816-1900).

The cycles of oppression and restoration under the judges cover the Chapters 3:7 to 16:31. This section is built around a five-part cycle as follows: rebellion, retribution, repentance, restoration, and rest.

Rebellion: With the rise of a new generation, there is apostasy and disobedience to the Torah, usually by means of idolatry.

Retribution: A divine judgment would come to Isra’el by means of slavery to her enemies.

Repentance: Retribution is followed by Isra’el’s cry to ADONAI for help.

Restoration: ADONAI would raise up a judge to deliver Isra’el by means of a successful war. Restoration would begin a period of rest, and a new cycle would begin.

Rest: Consists of a period when Isra’el is obedient and enjoying peace, usually during the rule of a judge, beginning with the last years of Joshua.

The book describes a total of seven cycles (see Genesis, to see link click Ae – The Number Seven), each with five parts as seen above. With a total of twelve judges, there were actually twelve cycles, but the author does not detail all twelve cycles, only seven. The first cycle is the oppression by the Mesopotamians and the deliverance through Othniel (see Ap – The First Cycle: Othniel); the second cycle is the oppression by Mo’ab, and the deliverance by Ehud (see Aq – The Second Cycle: Ehud); the third cycle is the oppression by the Philistines and the deliverance by Shamgar in 3:31 (see Ar – The Third Cycle: Shamgar); the fourth cycle is the oppression by the Canaanites, and the deliverance through Deborah (see As – The Fourth Cycle: Deborah and Barak); the fifth cycle is the oppression of the Midianites and the deliverance through Gideon (see Ay – The Fifth Cycle: Gideon); the sixth cycle is the oppression of the Ammonites and the deliverance through Jephthah (see Bn – The Sixth Cycle: Jephthah); the seventh cycle is the oppression of the Philistines and the deliverance through Samson in Chapters 13 to 16 (see Bt – The Seventh Cycle: Samson).3 There is a downward moral progression in each of the judges whose reign if detailed.