Old Testament Judges -- Have You Met Your Match? Quiz

Answer:

Othniel is the first of eleven men and one woman who served as a judge of Israel. He was the younger brother of Caleb and he led the Israelites to a spectacular military victory over Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia. See Judges 3:7-11.

Ehud was the second judge of Israel and his story is told in Judges 3:22-30. Interestingly, he is the only person in the entire Christian Bible who is named and described as being left handed. The passage in Judges 3 gives macabre details of Ehud stabbing to death Eglon, an extremely obese king of Moab.

Little is known about Shamgar with only Judges 3:31 making mention of him. The verse states Shamgar, the son of Anath, "killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel."

Deborah was the dynamic female judge of Israel and considerable space is given in Scripture to her exploits. In fact, all of chapters 4 and 5 of Judges are devoted to telling of her rule over Israel. She is perhaps best known for being the judge when the Israelites scored an incredible military victory over Sisera.

Similar to Deborah, considerable space is devoted in Scripture to the telling of the exploits of Gideon. In fact, Judges 5:11-40 and all of Chapters 6 and 7 are devoted to Gideon's life. According to Scripture, he led 300 men to a miraculous military victory over the Midianites. This, even though Gideon was often filled with doubt.

Little is known about Tola as he is mentioned in only two verses in the Book of Judges. Judges 10:1 states he was the son of Puah and he lived in the mountains of Ephraim. The following verse says Tola judged Israel for 23 years.

Jair replaced Tola as judge and served for 22 years. In the Book of Judges, Jair is mentioned in only three verses -- Judges 10:2-5. According to the verses, he had 30 sons and they rode on 30 donkeys. He was a Gileadite.

Jephthah's story is an interesting one indeed. According to Judges 11:1 he was the son of an unnamed prostitute. He served as judge of Israel for six years and is described in Scripture as "a mighty man of valour". However, he is best known for unknowingly sacrificing his daughter, his only child. Scripture tells of Jephthah making a vow with the Lord that if he was granted victory over the Ammonites in a military battle he would sacrifice whatever came out of the door of his house first. To his horror and dismay, his daughter was the first to come out of his house after he returned home from a big military victory.

Eli had the distinction of being both a high priest and judge of Israel. Despite his lofty titles, he had two sons described as "corrupt" in the NKJV and as "scoundrels" in the NIV. Scripture reports his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, had sexual relations with women who served at the entrance of the tabernacle of meeting. (See 1 Samuel 2.) Meanwhile, the fourth chapter of 1 Samuel tells of the Philistines capturing the ark of God and Hophni and Phinehas being killed in battle with Eli dying shortly afterwards.

Without question, the best known judge of Israel was none other than Samson. In fact, the story of Samson and his lover Delilah is one of the most colorful ones in the Old Testament. Scripture states Samson's long hair was the secret to strength that was without equal. When Samson's locks were cut by Delilah, he lost his power. And with his power lost, The Philistines were able to capture him.

Meanwhile, Zimri, Melchizedek, Abner, Nathan and Judah are all incorrect answers.

Zimri was a king of Israel and Melchizedek was a king of Salem and a "priest of the Most High God," as per Hebrews 5:11.

Judah was the son of Jacob and Leah.

Abner was the commander of Saul's army and he was murdered by Joab.

Nathan was a prophet who rebuked King David after he had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and then orchestrated the death of her husband Uriah.