Terry L. Brensinger explains the ups and downs of the Israelites
during the period of the Judges. By tracing developments under
each judge, he shows how Israel's condition deteriorates to
near-total chaos. The book of Judges begins with depictions of
Israel's obedience and faithfulness but ends with disunited and
leaderless tribes. The people tend to take their focus away from
serving the Lord. Instead, they follow other gods, seek false
security, and do what is right in their own eyes. By exploring
the circumstances behind this decline, Brensinger provides
practical applications for such contemporary issues as religious
unfaithfulness, the nature of community, the roles and
responsibilities of leaders, and war and violence. The book
presents essays expanding on themes useful for teaching,
preaching, and Bible study; bibliographies; charts; a map for
Judges; and an index of ancient sources. "Believers church"
refers to churches in the Anabaptist heritage of faith. Judges
is the 12th commentary to appear in th