Conclusions to the Judges
The third and final section of Judges contains two conclusions mirroring the two introductions in an A-B-B'-A' pattern (a chiasm).
(A) The Crisis of Israel’s Inheritance: Land (1:1–2:5)
(B) The Crisis of Israel’s Faith: Idolatry (2:6–3:6)
(B') The Crisis of Israel’s Faith: Idolatry (17:1–18:31)
(A') The Crisis of Israel’s Inheritance: Tribe (19:1–21:25)
This structure highlights Israel’s ongoing infidelity to the Lord in the context of his repeated mercy. Even after God raises up twelve judges to deliver his people and secure rest for the land, Israel is unable to sustain repentance or to remove the Canaanites from the land of their inheritance. The scenes contained in this final section exemplify Israel’s total corruption. The people have not loved the Lord with all of their heart, soul, or strength but instead have pursued persistent idolatry (section B); they have not loved their neighbors as themselves but have become sodomites and murderers (section A). The theme of this third major section is summarized in the well-known fourfold statement that also follows an A-B-B'-A' pattern, with the longer statements at the beginning and end and the shorter statements in the middle:
(A) In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes (17:6).
(B) In those days there was no king in Israel (18:1).
(B') In those days, when there was no king in Israel (19:1).
(A') In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes (21:25).
The first conclusion contains three scenes that are divided by the summary statements appearing above. The second conclusion also contains three major scenes, but in this section the summary statements bracket the accounts, employing the literary device known as inclusio. Although the two conclusions contain discrete accounts, they have been constructed in such a way that requires them to be read together. They share many striking features in common:62
(1) Both conclusions contain a Levite as one of the central characters.
(2) In the first conclusion the Levite is from Bethlehem of Judah and travels to the hill country of Ephraim. In the second conclusion the Levite is from the hill country of Ephraim and travels to Bethlehem of Judah.
(3) Both conclusions end with a reference to Shiloh (18:31; 21:19, 21).
(4) Both conclusions contain two summary statements (see above), a long statement and a short statement in each (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).
(5) Both conclusions contain an act of war in which people are put to the ban (exterminated): the city of Laish (Dan) in the first conclusion and the cities of Benjamin along with the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead in the second conclusion.
(6) Both conclusions contain a reference to six hundred men of war from a particular tribe, from Dan (18:11) and from Benjamin (20:47).
In addition to there being no king in Israel at this time, neither do any judges appear in this final section. Without faithful leadership, the people are left to their own devices; this crisis becomes the background to the statement that “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”