This is part of the Classic Bible: Favorite Stories & Passages series. Read more from the series!

In my current Bible reading plan, the Old Testament books of history form one of the longest lists, along with the Old Testament books of prophecy. As a result, it takes me longer to get through these lists than it does the rest.

And, let’s face it, some of the OT history books get pretty repetitive, such as the books of Chronicles.

But the book of Judges is different. This book details some of the earliest history of the nation of Israel after they entered the Promised Land, before God gave the people a king. The leaders that God raised up were, well, judges. And their stories are pretty interesting.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Ehud – Judges 3:12-30

Ehud was one of the earliest judges, who led the Israelites against the Moabites. By some trickery, he gained access to King Eglon, who was very fat, and killed him. The story tells us that Eglon’s fat completely swallowed Ehud’s sword. Leaving the palace, Ehud closed the doors to Eglon’s inner chambers, causing his servants to think he was in the bathroom. They waited to the “point of embarrassment” before realizing that Eglon was dead, but by then, Ehud was long gone.

Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. – Judges 3:15

Deborah – Judges 4

Deborah led the Israelites after Ehud, with Shamgar in between. During her leadership, a Canaanite king, whose army was commanded by Sisera, was oppressing Israel. Through Deborah’s leadership, Sisera’s army was routed, and Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite. As Sisera rested in her tent, Jael took a hammer and drove a tent peg through his head and into the ground, killing him.

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. – Judges 4:4-5

Gideon’s Fleece – Judges 6:36-40

Perhaps the best known story of Gideon is his test of the fleece. In order to be sure that God was with him, he asked God to prove himself. He placed a fleece out on the ground, asking God to settle dew overnight only on the fleece, not the ground around it. The next day, he asked God again, this time asking that the dew be on the ground and not on the fleece. God verified that he was with Gideon,and Gideon went ahead to lead the Israelites.

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised — look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” – Judges 6:36-37

Gideon’s 300 – Judges 7

The stories about Gideon take up more space than most of the rest of the judges. Another of my favorites is the story of how God conquered the Midianites. Gideon requited 32,000 men to fight, but God pared that number down to 300. Using only trumpets, empty jars, and torches, God destroyed the Midianites.

The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. – Judges 7:20-21

Jephthah’s Foolish Vow – Judges 11:29-40

One of the most unfortunate stories in the book of Judges is about Jephthah. During his leadership, the Israelites faced danger from the Ammonites. Jephthah foolishly vowed to God that if he would help Jephthah conquer the Ammonites, Jephthah would sacrifice the first thing out of the door upon his return home as a burnt offering. Jephthah devastated the Ammonites. But when he got home, his daughter was first out of the door to greet him. So sad.

When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.” – Judges 11:35

Samson – Judges 13-16

Samson is probably the best known person from this time period of Israelite history. With his long hair and is supernatural strength, he led the nation of Israel against the Philistines for twenty years. He killed numerous Philistines before Delilah finally figured out the source of his strength and betrayed him. The Philistines shaved his head and blinded him. But his hair began to grow. Finally, the brought him out to a public place to entertain themselves. Samson grabbed two of the pillars supporting the building and pulled them down, killing more of his enemies with his death than he had while alive.

Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. – Judges 15:15

The Saddest Passages in Judges – Judges 17:6 and 21:25

The most disheartening sentence in the entire book is repeated twice. Everyone in Israel did as they saw fit. With no cohesive leadership, they were a nation lost to themselves, and it didn’t take much to cause them to fall away from following God. Judge after judge called them to repentance and led them in God’s ways. But each time, they fell away and stopped following God. Relativism was rampant; each person did as they saw fit. But a strong leader was soon to come. It wouldn’t be long before Samuel arrived to lead Israel like no on else could. So, while this verse is sad, a change for the better was coming.

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. – Judges 21:25

What are your favorite stories from the book of Judges? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.