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INTRODUCTION
(1) 11–25. A brief account of the conquests and settlements of the Israelite tribes in Canaan.
11–21. The southern tribes; Judah, Caleb, the Kenites, Simeon, Benjamin.
122–29. The central tribes; Joseph (Manasseh, Ephraim).
130–33. The northern tribes; Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali.
134–35. Dan's settlements in the west.
136. The southern border.
21–5. The Angel of Yahweh reproves the Israelites for sparing the inhabitants of the land, and foretells the consequences.
(2) 26–1631. The history of Israel in the days of the Judges.
26–36. Introduction: The religious interpretation and judgement of the whole period as a recurring cycle of defection from Yahweh, subjugation, and deliverance.—The nations which Yahweh left in Palestine.
36–l631. The stories of the Judges and their heroic deeds.
37–11. Othniel delivers Israel from Cushan-rishathaim, King of Aram-naharaim.
312–30. Ehud kills Eglon, King of Moab, and liberates Israel.
331. Shamgar kills six hundred Philistines.
4. Deborah and Barak deliver Israel from the Canaanites; the defeat and death of Sisera.
5. Triumphal ode, celebrating this victory.
6–8. Gideon rids Israel of the Midianites.
9. Abimelech, the son of Gideon, King of Shechem.
101–5. Tola; Jair.
106–18. The moral of the history repeated and enforced; preface to a new period of oppression.
111–127. Jephthah delivers Gilead from the Ammonites; he punishes the Ephraimites.
128–15. Ibzan, Elon, Abdon.
13–16. The adventures of Samson, and the mischief he does the Philistines.
(3) 17–21. Two additional stories of the times of the Judges.
17, 18. Micah's idols; the migration of the Danites, and foundation of the sanctuary at Dan.
19–21. The outrage committed by the inhabitants of Gibeah upon the Levite's concubine. The vengeance of the Israelites, ending in the almost complete extermination of the tribe of Benjamin.
Chapters 26–1631 constitute the body of the work, to which alone the title, Book of Judges, in strictness applies. Ch. 17–21
