Last Judge of Israel in the Book of Judges
The Book of Judges recounts a period in Israelite history when the nation was led by a series of divinely appointed leaders known as judges. While the book itself lists several judges, the question of who was the "last judge" often refers to the transition from this period to the monarchy.
The book of Judges concludes with the observation that "in those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes" [5, 8]. This statement is often used to describe the chaotic conditions that prevailed before the establishment of the monarchy. The judges mentioned in the book include figures like Ehud [4], Ibzan [1, 6], and Elon [6]. Ibzan, for instance, judged Israel for seven years and was buried in Bethlehem [6]. Some Jewish traditions, such as those recorded by Josephus, suggest Ibzan was from the tribe of Judah [9].
However, when considering the "last judge" in the broader biblical narrative, Samuel is frequently identified as the final judge before the kingship was established. The prophet Samuel served as a judge throughout his life [2]. The book of 1 Samuel describes him as an old man who appointed his sons as his lieutenants, though they were not considered judges "in the proper sense of the word" [2]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that a significant Passover celebration during the reign of King Josiah had not been observed with such fervor "from the days of the judges that judged Israel," specifically mentioning Samuel as the last of the judges [3]. Rashi, a prominent medieval Jewish commentator, also connects this passage in 2 Kings to Samuel, stating that Samuel was the last of the judges [7]. This perspective highlights Samuel's pivotal role in leading Israel and preparing the way for the monarchy.
Sources
- Judges “After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. -- Judges 12:8”
- 1 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Samuel 8:1: When Samuel was old - Supposed to be about sixty. He made his sons judges - He appointed them as his lieutenants to superintend certain affairs in Beer-sheba, which he could not conveniently attend to himself. But they were never judges in the proper sense of the word; Samuel was the last judge in Israel, and he judged it to the day of his death. See Sa1 7:16.”
- 2 Kings (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Kings 23:21: Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel,.... As the king commanded; the people obeyed and kept the passover, according to the law of the Lord; the manner of its being kept is not here recorded, but is at large in Ch2 35:1 where it is observed there had not been such an one from the days of Samuel, the last of the judges; so that the days of the judges here mean the last days of them: nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah; since the division of the kingdoms; for as for the kings of I”
- Judges (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Judges 4 (introduction): DEBORAH AND BARAK DELIVER ISRAEL FROM JABIN AND SISERA. (Jdg. 4:1-17) The children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead--The removal of the zealous judge Ehud again left his infatuated countrymen without the restraint of religion.”
- Judges (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Judges 21:25: In those days there was no king in Israel,.... No supreme magistrate, Joshua being dead, and as yet no judge in Israel had risen up; for all related in the five last chapters of this book were done between the death of Joshua and the time of the judges: every man did that which was right in his own eyes; there being none to restrain him from it, or punish him for it; and this accounts for the many evil things related, as the idolatry of Micah and the Danites, the base usage of the Levite's concubine, the extreme rigour and severity with which the Israelites treated”
- Judges (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Judges 12:10: Then died Ibzan, and was buried in Bethlehem. He died at the end of his seven years of government, and was buried in his native place; nothing memorable having happened during his being judge; this is all that is recorded of him. Then died Ibzan, and was buried in Bethlehem. He died at the end of his seven years of government, and was buried in his native place; nothing memorable having happened during his being judge; this is all that is recorded of him. Judges 12:11 jdg 12:11 jdg 12:11 jdg 12:11And after him Elon a Zebulonite judged Israel,.... One of the tribe ”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on 2 Kings 23:22: Since the time of the Judges. ”Since the time of Shmuel,” 18 II Divrei Hayomim 35:18. In Divrei Hayomim, it is written, because Shmuel, too, led Yisroel to improve their ways, 19 Alternatively, Shmuel is mentioned because he was the last of the Judges.—Metzudas Dovid and he assembled them to Mitzpoh. Alternatively, such a Pesach had not been offered to God in Yerusholayim, [i.e.,] (but) when the kings of Yisroel and the kings of Yehudah reigned, all Yisroel did not perform a Pesach sacrifice in Yerusholayim, because the kingdom had been divided ”
- Judges (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Judges 17:6: In those days there was no king in Israel,.... That is, no supreme magistrate, judge, or ruler, Joshua being dead and Caleb also, and the elders contemporary with them; for what the Samaritan Chronicle says (l) is without foundation, that Joshua a little before his death cast a lot in the presence of the congregation, to know who should govern after him, and the lot came to one Abel, of the tribe of Judah: but every man did that which was right in his own eyes; which accounts for the idolatry of Micah, there being no supreme magistrate to take cognizance of his sin,”
- Judges (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Judges 12:8: And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. There were two Bethlehems, one in the tribe of Zebulun, Jos 19:15 of which some think this man was; and another in the tribe of Judah, the city of Jesse and David, and of the Messiah; and Josephus says (x), Ibzan was of the tribe of Judah, of the city of Bethlehem; and because Boaz was of the same place, and lived in the times of the judges, the Jewish Rabbins (y) are of opinion that he is the same with Ibzan; so Jarchi and Ben Gersom. (x) Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 13. (y) T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 91. 1.”