The Deuteronomic Cycle in Judges In the accounts of the major judges are a description of a cycle of rebellion, oppression, repentance, and deliverance in which “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). The cycle of sin against Yahweh, Yahweh becoming angry at Israel, Israel repenting, and the cycle repeating itself, known as the Deuteronomic cycle is illustrated below. The Setting for the Deuteronomic Cycle (Judges 2:6-10) Judges 2:6 Joshua sent the people away, and the Israelites went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. 2:7 The people worshiped the LORD throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the LORD’S great works He had done for Israel. 2:8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. 2:9 They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 2:10 That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works He had done for Israel.

Israel turns from the Lord and served other gods (Judges 2:11-13) 2:11 The Israelites did what was evil in the LORD’S sight. They worshiped the Baals. 2:12 and abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods from the surrounding peoples and bowed down to them. They infuriated the LORD. 2:13 for they abandoned Him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.

The Lord becomes angry and allows Israel is to be oppressed (Judges 2:14-15) 2:14 The LORD’S anger burned against Israel, and He handed them over to marauders who raided them. He sold them to the enemies around them, so that they could no longer resist their enemies. 2:15 Whenever the Israelites went out, the LORD was against them and brought disaster |on them|, just as He had promised and sworn to them. So they suffered greatly.

Israel cries out for a deliverer and the Lord raises up a judge (Judges 2:16-18) 2:16 The LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the power of their marauders, 2:17 but they did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods, bowing down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’S commands. They did not do as their fathers did. 2:18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, the LORD was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The LORD was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them.

The cycle begins again when the judge died (2:19) 2:19 Whenever the judge died, the Israelites would act even more corruptly than their fathers, going after other gods to worship and bow down to them. They did not turn from their |evil| practices or their obstinate ways (HCSB).

The people turn from the Lord

The Lord becomes angry and allows Israel to be oppressed

Israel cries out for a deliverer, the Lord raises up a judge

Israel repents and the cycle begins again Apply the Deuteronomic cycle to the story of Othniel in Judges 3:7-11. 3:7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.

Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.

But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Required:

Does the Deuteronomic cycle have relevance for today? In other words, how does the cycle of the judges help us understand human behavior today?