The Book of Judges was written in the context of Israel’s early history, during a transitional period following the death of Joshua and before the establishment of the monarchy. This era is characterized by social, political, and religious instability.

Key Contexts:

1. Post-Conquest Israel:
   • After Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, they had not fully completed the conquest of the land as God had commanded. The remaining Canaanite populations continued to exert influence and became a source of temptation and conflict for the Israelites. Judges describes the struggles the Israelites faced in trying to secure and maintain control of the land, often failing to fully drive out pagan nations.
2. Lack of Centralized Leadership:
   • With Joshua’s death, Israel entered a period without a unified leader or central government. The tribes of Israel were loosely organized and often acted independently. This lack of a strong, unified leadership is a key theme in Judges, where “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). The lack of a king or national leadership left Israel vulnerable to internal division and external threats.
3. Moral and Spiritual Decline:
   • The Israelites repeatedly fell into cycles of disobedience, idolatry, and moral corruption, influenced by the surrounding pagan nations. This decline was particularly marked by the worship of Canaanite gods, such as Baal and Asherah, in violation of Israel’s covenant with Yahweh. Judges records how these repeated lapses into idolatry led to God allowing foreign oppressors to dominate Israel.
4. Foreign Oppression:
   • Throughout this period, Israel was frequently oppressed by neighboring peoples such as the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Midianites, and others. These invasions were seen as a result of Israel’s disobedience to God’s commands. The narrative of Judges focuses on how God raised up “judges” to deliver Israel from these oppressors.
5. Theological and National Identity Crisis:
   • The period of the judges was a time of theological crisis for Israel. The people repeatedly broke their covenant with God by adopting the religious practices of the Canaanites. Judges demonstrates the consequences of forsaking Yahweh, while also emphasizing God’s enduring faithfulness to His people. The book portrays the need for righteous leadership and obedience to God’s laws, which became a central theme as Israel moved toward the establishment of a monarchy.
6. Preparation for the Monarchy:
   • Judges provides a narrative that sets the stage for Israel’s eventual desire for a king. The book concludes with a sense of social chaos and moral decay, highlighting the Israelites’ desperate need for strong, centralized leadership. This context explains the eventual rise of figures like Saul and David, as the people sought stability and order through a monarchy.

The Book of Judges was written in the context of Israel’s early years in the Promised Land, a time of disunity, moral and spiritual decay, and constant foreign threats. It reflects a period of transition, where the absence of centralized leadership led to repeated cycles of apostasy and deliverance, and ultimately sets the stage for Israel’s demand for a king to bring order and unity.