Old Testament
The Book of Judges
The Book of Judges is the seventh of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 21 chapters and 618 verses.
About Judges
About Judges · Tribal history
Judges covers the rough centuries between Joshua and the kings, when Israel was a loose federation rescued again and again by improvised leaders: Deborah, Gideon, Samson. The book is anonymous, compiled from old tribal stories into a single repeating pattern — sin, oppression, crying out, deliverance, relapse. It was written to diagnose that cycle honestly and to make later readers feel the need for something steadier. Few biblical books are as unflinching about how dark life gets when, as its refrain puts it, everyone does what is right in his own eyes.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 7 of 46, 7 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 21 |
| Verses | 618, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 21 chapters · 47 notes |
| Catechism | 2 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 21 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Judges 1
36 versesThe expedition and victory of Juda against the Chanaanites: who are tolerated in many places.
Judges 2
23 versesAn angel reproveth Israel. They weep for their sins. After the death of Josue, they often fall, and repenting are delivered from their afflictions, but still fall worse and worse.
Judges 3
31 versesThe people falling into idolatry are oppressed by their enemies; but repenting are delivered by Othoniel, Aod, and Samgar.
Judges 4
24 versesDebbora and Barac deliver Israel from Jabin and Sisara, Jahal killeth Sisara.
Judges 5
32 versesThe canticle of Debbora and Barac after their victory.
Judges 6
40 versesThe people for their sins, are oppressed by the Madianites. Gedeon is called to deliver them.
Judges 7
25 versesGedeon, with three hundred men, by stratagem defeateth the Madianites.
Judges 8
35 versesGedeon appeaseth the Ephraimites. Taketh Zebee and Salmana. Destroyeth Soccoth and Phanuel. Refuseth to be king. Maketh an ephod of the gold of the prey, and dieth in a good old age. The people return to idolatry.
Judges 9
57 versesAbimelech killeth his brethren. Joatham's parable. Gaal conspireth with the Sichemites against Abimelech, but is overcome. Abimelech destroyeth Sichem: but is killed at Thebes.
Judges 10
18 versesThola ruleth Israel twenty-three years; and Jair twenty-two. The people fall again into idolatry, and are afflicted again by the Philistines and Ammonites. They cry to God for help, who upon their repentance hath compassion on them.
Judges 11
40 versesJephte is made ruler of the people of Galaad: he first pleads their cause against the Ammonites; then making a vow obtains a signal victory; he performs his vow.
Judges 12
15 versesThe Ephraimites quarrel with Jephte: forty-two thousand of them are slain: Abeson, Ahialon, and Abdon, are judges.
Judges 13
25 versesThe people fall again into idolatry and are afflicted by the Philistines. An angel foretelleth the birth of Samson.
Judges 14
20 versesSamson desireth a wife of the Philistines. He killeth a lion: in whose mouth he afterwards findeth honey. His marriage feast, and riddle, which is discovered by his wife. He killeth, and strippeth thirty Philistines. His wife taketh another man.
Judges 15
20 versesSamson is denied his wife. He burns the corn of the Philistines, and kills many of them.
Judges 16
31 versesSamson is deluded by Dalila: and falls into the hands of the Philistines. His death.
Judges 17
13 versesThe history of the idol of Michas, and the young Levite.
Judges 18
31 versesThe expedition of the men of Dan against Lais: in their way they rob Michas of his priest and his gods.
Judges 19
30 versesA Levite bringing home his wife, is lodged by an old man at Gabaa in the tribe of Benjamin. His wife is there abused by wicked men, and in the morning found dead. Her husband cutteth her body in pieces, and sendeth to every tribe of Israel, requiring them to revenge the wicked fact.
Judges 20
48 versesThe Israelites warring against Benjamin are twice defeated; but in the third battle the Benjamites are all slain, saving six hundred men.
Judges 21
24 versesThe tribe of Benjamin is saved from being utterly extinct, by providing wives for the six hundred that remained.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Judges is read at the principal Mass on 5 days in the US calendar. The next 6 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday of the Third Week of Advent | First Reading | Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a | |
| computed | Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Judges 2:11-19 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Judges 6:11-24a |
| computed | Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Judges 9:6-15 |
| computed | Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Judges 11:29-39a |
| computed | Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent | First Reading | Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.