Judges 6:1-5

D. The fourth apostasy 6:1-10:5

The writer of Judges structured this book so the story of Gideon would be its focal center. Robert Chisholm Jr. argued that the events described in Judges 6:1 to Judges 16:31 were chronologically parallel to those in Judges 3:7 to Judges 5:31, thus harmonizing the events in Judges with 1 Kings 6:1. [Note: Robert B. Chisholm Jr., "The Chronology of the Book of Judges," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 52:2 (June 2009):247-55.]

"Within the main body of the book, seven major narrative blocks can be noted. Moreover, there are certain parallel features between these narratives so that the entire book reflects a carefully worked symmetrical pattern. Furthermore this pattern has as its focal point the Gideon narrative in Judges 6:1 to Judges 8:32.

"A Introduction, Part I (Judges 1:1 to Judges 2:5)

B Introduction, Part II (Judges 2:6 to Judges 3:6)

C Othniel Narrative (Judges 3:7-11)

D Ehud Narrative (Judges 3:12-31)

E Deborah-Barak Narrative (Judges 4:1 to Judges 5:31)

F Gideon Narrative (Judges 6:1 to Judges 8:32)

E’ Abimelech Narrative (Judges 8:33 to Judges 10:5)

D’ Jephthah Narrative (Judges 10:6 to Judges 12:15)

C’ Samson Narrative (Judges 13:1 to Judges 16:31)

B’ Epilogue, Part I (Judges 17:1 to Judges 18:31)

A’ Epilogue, Part II (Judges 19:1 to Judges 21:25)

"This arrangement suggests that the Gideon narrative has a unique contribution to make to the theological development of the book. As the nation went from one cycle of discipline to the next, there was a continual deterioration. Also there was a shift in the ’quality’ of the judges themselves as the book advances. The Gideon narrative seems to mark a notable turning point." [Note: Tanner, p. 150. See also D. W. Gooding, "The Composition of the Book of Judges," Eretz Israel 16 (1982):70-79; and Barry G. Webb, The Book of Judges: An Integrated Reading, JSOT Supplement Series 46 (Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1987).]