Theocratic Anointing: The Judges

~Second of three blogs on theocratic annointing~

Through His Holy Spirit, Yahweh provided theocratic anointing to specific people to enable them to engage in theocratic tasks, primarily as His human representatives for the leadership of Israel.

After Joshua passed away, Yahweh raised up judges in the Promised Land (Judges 2:16). In all, twelve ruled until the time of the monarchy through theocratic anointing. Four judges are recorded as receiving the anointing, but it is logical to assume they were all recipients.

Othniel--Judges 3:;10--"And the Spirit of Yahweh came upon him, and he judged Israel. And he went out to war, and Yahweh gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. So his hand was strong against Cushan-rishathaim."

Gideon--Judges 6:34--"But the Spirit of Yahweh clothed Gideon; and he blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together to follow him."

Jephtha--Judges 11:29--"Now the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jephthah, so that he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon."

Samson--Judges 14:6--"And the Spirit of Yahweh came upon him mightily, so that he tore it as one tears a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done." Judges 15:14--"When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of Yahweh came upon him mightily so that the ropes that were on his arms were as flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds dropped from his hands."

Of note, the Hebrew term for judges is significant in the text. Shophetim goes beyond its general meaning and indicates a special status because they were God-appointed.[1] Consequently, except for Shophetim, only kings, Melakim, could rule in Israel (Deut. 17:14). The difference between judge and king lies in the heritability of the royal office. Judges did not hold dynastic rights like the Davidic line. As evidenced in the biblical text, the divinely given judicial authority of the Shophetim is highlighted when the people faced disaster brought on by failing to listen to the judges and following sin (Judg. 2:16-20).{2] The judges’ role was to restore Israel to a state comparable to that of Joshua’s time.

As ascribed by God, the judges had a civic function as mediators between God and man; they were the successors of Joshua and Moses. They served as heads and protectors of the kingdom. And, unlike kings, they administered only in local areas or regions. Additionally, on multiple occasions, the judges served as military leaders in efforts to end foreign military oppression. Although Samson did not lead an army, his victory against the Philistines would qualify him as a military champion.

In Samuel's case, his birth and empowerment are clearly evidenced by divine power. His mother, Hannah, devoted his life to the Lord after his miraculous birth (1 Sam. 1:1-24). Samuel was not only a judge but also a prophet. He established the schools of the prophets to curb the apostasy and lack of revelation he witnessed in Israel during his youth. And much like Moses, he closed the old order and transitioned the people to a new era of better prospects.{3} He would eventually anoint Saul as Israel's first king

(1 Sam. 10).

Even though His covenant people sinned, God remained true to His promises to them and provided leaders anointed by His Spirit. As the Book of Judges attests, Yahweh's sovereign plan of redemption is inevitable. In the final blog post on theocratic anointing, we'll examine how the Holy Spirit led Israel's theocracy toward a monarchy. The anointing would include Saul, David, and Solomon.

¹ Alva J. McClain, The Greatness of the Kingdom: An Inductive Study of the Kingdom of

God (Winona Lake, IN: BMH, 1968), 92.

² McClain, The Greatness of the Kingdom, 93.

³ McClain, The Greatness of the Kingdom, 92.

---

Judges 12:16-20

When Yahweh raised up judges who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.  Yet they did not listen to their judges either, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of Yahweh; they did not do as their fathers.  Now when Yahweh raised up judges for them, Yahweh was with the judge and saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for Yahweh was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and suppressed them. But it happened when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.  So the anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and He said, “Because this nation has trespassed against My covenant which I commanded their fathers and has not listened to My voice..."