JUDGES, in Jewish antiquity, certain supreme magistrates who governed the Israelites from the time of Joshua till the reign of Saul. These judges resembled the Athenian archons or Roman dictators. The dignity
Judges, nity of judge was for life, but not always in uninterrupted succession. God himself, by some express declaration of his will, regularly appointed the judges: But the Israelites did not always wait for his appointment, but sometimes chose themselves a judge in times of danger. The power of the judges extended to affairs of peace and war. They were protectors of the laws, defenders of religion, avengers of all crimes; but they could make no laws, nor impose any new burdens upon the people. They lived without pomp or retinue, unless their own fortunes enabled them to do it; for the revenues of their office consisted in voluntary presents from the people. They continued from the death of Joshua till the beginning of the reign of Saul, being a space of about 339 years.