Abstract

The primary narratives in the Book of Judges are constructed around
the recurring cycle of apostasy – oppression – plea for divine deliverance
through the judge (2,10–3,6; 3,7˗16,31). Three times, however, these narratives
are interrupted by brief notices on six additional men who exercised
leadership in Israel during the pre-monarchic period of Israel’s settlement in
Canaan (3,31; 10,1-5; 12,8-15). The brevity of the Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Ibzan,
Elon, Abdon traditions and their unconventional literary nature within the
context of the narrative cycles of oppression and deliverance have led critical
scholarship generally to recognize these verses as late insertions. The minor
judges are named in two summary notes framing the Jephthah narratives
(10,6–12,7) in 10,1-5 and 12,8-15. Except for Shamgar and Tola, who is also
credited with saving Israel, these do not seem to fit the pattern of the main
characters in the book. But this does not mean that these governors played
a less important role than the major judges. The differences in presentation
derive from the sources used by the Deuteronomistic narrator (family/tribal
chronicles; folk narratives) and his literary and theological concept.