Judges

Who

Anonymous; tradition names Samuel.

When

The period between Joshua and the first king, compiled during the monarchy.

What it is

A cycle repeated until it wears out: the people go wrong, are oppressed, cry out, are rescued, and go wrong again.

What to watch for

The judges get worse as the book goes on, and it ends in two atrocities and a refrain about everyone doing as they saw fit.

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.Judges 21:25