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Meet the Judge Prophets

Detail from 'Prophet Samuel,' a pigment on plaster fresco at the Kiev, Russia Golden Domed Monastery.Following the Patriarchal period, the nation called Israel evolved into a loose federation of tribes ruled by Judges, and held together by a common faith and a common ancestry.

While there were more than twenty judges during this period -- Samson being the most infamous -- only four were considered to have the status of Prophets. (One additional judge -- Deborah -- is included in the list of Prophetesses.)

The four Prophet-Judges are:
  • Othniel ben Kenaz (aka Othoniel, ʻOtniʼel, עתניאל)
  • Ehud ben Gera (aka ʾĒhûḏ, אהוד)
  • Eli ben Ithamar (aka `Eli, עֵלִי)
  • Gideon ben Joash (aka Gid`on, Jerubbaal, Jerubbesheth, Yerubba`al, יֶר-בַּעַל ,גדְעוֹן)

Image: Detail from 'Prophet Samuel,' a pigment on plaster fresco at the Kiev, Russia Golden Domed Monastery

Comments

Anonymous said…
Any reason you did not include Samuel as a prophet? The last of the judges was called a seer, the express equivalent of a prophet.

I Samuel 9:6,9.
LauraMaery said…

Good question...Though Samuel was a judge, he operated during the reign of Saul and David; for that reason he is listed below, under Monarchy Prophets. Thanks for visiting, and for leaving a comment!