I. Double Introduction (1:1–3:6)
Foreign wars of subjugation with the ḥērem being applied—the pre-judge political/military; BACKGROUND—the incomplete conquest (1:1–2:5) A
Difficulties with foreign religious idols—the thematic summarizing outline of the spiritual; BACKGROUND—the incomplete faith (2:6–3:6) B
II. Cycles of the Judges (3:7–16:31)
Major judge cycle: Othniel (3:7–11)
Major judge cycle: Ehud (3:12–30)
Minor judge: Shamgar (3:31)
Major judge cycle: Deborah and Barak (4:1–5:31)
The narrative (4:1–24)
The poem (5:1–31)
Major judge cycle: Gideon and Abimelech (6:1–9:57)
Gideon (6:1–8:35)
Abimelech (9:1–57)
Minor judge: Tola (10:1–2)
Minor judge: Jair (10:3–5)
Major judge cycle: Jephthah (10:6–12:7)
Minor judge: Ibzan (12:8–10)
Minor judge: Elon (12:11–12)
Minor judge: Abdon (12:13–15)
Major judge cycle: Samson (13:1–16:31)
III. Double Conclusion: Specific Conditions During These Times (17:1–21:25)
Difficulties with domestic religious idols—the origin of the premonarchic sanctuary of Dan (17:1–18:31) B′
1. The idolatry of Micah the Ephraimite (17:1–13)
2. The migration of the Danites (18:1–31)
Domestic wars with the ḥērem being applied—the Benjaminite atrocity and civil war (19:1–21:25) A′
—The rape of the concubine
—ḥērem of Benjamin
Problem: the oath—Benjamin threatened with extinction
—ḥērem of Jabesh-Gilead
—The rape of the daughters of Shiloh