This book begins where the jusuè book ends, and begins in a similar way. After the death of Joshua 1.1. When one reads this story from beginning to end, he discovers that what happened in the time of Joshua seems to have been erased from the memory of the people. The peace that Joshua had given them, in the period of the judges had been lost. The people no longer acted together. IN THE BOOK OF JUDGES it is constantly repeated that each one did what he wanted 17.6, 21.25. There was not one leader, but many, and instead of worshiping only the God of Israel, the people worshiped other gods. The book of the law, which God had given through Moses, was completely ignored, people practiced all kinds of evil. The land, which should have been for everyone, was not enjoyed by all the tribes of Israel, as it was still occupied by enemy peoples. The lack of unity in the people is portrayed very well at the beginning of the book 2.11-23. there we are told how, over and over again, the people fell into a vicious circle: 1 first there is a period of relative calm, 2 then the people of Israel abandon God and follow other gods, 3 God gets angry and lets an enemy people conquer and dominate Israel 4 the people of ISRAEL SUFFER AND ASK God for HELP, 5 God takes pity on his people and sends a new leader to save him. In that time of so much change and uncertainty, many bosses and leaders probably emerged. However, the book gives us a list of only twelve that God sent to help the people of Israel: Othniel, Gedon, Tola, Jair, Jephthè, Ibsàn, Elon, Abdon and Samson. In addition to the deeds of these twelve judges 3---16, the book has two appendices or final sections 17---18 and 19---21. The first narrates an episode where greed, avarice, selfishness, disloyalty, looting, robbery and idolatry abound. The second narrates episodes of terrible evil and cruelty against innocent people who cannot defend themselves. The book of judges offers us an important lesson for today: When we do not obey God, we ourselves lose the opportunity to enjoy the peace and abundant life that God offers.