<P> A Biblical judge (Hebrew: שופט ‎ šōp̄êṭ / shofet, pl . שופטים ‎ šōp̄əṭîm / shoftim) was "a ruler or a military leader as well as someone who presided over legal hearings ." These judges appear most often in the Book of Judges, which is named after them . </P> <P> Biblical scholar Kenneth Kitchen argues that, from the conquest of Canaan by Joshua until the formation of the first Kingdom of Israel and Judah (ca . 1150--1025 BC), the Israelite tribes formed a loose confederation . No central government existed in this confederation; in times of crisis, the people were led by ad hoc chieftains, known as judges (shoftim). </P>

What did a judge do in the old testament