<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> <P> However, other scholars have abandoned the idea that Joshua carried out a conquest of Canaan similar to that described in the Book of Joshua . Likewise, there is doubt among scholars that a period resembling the one described in the Book of Judges existed in ancient Israel . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> שופטים ‎ Judges in the Bible </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Italics indicate individuals not explicitly described as judges </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Book of Joshua </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Joshua </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Book of Judges </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Othniel </Li> <Li> Ehud </Li> <Li> Shamgar </Li> <Li> Deborah </Li> <Li> Gideon </Li> <Li> Abimelech </Li> <Li> Tola </Li> <Li> Jair </Li> <Li> Jephthah </Li> <Li> Ibzan </Li> <Li> Elon </Li> <Li> Abdon </Li> <Li> Samson </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> First Book of Samuel </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Eli </Li> <Li> Samuel </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

The period of judges in the old testament