Explore every episode of the podcast Lenny Goldberg Bible Classes

A Levite leaves Bethlehem to look for another job, and runs into Micha who offers him to be a priest at his temple.

We begin the story of "Pesel Micha", one of two stories at the end of the book of Judges that reflects the spiritual decay of the period

After being captured and his eyes put out, Samson gets the last laugh and brings the house down on the Philistines.

We reflect on how Samson has changed in this chapter, and raise the question, could Delilah have been Jewish?

Samson uproots the gates of Gaza, and then falls for Delilah, and the drama begins....

We look at Genesis Raba 98 and Sota 10 to see what the sages say about Samson

Samson continues his hits on the Philistines, even as his own people try to turn him in.

Samson takes vengeance on the Philistines by burning their crops.

We finish up chapter 14, taking a deeper dive into Samson's riddle.

Samson poses a riddle at his "sheva Brachos" before his "best men", and they can't solve it.

On his way to Timnah, Samson is confronted by a lion

Manoach brings the man of God a young goat, and instead of eating it, the goat is sacrificed and the angel of God ascends into the flames.....

An angel tells the barren wife of Manoach, that she will mother a child who will be Nazarite, and will begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

We examine the "Shibolet" test, Yiftach's reign and burial, and the short description of succeeding judges.

After returning from war, Yiftach is confronted by the tribe of Effraim, who threatens to burn his house down because he didn't call on them when he went to battle against Amon

We look at what our sages teach us concerning Yiftach and his ill-fated vow

Yiftach makes a reckless oath on his way to battle with the Amonites

When the King of Amon rejects Yiftach's speech, Yiftach prepares for war

Yiftach gives the King of Amon a history lesson to prove that the land belongs to the children of Israel

The elders turn to Yiftach to save them from the children of Ammon.

The future judges is banished from his family and flees into the wilderness. He is joined by "empty men".

We see the familiar cycle of the Book of Judges repeat itself, but this time G-d delays the deliverer.

We learn about Tola ben Pua from the tribe of Issacher, and Yair HaGiladi from Menashe

Judges 9’s Climax - Avimelech continues his onslaught on the cities outside of Shechem, and finally meets his end

Gaal ben Eved's rebellion fails, as Avimelech squashes it, and then takes it out on all the people of Shechem who supported him

Gaal ben Eved leads a contingent against Avimelech

We learn in depth the parable of Yotam and its significance

Gideon's lone surviving son Yotam rebukes the people of Shchem with a parable on Mt. Grizim

The usurper Avimelech, the son of Gideon's concubine, makes a power play for the throne.

Gideon goes home to his family. He has many wives and 70 sons. The verses close how the people went off the derech and did not return the kindness that Gideon had done for them.

After turning down the people's offer that he rule over them as king, Gideon collects spoils from the people and build with in an Efod

The Midyanite campaign comes to an end when Gideon executes Zevach and Zalmuna.

After returning the victor from his campaign against Midyan on the east bank, Gideon captures the two Midyan kings. He then confronts two Jewish towns to punish them for their refusal to help him

On his way to chasing down the Midyanites, Gideon requests help from fellow Jews on the east bank, and doesn't get it.

Gideon and his 300 men approach the Midyanite camp and carry out the plan of the shofars, torches and jars.

Gideon overhears a Midianite soldier recounting a dream to his comrade — a dream that is interpreted as a sign that Gideon and the Israelites will defeat the Midianite camp. This unexpected moment gives Gideon the reassurance and courage he needs to move forward with confidence.

G-d tells Gideon to thin out his forces, until he is left with only 300 "lickers" to wage war against MIdyan. We learn the lessons for today.

Gideon wants to see a sign from G-d that he is worthy to lead the children of Israel against Midyan

Gideon takes ten men and destroys the altar of the Baal, and the Ashera tree next to it. The people of the town demand that his father turn him over

After getting reassurance, Gideon prepares a meal and the angel sacrifices it on a rock, and Gideon builds an altar there.

While threshing wheat in a wine press, Gideon is confronted by an angel of the Lord and given a charge to deliver Am Yisrael from the Midyanites.

Midyan terrorizes Israel causing economic and psychological damage.

Devora ends her song of praise with a graphic description of Yael's killing of Sisera and the anguish of Sisera's mother worrying about her late-arriving son. We explore the Talmud which says that a lot more happened between Yael and Sisera than meets the eye

Devora continues in her song to describe the war victory and the execution of Sisera by Yael

Devora praises the tribes who stepped up and criticizes sharply those who didn't

Devora praises the tribes that fought with Barak

Shir Devora sings a song of triumph and gives us a glimpse into what it was like for the children of Israel under oppression.

Sisera escapes from the battlefield into the tent of Yael, who kills him with a tent peg.

Explaining the miraculous victory over Sisera's army...

Devora tells Barak to go to war against Sisera.