Why God Gave Israel Judges Instead of Kings:

Why God Gave Israel Judges Instead of Kings: A Nation Created Through Covenants, Not Crowns

There is a clear truth when you examine the early years of Israel: before the most high gave his people kings; the most high gave his people laws. And it wasn't an accident. It was a revelation of how he intended for Israel to function, govern themselves, and identify themselves.

Before there was a throne in Jerusalem, there was a covenant.

Before Saul, David, or Solomon sat on a throne, Israel had already been given commandments, statutes, judgments. And that order matters. Israel was never meant to have its existence based on a human's loyalty to a ruler. It was to exist based on a people's obedience to the voice of god. A nation formed through covenant; not crowns.

Israel was to be different than all the other nations surrounding them. All of these other nations were organized around kings, dynasties, armies, and human systems of power. However, the most high chose Israel to be a holy nation; separated unto him.

That is why he gave them his law first.

His law instructed the people how to worship, how to judge rightly, how to care for the poor, and how to live righteously. His law was to shape every part of their lives. By giving Israel his law prior to giving them a King, the most high was demonstrating to the people that he himself was their true King.

He did not establish his rule with a palace, nor with a crown. He established it at Sinai, in the wilderness, when he spoke and the people heard his voice. Israel was established as a covenant nation under divine rule.

This is also why judges were given instead of kings

During the time of the judges, the most high raised up leaders as needed to deliver, guide, and correct his people. These judges were temporary leaders used by god for specific times and purposes.

It matters because it prevented Israel from relying on a permanent human throne. Their strength wasn’t supposed to come from royal institutions. Their help came from the god who had made a covenant with them.

Also, by giving law prior to monarchy, the most high provided a standard above every future King. Even when Israel would eventually have kings, those kings were never meant to stand above the law. They were to submit to it.

Unfortunately, many of Israel’s kings failed to do so. Many ruled sinfully, idolatrously, pridefully, and selfishly ambitiously. No human ruler could fix rebellion, unbelief, or a hardened heart.

The problem was spiritual before it was political.

This is important because some of Israel’s greatest men were not kings at all. Men such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Gideon, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel are remembered not because they wore crowns, but because they walked faithfully with the most high.

When Israel asked for a King in 1 Samuel 8, they revealed a problem in their hearts. They wanted to be like the other nations. But Israel was never called to be like the other nations.

"Your kings will make you their slaves" - 1 Samuel 8

The Most high warned them that kings would take from them and bring burdens upon them. History proved this true.

The failure of many kings also points forward to the perfect King: christ. Unlike human rulers, he will reign in righteousness, justice, and truth.

God gave Israel judges instead of kings because he was building a covenant people, not just a political nation. He was teaching them to be governed first by his word, his righteousness, and his authority.

Crowns came later. Covenant came first.

Judith Asher
Author of The True Hebrews Book Series