How long did the period of the Judges last?
The period of the Judges lasted between 300 and 400 years. It covered the era after Joshua's 26-year leadership and was characterized by Israel's roller-coaster spiritual history under various judges. This span is described as roughly twice as long as America had been a nation.
Les explains that after skipping the rest of Joshua, which covered 26 years, the book of Judges covers between 300 and 400 years. He notes that this is a long time, twice as long as America has been a nation. During that period, Israel occupied the land of Canaan but failed to destroy the Canaanite people as God instructed. That disobedience led them into idolatry, and their history became a roller coaster, reaching spiritual heights under good judges who ruled under God in a God-centered government.