A Judge (Hebrew שֹֽׁפְטִ֑ shâphat, pl. שֹֽׁפְטִ֑ים shâphatim) was a special leader of the people of Israel, who appeared at a time of great national distress to convict the people of their sin, deliver them from oppression or other external threat, and, while he lived, administer justice according to God's law. (Judges 2:16-23 )