As we begin our study in the book of Judges, we find that Judges is really the tragic sequel to Joshua. Whereas, in Joshua, we see victory and triumph; in Judges we find rebellion and defeat.\nJudges seems to begin well, with some tribes still going out and possessing the land, but we find that they begin to grow lazy. As Joshua dies, and those elders who were with him die off, the people begin to fall into great sin with the false gods of the people who had dwelt in the land before them. \nThroughout the book, we see a four part pattern of events: Israel's departure from God; God's chastisement; Israel's sorrow over their situation; finally, God's grace to the people.