Between the death of Joshua until the rise of the monarchy starting with King Saul, Israel was led by a series of Judges. There is a repeating theme of national decline by Israel breaking its promise to keep the covenant, abandoning God and worshiping idols. Each time this happens, God punishes them by raising up foreign nations against them, causing Israel to once again call out for deliverance. This pattern continues, each time with God bringing them deliverance through a Judge. Sadly, the book ends with everyone continuing to do “what was right in his own eyes.”