The first book of Judges stands in utter contrast to Joshua. In Joshua an obedient people conquered the land through trust in the power of God. In Judges, however, a disobedient and idolatrous people are defeated time and time again because of their rebellion against God.
In seven distinct cycles of sin to salvation, Judges shows how Israel had set aside God's laws and in it's place substituted "that which was right in his own eyes". The recurring result of abandonment from God's laws is corruption from within and oppression from without.
During the nearly four centuries spanned by this book God raises up military champions to throw off the yoke of bondage and to restore the nation to pure worship. But, all to soon the sin cycle begins again as the nation spiritual temperature grows steadily colder.