So Joshua died and once again, the people turned their backs on the Lord and did evil in his sight. However, the Lord was compassionate and sent judges. These men and women weren't judges like we think of the term. They were mainly military leaders sent to deliver the Israelites from harm - at least in the local area of the specific judge.
Othniel - overpowered the King of Aram and gave the land 40 years of peace
Ehud - the left-handed man. Eglon, the fat king of the Moabites, was now in charge and Ehud was sent to kill him. So he did and plunged a knife into the king's belly and "the fat closed in over it," (Judges 3:22). The Israelites captured the Moabites and the land had 80 years of peace.
Shamgar - killed some Philisitines.
Deborah - was ruling over Israel after Ehud (even the verse before says Shamgar came after Ehud - not sure which is correct). With Barak commanding the armies, she helped him to kill Sisera and his people. However, because of Barak's doubt and refusal to go without Deborah, a woman had the honor of killing Sisera. Sisera sought shelter in the tent of Jael - which she gave him. And then subsequently "drove a tent peg through his temple" (4:21).
Gideon - It's interesting how sometimes God will answer the doubt. Gideon is known for having faith but he also needed to test God multiple times. First with and offering and then two times with the fleeces. But God understood what Gideon needed and provided what was necessary to convince him. Gideon started with 32,000 men but the Lord said that was too many. So when asked, 22,000 thousand up and went home like a bunch of cowards. The 10,000 was then culled down to 300 by the drink at the water test. So from 32,000 to 300 just like that - and this was how the Lord would demonstrate his glory. And then after all that, Gideon made an ephod and "All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there," (8:27).
Abimelech - he was one of 71 sons of Gideon. He killed 69 of his brothers. There is then some long diatribe but eventually he is killed by some woman dropping a stone on his head.
Tola - 33 years
Jair - 22 years. Had sons that rode donkeys.
Jephtah - this is the guy who makes the most foolish of oaths - once again not trusting the Lord and feeling the need to make an oath - one of those "if you'll just do this for me Lord then I'll do that". Jephtah said, "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering," (11:30-31). What did this guy think would come out, some stray dog or maybe a sheep. So who should come out but his only child, his daughter.
Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon - some more donkey riders and such
Samson - probably the most famous of the judges. We all know the story of Samson so I will just toss in some interesting tidbits I find. His mom was sterile until Samson and Samson was to be a Nazrite - no alcohol and no cutting of the hair (and I'm sure other stuff too). What's up with some bees making honey inside a dead lion - wouldn't the scavengers have eaten the lion up?
Samson tells them a riddle and they can't answer it - so they convince his new wife to tell them. And according to Samson, this is called "plowing with my heifer." His wife is then given to a friend - which of course doesn't make Samson too happy. So he burns their fields up. They in turn burn her and her father to death. After Samson kills 1,000 men with a jawbone, he is thirsty.