The Old Testament judges were leaders in ancient Israel after Joshua, primarily detailed in the Book of Judges, who delivered the people from enemies, with twelve main figures (Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, Samson). Two additional judges Eli and Samuel, functioned as military heroes, spiritual guides, and arbiters during a period before the monarchy, known for both great faith and significant flaws, like Gideon's idolatry or Samson's personal failings.
The Bible's Book of Judges describes leaders God raised to deliver Israel from oppressors when they turned from Him, functioning more as military deliverers and tribal rulers than modern judges, embodying a cycle of Israel's sin, God's discipline, their cry for help, and divine rescue through these flawed but Spirit-empowered figures like Deborah, Gideon, and Samson, showing God's faithfulness despite human failure.
They weren't court magistrates but military leaders, prophets, and rulers God appointed to govern Israel's tribes.
"Shophetim" (Hebrew): The Hebrew word means "deliverer" or "one who brings justice," reflecting their role in freeing Israel from enemies.
Chosen by God, each judge was empowered by the Spirit to save Israel from oppression by neighboring nations.
The Cycle in the Book of Judges, the book portrays a recurring pattern.
Apostasy: Israelites turn away from God to worship idols. Oppression: God allows foreign nations to oppress them.
Cries for Help: Israel cries out to God for deliverance.
Deliverance: God raises a judge to rescue them.
Rest: The land finds peace for a time.
Repeat: The cycle begins again, with judges becoming progressively more flawed (e.g., Gideon, Samson).

Key Judges.
Othniel: Israel's first judge, delivered them from Mesopotamian oppression.
Ehud: A left-handed Benjaminite who assassinated the Moabite King Eglon.
Deborah & Barak: A prophetess and her general who defeated Canaanite forces.
Gideon: Doubted God but led Israel to victory against Midianites.
Jephthah: A mighty warrior whose rash vow led to tragedy.
Samson: Known for immense strength but driven by personal flaws and lust, ending in self-destruction.

The Bible speaks about judges in two main ways. God as the ultimate, righteous Judge, and human judges who must uphold justice, fairness, and impartiality, fearing God and avoiding bribery and partiality. It warns against hypocritical judgment, emphasizing self-reflection and righteous discernment, not condemnation, while also detailing the spiritual leaders called "Judges" (like Deborah, Gideon) who delivered Israel under God's Spirit. Key principles for human judges include judging for the Lord, not for man, showing no favoritism, and upholding truth.
God as Judge: God is presented as perfectly just, establishing His throne for judgment and ruling with equity (Psalm 9:7-8).
Righteous Wrath: He shows wrath against sin but saves those who take refuge in Him (Romans 6:23, Psalm 18:30).
Final Day: A day is set when the world will be judged with justice (Acts 17:31).

Human Judges (Earthly Rulers/Leaders)
Divine Mandate: God appoints authorities, and judges must be subject to Him (Romans 13:1, 2 Chronicles 19:6).
Righteous Judgment: They must judge with righteousness, not partiality, wealth, or status; bribe-taking blinds them (Deuteronomy 16:18-20, Leviticus 19:15).
Fear of the Lord: Judges should act in faithfulness and with their whole heart, remembering God is with them in judgment (2 Chronicles 19:7).
Instructions on Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-5) Discernment vs. Condemnation: Jesus warns hypocrites against condemning others ("Judge not") but distinguishes this from discernment, urging self-reflection (removing the "log" from one's own eye) before addressing a brother's "speck" (Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37). Hypocrisy: You are condemned by your own standard when you judge others for doing what you do (Romans 2:1).
Matthew 7:4 and 5 says after you have removed the sin in your own life then are you able to judge your brother to persuade him to remove the sin in his life.
We do not judge to condemnation but only to repentance.

What does the Bible say about rebuke and judging?

Ezekiel 3:18, When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

I Timothy 5:20, Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Proverbs 27:5, Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Titus 2:15, These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

I Corinthians 6:2, Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

Proverbs 8:33, Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Proverbs 1:5, A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Ecclesiastes 7:5, It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

Revelation 3:19, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Luke 17: 3, Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Proverbs 9:8, Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.