God’s sending of judges to Israel repeatedly followed a fourfold cycle: 1. apostasy: the Israelites do what is evil in the sight of the Lord; 2. servitude: God allows the nation to be conquered and oppressed by a neighboring nation; 3. supplication: the people cry out to God; and 4. salvation: God sends a judge to deliver the Israelites. The cycle then repeats after the judge dies. ![[chart-07-02.png]]