This section introduces the reader to the book’s central part (Judges 3:7 – 16:31); its report, The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord
(Judges 2:11), provides the organizing formula for this main section (see Judges 3:7, Judges 3:12; Judges 4:1; Judges 6:1; Judges 10:6; Judges 13:1).1
6 When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land.