The judges experienced temporary endowments with the Holy Spirit. But the text of Judges leaves room for the possibility that the Spirit continued to be with them after the immediate task was completed. The Lord, for example, is said to be “with” the judge, and the Lord saves Israel “all the days of the judge” (Judges 2:18). After endowment with the Spirit, the judges continued to serve in their roles for a number of years (Judges 8:28; Judges 10:2–3; Judges 12:7, Judges 12:9, Judges 12:11, Judges 12:14; Judges 15:20; Judges 16:31).1
10 The Spirit of the LORD was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.