Minor Figures, Major Transformations - the Subtle Revolution in Sefer Shoftim

The leaders at the beginning of the book of Shoftim seem to be successful and exemplary, but as the book goes on, the leaders seem to be increasingly problematic. And why are there only two leaders- - both of whom do both great and reprehensible things- discussed in the second half of the book? To respond to these questions, we turn to Haza”l who provide interesting directions as we consider the context of the times, the structure and the chronology of the book.