Final answer:
Biblical judges were leaders sent by God to deliver the Israelites when they strayed from their covenant with God. They settled disputes and reminded the people of the laws and commandments, such as those received by Moses. The period of the judges preceded the monarchy under Saul and David, who continued to emphasize observance of the covenant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The judge chosen by God in the biblical narrative to remind the Israelites to keep God's covenant, settle legal disputes, and provide advice was not a single individual but rather various leaders throughout the period. These judges were seen as deliverers sent by God to lead the tribes of Israel. The Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible narrates the stories of these leaders, who emerged at critical times when the Israelites were deviating from the covenant they had with God and facing oppression from surrounding nations.
One such story is that of Moses, who although not officially termed a 'judge' in the biblical sense, performed similar functions as he led the Hebrews out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments, which are part of the covenant. Later on, after settling in Canaan, leaders referred to as 'judges' arose when the Israelites were threatened by neighboring groups such as the Philistines. The unifying monarchy began with Saul and continued under David, who managed to defend the kingdom against the Philistines, asserting the importance of following the covenant as the source of the people's strength and prosperity.