Chapter 5: The Nation of IsraelChaplain Ron McCants, Instructor

Joshua, Judges, First and Second SamuelFirst and Second Kings (The Former Prophets)

Entry Into the Land Promised• The LORD says to

Moses, “Do not let anything that breathes remain alive.” Deuteronomy 20:16

• Joshua’s army conducts a genocidal campaign.

• “As the LORD had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did…” Joshua 11:14-15

The Historical World

• Never did they decisively dominate the Canaanites – no judge was a national leader.

• Gibeon tricked Joshua into a treaty of amity – Joshua 9

Deuteronomistic History

The Deuteronmist editor took a perspective on events based on the theology of the Book of Deuteronomy: when the people of Israel are obedient to God’s ways, they florish; when they reject God’s path, they suffer. This is dominant among literary historians.

Stories in a Cycle with Repeated Pattern

Society

• The Israelites are pictured as living in villages, with a tribal social organization and no major intertribal institutions.

• Typical of a tribal culture is charismatic leadership, persons “empowered” with natural leadership gifts.

• The military behavior of the Israelites fighting force was essentially the able-bodied men mustered by families and clans. The judges usually went for a quick and decisive action, often involving surprise or ambush.

Charismatic Heroes

• Deborah (Honey Bee) - Her inspiration was "a mother in Israel." She and Barak defeated Jabin, a Canaanite king. Judges 4-5

• Ehud (Judges 3:12-30) Left handed and used two-edged sword to assassinate obese King Eglon of Moab. The “secret message” dual meanings of “thing” or “sex.” (Dirt came out)

• Gideon (Judges 6-8) Tests the LORD and used by the LORD to defeat the Midianites.

• Jephthah (Judges (11-12) A foolish vow and his taking the life of his own daughter

• Samson (Judges 13-16) His passion for beautiful Delilah• Samuel (1 Samuel 1-12) Administration of justice• Saul (1 Samuel 11 – 13) Became Israel’s first king and

later rejected by God.

Social Circumscription

• Philistines – The “Sea Peoples” moved from the Aegean region to Canaan. The activity created social circumscription. Anthropologists observe that states tend to rise when an area becomes circumscribed or impacted. The population grows to the point that the habitable environment is pressed to the limits of its carrying capacity or social developments have the effect of closing people in.

Succession Narrative (SN)

• “Who will succeed David as king?” The Hebrew short story or novella.

• Davidic Covenant – Based on the promise of the LORD that there will always be a Davidic king with the ancestral promises of people, land, and blessing. This becomes the biblical goal that leads to the hope for a messiah (anointed one) to restore Israel to Davidic glory.

David’s affair with Bathsheba:Greater Sin Follow on Lesser

SolomonA golden era of peace and prosperity

• Tradition has two things: His Wisdom and Building the Jerusalem Temple

• Reorganize the kingdom into tax districts to raise revenue and force labor to support the royal structure.

• Palaces, Temple, Court Chapel• Militarily: Imperial army, large chariot force,

infantry, Armory, Fortifications, Storage Magazines, Frontier Outposts

• Trading enterprise between Africa and Asia• Merchant marine venture with Hiram of Tyre

Factions that Seriously Disaffected Solomon’s Reign

• Heavy burden of taxation

• Alienated the priesthood and prophets

• Diplomatic marriages and permitting foreign wives to practice their religion in Jerusalem, as well as himself.

• (1 Kings 11:31-40)

The Kingdom after Solomon’s Death

• Rehoboam – Southern Kingdom with Judah and Benjamin

• Jeroboam - Northern Kingdom with 10 tribes

Class Assignment

• Read the story of David and Bathsheba, pages 108-109.

• Complete the handout

• Be prepared to discuss in class