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PART TWO (A): the PROPHETS (FORMER)

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PART TWO (A): the PROPHETS (FORMER) PART TWO (a): THE PROPHETS (FORMER) I. The Former Prophets A. Contents Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings B. Classification 1. Hebrew Scriptures: Prophets (cf. Luke 24:44) These books are called “prophets” because they give on history: it is history with God’s commentary. 2. English Bible: Historical Books C. Primary authors and dates Joshua, Samuel, and others Dates of the events are from in 1406 BC (Deut 34:5–8; cf. Josh 1:1; 2:16; 4:19; 5:10) to the release of Jehoiachin in 561 BC (2 Kgs 25:27). D. Unity of contents Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings are considered prophetic books because they detail God’s viewpoint on the history of Israel. M O N A R C H Y Preparation Establishment Outflow Joshua and Judges Samuel Kings II. Joshua A. Designations B. Author and date Joshua 29 Oxford rev. 20181012 Dates of the events are between the death of Moses in 1406 BC (Josh 1:1) and the deaths of the elders with Joshua in some time after ca. 1375 BC (Josh 24:31, 33). C. Structure I. Conquering the land (1:1–12:24) II. Distributing the land (13:1–21:45) III. Retaining the land (22:1–24:33) D. Significant themes of Joshua 1. a. Significance of the land (Josh 21:43; 24:1–18; cf. Gen 12:1, 7; 13:14– 18; 15:7–21; 17:8; 23:1–20; 24:7; 26:3–4; 28:13–15; 35:12; 50:24–26) b. Land conquered (Josh 10:40; 11:16–17, 23; 21:43–45) c. Land remaining to be conquered (Josh 11:22; 13:1–7; 18:3; 23:4–5, 11–13) Israel has the “title” to the land. Many major armies are defeated, yet much remains. d. Failure to conquer all the land: could not or would not (Josh 15:63; 16:10; 17:12–13; cf. Judg 1:19, 21, 27–33) 2. The of the Law (Josh 1:7–8; 8:30–34; 22:5; 23:6; 24:26) 3. The revelation of the LORD a. Leading to (Josh 2:1–11) b. Leading to (Josh 5:1; 9:3–11; cf. Num 20:14–21) E. Unity of purpose The LORD demonstrated His faithfulness by keeping the covenant He made with Abraham by giving the Israelites possession of the land of Canaan. F. Application 30 Oxford rev. 20181012 Joshua Judges Conquest, Compromise … III. Judges A. Designations B. Author and date It is likely that Samuel was at least the primary author/compiler (cf. 1 Sam 10:25). Dates of the events of Judges are between in ca. 1375 BC (Judg 1:1) and sometime after the death of Samson in ca. 1075 BC (Judge 16:30–31).24 The final composition of Judges falls in ca. 1050–1015 BC. C. Structure I. Compromise in the land: incomplete conquest and idolatry (1:1–2:23) II. (3:1–16:31) III. Compromise in the land: immorality, idolatry, and civil war (17:1–21:25) 25 D. Significant themes of Judges 1. The judges a. The of the judgeship (Exod 18:13–27; cf. Num 11:10– 17, 24–30; Deut 1:9–17; 16:18–20; 17:8–13; Josh 8:33; 23:2; 24:1) b. The major judges (Othniel, Ehud, Barak, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson) c. The minor judges (Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon) 24 Evidence of later notations is found in the “to this day” expressions in Judges 1:21; 6:24; 10:4; 15:19. Note that chapters 17–21 are a thematic unit not in chronological order after Samson’s death. 25 Other themes include the Spirit of the LORD (Judg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14) and the Angel of the LORD (Judg 2:1, 4; 5:23; 6:11–12, 20–22; 13:3–21). 31 Oxford rev. 20181012 The Judges Judges in the Book of Judges Approximate Years of Years of Judge Tribe Oppressor References Total Years Date BCa Servitude Rest (a Kenizzite, Othniel but represents Mesopotamians 1:13; 3:7–11 1374–1334 8 40 48 Judah)b Ehud Benjamin Moabites 3:12–30 1316–1235 18 80 98 Shamgar Philistines 3:31 1230 Deborah/ Ephraim/ Canaanites 4:1–5:31 1216–1176 20 40 60 Barak Naphtali Gideonc Manasseh Midianites 6:1–8:35 1169–1129 7 40 47 3 (recognized by [Abimelech] Manasseh 8:33–10:1 some as king, but never called a judge) Tola Issachar 10:1–2 1120–1097 23 23 Jair Manassehd 10:3–5 1120–1097 22 22 Philistines and Jephthahe Manasseh 10:6–12:7 1085–1079 18 6 24 Ammonites Ibzan Judahf 12:7–10 1079–1072 7 7 Elon Zebulun 12:10–12 1072–1062 10 10 Abdon Ephraimg 12:12–15 1062–1054 8 8 Samson Dan Philistines 13:1–16:31 1095–1075 40 20 60 410 Judges in the Book of Samuel Elih Levi Philistines (1) 1:3–4:18 40 40 Samueli Levij Philistines (1) 7:6, 15–17 20+k 60+ 470+ years of judgeshipsl a Dates are from Archer, Jr., Old Testament Introduction, 298. b Cf. Numbers 13:6; 32:12; Joshua 14:6, 13–14; 15:13, 17; 1 Chronicles 4:13, 15 (cf. Gen 15:19; 36:40–43). c Also called Jerubbaal (Judg 6:11, 30–32; 7:1; 8:29–32, 35–9:1, 16–17, 28). d Cf. Numbers 26:29; 32:39–41; Deuteronomy 3:14–15; Joshua 13:30–31; Judges 10:4; 1 Kings 4:13; 1 Chronicles 1:22–23. e Cf. Numbers 26:29; Joshua 17:1; Judges 11:1; 12:4. f Cf. Judges 12:8, 10. g Cf. Judges 12:15; 1 Chronicles 27:14. h Eli was a priest (1 Sam 1:9; 2:11). i Samuel was a seer (1 Sam 9:9–19). j First Samuel 1:1 seems to indicate that Samuel was an Ephraimite, but it must be only a geographical reference in light of 1 Chronicles 6:1– 2, 16–18, 22–28 (cf. 1 Sam 8:1–2). Even though Samuel appointed his sons as judges, Samuel is rightly regarded as the last judge in Israel, given 1 Samuel 8:1–9. k Cf. 1 Samuel 7:1–3. l The total number of years exceed the timeline for the book of Judges. Judges 11:26 (cf. the fortieth year in Numbers 21:25–26) appears to refer to 1107 BC if the 300 years is an exact number and not a round number. The range of the events of Judges spans a little more than 300 years. 32 Oxford rev. 20181012 d. Their role (1) “Deliver/deliverer” (Judg 2:16–18; 3:9, 15, 31; 6:14–15, 36– 37; 8:22; 9:17; 10:1; 13:5; 15:18 [cf. 8:34; 10:11–15]) (2) “Judge” (Judg 3:10; 10:2, 3; 12:7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14; 15:20; 16:31; cf. Ruth 1:1) 2. The cycle26 Sin → Servitude → Supplication → Salvation → Security → 2:11–13, 17 2:14–15 2:16 2:18 2:19 3:7 3:8 3:9a 3:9b–10 3:11 3:12 3:13–14 3:15a 3:15b–29 3:30 4:1 4:2, 3b 4:3a 4:4–5:31a 5:31b 6:1a 6:1b–6 6:7 6:8–8:21 8:28 3:12 8:33–9:57 10:6, 10 10:7–10 (cf. 12, 14) 10:10 (cf. 12, 15) 10:16b–11:33 13:1a 13:1b 13:2–16:31 3. for a society that persists in rebellion a. (Judg 17:6; 21:25; cf. 2:11; 3:7, 12 [2x]; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1) b. (in the name of the true God) (Judg 17:1–13) c. (Judg 3–5; 9; 12; 14–16; 19–21) In Judges we find assassination with vivid detail (Judg 3:15–26), rape by a plurality (Judg 19:25), dismemberment (Judg 19:29), and a civil war, which killed over 65,000 men (Judg 20:21, 25, 35). 4. The kingship (Judg 8:22–23; 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25; cf. 1 Sam 8:4–7) E. Unity of purpose Judges demonstrates the unfaithfulness and wickedness that abounds when Israel rejects the LORD and His Law, and it shows the LORD’s faithfulness both to and to Israel. 26 Attendant in this cycle is the provocation and protection of the LORD (Judg 2; 3; 4; 6–8; 10; cf. Ps 106:43–45; Neh 9:27–28). 33 Oxford rev. 20181012 .
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