1 David Moseley, Ph.D.

THE DEUTERONOMIST HISTORY BOOKS Conquest, Tribal Judges & Kingship

1. The (Re-)Conquest of The Promised Land (The )

Ø Written by the Deuteronomist as a Continuation of History of the Jews after the Book of

Deuteronomy

Ø Joshua is Divided into Two Parts:

v The (Re-)Conquest of the Promised Land (Joshua 1-12) v The Allocation of the Promised Land to the 12 Tribes (Joshua 13-24)

Ø Joshua is a Military Leader, ’ General – Shift from Religious / Priestly/ Prophetic

Leadership to Politics and War

Ø “Y’hoshua” means “YHVH is Salvation” in Hebrew – Jesus’ Name in Aramaic (Y’heshua)

is virtually identical to that of Joshua

Ø Joshua’s Life Parallels that of Moses:

• Joshua Commissioned by God (Joshua 1) • Joshua Send out Spies (Joshua 2-3 – cf. Number 13) • Joshua Parts the River Jordan (Joshua 4 – cf. Exodus 14) • Celebrating Passover (Joshua 5 – cf. Exodus 12-13) • Joshua Sacrifices & Circumcision / (Joshua 5) • Reminders about the Law • Meets Messenger of God (Joshua 5) • Joshua’s Victories in Battle • Joshua Mediates between God and the People • Farewell Speeches (Joshua 23 – cf. Deuteronomy 32-33)

1. Ø “Herem” – “Devoted” or “Destruction” – What Belongs to God

v Rules for Conduct of Holy War (Deuteronomy 20)

v God’s Plunder, not Israel’s

v Parallels with Sacrifice (Given to God, then Destroyed to Remove Utility Value)

Ø Conquest of Jericho and by Miraculous Divine Intervention (Joshua 6-12)

Ø Division and Allocation of Land to 12 Tribes (Joshua 13-24)

2. The (Re-)Conquest of The Promised Land (The )

Ø Written by the Deuteronomist as a Continuation of History of the Jews after the Book of

Joshua

Ø “Judges” are Charismatic Military-Tribal Leaders – Book details their Struggles to

Maintain Faithfulness and defend Israel from its Enemies

Ø Twelve Judges (appropriately enough) Profiled in Book of Judges

Ø Highlights of Judges:

v Barak and Deborah (Judges 4-5) v Gideon (Judges 6-8) v Jephthah (Judges 10-11) v Samson (Judges 13-16)

Ø Preparing the Ground for Kingship to Come

Ø Parallel Features of the Judges:

v “Quality” rather than “Quantity” when God is on Your Side v Testing and Faithfulness of Judge Mirrors Fate of Israel v Alternating Episodes of Faithlessness → Judgment → Repentance → Forgiveness → Restoration

2. 3. The Rise of the Monarchy: , Saul & David (I Samuel)

Ø Written by the Deuteronomist as a Continuation of History of the Jews after the Book of

Judges

Ø I and II Samuel are just One Book in Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh), but split into Two Books

in Christian Bible (“”)

Ø Begins with Birth of Prophet Samuel (I Sam 1-2) and Narrative of the Ark of the Covenant

(I Sam 3-7)

v Birth of Samuel Parallels Births of Isaac, Joseph (and John the Baptist & Jesus?) v The “Mis-Management” of the Ark of the Covenant by the Priest Eli and his Sons

(Disinherited) Prepares the Way for the Kings

Ø The Rise of the Monarchy & The Anointing of Saul (I Sam 8-12)

Ø Saul’s Early Kingship and the Perils of Monarchy (I Sam 13-15)

Ø The Rise of David and the Demise of Saul (I Sam 16-31)

v The Anointing of David (I Sam 16) v David & (I Sam 17) v David’s Friendship with Saul’s Son, Jonathan (who he will Supplant); and Marriage to Saul’s Daughter, Michal (I Sam 18-19) v Rivalry of Saul and David (I Sam 21-27) – David Repeatedly Spares the Life of Saul, God’s “Anointed” King v Death of Saul and Jonathan (I Sam 31)

4. The (Not so) Golden Age of King David (II Samuel)

Ø David Consolidates his Kingdom (II Samuel 1-8)

Ø The “Succession Narrative” (II Samuel 9-20):

v Bathsheba Story (II Samuel 11-12 – see also Psalm 51) v Tragic Conflicts and Rivalries between David and his Sons (II Samuel 13-20)

3. Ø David Appendix (II Samuel 21-24)

Ø Kingship as Metaphor for Covenantal Relationship of God and Israel – The “Ups” and

“Downs” of the Monarchy Parallels the Faithfulness and Faithlessness of to God

5. (I Kings 1-11)

Ø Written by the Deuteronomist as a Continuation of History of the Jews after the Book of

Samuel

Ø The Accession of Solomon to the Throne (I Kings 1-2)

Ø The Reign of Solomon (I Kings 3-11):

1. The Wisdom of Solomon (I Kings 3-4)

2. Building of the Temple (I Kings 5-8)

3. Diplomacy rather than War: Solomon’s 700 Wives & 300 Concubines (I Kings 11)

Ø The Decline of Kingship under Solomon (I Kings 9-11)

6. Divided Kingdoms (I Kings 12 – II Kings 25)

Ø Succession Crisis after Death of Solomon - The “Divided Kingdoms”:

1. Israel (10 Northern Tribes) – King

2. (2 Southern Tribes) – King Rehoboam

Ø Descent of “Divided Kingdoms” into Sin:

v Idolatry – Material “Idols” before Transcendent God (1st Table of Commandments)

v Greed & Poverty – Material Goods before Human Welfare (2nd Table of

Commandments)

Ø Rise of the Age of Prophecy

4. Ø The Elijah Cycle of Stories (I Kings 17 – II Kings 1)

Ø The Elisha Cycle of Stories (II Kings 2-10)

Ø The Assyrian Crisis and Fall of Kingdom of Israel in 722/21 B.C.E. (II Kings 11-17)

v Beginning of Jewish “Diaspora” (Ten “Lost Tribes” of Israel)

Ø The Babylonian Crisis and Fall of in 588/89 B.C.E. (II Kings 18-25)

v Destruction of Temple & Loss of Ark of the Covenant

v Babylonian Exile of Elites (Priests, Nobles and Scribes)

5.