Children’s Preface ust imagine you have the chance to really get back at one of your classmates. One whom Jnobody likes, who is a pain in the neck all the time, and who is often quite nasty to you. Finally, the long awaited opportunity arises. And you—don’t harm him because you suddenly realize that things cannot go on like this.... The story told on the colorful stained glass window on the opposite page is a bit similar. In front, you can see a king sleeping. His name is Saul. The man behind him is David. Saul is terribly jealous of David. He has already tried to kill David a few times. He does not stop pursuing him. Now, however, it is night and Saul is sleeping. David seizes this opportunity to sneak into his camp with his warrior Abishai. Saul’s spear, usually stuck in the ground by Saul’s head, is already in Abishai’s hand. He wants to stab Saul in the back with it. But, what a surprise—David calls out: “Don’t do him harm! I will leave it to God to decide what to do with Saul.” And instead, he cuts off a corner of Saul’s cloak in order to talk to Saul about it later.... Here we are in the midst of the Old/First Testament stories. Quite a lot happens in them. The “heroes” in them are far from being holy. They make huge mistakes. They are people like you and me. Nevertheless, God has called them to a special vocation. And they do the unexpected. As David does here. Then peace can begin to come into our world. Like in Part I of our “Journey,” there will be commentaries below or beside the biblical texts for the adults and explanations alongside the pictures for you. I chose great works of art because they can help illustrate the mystery of the unfathomable God. In addition, you can learn a lot about art. Take your time looking at the pictures and reading the stories. Then they can begin to reveal their meaning to you. And you won’t stop marveling at them.... Enjoy the richness of our biblical stories and the splendor of the displayed works of art (start on p. 28)! Suzanne E. Lier PS: You can find this story in the First Book of Samuel, chapters 24 and 26 (there are two different versions; our picture mingles both), in our book on pp. 289 ff. 7 An Explanatory Word to the Adults he second part of the “Journey through the Old Testament” deals in depth with the TBooks of Joshua and Judges, and the two Books of Samuel and Kings. Only if we know what the Old/First Testament is about, will we develop a feeling for the deep rootedness of the New Testament in the Old Testament. Do we not all still harbor the conviction of the superiority of the New Testament in the deepest corner of our Christian hearts? In these narratives, fascinating figures like the Kings David and Solomon appear on the scene. They have had an impact on our occidental history up until today and have found their impressive reflection in art, literature, and music. Not to know them any longer means not to understand a major part of our culture. Not to know them means, above all, not to know Jesus Christ who is introduced as the Messiah and the son of David and Abraham in the first sentence of the New Testament (Matthew 1:1). How can we understand Jesus without knowing what a Messiah is or who David and Abraham were? “What begins like this,” writes Old Testament scholar Frank Crüsemann (2011, 95), “cannot be understood by itself and does not want to be. It is a sequel where the beginning is presupposed and must be known.” The “Journey” in three parts is exactly about this beginning. The engagement with the question of “violence” was important to me since it is a pivotal point of criticism for many people when discarding the Old Testament. Digressions and annotations will take up this group of themes. However, when choosing the texts I put an emphasis on the range of two topics dealing with “peace” and “women” without thereby can- celing out difficult texts containing violence. Among them are narratives which are unjustly unknown, although they reveal important aspects of biblical thinking. In the end, we find that it is impossible to speak of the Old Testament. Instead, what we have is a multitude of possible approaches and an abundance of aspects to the overall subject of God and Man. Therefore, I hope that you, your children, and your grandchildren will have an inspiring, constructive, and at the same time entertaining time reading. And that there may be some precious moments in which you feel unexpectedly close to God. Suzanne E. Lier 8 Contents The Old Testament as a Mere Forerunner of the New?An Obstinate Stereotype under Scrutiny 14 Introduction to the Books Joshua through Kings – History or Story? 20 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA Introduction 26 Get Ready 28 – Do not be Terrified 31 – Rahab and the Spies 32 The Red Rope 35 – Israel Crosses the Jordan 36 – The Twelve Stones of Remembrance 39 – Friend or Foe? 40 – The Trumpets of Jericho 43 – The Fall of Jericho 44 – The Gibeonite Deception 47 The Sun Stands Still 51 – The Allotment of Land in Shilo 55 – In God’s Hand 56 Joshua’s Farewell Address 59 The Book of Joshua in Debate 62 THE BOOK OF JUDGES Introduction 70 The Judge Deborah 72 – Deborah and Barak 75 – The Song of Deborah 76 – The Judge Gideon 78 – The LORD is Peace 81 – Gideon Destroys the Altar to Baal 82 The Miracle of the Fleece 85 – Gideon Chooses His Warriors 86 – Gideon Defeats the Midianites 89 – Gideon Refuses to Become King 90 – Abimelech is Crowned King 93 – The Fable of the Trees 94 – The End of Abimelech 98 – The Judge Jephthah 101 – The Birth of the Judge Sam- son 105 – Samson Kills a Lion 109 – Something Sweet out of the Strong 110 – Samson’s Wedding Riddle 113 – Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines 117 – Samson Triumphs with the Jawbone of a Donkey 118 – Samson Carries away the Gates of Gaza 121 – What is the Secret of Samson’s Strength? 122 – Delilah Reveals Samson’s Secret 125 – The Death of Samson 129 Picture Puzzle Joshua and Judges 132 Digression: The Roots of our Image of God in Religious History 134 9 THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL Introduction 144 FIRST SAMUEL Deep Sorrow 147 – Hannah Pours out Her Soul 148 – The Child Belonging to God 151 Hannah’s Song of Praise 152 – Samuel Grows Up 155 – TheLORD Calls Samuel 156 – Your Sevant is Listening 159 The Philistines Capture the Ark 160 – The Return of the Ark 163 – Appoint a King! 164 – Saul Looks for His Father’s Donkeys 167 – Samuel Anoints Saul as King 168 – Saul Disobeys the Ban Decree 171 – The LORD Rejects Saul as King 172 – Samuel Anoints David 175 – David Plays the Harp for Saul 178 – Giant Goliath 182 David knows His Own Mind 185 – Saul’s Armor Does not Suit David 186 – David and Goliath 189 – David and Jonathan 194 – Cheerful Celebration after David’s Victory 197 – Saul Tries to Kill David 198 – Michal Rescues David 201 – Jonathan in Great Danger 202 – A Moving Farewell 205 – David Pretends to be Insane 206 David Spares Saul’s Life 209 – Abigail Brings about Peace 213 – Nabal Becomes a Stone 217 Saul and the Medium at Endor 218 – Saul Takes His Life 222 SECOND SAMUEL David Hears of Saul’s Death 226 – David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan 229 David Anointed Kind over Judah and Israel 230 – David Conquers Jerusalem 233 – The Ark Brought to Jerusalem 234 I Was Dancing before the LORD! 237 Digression: The Bible Moralisée An Alarming Example of Medieval Christian Hostility Towards Jews 238 I Shall Build You a House 244 – David and Mephibosheth 247 – Bathsheba at Her Bath 248 A Fatal Letter 252 – The Poor Man and His only Lamb 255 – You Are that Man! 256 – The Son of David and Bathsheba Dies 260 – Keep Quiet for Now! 263 – The Wise Woman of Tekoa 265 – Absalom’s Conspiracy 269 David Flees Jerusalem 273 – Who Has the better Counsel? 274 – Absalom’s Defeat and Death 277 David’s Great Grief 278 – The Wise Woman of Abel 281 – Rizpah Demonstrates Charity 282 David’s Song of Praise 285 Picture Puzzle Samuel 286 10 THE BOOKS OF KINGS Introduction 290 FIRST KINGS David in His Old Age 292 – The Intrigue 295 – Solomon Anointed King 296 – The Death of David 299 Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom 303 – The Judgement of Solomon 304 – Solomon’s Wisdom and Wealth 308 Solomon Builds the Temple 312 – The Dedication of the Temple 316 – The Queen of Sheba Visits King Solomon 319 Solomon Turns From the LORD 323 – Rehoboam’s Folly 324 – The Kingdom Divided 327 – Jeroboam’s Golden Calves 328 – The Agony of Jeroboam’s Nameless Wife 331 – Elijah Announces a Great Drought 332 Elijah Fed by Ravens 335 – The Widow of Zarephath 336 – Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son 339 – Who is Your God? 340 – It is Enough Now 344 – TheLORD Appears to Elijah 348 – The Call of Elisha 351 Naboth’s Vineyard 352 SECOND KINGS Elijah Taken up to Heaven 356 – Elijsha’s First Miracles 360 – Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son 363 Death in the Pot 364 – Feeding of a Hundred 367 – Naaman Healed of Leprosy 368 – A Peaceful Meal for Foes 372 Salvation From Starvation in Samaria 375 – Elisha’s Last Miracle 376 – The Fall of Israel 379 – King Hezekiah 380 Jerusalem’s Miraculous Deliverance 384 – Hezekiah Prays For His Life 387 – Envoys From Babylon 388 King Josiah and the Book of the Law 391 – The Prophetess Huldah Interprets the Find 392 – Josiah Renews the Covenant 395 – Jerusalem Captured 396 – Zedekiah Reigns in Judah 399 – The Destruction of Jerusalem 400 Jehoiachin Released from Prison 403 – Cry for Justice 404 Picture Puzzle Kings 406 11 Conclusion Violence in the First Testament – Is this the Biblical Meassage of Peace? 408 APPENDIX Tracing the First Testament in Museums and Churches 420 – Bibliography 422 – Picture Credits 425 Text credits 427 – Clues for the Picture Puzzles 428 – Acknowledgements 429 How the Journey Will Continue 430 12 1 Samuel 1:9–18 Hannah Pours out Her Soul nce when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah is a self-confident woman.