HEBREW BIBLE 1 David Moseley, Ph.D. THE DEUTERONOMIST HISTORY BOOKS Conquest, Tribal Judges & Kingship 1. The (Re-)Conquest of The Promised Land (The Book of Joshua) 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, Moses’ 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 / Covenant (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 Canaan 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 Book of Judges) 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: Samuel, 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 (“Old Testament”) 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 & Goliath (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 Israelites to God 5. Solomon (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 Jeroboam 2. Judah (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 Kingdom of Judah 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. .