Concept Questions

Question 1

What is the overall view of the Israelite conquest of Canaan depicted in the Book of Joshua?

Answer 1

complete, quick defeat with God on their side

Question 2

In what ways is Joshua depicted as being “like Moses”?

Answer 2

speeches, splits water, holds hands out to win battle, revelation of angel of God, sends out spies

Question 3

What plot lines from Numbers and Deuteronomy are brought to a conclusion in the Book of Joshua?

Answer 3

conquest of land

dividing land

Josephs Bones

Caleb gets his portion

circumcision

cities of refuge

levite cities

Question 4

How is the political, national, and religious situation in the Book of Judges
different from the description in Book of Joshua?

Answer 4

Disunity amoung tribes

Paganism

strugle- recurent cycle

Question 5

What generalizations about this period (Judges) and type of leadership emerge from the
Book as a whole?

Answer 5

temporary, non-dynastic, one attempt at dynasty failed (avimelch), charamatic leaders out of need

Question 6

In particular, what editorial viewpoint emerges from the inclusion of thelast two
stories in the book, that of Micah’s priest and the rape of the concubine at Gibeah

Answer 6

There is no king to keep order.

Unsanctioned priesthood is dangerous.

Everything is caotic and unsettled-

*Gibeah is where Saul is from so it is a critism of him

Question 7

What is the narrator’s point of view about Saul’s character, David’s character, David’s rise to power, and the conflict between Saul and David?

Answer 7

David is blameless, blessed by god, and unfairly come after by Saul.

Saul is crazy and Jelous

Question 8

What is the narrator’s view of King David in the “Court History” of II Samuel? How does this differ from the narrator’s view of David’s ascent to the throne in I Samuel?

Answer 8

David never does his own killing- others do it for him and then he rebukes them.

David can do wrong but he repents (bat sheva)

Question 9

political and religous reason kingdom split

Answer 9

political -tax burden

religous- solomons foriegn wives and pagan worship

Question 10

polical and religous reason North destroyed

Answer 10

political- rebelled against Assyria

religous- golden calf, bad worship- pagan

Question 11

political and religous for southern kingdom

Answer 11

political- rebelled against Babylon

religous- Menashe was a really bad king- worshiped Baal

Question 12

Who are two great southern kings?

Answer 12

Josiah - restored God worship, makes Passover, finds Devarim

Hezekiah- Saved Judah, water tunnels, also returns God worship