Exam Prepp

Question 1

Message of Joshua

Answer 1

1. It picks up from the end of Deuteronomy.
2. Moses just died, Israel is about to cross the Jordan from the Eastern side.
3. God just appointed Joshua as new leader of Israel.
4. Joshua continues the good work of Moses.
5. God promises to be with Joshua, as He was with Moses.
6. Joshua’s role is different from the mediatorial role that Moses played.
7. Joshua is called the servant of Moses for a great part of his life.
8. He is only the servant of the Lord after the conquest.
9. Joshua is told to be courageous on numerous occasions by:
   
   1. Moses (Deut 31:6)
   2. The People (Joshua 1:18)
   3. God (Joshua 1:6,7,9)
10. Book of Joshua continues on theme that the land is God’s gracious gift to Israel.
11. God refers to “the land I’m about to give you.”
12. Joshua repeats the message to Israel, that if they stay faithful to God’s commandments, they will be succesful.

Question 2

Explain the Covenant in Joshua

Answer 2

The book of Joshua sees the covenant in the promise of land.

God acted on Israel’s behalf and against those nations who attempted to interfere with the covenant.

Israel captured Jericho, but Rahab was spared.

At Ai there was complete destruction, the word hierem (devotion) comes in again, the devotion of Israel was tested.

God’s promise of land: I will be your God, and you will be My people.

Question 3

Explain the Theological significance between the different readings of Hebrews 4:8. Jesus or Joshua. (5)

Answer 3

Although the word for Joshua in Heb 4:8 can also be translated as Jesus. It is highly improbable that this refers to Jesus.

1) Certain manuscripts explicitly states Joshua son of Nun.
2) The verse indicates that although Joshua gave rest to the People of Israel it was not a perfect rest.

Perfect rest is to be found in the millennium and thereafter in Jesus Christ the saviour.

Question 4

Define the term “Judge.” (5)

Answer 4

A leader or deliverer, and not the court judge that we usually know. In the pre-monorchal period of Israel, a Judge was a charismatic leader acting as a temporary ruler or a temporary military leader.

Question 5

Interesting facts about the book of Judges (6)

Answer 5

1. God provides victory over the Canaanites through Deborah and Jael.
2. Gideon defeats a large Midianite army with only 300 men.
3. All the Judges, besides Othniel and Deborah are tainted in a certain way.
4. Contains the colourful story of Samson and Delilah.
5. The book centres around battles. However women play a significant role in the book, as mother, judge, sister, daughter, wife and concubine.
6. Judges 19-21 contains the most disgusting story in the Bible. This is the end of the book.

Question 6

The Pattern of Israel’s disobedience in serving foreign gods.

Answer 6

1. Rebellion
   
   1. Jehova sends a nation to oppress them.
2. Retribution
   
   1. The people cry out to God.
   2. He raises up somenone to deliver them.
   3. The heathen oppressor is defeated
3. Repentance
4. Restoration
   
   1. The people find rest and restoration once again.

Question 7

An outline of the book of Judges (12)

Answer 7

1. Othniel (Ch. 3:7-11)
2. Ehud (3: 12-30)
3. Shamgar (3:31)
4. Deborah and Barak (4:1 - 5:31)
5. Gideon and His sons (6:1 - 9:57)
6. Tola and Jair (10:1-5)
7. Jephthah (10:6 - 12:7)
8. Ibzan, Elon & Abdon (12:8-15)
9. Samson (13:1 - 16:31)

Question 8

Saul commits 3 mistakes, what are they? (6)

Answer 8

1. He fails to wait for Samuel, and instead offered the offering saccrifices himself.
2. During a battle, he made a foolish vow in which his son would’ve been executed, fortunately the army intervened.
3. God instructed Saul to destroy all the Amalikites and their livestock. Saul keeps the livestock, and spared lives. God rejects Saul as King because of his disobedience.

Question 9

Canaanites.

Answer 9

Son of Ham and descendants occupying Canaan.

In the Hexateuch the Canaanites include the whole Pre-Israelite population, even east of the Jordan.

Question 10

Hittites

Answer 10

Descendants from Ham through Canaan’s 2nd son Heth.

They were a people named after the Hattians (Hiatti) whom they displaced.

Question 11

Jebusites

Answer 11

Canaanite tribe living at Jebus.

Joshua killed their king.

Question 12

Perrizites

Answer 12

Aborigines of Canaan.

Question 13

Hivites

Answer 13

One of the 7 nations of Canaan conquered by Joshua.

Question 14

Amorites

Answer 14

“Mountain dwellers.” A people descended from Canaan. Whose kingdom occupied the larger part of Canaan and Syria. They were very wicked and Amraphel was one of their kings.

Question 15

Merarites

Answer 15

Merari means “bitter.” The word common to us is Mara(h). They stem from the youngest son of Levi.

Question 16

Gershonites

Answer 16

They stem from the oldest of the 3 sons of Levi.

They were responsible for the tabernacle and its transportation.

Question 17

Kohathites

Answer 17

They stem from Levi, and the descendants include the priestly family of Aaron.

Question 18

Define Proper Nominal Metathesis

Answer 18

The sylables of a proper name is switched. As in the case of Caleb’s daughter being named Ascha in the LXX, and Achsah in the MT.

Question 19

Joshua commands the sun to stand still.

Answer 19

There is a strong possibility that this is based on poetry rather than historical narrative.

The words word for stand still can also be translated as “be still” implicating that the position of Israel’s army would remain secret.

However it is important to recognise that in any of the possibilities a miracle still happened.

Whatever happened there that day, gave Israel faith in the living God.