Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Some History Flashcards
What are 4 topographic regions in biblical Israel?
1.Coastal Plains home to Philistines
2.Low Hills or Shephelah Conflict between Israelites and Philistines
3.Central Highlands-Jerusalem and much of Biblical story
4. Jordan Valley and Dead Sea- Desert land with few inhabitants.
What are the two main seasons in Israel?
Rain (Nov-Feb)
Dry and Barren (March-October)
What is the Mediterranean Triad?
Barley, Olives (Olive oil), Grapes (Wine)
What is the life expectancy of someone in biblical Israel?
About 38- Elders are about 50- 60 you were almost considered a saint
Describe the basics of houses and gates?
Houses typically held animals on the bottom floor, a staircase lead to the second floor and people lived on the second floor.
Gates were often the weakest part of the city walls, invading armies focused on breaking through the gates.
What are the 3 dates of the exiles and which includes the fall of Jerusalem?
597,587,582 (fall is in 587)
The Hebrew word for Shepherd is similar to what other word?
Friend
The Hebrew word for Pastures can also mean?
Homes
The Hebrew word for evil can also mean?
calamity, disaster, harm
What are 3 possible explanations for language of a table in the presence of one’s enemies?
1.Could have said Weapon For my enemies
2.The translators could have skipped over a letter and the passage may read “a table away from my enemies”
3.Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
What are the Key themes in Joshua? (3)
Israel’s theology of warfare
Outsiders become insiders
Land distribution
Joshua Setting?
15th or 13th century BCE
Judges Key Themes?
(6) cycle
The Cycle- Going to Hell down the spiral of bad to worse Judges
1. Going astray
2. People are oppressed
3. They cry out to God
4. God raises up judge
5. Judge rescues the people
6. Judge dies (do not always have all elements) Prototype- 2:11-23
Judges Setting
1400BCE or 1200BCE
Ruth Key Themes(3)
Immigration, Friendship, Hope
Describe the Threshing Floor
This is where people separate the chaff from the barley. This was a celebratory party - Social event
Setting of Ruth
12th or 11th century BCE
Major Periods of OT History(9)
Primordial
Patriarchal Period (2000-1500BCE)
Exodus, Wanderings, Conquest, Judges (15th or 13th until 1030 BCE)
United Monarchy (1030-920 BCE)
Divided Monarchy (920-587 BCE)
Exile (587-539 BCE)
Post-exilic/Persian (539-332 BCE)
Greek (332-63 BCE)
Roman (63BCE-476CE)
Where were the priests with the ark of the covenant while the people crossed the Jordan? (Joshua 3:7-17)
The priests were ahead of the people
When does the manna stop? (Joshua 5:9-12)
“The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.” (Josh. 5:12)
How does Joshua respond to the people saying they will serve God?
He tells them they need to make a choice and serve Him with all faithfulness. He tells them God will not tolerate them worshipping Him and other Gods.
Judges 4:1-7 What judge served after Ehud?
Deborah
Ruth 1:1-18 What are the nationalities of Naomi and Ruth? How are they related?
Ruth is Moabite. Naomi is Israelite. Ruth is Naomi’s daughter-in-law and both are widows
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 What does Ruth do to win Boaz’s affection?
Ruth uncovered his feet (sexual reference) and Boaz took her and made love to her.
CEB Joshua Intro
- God gave the land of Canaan
- Allotted the land as an inheritance
- Joshua is set in the 13th century BCE
- first portions composed in late 7th century
— concern for religious purity and absolute devotion to God. - book completed after Jerusalem destruction(587 BCE) or return to Judah in (539 BCE)
- Joshua: Moses apprentice, military leader, successor
- Authority is directed toward Moses and Eleazar
—Joshua is present in relation to Moses
—Eleazar stand with Joshua at the allocation, his death is noted not Joshua’s
— shared authority military and priest
Jewish Bible - First book of former prophets
Christian Bible -
- in the middle of the narrative (genesis - Esther)
- Mean to read as a sequel to Deuteronomy
- primary authority for Israel is God’s teachings through Moses
- national unity is a concern
- east of the Jordan was considered unclean and Joshua declared those tribes as part of Israel
Joshua Outline
Conquest of Canaan
Taking of Jericho
Distribution of Land
Judges Outlines
Intro: failure to complete conquest
Cycle of Judges
Deborah and Barrack Gideon Samson and the philistines No King Anarchy
Ruth Outline
Ruth background and deaths
Ruth Gleans and meets Boaz
Ruth and Boaz at the threshing Floor
Ruth and Boaz Marry
NOAB Joshua Intro
– Author is unknown
– Scholars placed Joshua in different genres or groupings: Hexateuch(first 6 books), Enneateuch(first 9 books), or independent book written during post-exilic period
Do not read Joshua as straight History:
it represents a swift conquest but it was more gradual settlement
Structure:
– Conquest/Allotment
– Logical geographical arrangement(east to west)
–typology representing one character and event as an echo or foreshadow See Moses and Joshua’s parallel
–Teaching of Moses plays a huge role in Israel’s obedience or disobedience determines success or failure
–ritual concerns dictate some narration
HEREM:
Noun: devoted thing,
Verb: Utterly Destroy drive out, dispossess
wars were dedication to the glorification of the deity and the extension of the land and directives for the war spoils
Land ideologies
- territory of the 12 tribes(includes the 2 1/2 tribes in ALL of Israel
–True land of inheritance- puts emphasis on crossing the Jordan and would displace the tribes east of the Jordan
–Land claimed but not fully conquered ‘the land that still remains to be possessed.’
–expansionistic, utopian Israel which claims the distant Euphrates as the norther boundary
Unredeemed promise
incomplete conquest is judged
optimistic land blessings in the future
NOAB Judges Notes
Judges - term used during transitional period
meaning -‘Justice’
In the book - is means protagonist whose feats rescue Israel from oppression
Scholars - do no believe in 1 singular author(possible Samuel)
Pieced together and edited over the centuries -
Song of Deborah(2nd millennium BCE)
Reference to the Assyrian invasion of Samaria ch 18 - not completed before 722BCE
Correspondence leads to Deuteronomistic History - Entry into Canaan to Babylonian exile.
Core contains narratives of the northern heroes, but to adapt to Deuteronomistic History they added a southern hero, Gideon, moral deficiency.
Regional bias - norther tribes faithless, southern tribe of Judah - uniquely successfull
The Days after Joshua - various tribes securing the land against the Canaanites.
Bias toward Judah
The days of the judges - the cycle
do evil, God sends punishment, Israel cries out to the Lord, The Lord hears their cries, sends a ‘deliverer’ enemy is defeated and the land is at rest
tribes are fractious, identity as a people of the Lord is endangered - local culture, assimilation,
Illicit shrines, violence, internecine warfare
This is the moment things really fall apart in the Israelites story from Genesis to Kings
Judges sets us up for the kingship
ends without closure enticing you to read more - Ruth(Christians) 1 Samuel(Jews)
Feminist interpretation has brought judges front and center because of it many female characters and the graphic depictions of violence against women
CEB Judges Notes
Collection of stories about the time between Israel’s entrance to Canaan and the rise of Kings
‘ Judges’ comes from the Vulgate(Latin) judges, but CEB calls them Leaders
— some LED Israel
— Hebrew Root - to settle disputes
— tribal leader who delivers or rescues the people from distress
— who governed all of Israel for some period of time
Dating Judges
Process and date remain unclear
Framework - worshiping other gods, punished by being attacked, call on God to help, God send someone to rescue them
Framework concluded with They lived at peace for ____ years
Problems for Contemporaries
1- isn’t clear how accurately it’s stories reflect historical events
2 - the stories portray a troubling type of Holy War - God fights against Israel’s enemies.. whole people groups and specifically its depiction of women
3 - 20 female characters, appear as trophies or property, victims of violence.
Theological focus: increasing unfaithfulness to God parallels the decline of people’s social and moral life
Unfaithfulness, oppression, changed hearts, deliverance
Religious unfaithfulness, murder, revenge, and sexual violence
Judges appears to approve the need for a King.. but it also critiques kings and asked the question
What community character and moral leadership are required for God’s people to live faithfully
CEB Ruth Notes
Artistically Crafted: Key Phrases, wordplay, meaningful dialogue and careful organization
How important was community for the people in the ancient world
Naomi from Bethlehem
Ruth -Moab(enemies of Israel)
Assumed Customs:
Gleaning(letting the poor collect leftovers from the fields)
Levirate Marriage (Requiring men to marry brother’s widows to provide offspring)
Redeemer (the right to purchase land to keep it in the family)
God is in the wings - humans are central to the story
EMPTINESS to FULLNESS
BARRENNESS to FERTILITY
DEATH to LIFE
Bethlehemites acceptance of Ruth the Moabite - Unexpected and Remarkable
Perspective of 2 Widow’s - economically dependent, courage and resourceful,
Different are welcomed
Help for the poor
Care for the Elderly
Mention of King David places the writing during David’s family ruling Judah?
Marrying foreigners was a practice discussed during the post-exilic period(5th-6th BCE)
Placement - Christianity places Ruth between Judges and Kings
reflected from Greek and Latin manuscripts
Hebrew Bible - in the 5 scrolls of the writings because they read Ruth during the Festival of Weeks(end of harvest).
Royal Covenant and Divine Providence
NOT Included in the Deuteronomistic History!!!!
Describe the Threshing Floor
This is where people separate the chaff from the barley. This was a celebratory party - Social event
What are the 3 dates of the exiles and which includes the fall of Jerusalem?
597,587,582 (fall is in 587)
