Judges and Ruth

Question 1

What is the theological message of Ruth?

Answer 1

• Shows God’s “subtle sovereignty” - no massive miracles but still working under God’s plan
• Explains David’s background
• Shows some people still showed God’s hesed to one another

Question 2

Who was Hannah?

Answer 2

• Barren woman who prayed to God for a child (in front of Eli), promised to dedicate him
• Mother of Samuel

Question 3

Who was Ruth?

Answer 3

• Moabite woman, daughter-in-law to Naomi
• Gleans from Boaz’s field
• Eventually married by Boaz as he becomes her kinsman redeemer

Question 4

Who was Samson?

Answer 4

• Birth foretold by an angel
• Married a Philistine woman but then left her, came back and sought revenge when she was given away
• Given supernatural strength as long as he didn’t cut his hair
• Tricked by Delilah into revealing his secret
• Fought against Philistines

Question 5

How does the book of Judges relate to the covenant?

Answer 5

It shows how the people of promise do living in the land of promise.

Question 6

Who was Gideon?

Answer 6

• Coward, called by God to lead against Midianites
• God narrows the army down to 300
• Upon victory, the people ask for him to be king but he refuses
• Builds an ephod

Question 7

If all of the years listed of oppression and peace during Judges are tabulated, how many years is this?

Answer 7

387

Question 8

Who was Deborah?

Answer 8

• Prophetess and judge

- Told Barak to gather armies and he would be victorious against Canaanite king

Question 9

Where was the tabernacle stationed before it was taken out to battle and was lost?

Answer 9

Shiloh

Question 10

What does the book of Judges show about how God works?

Answer 10

• God chooses unusual people to raise up (not the normal models of the ANE world).
• God’s sovereignty to use whoever he chooses
• Commentary on the culture of the time dismissing them
• Shows human weakness of continually falling short

Question 11

If the cycles of Judges are compressed into overlapping and regional threats, how many years is this?

Answer 11

Roughly 150

Question 12

Who was Jephthah?

Answer 12

• Son of a warrior and prostitute
• Asked by the people to lead the army against the Ammonites
• Promises to sacrifice the first thing he sees upon his return (sees his daughter)

Question 13

Who was Ehud?

Answer 13

• Left-handed judge of Israel

- Able to kill king of the Moabites because he pulled the dagger with his left hand from right thigh

Question 14

Where did Naomi and her family move to during the famine in Bethlehem?

Answer 14

Moab

Question 15

What is the chronological issue in the book of Judges?

Answer 15

• If add up all the times in judging and oppression, doesn’t fit between the exodus and the fall of Jerusalem

Question 16

During what period does the book of Ruth take place?

Answer 16

During the period of the judges

Question 17

Who was Othniel?

Answer 17

• First judge

- Caleb’s son-in-law, also Caleb’s nephew

Question 18

Where was Naomi from originally?

Answer 18

Bethlehem

Question 19

What was the significance of Shiloh?

Answer 19

• Tabernacle stationed there
• Eli and Samuel were ministers there
• Annual festival where girls danced and the Benjamites took them to be wives

Question 20

Who was Abimelech?

Answer 20

• Son of Gideon the judge
• Murders his 70 brothers and becomes king of Shechem
• Dying from a millstone dropped by a woman, asks his armor bearer to kill him

Question 21

How can the chronological issue in the book of Judges be resolved?

Answer 21

• Threats (and judges) were localized

- Periods are overlapping

Question 22

Define hesed.

Answer 22

Covenant faithfulness

Question 23

Who was Barak?

Answer 23

• Called by Deborah to lead the people against a Canaanite king
• He asked her to come with