The Deuteronomistic History: Joshua & Judges

Question 1

Deuteronomistic History

Answer 1

• a historical narrative from the “conquest” of the land to its loss
• Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Sam, 1 and 2 Kings
• receives its starting point and theology from book of Deuteronomy
• but does not include Deuteronomy

Question 2

Joshua

Answer 2

• conquest of Canaan
• 1250-1200 BCE

Question 3

Judges

Answer 3

• time of the judges
• 1200-1020 BCE

Question 4

1-2 Samuel

Answer 4

• reigns of Saul and David
• 1020-960 BCE

Question 5

1-2 Kings

Answer 5

• reign of Solomon-fall of Jerusalem
• 960-587 BCE

Question 6

Joshua

Answer 6

• Joshua beings with the wealth of Moses (Josh 1:1)
• God confirms Joshua as Moses’ successor
• famous for its “conquest” narrative
• remembered as taking over the whole land and hoping out the inhabitants

Question 7

4 Major Theories - Conquest Model

Answer 7

• swift and deadly attacks on Canaanite cities
• total destruction allows Israelites to take over
• Book of Joshua (pro and con)
• some cities have destruction layers (Lachish, Bethel)
• issues around walls of Jericho and lack of destruction

Question 8

4 Major Theories - The Peaceful Infiltration Model

Answer 8

• gradual takeover of the land, stats in the highlands and moves down to the valleys
• likely through trade and marriage
• book of Judges
• archaeological evidence of emergence of 4 room houses in the highlands
• evidence of treaties (ex. Rahab)

Question 9

4 Major Theories - The Peasant Revolt Model

Answer 9

• group know as “proto-Israel” emerges in the highlands
• revolts against Canaanite overlords
• no outside force from Egypt
• Exod 12:38 (mixed group)
• archaeology (lack of destruction)

Question 10

4 Major Theories - The Resettlement Model

Answer 10

• combination of all the above
• focuses on environmental and societal collapse
• book of Judges
• archaeological evidence of emergence of 4 room houses in the highlands
• massive social upheaval in ANE

Question 11

Some important exceptions

Answer 11

• Rehab in Jericho (Josh 2)
• foreigner who declares faith in Yahweh
• hides the spies
  *becomes part of Israel
• the Gibeonites (Josh 9)
• holy war allows treaties with foreign towns
• but not with inhabitants of Canaan
• Gilbeonites fool Joshua into thinking they are from far away
• make a treaty with the Israelites and are protected

Question 12

The Land of Canaan: Joshua & Judges

Answer 12

• land is a fundamental concept for the Israelites
• part of how they understand their place in the world
• foundation part of the covenant relationship
• the narrative from Genesis to Deuteronomy has been leading toward the land of Canaan
• the stress on the land is especially important for the editors of the Bible who were writing in exile (and therefore outside the land of Israel)
• part of the Deuteronomistic History, a narrative of Israel’s history to explain the exile

Question 13

“The land of Canaan”

Answer 13

• not an empty land
• inhabited by Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites
• presents God as a warrior deity who fights on Israel’s behalf

Question 14

God as Warrior

Answer 14

• God fights on behalf of Israel
• Josh 10:7-14, stones from heaven
• Josh 11:6-20, handed them over to Joshua
• tradition of holy war
• The Ban (Hebrew herem)
• Achan keeps some of the spoils for himself
• required to give to Gold
• defeat in battle ensues
• Achan and family are eliminated

Question 15

Audience & Genre

Answer 15

• Joshua is not a historical account of the “conquest”
• hints that the takeover of Canaan was not as violent as it appears
• about Israel’s identity in religious terms

Question 16

Judges: A Different Picture

Answer 16

• in contrast to Joshua, the book of Judges opens with Israel’s failure to capture the land
• rather than a conquering nation Israel is depicted as struggling against constant oppressors (The Judges cycle)
• this is a more likely scenario than what is found in Joshua

Question 17

Lack of Leadership

Answer 17

• chaos throughout the book of Judges
• instability brought about by Israel’s apostasy (worshipping other gods)
• punished by God thought political defeat of other nations
• human leaders called Judges (deliverers) bring short term stability
• their effectiveness diminishes over time
• at the end of Judges, breakdown of leadership
• complete chaos as the nation engages

Question 18

The Judges Cycle

Answer 18

Israel severs the Lord -> Israel falls into sin & idolatry -> Israel is enslaved -> Israel cries out to the Lord -> God raises up a Judge -> Israel is delivered -> repeat

Question 19

Deborah

Answer 19

• both a judge and a prophetess
• her role as judge is often “downplayed”
• two chapters: narrative (ch 4) and song (ch 5)
• celebrates the role of Jael
• Deborah’s rule lasted for 40
• a significant exception to the chaos of the time of the judges

Question 20

Jephthah (10:6-12:7)

Answer 20

• judge that delivers Israelites from the Ammonites
• makes a vow to God, to sacrifice whatever comes out of the doors of his house
• his unnamed daughter is the first to greet with music and celebration

Question 21

Samson

Answer 21

• last story about an individual judge
• raised as a Nazirite (no alcohol, cutting hair, or eating anything unclean) > irony
• enormous strength but questionable choices
• Philistines prove to be his downfall
• serves as a reflection of Israel’s failure to be faithful to God

Question 22

Road to Monarchy

Answer 22

• Judges 19: story of the gang rape and murder of the Levite’s concubine
• demonstrates the corruption at the heart of the nation
• enemy is both external and internal