UNIT 3THE BOOKS OF HISTORY:

The Preparation for Christ

SECTION 10

Introduction to the Books of History

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

A. The Period of the Patriarchs (Gen. 12-50) – c. 2000 to 1875 B.C.

• Period begins with Abraham entering the Promised Land.• Covers the lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s entire family who entered Egypt.

• After 400 years of slavery, God raised up Moses in about 1450 B.C.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

B. The Period of the Theocracy (Exod. – Ruth)

– 1445 to 1043 B.C. • Theocracy is a nation ruled by God.

• After the Exodus, Israel became a theocracy at Mt. Sinai.

• God ruled directly over Israel by way of His law and prophetic spokesmen.• Began with Moses and ended with Samuel.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

C. The Period of the Monarchy (I Sam.–II Chron.) – 1043 to 586 B.C.

• Israel wanted a king like other nations.

• God gave in to their demands.

• Israel achieved greatness through its first three kings: Saul, David, and Solomon.

• After Solomon’s death, Israel split into two kingdoms: Israel (10 northern tribes) and Judah (2 southern tribes).

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

D. The Period of Exile (no historical books) – 605 to 536 B.C.

• 70 years long (Jer. 25:11).

• Babylonian captivity ended with the fall of

Babylon to the Medo-Persians (539 B.C.)

• After disobedience to God, Israel was taken

captive by the Assyrians (722 B.C.) and Judah

by the Babylonians (605 B.C.).

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

E. The Period of Restoration (Ezra–Esther) – 536 to 420 B.C.

• In 536 B.C., the priest Zerubbabel led nearly 50,000 Jews back to Israel to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.• In 458 B.C., the priest Ezra returned with less than 2,000.

• King Cyrus permitted the Israelites to return in 536 B.C.

A HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

• Israel would never be ruled by a king again.

• When their King did come, some 400 years later, He was rejected and crucified.

• In 536 B.C., Nehemiah undertook the reconstruction of Jerusalem

A BIOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

• Period of the Theocracy: Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, Samuel

• Period of the Monarchy: Saul, David, Solomon, and a few notables from Judah (Joash, Hezekiah, and Josiah)

• Period of the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph

Prophets: Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah before the exile

A BIOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

• Period of the Exile:

• Period of Restoration

Ezra and Nehemiah

Prophets: Ezekiel and Daniel during the exile

Period of the PatriarchsGenesis

Job Period of the Theocracy

ExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudges & Ruth

A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

Period of the MonarchyI Samuel (I Chronicles)II Samuel (I Chronicles)

PsalmsI Kings (2 Chronicles)

ProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon

II Kings (2 Chronicles)Most of the writing of the prophets

A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

The Period of ExileLamentationsEzekielDaniel

The Period of RestorationEzra Esther fits in between Ezra 6 and 7Nehemiah

HaggaiZechariahMalachi

A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY

Match each Book of the Law with its theme:

1. Genesis the election of the nation

2. Exodus the redemption of nation

3. Leviticus the sanctification of the nation

4. Numbers the direction of the nation

5. Deuteronomy the instruction of the nation

6. Joshua the possession of the nation

The Possession of the NationJoshua

Who wrote Joshua? Joshua

Reasons:

1. The use of the first person plural “we” (Josh. 5:1,6).

2. Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God” (Josh. 24:26).

When was Joshua written?

• Written by about 1380 B.C. at the conclusion of the conquest of Canaan and just prior to Joshua’s death.

• Written to the victorious Israelites who were settling the promised land.

To whom was Joshua written?

• The rest of the tribes on the west side.

Why was Joshua written?

• Reveals how God brought the holy nation into the Holy Land in fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs.

Historical Purpose:

• Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh chose to settle on the east side of the Jordan.

Where were they located?

• Shows God’s faithfulness to His people.

Doctrinal Purpose:

• Joshua means “Jesus” or “savior”

Christological Purpose:

• The victorious life must be lived by faith in God.• Although God’s gifts are free, we must struggle by faith to take hold of our possessions.

• The role of Joshua as captain of his people and the one who leads them into

their possessions foreshadows Christ.• Christ is portrayed in the person of the “commander of the army of the Lord” (Josh. 5:14).

• Christ is the inheritance of the saints (cf. 1:14).

What is the book of Joshua about?

I. ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND (1-5a).

A. The Preparation of the People (1-3a) • Joshua told the people to “be strong and courageous.”• Inward preparation: Obedience to the Law (Josh. 1:8).• Outward preparation: Send out two spies to look over the land/inhabitants were afraid of the Israelites (Josh. 2:24).

• Final preparation was to move onward behind the ark, the symbol of God’s presence.

• Jordan River dried up for their passage.• Joshua set up stones as a memorial to this monumental event.

B. The Passage of the People (3b-4)

C. The Purification of the People (5a)

• Circumcision was give by God to Abraham as a sign of the covenant.

• Joshua renewed this act of purification by circumcising the new generation.

• Israel’s victory would come from God as

they obeyed His orders.

A. The Revelation of the Victory – The Lord is in the Camp (5a)

II. CONQUERING THE PROMISED LAND (5b-12).

B. The Realization of the Victory – No sin in the Camp (6-11)

• Israel’s basic strategy for victory was to divide and conquer the land of Palestine.

• Victory (Jericho) and defeat (Ai) were vital lessons for spiritual success.

C. The Record of the Victory – Triumph in the Camp (12)

• Begin with the weaker nations in the south and then move to the more difficult nations in the north.

• Joshua reviewed Israel’s success.

• While Israel took the whole land (11:23)

there were areas they had not subdued.

• Israel conquered the land but needed to

possess the land by faith (13:1).

III. POSSESSING THE PROMISED LAND (13-24).

A. Distribution of the Land (13-21)

• The tribes of Israel were given their portion of land by the casting of lots.• The Levites were given land around the cities of refuge throughout the land.

• The tribes located on the east side of the Jordan established their own altar.• The dispute was settled when it was understood that the altar would be used

as a witness and not for sacrificing.

B. The Dispute About the Altar (22)

• Central worship would still be held at the Tabernacle located at Shiloh.

C. Discourse and Death of Joshua (23-24)

• Joshua gave two discourses:

– Discourse 1: Joshua charged Israel to remember to keep the law of God (23). – Discourse 2: Joshua reminded Israel that the land was a gift from God, therefore it was their responsibility to serve the Lord (24).

http://www.bible-history.com/maps/images/joshua_conquest_of_canaan.jpg

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The Oppression of the NationJudges, Ruth

Stark contrast between Joshua and Judges:1. Israel moved from victory to defeat, from freedom to bondage, and from progress to decline.

2. In Joshua, Israel was in possession of the land

but in Judges they were oppressed by the people of the land.3. Israel’s faith had faded into faithlessness.

Who wrote Judges and Ruth? Samuel

Reasons:1. The books were composed after the death of Joshua and the elders who outlived him (Judg. 2:7).2. They were composed after the days of judges (Judg. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).

3. The person who best fits into the time period and who exercised prophetic leadership in the early monarchy was Samuel the prophet.

When were Judges and Ruth written?

• Written after 1043 B.C., when Saul was crowned king, and just before 1004 B.C.

when David captured Jerusalem.

• To Israel, under the newly established monarchy.

To whom were Judges and Ruth written?

• Reminded them how thankful they should be under David’s kingdom and not under the anarchy conditions (Judg. 21:25).

• Much of the land went into the hands of the Philistines and the Amalekites.

Why were Judges and Ruth written?

• Records the history of the cycles of Israel’s decline, oppression and deliverance from Joshua to the monarchy.

Historical Purpose of Judges:

• Most of the land was still occupied by Israel.

Where were they located?

• Disobedience or even incomplete obedience to God brings oppression and

bondage.

Doctrinal Purpose of Judges:

• Each judge served as a spiritual and political deliverer. They represent the role

Christ has as the Savior-King of His people.

Christological Purpose of Judges:

• Reveals that God responds in deliverance to the repentance and prayers of His oppressed people.

• Supplies an important link in the ancestry of King David and shows how the birth of David into the messianic and monarchical line was providentially guided by God.

Historical Purpose of Ruth:

• Demonstrates the function of the law concerning the Kinsman Redeemer (Deut.

25:5).

Doctrinal Purpose of Ruth:

• Shows the divine origin of the kingdom of David.

• Shows how Christ, or Kinsman Redeemer, purchases us for Himself.

Christological Purpose of Ruth:

• Illustrates the grace of God as Ruth the Gentile is brought into the line of messianic blessing (Mt 1:5).

What are the books of Judges and Ruth about?

I. THE REASON FOR JUDGES - APOSTASY (1-3a)

A. The Backward Look to Israel’s Sin (1-2a)

• The book of Judges describes three kinds of Judges: - the warrior judge – Gideon, Samson - the priest judge – Eli - the prophet judge – Samuel• This is a portrayal of Jesus as Prophet, Priest and Warrior (King)

• “…did not drive out the people.” (1:21, 27, 29, 30) Incomplete victories led to defeat.

• The people sinned (2:11), leading to slavery to foreign people (2:14).

B. The Forward Look to Israel’s Slavery (2b-3a)

• They cried out for deliverance (2:18) and God provided salvation (2:16).

II. THE RULE OF THE JUDGES – LOYALTY (3b-16)• Judges were needed because of Israel’s disloyalty to God their King.

• Israel’s failure to be a true theocracy led to their defeat• Cycle 1: – Oppression by Mesopotamia (8 years) – Deliverance by Othniel (40 years)• Cycle 2: – Oppression by Moab, Ammon, and Amalek (18 years) – Deliverance by Ehud and Shamgar (80 years)

• Cycle 3: – Oppression by Canaan (20 years) – Deliverance by Deborah (40 years)• Cycle 4: – Oppression by Midian (7 years) – Deliverance by Gideon (80 years)• Cycle 5: – Oppression by Abimelech (3 years) – Deliverance by Tola and Jair (45 years)

• Cycle 6: – Oppression by Ammon (18 years) – Deliverance by Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (31 years)• Cycle 7: – Oppression by Philistines (40 years) – Deliverance by Samson (20 years)

II. THE RUIN OF THE JUDGES – ANARCHY (Judg.

17-21; Ruth 1-4)• Even the judges’ temporary rule of loyalty gave way to anarchy (Judg. 21:25)

• Naomi flees Bethlehem in famine only to find tragedy in Moab.

A. Naomi and Her Family Experience Tragedy (1:1-22)

• Ruth decides to return to Bethlehem with Naomi.• Naomi expresses her bitterness (1:19-20).

B. Ruth Meets Boaz, Naomi’s Kinsman (ch. 2)

• Ruth meets Boaz who treats her with kindness.

• Naomi identifies Boaz as one of her kinsman redeemers.

C. Naomi Instructs Ruth To Go To Boaz (ch. 3)

• Naomi instructs Ruth on how to get Boaz to redeem her.

• Boaz offers to redeem Ruth.

B. Ruth Is Redeemed and Naomi Is Restored (ch. 4)

• Boaz acquires the right of redemption.

• Boaz redeems Ruth and a son is born restoring Naomi to fullness.

Themes from the Books of the Law:

Genesis the election of the nation

Exodus the redemption of nation

Leviticus the sanctification of the nation

Numbers the direction of the nation

Deuteronomy the instruction of the nation

Joshua the possession of the nation

Judges, Ruth the oppression of the nation

Themes from the Books of the Law:

1 Kings 1-11 the glorification of the nation

1 Kings 12-22 the division of nation

2 Kings 1-17 the deterioration of the Northern Tribes

2 Kings 18-25 the deportation of the Southern Tribes

1 Samuel the stabilization of the nation

2 Samuel the expansion of the nation

Themes from the Books of the Law:

Ezra the reconstruction of the Temple

Nehemiah the reconstruction of City

Esther the protection of the People

1 Chronicles the preparation of the Temple

2 Chronicles the destruction of the Temple