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Read Through the Bible: People, Places, and Turning Points of the BibleJoshua, and the period of the judges

Tyler Weidler

www.bibleknowledgeproject.comReview of last weekOverview of LeviticusOrigin of Levitical systemOfferings and sacrifices point to the need for a saviorFellowship offering parallels with Lords SupperDay of Atonement fulfilled by Jesus

Nationalism in the BibleJoshua and Judges are particularly violentJoshua kills thousands of people with Gods help and blessing.The nations destroyed by Joshua were constantly at war with each other; if Israel didnt do it, someone else would haveThese nations practiced child sacrifice and child prostitution, and spread their bad religions

What do we make of Gods original promise to Abraham? All the nations will be blessed through you.(Gen. 12:1-3)Overview of Joshua-Judges (Israel settles the land)Joshua leads Israel to numerous military victoriesSettling the land takes significantly longer than defeating armiesJoshua defeats 31 kings (Josh. 12:24)None of the tribes of Israel fully occupies its territoryAfter Joshuas death, Israel follows a pattern of alternating obedience and disobedienceIn this time there is no king in Israel, and the people do what is right in their own eyesJudges periodically rise up and restore Israel.

Joshua Leads IsraelJoshua 1:1-9God tells Joshua that he will lead Israel just as Moses didGod says he will never fail you nor forsake youForsake is a strong wordGod repeats this promise throughout the O.T.Israel repeatedly is said to forsake God, but the word is never used by God against Israel, despite that the deserve it.Gods wrath is poured out on Christ when he says Why have you forsaken meGod promises to be with him and to give him every bit of land he sets foot onGod tells him to be strong and courageousGod warns him to meditate on his law day and night so that it does not depart from his mouth Faith of Rahab (Josh. 2)Joshua sends two spies into JerichoSpies stay at Rahabs house, on the wall of the cityRahab expresses belief that Yahweh is the god of heaven and earth (Josh. 2:11)Rahab risks her life to protect the spies, trusting that this act of faith will save her.This faith is celebrated and rewarded by God, and he spares herRahab becomes a part of the genealogy of David and JesusCrossing the Jordan River (Josh. 3)River is at flood stage (3:15)Israelites had heard of the Red Sea crossing, but only the oldest would have remembered it.Crossing the river at flood stage was considered a feat of great strength (1 Chron. 12)This miracle would demonstrate that God was with Joshua in the same way he was with Moses, and inspire confidence with the people. (Josh. 1:5, 3:7)Crossing the Jordan RiverGod opens the river by going first, in the ark of the covenant, carried by the priestsAll Israel passes across the riverWater backs up at a place called Adam, near ZarethanAfter crossing, Joshua builds a stone pile in the middle of the river

Stone Piles in the BibleStone piles are frequently mentioned in the Bible.Jacob builds them to mark places where God appeared to himIsrael builds 12 of them around Mt. SinaiSamuel builds them after defeating PhilistinesJoshua builds them pretty much everywhere he goesThese piles were extremely large, meant to be permanentStone pile in the middle of the Jordan would have been an interesting proof that someone had once piled stones in the middle of the river, demonstrating that it had stopped and allowed them to work thereBattle of Jericho (Josh. 6)Jericho was the most fortified city in the regionJericho was the first city encountered upon entering the land from the eastInstead of the usual siege and drawn-out war, God chooses to destroy Jericho quickly and thoroughly through supernatural meansJericho was reduced to rubble, and cursed by Joshua, that anyone who rebuilt it would lose his firstborn and his youngest childAchans sinAfter Jericho, Israel is defeated by Ai because a man named Achan stole spoils belonging to God from JerichoRead Josh. 7:19-26Saw, looked good, took same as EvePunishment is severe because Achan deliberately stole from God, and family helped cover itPunishment is severe because Israel lost lives in battle

Achan and RahabAchan and Rahab are bookends to the Jericho storyRahab Canaanite woman, hides spies in house, obeys God, Israel wins major battle, whole family is saved, while city is destroyed under pile of rocks.Achan Israelite man, hides valuables in his house, disobeys God, Israel loses major battle, whole family is destroyed under pile of rocks Even in the time of Israels greatest nationalist triumph, God is including faithful gentiles and excluding faithless Israelites.Map of the period of the Judges

JudgesRead Joshua 24:14-18Read Judges 2:6-11Period of the JudgesThe people of Joshuas generation, and the elders of the people serve GodThe next generation does not know GodDemonstrates the importance of parenting and teaching kids Gods wordServes the baal godsIs subjugated by their neighborsGod raises up judgesJudges rescue Israel, and repent of worshipping false godsJudges die, and the next generation doesnt obey GodCycle repeats throughout the bookStory of Ruth takes place during this time

False gods in IsraelAncient people believed that gods controlled regions of land and water. Israel knew that God ruled the wilderness, and believed that baal and asherah ruled the fertile areasIsrael decided to split the difference and worship all of the aboveIsrael was also corrupted by the neighboring peoplebaal was the chief god, and asherah was his mistress. Together they were believed to control fertility, including harvests, seasonal rains, and childbearing.This adds emphasis to Gods use of storms to defeat enemies of Israel.

Samson and SamuelCircumstances surrounding Samsons birth

Judges 13:2-5 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children.Then the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son."Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing."For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be aNazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

Samuel1 Samuel 1:5 the LORD had closed her womb.1 Samuel 1:19-20and the LORD remembered her.So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, Because I asked the LORD for him.

I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.

Samson and Samuel Samson and Samuel are parallel charactersBoth were miraculous children of promise, born to women who were unable to bear childrenAll children of promise in the Bible are extremely importantGod seems to take particular joy in creating life in places where life is not possibleGod wants his most influential and important people to be recognized as his; not as natural chance, good fortune, or good behavior.Law of the NaziritesSamson and Samuel were both Nazirites, probably the only Nazirites recorded in the Bible. (Nazirite law is found in Numbers 6)Nazirites are people who are dedicated to God in a special way. They are separated from others.Cannot have any contact with grapes, grape juice, wine, raisins, etc.Cannot cut their hair.Cannot go near a dead body, even family.Samson and SamuelSamson and Samuel are oppositesSamson is extremely strong, but weak on obedienceSamuel is rigidly obedient, not noted for strengthSamson leads Israel by brute forceSamuel leads Israel by trusting GodSamson fails God his whole life, but trusts God at the end of his life, and dies glorifying himSamuel trusts God all his life, and is dismissed by Israel as irrelevant, replaced by a self-centered king; mentioned in Hebrews 11Shows that nobody could live up to the expectations of the messiahSamson and Samuel are types, which point to JesusJesus was a child of promise born to a woman unable to bear childrenThe angel spoke to Mary first, then JosephSamson and Samuel were promised to the mothers first, before the fathersMany people in Jesuss day expected the messiah to be like Samson; a strong military leader.Others expected Jesus to be like Samuel, a strict legalist.Samson and Samuel demonstrate that these leaders were not good enough. Samson was incompetent, Samuel was rejected. Jesus was more than Samson or Samuel could have been. His most faithful act was in his death (like Samson) and he was rejected by his people (like Samuel).Samson points JesusSamson was called Deliverer by the angel before his birth (Judges 13:5)Samson is sold to his enemies for silver, by someone close to himSamson defeats more evil in his death than in his life. (Judges 16:30)Samson dies trusting in God, with his arms outstretched, while others scoff at him.Samson is mentioned in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:32Samuel points to JesusWhen Hannah (Samuels mother) dedicates Samuel at the temple, she sings a song of praise. Mary quotes it in her Magnificat (My soul exults in the LORD)Samuel is said to grow in stature and in favor of God and men, (1 Sam. 2:26) which are the same words used for Jesus (Luke 2:52) and no one else. When the people reject Samuel, God says they are rejecting him (1 Sam. 8:7). Jesus says he who rejects me, rejects the one who sent me (Luke 10:16)Samuel re-orders the temple and ends corruption thereJesus is better than Samson and SamuelMany Jews in the time of Jesus wanted a military leaderSamson demonstrates that this would not have been enoughOthers wanted a strictly obedient moral crusaderSamuel was rejected by his peopleThese examples demonstrate that a more thorough kind of savior is necessary, someone greater than Samuel and Samson put together

RuthRuth takes place during the time of the judges. (Ruth 1:1)

Read Ruth 1

Ruth and the MoabitesRuth was a MoabiteMoabites were a significant enemy of IsraelJudges 3:15-30 describes a period of enslavement to MoabMoab hired Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24)Moab sent women and false gods into Israel in an attempt to corrupt the nation (Numbers 25)One of Moabs false gods, chemosh, is particularly vile

Moabites, and descendants of Moabites are specifically forbidden from ever entering the temple (Deut. 23:3) and you shall never seek their peace or prosperity all your days (Deut. 23:6)RuthRuths husband diedRuth chose to stay with her mother in law, despite being urged not toRuth expresses trust in God and converts to JudaismRuth 1:16 Ruth replied Dont urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.Ruth converts and trusts in GodRuths conversion is acceptedRuth marries Boaz, who is called her redeemer.Applying the Kinsman Redeemer rule (Deut. 25) to a foreigner demonstrates that God is willing to extend redemption to non-JewsBoaz is praised and blessed for marrying Ruth, not condemnedGod blesses the marriage The LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son (Ruth 4:13)God further blesses the marriage by bringing David, and ultimately Jesus, through the line of Ruth and Boaz.What we learn from thisRuth demonstrates that God is willing to accept people who express faith in him, even in the time of Israel conquering and destroying other nations.Boaz is a descendant of Rahab, further establishing the fact that God will include all people in his plan to save the world.This points toward the fulfillment of Gods first promise to Abrahamall the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you. (Gen 12:1-3)Next WeekSaul, David, Solomon and the divided kingdom

Timeline of the Judges

Eli; I Sam. 1-4; fails to defeat Philistines, raises evil sons; adopts SamuelSamuel; I Sam. 1:1-16. Defeats Philistines, anoints Saul, condemns Saul, anoints DavidSamson; Jud. 13-16. Rescues Israel from PhilistinesJephthah; Jud. 11-12:7. Rescues Israel from AmmonitesGideon; Jud. 6-8. Rescues Israel from MidianitesShamgar; Jud. 3:31. Rescues Israel from PhilistinesTola and Jair; Jud. 10:1-5Ehud; Jud. 3:12-30. Rescues Israel from MoabitesDeborah (and Barak); Jud. 4,5. Rescues Israel from CanaanitesIbzan, Elon, and Abdon; Jud. 12:8-13Othniel; Jud. 3:7-11. Rescues Israel from Mesopotamian king