The People and the Land in the Old Testament

Session 2DThe People and the Land in the Old Testament …continue Pt 7

Session # 3A

Introduction to Historical Books & Joshua

HISTORICAL (17) POETICAL (5) PROPHETICAL (17)

LAW (5)GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy

JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Songs

MAJOR (5)IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel

HISTORICAL (12)JoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEsther

MINOR (12)HoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi

Former Prophets

Former Prophets

Writings

Former Prophets

Former Prophets

Former Prophets

Former Prophets

Writings

Writings

Writings

Writings

Writings

TOR

AH

WR

ITIN

GS

LA

TT

ER

P

RO

PH

ET

S

Latter Prophets

Latter Prophets

Writings

Latter Prophets

Writings

HEBREW SCRIPTURE1. TORAH2a. FORMER PROPHETS2b. LATTER PROPHETS3. WRITINGS

HISTORICAL CONTENT

CHRISTIAN OLD TESTAMENT: Historical Books

(In chronological order)HEBREW

SCRIPTURES: Former Prophets

HEBREW SCRIPTURES: Writings (Hagiographa)

Conquest 1. Joshua  

Pre-monarchy Judges 2. Judges7. Ruth: Story of

faithfulness in the midst of unfaithfulness

Mo

narchy

United Kingdom

Saul 3. 1 Samuel

8. 1 Chronicles9. 2 Chronicles

(Retelling the story of the Kings from a theological

hindsight)

David 4. 2 Samuel

Solomon5. 1 KingsDivided Kingdom

Israel in the north (922-722 BC)

Judah in the south (922-586 BC)

6. 2 Kings

Return: Rebuilding the People   10. Ezra

Preservation of Jews in Persia   11. Esther

Return: Rebuilding the Wall   12. Nehemiah

4) THE FORMER PROPHETSa) Why “Former Prophets?”

I) They relate the early history of prophecy.II) They wrote the national history of Israel in the

light of theological and prophetic interests. I) Relationship Between History and Prophecy

(i) Prophecy is not primarily futuristic, but concerned with obedience in time and space, in the here and now.

(ii) Prophecy looks to the covenants of the PAST and interprets their significance for the PRESENT as well as FUTURE. The medium it uses to tie the PAST to the PRESENT is HISTORY.

4) THE FORMER PROPHETSa) Why “Former Prophets?”

III) Jewish tradition believes that these historical books were indeed written by prophets.

c) General Statement on Authorshipi) All of the historical books are actually

anonymous.

ii)The title of each book indicates subject matter of a particular book, and usually does not claim direct correspondence to authorships even though the key character for which the books are named may have been the source of most the materials that bears their names.

JOSHUA

A. TITLEc) The book is named for the principal character, Joshua, whose name means “the LORD is salvation” or “the LORD saves.”

2) THE PERSON OF JOSHUA

Originally, his name was Hoshea, but Moses changed it to Joshua (Num 13:8, 16)

OUTLINE

a) The defeat of the land (1—12)

b) The distribution of the land (13—21)

c) The dedication of the people to live in the land (22—24)

d. Overall Lesson from Joshuai) God is in control of events in history.

(1)Joshua 11:23

(2)Joshua 21:43-45

(3)The idea that God gave the land is found more than 50 times in the book. That it is a fulfillment of the land promised to Israel’s ancestors is also emphasized (11:23; 21:43-45). In this way, God emerges as a trustworthy Sovereign, as one who keeps his promises. This is also emphasized in Joshua’s farewell speeches ( ch. 22-24).