Lecture 3

The History of Israel

The Former Prophets

Joshua 2Kings
Lynn Brinkley
Campbell University

Categories Which Comprise

the Prophets
The

Former Prophets
Joshua-2 Kings

The

Latter Prophets
Isaiah-Malachi

Deuteronomistic History
(Joshua, Judges, Samuel,
Kings)
Deuteronomistic HistoryMany scholars believe this

material was influenced by the book of Deuteronomy

Tells the rise and fall of the Kingdom of Israel
Covers period from the conquest of the Promised
Land to the Exile.
Perspective: Retribution Theology
Obey GodGood things happen
Disobey GodBad things happen
Date: written about 587 BCE
Purpose: to explain the Exile as due to sin

Joshua: Conquest of Canaan

Joshua
Successor
Military

12)

to Moses

conquest of Promised Land (Joshua 1-

Tribes

assigned geographical portions of the

land after the successful military campaign
(Joshua 13-21)

Covenant

Renewal Ceremony at Shechem

(Joshua 24)

Joshua: Conquest of Canaan

Gift

of the Land

Invasion

wonders

accompanied by signs and

Waters

of Jordan parted, walls of Jericho

tumble, sun stands still, etc.

Emphasis:

God is fighting for Israel and

giving land (fulfillment of covenant
promise)

Book

of Joshua is optimistic

Judges: Struggle for the

Land

Judges
Another perspective
Jewish people influenced by Canaanites
Temporary military leaders named Judges
appointed by God to rescue the people when needed
Deborah
Realistic view of the Conquest
Canaanites not driven out
Israelites in continuous struggle for land
Complete mastery: 200 years after Joshua
Judges Cycle (Judges 2:11-23)
Apostasy Oppression - Repentance Deliverer
Deliverance - Peace

Judges: Struggle for the

Land

12

Judges: Charismatic military heroes

Raised in crisis, rally troops, defeat the
enemy
E.g., Deborah, female judge, defeated
Canaanite king in north (Judges 4-5),
Gideon: delivers from Midianites
(Judges 6-8), Samson, fails to break
back of Philistines (Judges 13-16)

Judges:

closes on pessimistic note

United Monarchy
1-2

Samuel

The

story of the United Monarchy

Samuel (the last of the Judges) appoints
Saul as king
Because of his refusal to obey God, he is
rejected by God
David becomes successor to Saul and
Israels greatest king
Davids weaknesses
Solomon

Saul
Reigned
Threat

from 1020 1000 BCE

by the Philistines leads to need

for military leadership/king
Selected and anointed by Samuel
Loses confidence from God
Saul dies in battle with Philistines (1
Samuel 31)

David
Reigned

from 1000 960 BCE

Samuel

prepares David to succeed Saul

Musician
Fame comes when kills Philistine giant
Goliath
Becomes military officer
Israels

most popular/beloved kings

Reign known as Golden Age of Israel

David
Brief

division/civil war between 10

northern and 2 southern tribes
Capital moved from Hebron to Jerusalem
More

central
Ark of Covenant moved
Jerusalem, city of David
Plans

made for building temple and

emphasis on worship of Yahweh alone
David = model ruler

David
Bible

does not leave his moral lapses

untold
Affair

with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11)

Adultery,

murder
Nathan reprimands David (2 Samuel 12)
Results in turmoil for rest of his reign
Retribution
Death

of the child (2 Samuel 12:15-18)

1 and 2 Kings
Shows

the wickedness of
Israelite kings leading nation
down the path to ruin

Solomon

succeeds David

Solomons

reign 1 Kings 1-11

Solomon
Reigned

from 960 922 BCE

Characterized by wealth, wisdom, and
women
Foreign

trade
Built Temple in Jerusalem
Wisdom movement in Israel
Associated with books of Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes
700 wives and 300 concubines

Solomon
Negative

aspects of his reign

High

taxes
Forced labor
Toleration of the pagan worship of his foreign
wives
Death
End

of Solomon (922 BCE)

of United Monarchy
Son Rehoboam to succeed Solomon
Rule like his father?
Upheld the harsh rule of his father and even
going beyond in taxation and forced-labor polices

Divided Monarchy (922

BCE)

10

northern tribes

Known

as Israel
Jeroboam, king of the north
2

southern tribes

Known

as Judah
Rehoboam, king of the south

Israel (Northern Kingdom)

Lasted from 922 722 BCE

Capital: Samaria
Kings of the north: wicked

Disloyal to Davidic dynasty and Jerusalem Temple

Pagan worship
Ahab and wife, Jezebel

Prophets raised voices against evil and injustice

722 BCE: Israel conquered and destroyed by
Assyria

Scattered and lost identity

Why? Sin (2 Kings 17:7-8)

Judah (Southern Kingdom)

Lasted from 922 587 BCE

Capital: Jerusalem
Davidic dynasty
Evil king, Manasseh (687-642 BCE)

Reforming kings

Baal-worship, pagan images, child sacrifice

Hezekiah, Josiah

Prophets brought warnings

587 BCE: Judah conquered by Babylonia

Jerusalem and Temple destroyed

Exile in Babylonia

Chroniclers History

Includes:

Written in 4th century

Sources: Deuteronomistic History and others
Parallel to Deuteronomistic History from a
different perspective

1 and 2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah

E.g., David (emphasis on valiant warrior vs. developer

of temple and priesthood)

Ezra-Nehemiah: continues history into post-exilic

period

Chroniclers History
Exile

(587-539 BCE)

Judeans

or Jews resettled in
Babylonia
Kept identity and preserved traditions
Prophets: Turn back to God and be
restored
Tradition, literature, etc.
Birth of Judaism

Chroniclers History

Restoration (538 333 BCE)

Described in Ezra-Nehemiah
539 BCE: Babylonia conquered by Persia
Persian King Cyrus sent Jewish exiles home
to rebuild Temple (Ezra 1:1-4)
Three notable milestones:
1.
2.
3.

Zerubbabel: rebuilding Temple (516 BCE)

Nehemiah: rebuilding walls of Jerusalem (445?
BCE)
Ezra: Law of Moses to Jerusalem (398 BCE)

Later History
Hellenistic

Period (333-166 BCE)

Conquered

by Alexander the Great

167 BCE: Antiochus IV outlawed Jewish
religious practices
Book of Daniel (written about 165 BCE)
Maccabean
Rebellion

Revolt (166-163 BCE)

for Jewish independence

Bibliography
This PowerPoint originally created by Dr.
Glenn Jonas, Professor of Religion at
Campbell University. Other materials
provided by Dr. Derek Hogan, Assistant
Dean, Divinity School.