Joshua-Kings Review

1. What arguments can be raised for the authorship of the book of Joshua? Who is/are the best candidates for authorship? Why?

He was an eyewitness to events. Joshua 5:6 The word "us" indicates that the writer was with the people. "We" also indicates this in Joshua 5:1. We hear a lot of details that we wouldn't have heard if it was written much later. It sounds like the writer was a contemporary of the events.

The fact that Rahab was still living and the Philistines were not a threat dates the writer of Joshua to the time of Joshua. Phinehas or Eleazar could have written after Joshua's death.

2. How can the date of the beginning and length of the conquest be determined? Give scriptural support/evidence.

The 3 destruction levels of Hazor and the existence of Hazor in Judges chapter 4 shows that Joshua destroyed it in 1400. The time up to this point can be scripturally calculated with the 1 Kings 6:1 verse about Solomon's reign. Solomon reigned in 971, minus 4 years and plus the 480 mentioned in the verse equals 1446.

3. What is a theme verse of the book of Joshua?

4. What is the summary theme of the book of Joshua?

Victory through faith and obedience.

5. What is the purpose of the book of Joshua?

1) To show that God is faithful to His Abrahamic promise. Giving them land. It may take 600 years for God's plan to work out, but He still fulfills it.

2) God is righteous. God says that He'll only bless them when they are obedient.

3) Victory through obedience and faithfulness. Joshua is a narrative about God, which brings up theological issues and values.

6. Know the 4-fold outline of the book of Joshua.

1) Entering the Land (1-5)

2) Conquering the Land (6-12)

3) Dividing the Territories Among the Tribes of Israel (13-22) (All but the Levites in chapter 20, who get 48 cities, get some land)

4) Farewell Addresses of Joshua (23-24)

7. Discuss why Joshua is a highly theological book (give examples of concepts).

8 Theological Issues and Values:

1) God is the God of Israel.

2) Doctrine of Election. God chose them and chose to be their God. They were objects of His grace.

3) God is Faithful. He keeps His promises.

4) God is Holy. He gives people plenty of time to repent. He gave them 600 years to repent (the Caananites). He destroyed His own people at time. Rahab the Caananite repented. Others could have because they heard what God had done (plagues in Egypt).

5) God is Gracious. He is patient. God has the right to strike down anybody, any time for sinning.

6) God is the God of Creation (Joshua 3:11, 13, Zech. 6:5).

7) God is the God of the Universe

8) God is a Warrior. Exodus 15:3 says God fought for Israel.

8. Be able to explain why Joshua was a good and logical replacement for Moses as a leader.

Joshua worked closely with Moses. He went high up Mt. Sinai and waited for 40 days while Moses got the 10 Commandments from God. Nobody else went as high as Joshua did on the mountain. Joshua helped hold Moses' arms up when he held the rod and the battle was being won. He had military, leadership and religious training. Joshua was a spy who had a good, correct report of the land.

9. Was Rahab's lie justified? Are Christians justified in following her example? Why? Defend my answers scripturally.

No, Rahab's lie was not justified. She was never commended for lying. Christians should not follow her example. Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life. Truth is in His very character. We should not lie.

10. "Utterly destroy the Canaanites": Answer the criticism that this treatment was unethical and in direct conflict with the N.T. teaching of love for one's enemies.

The Canaanites were given a lot of time to repent. They knew that worshiping false gods was wrong. They were very evil people. Israel was God's chosen people. God wanted to give them land. God looked at the whole picture, including the future.

a. The action was performed on the basis of God's command. -Not a massacre at random. Saying it is wrong is blaming God, not just Israel. If that is wrong by God, we would expect an apology.

b. It was really God who was doing the destroying. Israel was simply blowing their horns. Joshua 6:2 God said, "I am giving these people to you."

c. The destruction of the Caananites was based on religious considerations. It wasn't military and it wasn't political. Genesis 15:16 was a warning about the future judgement of the Amorites and Caananites. The Amorites were living among the Caananites. Deuteronomy 9:5 God says they are wicked people and Joshua is driving them out.

d. God wanted to preserve the religious purity among his people. God didn't want these wicked people influencing His people. Abraham was very careful not to associate with the Caananites. He wouldn't even let his son leave the land when he needed a wife. He didn't want to risk him leaving the promise land. Abraham knew that if his son married a Caananite, he would ultimately become like a Caananite. Abraham's servant found a woman who was probably a pagan from the north, but she would adopt the true God. Isaac and Rebecca.

God is a Holy God. He has the right to punish sin. He gave Canaan about 600 years to repent.

11. Explain why it was significant that Israel crossed the Jordan into Canaan on the 10^th day of the 1^st month. Why was circumcision significant at this time?

This was right in time for Passover. They had to be circumcised to celebrate Passover. Since they had been wandering in the wilderness for many years and not practicing Passover, they hadn't been circumcised.

12. Know the geographical location/assignment of each of the 12 tribes.

See attachment.

Judges

1. Discuss the authorship and time of writing of the book of Judges.

The writer must have been a contemporary to write it with such accuracy. It must have been written before David because "there was no king in those days," according to Judges 18:1. Scripture does not say who wrote Judges. Judges was probably written by Samuel. The Jewish Talmud attributes the authorship of Judges to Samuel, the last judge.

2. Discuss how the date of the exodus and conquest impact upon the history of the judges era.

Exodus - 1446, Conquest - 1406. It coincides with the true archeological and scriptural dating.

3. Know the structure (3-fold) outline of Judges.

1) Intro - chaps. 1-2

2) Stories of the Judges - chaps. 3-16

3) Appendix : 2 stories - chaps 17-21

4. What is the theme of Judges?

Failure through compromise because "Everybody did what was right in their own eyes."

5. What verses are key to Judges? What phrase is characteristic?

"Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord." Mentioned 7 times in Judges--first in 2:11.

6. What about the narrative of Judges might lead one to see the book as "tragedy"?

Earlier books show what God is doing and contributes to the book. In Judges, it shows what Israel is doing in their rebellion. There is a movement from positive experiences to catastrophic ones.

7. On the basis of Judges 2-3, discuss the characteristic cycle seen occurring throughout the book.

Disobedience is the central theme.

Devotion, Decay, Defection, Defeat, Despair, Deliverance -- The "Religious Circle" in the Days of the Judges.

8. Discuss "Israel and the issue of repentance" in the book of Judges.

Israel always "cries out in distress to God" they don't necessarily repent.

9. Discuss the elements of Canaanite religion. Why was it so attractive to Israel?

It was forbidden to cohabit with the Canaanites. It was forbidden to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. Forbidden things are strangely attractive.

10. Was Gideon a man of faith?

---Gideon went against his whole town and father to build an altar to the Lord. Judges 6:25, 27.

Since Gideon did this at night and wouldn't do it alone, some criticize his faith. God didn't say don't do it at night or don't use any help. God told him to get the job done and he did. If he had done this during the day, there would have been strong enough opposition that he couldn't have gotten the job done.

---Gideon also listened to God and took only 300 people into a battle and won.