Old Testament History …in 50 minutes

OT History in 50 minutes… Introducing Israel’s history The sources: the historical books The lens: deuteronomic history The history: eras and flow

Introducing Israel’s history Salvation history is carried forward in the OT via the historical books.

The Sources: the Historical Books Joshua (Jos) 1 Chronicles (1 Ch) Judges (Jdg) 2 Chronicles (2 Ch) Ruth (Ru) Ezra (Ezr) 1 Samuel (1 Sa) Nehemiah (Neh) 2 Samuel (2 Sa) Esther (Est) 1 Kings (1 Ki) 2 Kings (2 Ki) Historical books

Introducing Israel’s history Salvation history is carried forward in the OT via the historical books. The bulk of the historical record of the OT is aptly called “Deuteronomic history” because of the lens by which Israel’s history is viewed.

The Sources: Deuteronomistic History Joshua (Jos) 1 Chronicles (1 Ch) Judges (Jdg) 2 Chronicles (2 Ch) Ruth (Ru) Ezra (Ezr) 1 Samuel (1 Sa) Nehemiah (Neh) 2 Samuel (2 Sa) Esther (Est) 1 Kings (1 Ki) 2 Kings (2 Ki) Joshua (Jos) Judges (Jdg) 1 Samuel (1 Sa) 2 Samuel (2 Sa) 1 Kings (1 Ki) 2 Kings (2 Ki) Historical books “Former Prophets” The “Former Prophets” use the historical perspective called “Deuteronomic history” in light of the standard of judgment used, namely, the covenant as repeated by Moses in Deuteronomy. The same perspective is sometimes called “Prophetic history” since the prophets typically assessed Israel in terms of faithfulness (or lack of it) to the covenant.

Introducing Israel’s history Salvation history is carried forward in the OT via the historical books. The bulk of the historical record of the OT is aptly called “Deuteronomic history” because of the lens by which Israel’s history is viewed. The “storyline” of OT history is one of human sin and God’s grace that ultimately prepares for the coming of Christ to and through the Jewish people.

The Historical Books The listing of these books is ordered chronologically, but the books themselves cover varied expanses of time, e.g.: Joshua: covers ca. 20 years 1406 1385BC Judges: covers ca. 300+ years 1385 1050BC

The Historical Books Overall, the historical books look at a thousand years of salvation history: from the period of the conquest of Canaan in 1406 BC to the close of the OT, ca. 400 BC. Unlike the Pentateuch, the authors of the historical books are largely unknown; books like “Joshua” and “Samuel” are named for prominent characters in the books, not by the author’s name.

The Historical Books Joshua Judges Ruth 1 & 2 Samuel 1 & 2 Kings Led by Joshua, Israel conquered Palestine (Canaan), the land promised by God to Abraham Joshua Judges Ruth 1 & 2 Samuel 1 & 2 Kings 1 & 2 Chronicles The “judges” were Israel’s leaders and defenders in the years after the Conquest before the establishment of a monarchy. Ruth takes place during the time of the judges and tells the story of the non-Jewish woman, Ruth, who became part of Israel and the foremother of Israel’s great king, David. 1 & 2 Samuel tell the story of the founding of the monarchy and of Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David. 1 & 2 Kings chronicle the religious failure of the Jewish kings and God’s judgment of the nation culminating in the destruction of the nation. 1 & 2 Chronicles supplement and complement the material in 1 & 2 Kings.

The Historical Books Ezra Nehemiah Esther Ezra tells of the restoration of the Jews to their homeland during the time of the Persian Empire. Ezra Nehemiah Esther Nehemiah continues the history begun in Ezra. Esther tells the story of Esther (Hadassah), a Jewess who saved her people during the time of the Persian Empire

National Israel’s Eight Eras Exodus – 1446-1405 Conquest – 1405-1375 Judges – 1375-1100 United Kingdom – 1100-930 Divided Kingdom – 930-722 Judah Alone – 722-586 Babylonian Captivity – (605)-538 Persian Era – 538 – ca.400

But first…primordial history 4000 3000 2000 1000 500 Beginning “in the beginning,” Genesis 1-11 unfolds mankind’s primordial history including such events as the Flood (Noah) and the later dispersal of humanity following the Tower of Babel incident. The narrative narrows its focus to the family of Terah, the father of Abra(ha)m.

Pre-Israel: Patriarchal era 4000 3000 2000 1000 500 Next, Genesis 12-50 traces the stories of Israel’s founding fathers and mothers—Abraham + Sarah; Isaac + Rebekah; Jacob + Leah + Rachel—and the family’s growth and migration to Egypt. The long “Joseph novella” (Gen. 37-50) is part of the story.

The history of Israel At the close of the patriarchal age, the Hebrews grew from an extended family to a tribal society descended from the twelve sons of Jacob (a.k.a., Israel). Living in Egypt originally at the invitation of the pharaohs, the Hebrews were enslaved (Ex 1). The rescue of the Hebrews from Egypt begins the national history of God’s Chosen People.

The Exodus & Conquest: 1446-1375 Exodus: Led by Moses, Israel is freed from slavery in Egypt and made the “people of God” by means of the Sinaitic Covenant. However, God judges the Exodus generation with 40 years of wandering due to their faithlessness. Exodus, [Leviticus,] Numbers, Deuteronomy 1446 B.C. 1000 586 400 The Patriarchs Christ The EXODUS & CONQUEST

The Exodus & Conquest: 1446-1375 Conquest: After Moses’ death, Joshua leads Israel into Canaan. The pagan Canaanite armies are beaten and the land is partitioned and occupied by the Twelve Tribes. Before he dies, Joshua urges Israel to be faithful to God and to complete the conquest of Canaan. Exodus: Led by Moses, Israel is freed from slavery in Egypt and made the “people of God” by means of the Sinaitic Covenant. However, God judges the Exodus generation with 40 years of wandering due to their faithlessness. [Ex-Nu-Dt] Joshua 1446 B.C. 1000 586 400 The Patriarchs Christ The EXODUS & CONQUEST

Period of the Judges: 1375-1050 Judges: Israel fails to fully conquer the Canaanites and falls into a self-destructive cycle of idolatry and faithlessness that God punishes via foreign oppression. As the people repent, judges are given them to rescue them only to see the cycle repeat again and again. Judges, Ruth 1446 B.C. 1000 586 400 Occuring during the “sad, bad days” of the Judges, the little book of Ruth shows God’s blessing on simple believers and sets up the story of David.

United Israel: 1050-930 Monarchy: The lawlessness of the time of the judges gives way to a monarchy under Saul. Kings David and Solomon rule Israel at her greatest, but after Solomon the kingdom divides into North (“Israel”) and South (“Judah”). 1, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, (1 Chronicles) 1446 B.C. 1000 586 400 Saul, David, Solomon 1050-930

Divided Kingdom: 930-722 Division: Idolatry becomes entrenched in the North and increases in the South under the kings. The northern kingdom of Israel is destroyed by Assyria in 722 leaving only Judah. 1, 2 Kings; 1, 2 Chronicles 1446 B.C. 1000 586 400 No. Kingdom (ISRAEL) 930-722

19 KINGS of ISRAEL 722 B.C. 12 KINGS of JUDAH 9 more kings until 586

Jeremiah, Lamentations Judah Alone: 722-586 Despite the warning of the prophets and the example of the north, Judah’s last kings continue in idolatry. God judges Judah by allowing the destruction of Jerusalem under the Babylonians in 586. 1446 B.C. 1000 586 400 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Lamentations So. Kingdom (JUDAH) [930]-586

Babylonian Captivity: 586-538 Captivity: The survivors of 586 were taken into captivity and exile in Babylon. The fall of Babylon in 539 to the Medo-Persians ended the captivity and returned many Jews to Palestine to rebuild the Temple. Babylon Jerusalem 1446 B.C. 1000 586 400

Persian Era: 538-400 Persian Era: The Jews in Palestine rebuild the Temple and walls of Jerusalem. The OT closes with the warning of the prophet Malachi. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther 1446 B.C. 1000 586 400

Summary Exodus – 1446-1405 Conquest – 1405-1375 Judges – 1375-1100 Note: the Persian Era is also called: Post-exile Second Temple era Restoration Exodus – 1446-1405 Conquest – 1405-1375 Judges – 1375-1100 United Kingdom – 1100-930 Divided Kingdom – 930-722 Judah Alone – 722-586 Babylonian Captivity – (605)-538 Persian Era – 538 – ca.400

Five Key Dates 1446: Moses & the Exodus ca. 1000: King David 722: Fall of Samaria; end of the Northern Kingdom of Israel 586: Fall of Jerusalem; end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah ca. 400: Close of the Old Testament

Where do we prophets fit in? Michaelangelo’s “Jeremiah”

Placing the Prophets Minor Prophets Hosea (Hos) Habakkuk (Hab) The 16 literary prophets of the Old Testament are often classified as “major” or “minor” prophets. Hosea (Hos) Habakkuk (Hab) Joel (Joel) Zephaniah (Zep) Amos (Am) Haggai (Hag) Obadiah (Ob) Zechariah (Zec) Jonah (Jnh) Malachi (Mal) Micah (Mic) Nahum (Na) Major Prophets Isaiah (Isa), Jeremiah (Jer), [Lamentations (La)], Ezekiel (Eze), Daniel (Da)

Placing the Prophets God sent the 16 literary Prophets in 3 “clusters” as the Old Testament people faced the crises of the destruction of Israel (722), the destruction of Judah (586), and the Persian period (ca. 500). The 3 clusters are: The “Isaiah Cluster” (8th century) The “Jeremiah Cluster” (7th century) The “Persian Cluster” (5th century)

Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon Fall of Samaria to Assyria The Isaiah cluster focuses on the Assyrian crisis, 722-701 The Jeremiah cluster focuses on the Babylonian crisis of 586 800-701 8th century 700-586 7th/6th century Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon 586 B.C. 800 750 700 650 600 550 500 450 400 ISAIAH JEREMIAH EZEKIEL DANIEL Fall of Samaria to Assyria 722 B.C.

The XII Minor Prophets The canonical list of the minor prophets lists them roughly in their chronological order. The minor prophets lived and worked in the Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Persian “clusters” (for the most part!) JER. ISA. DAN.

The “Undatables”: Joel & Obadiah Joel and Obadiah cannot be dated with certainty. Some scholars suggest a ninth c. B.C. date for Joel, with others suggesting that he may have been active as late as the sixth c. Obadiah’s message condemns Judah’s neighbor, Edom, for rejoicing at Jerusalem’s problems. This leads some to suggest ca. 586, but others place him earlier.

Isaiah Cluster 800 – 701 B.C. Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Micah 800 750 722 701

Jonah preaches in Nineveh Isaiah Cluster: Jonah 800 – 701 B.C. Jonah Jonah’s story and preaching take place ca. 770 in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. Jonah’s book is atypical of the prophets: the book is mostly about the prophet rather than his message, and takes place outside of Judah-Israel. 800 750 722 701 ca. 770 Jonah preaches in Nineveh

Isaiah Cluster 800 – 701 B.C. Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Micah 800 750 722 701

Isaiah Cluster: Hos, Am, Mic Later in the same century, MICAH preaches in JUDAH—contemporaneously with ISAIAH—to warn the south to repent. In the 8th c., Hosea and Amos preach repentance in ISRAEL in view of the coming judgment of God on the north—the fall of Samaria, 722. 800 – 701 B.C. Hosea, Amos, Micah H O S E A M I C A H A M O S 800 750 722 701 Israel, the Northern Kingdom Judah, the Southern Kingdom 722 Fall of Samaria; end of “Israel”

Jeremiah Cluster: Na, Hab, Zep Nahum preaches judgment on Nineveh, ca. 650. Nahum preaches judgment on Nineveh, ca. 650. As contemporaries of JEREMIAH, Zephaniah and Habakkuk preach in JUDAH as the judgment of God via Babylon approaches (586). 650 - 601 B.C. Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah NAHUM ZEPH. HABAKKUK, ca. 605 Judah, the Southern Kingdom (JEREMIAH active) 650 625 610 605 601 Babylon’s siege and destruction of Jerusalem, 588-586

Persian Cluster Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi 538 – 400 B.C. The Persian period begins with the return of the first group of exiles from Babylon in 538 (cf Ezra). HAGGAI and ZECHARIAH preach messages to complete the 2nd Temple. The Persian period begins with the return of the first group of exiles from Babylon in 538 (cf Ezra). HAGGAI and ZECHARIAH preach messages to complete the 2nd Temple. Late in the 5th c., Malachi preaches against backsliding into idolatry and religious complacency. 538 – 400 B.C. Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi HAG ZEC M A L A C H I 550 538 525 515 400 Jews permitted to return 2nd Temple dedicated End of the OT

1000 Years of Jewish History: 1446-400 🔙 Primordial history; Patriarchal era 1446 1000 722 586 400 Exodus & Conquest Era of the Judges, 1375-1100 United Kingdom (David) 1150-930 Divided Kingdom- fall of Israel, 930-722 Judah alone, 722-586: fall of Jerusalem; classical prophets: Is, Jer, Eze, etc. Captivity, (605)-539 Return to Judah; “Persian period,” 538-ca. 400

Old Testament History (Whew!) …in 50 minutes