Charting the Course of God’s People Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions Charting the Course of God’s People Joshua and the Era of Judges: The Rise of Ancient Israel Exploits of the Judges Israel at Home in Palestine

The Book of Deuteronomy Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions The Book of Deuteronomy 1. Concludes with the Chosen People still wandering in the wilderness, prior to crossing into the Promised Land 2. Deuteronomy means “second law” and it completes and offers explanation for the Mosaic law 3. It was written centuries after the Israelites had inhabited the Promised Land 4. Jesus quotes the book during his three temptations in the desert and in explaining to the lawyer which commandment was the first and greatest

Religious Themes in Deuteronomy Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions Religious Themes in Deuteronomy 1. “…you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.” (6:5) 2. The central importance of Jerusalem and the Temple 3. God’s love of Israel and unhappiness with the people for worshipping false gods 4. Disciples are a sign of God’s love – Israel must make a choice between obedience (life) and disobedience (death)

The Books of Joshua and Judges Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions The Books of Joshua and Judges 1. Time frame: death of Moses – beginning of the monarchy 2. Describe Israelite settlement of the Promised Land and their relationship to various Canaanite tribes 3. Both books give differing accounts of how the Chosen People conquered the Promised Land: (a) Joshua – gives the impression the conquest was swift and sure (b) Judges – reports a series of bitter struggles against the Canaanites and other peoples

Conquest in the Book of Joshua Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions Conquest in the Book of Joshua 1. Joshua leads the initial conflicts into the Promised Land 2. Scripture says Jericho was conquered by means of a miracle of God 3. The latter chapters mainly explain how the land was divided among Israel’s tribes 4. Joshua’s speech (24:13-15) to the diverse audience supports the idea that the Promised Land was gradually assimilated by the Israelites

Differences of Conquest in the Book of Judges Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions Differences of Conquest in the Book of Judges 1. Judges includes a peaceful settlement of the land 2. Judges suggests some settlement preceded the battles 3. The description of an encounter with king Jabin 4. Judges suggests pagan peoples co-existing alongside the Israelites, while Joshua describes a complete conquest

Warfare in Ancient Israel Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions Warfare in Ancient Israel 1. During the “golden age” the Old Testament authors portray Israel as trusting God more deeply and God responding with miraculous protection 2. In 1 Samuel 8 the people ask for a king which infers that they are rejecting God as their warrior and king and requesting to “be like other nations” 3. From this time on, Israelite warfare becomes more conventional in focus

3. Were spiritually selected by God to lead the tribes Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions The Judges 1. Role: military leaders, settled political disputes within their tribes, and reminded the people to turn to God 2. Filled the gap in leadership between Joshua and the beginning of the monarchy 3. Were spiritually selected by God to lead the tribes 4. Major theme: there was a time when the Israelites were led by God 5. Refused kingship, reminding the people that YHWH alone was their king

Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions Famous Judges Deborah Prophetess and judge Defeated the Canaanites general Sisera The Canticle of Deborah is among the oldest passages in the Bible Gideon Led victory over the Midianites Refused to rule as king Committed idolatry Samson Birth to a barren mother Took Nazarite vow Legendary strength from his reliance on God Infidelities with Delilah led to his destruction

1. Contains a genealogy connecting Ruth with King David Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions The Book of Ruth 1. Contains a genealogy connecting Ruth with King David 2. Tells the story of the fidelity of Ruth, a foreign woman, to the Jewish family of her widowed husband 3. Important lessons from the book: (a) God’s loving concern for those who suffer in the midst of tragedy (b) good comes from family devotion and faithfulness (c) Salvation takes place in unexpected ways (d) Ruth’s fidelity mirrors God’s love for his people

The Twelve Tribes of Israel in Palestine Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions The Twelve Tribes of Israel in Palestine Q: Were the villages of the hill country of Palestine settled exclusively by former slaves from Egypt, or were most native people who changed their religious and political identities with their arrival? A: The formation of a people may have been the result of a combination of the common interests of the arriving former slaves from Egypt and the rural peoples caught between the competing interests of major empires and affected by the lesser political ambitions of smaller states and cities.

Israelite Social Foundation Sacred Scripture: A Catholic Study of God’s Word Part 1B Historical Transitions Israelite Social Foundation Bet Av The basic social unit of a village – a patriarchal household of extended family members Councils of Elders The heads of the various Bet Avs who governed based on traditional laws that were supplemented by the formal religious traditions associated with Moses Tribes Probably originally identified by the geographical regions they occupied, though some of the tribal names may even predate their association with the Israelites Clans Associations of Bet Avs that arose from military and agricultural needs