BY: MARC IBRAHIM SUNDAY SCHOOL ANGEL’S SERVICE FEBRUARY 6 TH, 2011 Bible study – From Joshua to the Time of Judges

Presentation Outline Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan Settlement in Canaan (The Promised Land) The Death of Joshua and The Failure to complete the Conquest The Time of Judges: Gideon, Deborah, Samson and other judges Conclusion – Key Points

Joshua: The Replacement of Moses God promises Joshua that He will be with him during the Conquest. God tells him that he will have great success as long as he keeps the commandments: “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Josh. 1:8).” Joshua tells the people to prepare themselves for they will cross the Jordan to the Promised land.

The Victory at Jericho Joshua sent two men to spy the land, especially Jericho Meeting and the Faith of Rahab. The men tell her that they will deal with her kindly. The Crossing of the Jordan: When the priests took up the ark of covenant and touched the river with his feet, the waters were cut off. The children of Israel gathered 12 stones from the midst of the Jordan. They camped in Gilgal, which is in the east border of Jericho till the day of Jericho’s take over. The men of war of Israel marched around the city once for the first 6 days (7 priests with trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark). The seventh day, they marched around the city seven times, the priests then blew the trumpets, the people shouted, and the walls fell down flat.

Settlement in Canaan and Joshua’s Death Joshua then conquered the mountain country, the South, the Jordan plain, the lowland, and also the northern part of Canaan. The people of Israel were in war for a long time as they fought many kings. Not a city made peace with the Children of Israel, except Gibeon The people of Israel were in victorious in their battles. However, it was not always easy (defeat at Ai → Ashan’s sin) The people then settled in Canaan (The division of the country → The settlement of tribes was divided by lot). Death of Joshua: The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua

The Failure to Complete the Conquest Following Joshua’s death, Israel plunged into a 350-year Dark Age. The people, when they overtook the cities and territories that were assigned to them, dwelt with the inhabitants of the Land (They did not wipe them out). The new generation of the people of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals. So God delivered them to the hands of their enemies. The Lord raised up judges (“Shophetim”) to save them: “For the Lord was moved to pity” (Judg. 2:18). Enemy is left as a test.

The Time of Judges God appointed judges to deliver the people of Israel from the hands of their enemies. Deborah and Barak, for example, delivered them from the Canaanites; Gideon delivered them from the Midianites, Jephthah and the Ammonites, etc. Deception of Abimelech, the son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) who was cursed by Jotham his brother. The Story of Samson, the Nazirite (very powerful man, but morally weak) Nations rose against nations. It was a very difficult time. The people did what was right in their own eyes.

Conclusion – Key points The people at the time of Joshua were very obedient and feared God. Throughout Joshua’s leadership, they were able to conquer Canaan and to settle in the country. The people during the time of Judges did what was evil in the sight of the Lord again and again and AGAIN!!! The Lord had pity on them and appointed judges to rule over the people of Israel. The judges brought the people to God. God never gave up on the people.