The first few centuries From conquest to division

Key to Success Obedience to God Obedience brings success The fall of Jericho The Judges’ victories Disobedience brings disaster

The Conquest Joshua vs. Judges Displacing the locals Fast vs. Slow timelines Joshua: one generation Judges: 200 years Displacing the locals The fall of Jericho Generational wars against the Canaanites, Midianites & Philistines

Famous Judges Unite a few tribes each for a specific enemy Deborah (vs. Canaanites) Leads the armies of the tribes Gideon (vs. Midianites) Leads the Israelites astray Samson (vs. Philistines) The strong one (until came Delilah)

Apostasy Defeat Judge Atonement Cycle of Apostasy Apostasy Defeat Judge Atonement

Samuel Last Judge Unites most, if not all, the tribes Israelites clamor for a King Samuel protests Eventually caves, God helps him pick a good King: Saul

Early Kingdom Saul good for a while, becomes prideful God switches kingship to the line of David Saul “falls on his sword” David overthrows Saul, rules in obedience to God New Capital: JERUSALEM! Ark of the Covenant comes to rest there

David’s sins David builds a powerful Israel: defeating enemies Finally ends the Philistines (David v. Goliath) Holy man: wrote the Book of Psalms David & Bathsheba General Uriah’s wife Nathan curses David with family problems One son a rapist, another a rebel David repented & God forgave, didn’t topple the dynasty

Davidic Dynasty Solomon: the wise King Built the Temple of God in Jerusalem (rebuilt a few times) Severe taxation but still overspent himself (army, building projects, harem) After Solomon’s death, Kingdom split in half Davidic Dynasty survived in southern Kingdom of Judah (tribes of Judah & Simeon) New dynasty in northern Kingdom of Israel (other 10)

Fall of Israel Kingdom of Israel didn’t worship at Jerusalem Weak kings (including Ahab, led astray by Jezebel) Empire of Assyria conquered Israel in 721 BC (after only 200 years) Davidic Judah continued for another 200 years Judah conquered by Babylon in 587 BC Beginning of the Babylonian captivity