Chapter 5 The Journey Takes New Shape: A People at Home Pages

INTRODUCTION pgs

Some background info…  Deuteronomy means “second law”  The book of Deuteronomy and the next 6 Historical Books of the Bible have Religious and Theological themes in common.  Can you list the books?  Deuteronomy means “second law”  The book of Deuteronomy and the next 6 Historical Books of the Bible have Religious and Theological themes in common.  Can you list the books?

Priesthood in the Old Testament In post-Exilic Times (after the Exiles) only priests could offer the Temple sacrifices. Priesthood was inherited Tribe of Levi or descendants of Aaron 24 classes of priests Some offered scarifies in the Temple (rotating weekly) Other priests performed daily sacrifices Others were Temple priests Leader of the priests “High Priest” who had a lot of authority ONLY he was allowed to enter the “Holy of the Holies” on the Day of Atonement (once a year) to offer sacrifice on behalf of the people

3 Laws found ONLY in Deuteronomy  Offer sacrifice ONLY in the Temple in Jerusalem  Do not worship the stars. (astrology)  Celebrate the Passover each year. ( The most important Jewish feast to this day!)  Offer sacrifice ONLY in the Temple in Jerusalem  Do not worship the stars. (astrology)  Celebrate the Passover each year. ( The most important Jewish feast to this day!)

What is a Sacrifice (Temple Sacrifice)??  An offering made to God as an act of worship.  After the offering the sacrifice is consumed (eaten) or destroyed so that it can’t be used for any other purpose.  Why do people engage in ritual sacrifice?  To communicate with the deity (god) that they worship  Praise, Thanksgiving, Petition, Atonement for sin  An offering made to God as an act of worship.  After the offering the sacrifice is consumed (eaten) or destroyed so that it can’t be used for any other purpose.  Why do people engage in ritual sacrifice?  To communicate with the deity (god) that they worship  Praise, Thanksgiving, Petition, Atonement for sin

Jerusalem (the capital city)  Restricting sacrifices to the Temple in Jerusalem was a great way to promote tourism in Palestine.  This basically forced observant Jews to visit the capital city every now and then.  Restricting sacrifices to the Temple in Jerusalem was a great way to promote tourism in Palestine.  This basically forced observant Jews to visit the capital city every now and then.

587 BC  Most Biblical scholars agree that the first 6 books of the Historical Section were completed after 587 BC  WHY?  The last event described in 2 Kings is the beginning of the Babylonian Exile which means that historically the writing would have to have happened after 587 BC  Most Biblical scholars agree that the first 6 books of the Historical Section were completed after 587 BC  WHY?  The last event described in 2 Kings is the beginning of the Babylonian Exile which means that historically the writing would have to have happened after 587 BC

UNDERSTANDING THE EVENTS OF SETTLEMENT PG.S

How did the early settlement of Palestine by the Israelites take place?  Told in the Books of Joshua & Judges  Remember – Scripture is meant to teach us a “Religious Lesson”. There is history and some facts in the Scripture but the Bible is NOT a History Textbook or a Science Book.  The religion of the God named YHWH was very different from the religions of Egypt and Canaan  It is believed that Joshua was put in charge of the Israelites when Moses died.  He was a military leader  The Israelite “army” attacked the Promised Land that began with the conquest of Jericho  Between the years 1250 BC to 1200 BC  Told in the Books of Joshua & Judges  Remember – Scripture is meant to teach us a “Religious Lesson”. There is history and some facts in the Scripture but the Bible is NOT a History Textbook or a Science Book.  The religion of the God named YHWH was very different from the religions of Egypt and Canaan  It is believed that Joshua was put in charge of the Israelites when Moses died.  He was a military leader  The Israelite “army” attacked the Promised Land that began with the conquest of Jericho  Between the years 1250 BC to 1200 BC

The earliest reference to “Israel” as a people (outside of the Bible) is from an inscription of the Pharaoh Merneptah in 1207BC; in which he claims to have defeated the Israelites.

Remember the people called “Israelites” were not immediately a nation. After arriving to Canaan (Promised Land) they lived as the Israelites within the nation of Canaan.

The Battle of Jericho  Beginning of the book of Joshua  According to Scripture Jericho is conquered by means of a miracle of God  Beginning of the book of Joshua  According to Scripture Jericho is conquered by means of a miracle of God

What is the message? (Religious Truth)  An illustration of how the Israelites should depend on God over their own strength and abilities.  The miraculous nature of the battle in order to emphasize this point: when the Israelites have faith, God takes care of them.  An illustration of how the Israelites should depend on God over their own strength and abilities.  The miraculous nature of the battle in order to emphasize this point: when the Israelites have faith, God takes care of them.

Joshua & Jesus (pg. 110)  The Greek name for Joshua and Jesus is the same: Iesous  This is meant to connect Jesus’ mission and ministry with the stories of Joshua leading the Israelites  Promised Land is a place (Canaan) but it is also an idea (Eternal Life)  In Hebrew Joshua’s name is “YHWH is Salvation” which means “YHWH Saves!”  Remember the name “YHWH” is the name of God given to the Israelites.  The Greek name for Joshua and Jesus is the same: Iesous  This is meant to connect Jesus’ mission and ministry with the stories of Joshua leading the Israelites  Promised Land is a place (Canaan) but it is also an idea (Eternal Life)  In Hebrew Joshua’s name is “YHWH is Salvation” which means “YHWH Saves!”  Remember the name “YHWH” is the name of God given to the Israelites.

Lecture 1 Ch. 5 Done!

Lecture #2

The Battle of Jericho cont…  The Israelites marched around the city for 6 days  The number “6” in Hebrew means “incomplete”  On the 7 th day they marched around the city 7 times while sounding horns  The number “7” in Hebrew means “complete”  Why is it appropriate that the Israelites defeat Jericho on the 7 th day?  The walls of the city collapsed after that!  What’s the connection to the Story of Creation?  The Israelites marched around the city for 6 days  The number “6” in Hebrew means “incomplete”  On the 7 th day they marched around the city 7 times while sounding horns  The number “7” in Hebrew means “complete”  Why is it appropriate that the Israelites defeat Jericho on the 7 th day?  The walls of the city collapsed after that!  What’s the connection to the Story of Creation?

The 6 Books of Deuteronomic History  1. Joshua  2. Judges  3. 1 Samuel  4. 2 Samuel  5. 1 Kings  6. 2 Kings  1. Joshua  2. Judges  3. 1 Samuel  4. 2 Samuel  5. 1 Kings  6. 2 Kings The Book of Ruth is not included in this list. This “book” might have been attached to another book and later Greek or Latin editors pieced it out as it’s own book. It is also believed that the book was most likely written after the Babylonian Exile. Another reason for the books placement among these Deuteronomic Books is that it connects Ruth to King David.

The Book of Ruth  Ruth is a Moabite woman (not ethnically a Jew)  A foreign woman’s fidelity to the Jewish family of her husband  Ruth follows her mother-in-law Naomi back to Judah after the death of her husband.  Eventually Ruth does marry again in observance of the Law in Leviticus about marrying her nearest male relative. (Levirate Marriage)  She marries Boaz (relative by marriage not by blood)  The son she has through this marriage is “legally” the son of her dead husband.  Thus allowing property to remain within the clan (family)  Ruth is sealed in the Covenant of the Israelites through her marriages (and son) thus she is an ancestor of King David and Jesus.  She is connected to King David in her genealogy  The book claims to come from the time of Judges  Ruth is a Moabite woman (not ethnically a Jew)  A foreign woman’s fidelity to the Jewish family of her husband  Ruth follows her mother-in-law Naomi back to Judah after the death of her husband.  Eventually Ruth does marry again in observance of the Law in Leviticus about marrying her nearest male relative. (Levirate Marriage)  She marries Boaz (relative by marriage not by blood)  The son she has through this marriage is “legally” the son of her dead husband.  Thus allowing property to remain within the clan (family)  Ruth is sealed in the Covenant of the Israelites through her marriages (and son) thus she is an ancestor of King David and Jesus.  She is connected to King David in her genealogy  The book claims to come from the time of Judges

Miracle Warfare  An example of this is when Gideon’s army must carry a horn and a torch (not a sword).  God commands Gideon to actually reduce his army (not increase).  Why does God give instructions like this right before going into battle?  What point is God trying to make?  An example of this is when Gideon’s army must carry a horn and a torch (not a sword).  God commands Gideon to actually reduce his army (not increase).  Why does God give instructions like this right before going into battle?  What point is God trying to make?

The 7 Elements of St. Augustine’s Just War Doctrine 1.It must be a just cause. 2.The aggressor nation must have already attacked and caused serious harm. 3.War can only be declared by those with proper authority to do so. 4.All peaceful means to resolve the conflict must be proven ineffectual. 1.It must be a just cause. 2.The aggressor nation must have already attacked and caused serious harm. 3.War can only be declared by those with proper authority to do so. 4.All peaceful means to resolve the conflict must be proven ineffectual. 5. Non-combatants must be protected. 6. There must be legitimate hope of victory and eventual peaceful relations. 7. Weapons used in defense must not cause graver evil than those being inflicted by the aggressor nation.

How the Judges Lead…  The typical response of the Judges when people asked them to be king was?  The Lord must rule over you!  Why do you think this would be the response?  In reality Samson’s strength came from?  The Role and Duties of the Judges  Military Leadership  Settling political disputes within the tribes  Reminding the people to turn to God  The typical response of the Judges when people asked them to be king was?  The Lord must rule over you!  Why do you think this would be the response?  In reality Samson’s strength came from?  The Role and Duties of the Judges  Military Leadership  Settling political disputes within the tribes  Reminding the people to turn to God

Joshua & Judges  Central religious message in both of these books is that the people are to turn away from false gods and to trust the One True God completely!  How are the stories of conquest different in these books?  Judges suggests that some battles continued after the settlement in Canaan.  Judges describes a “mixed” population of people existing alongside the Israelite community. Joshua describes more of a complete conquest.  The details of particular battles also have differences between the two books.  Central religious message in both of these books is that the people are to turn away from false gods and to trust the One True God completely!  How are the stories of conquest different in these books?  Judges suggests that some battles continued after the settlement in Canaan.  Judges describes a “mixed” population of people existing alongside the Israelite community. Joshua describes more of a complete conquest.  The details of particular battles also have differences between the two books.

Why Palestine?  Important to Know  Archeological evidence does suggest that the Israelites lived in the Hill Country  Reasons the Israelites settled in the Hill Country of Palestine?  Escape the political unrest and battles taking place in the coastal towns  To avoid conflict with the sea peoples who arrived into the coastal towns  Escape the oppression the poor experienced in the coastal cities.  More liberal Israelites laws seemed to provide for a better life.  Important to Know  Archeological evidence does suggest that the Israelites lived in the Hill Country  Reasons the Israelites settled in the Hill Country of Palestine?  Escape the political unrest and battles taking place in the coastal towns  To avoid conflict with the sea peoples who arrived into the coastal towns  Escape the oppression the poor experienced in the coastal cities.  More liberal Israelites laws seemed to provide for a better life.

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