1. The first few centuries
From conquest to division

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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Apostasy Defeat Judge Atonement
Cycle of Apostasy
Apostasy
Defeat
Judge
Atonement

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

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