1. FROM CONQUEST TO KINGS

2. JOSHUA Describes key events in the conquest of Canaan
Three primary stages:
The crossing of the Jordan River and the conquest of Jericho
The southern campaign
The northern campaign
The division of the land
The renewal of the covenant

5. COVENANT RENEWAL Joshua 24
Historical recitation – the importance of the past
Challenge and declaration of intent – the need to take a stand
Dialogue and acceptance – uncompromising obedience

6. JUDGES
Deals with events during the transition from theocracy to monarchy
Characterized by a “leadership vacuum”:
“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. “ Jg
Principal issues – the dangers:
A generation without knowledge of the past
Lack of consistent leadership
The danger of the indigenous people who remained
Idolatry
Disobedience

8. THE CYCLE OF JUDGES

9. SAMPLE NARRATIVE: Judges 3:7-11
So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs. Therefore, the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years. When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim. So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

10. EXAMPLES OF JUDGES
Deborah – only female judge; ordered Barak to fight against Jabin of Hazor; composed a song of victory
Gideon – led an “army” of 300 against a larger force of Midianites; used stealth rather force
Abimelech – called the “bramble king”; killed all but one of his brothers; injured by a woman in battle
Jephthah – sacrificed his daughter
Samson – long of hair, short of self-control; destroyed a temple in Philistia

11. DEBORAH Worked in the area of Hazor ± 1239 BCE
Requested that the leader of Naphtali Barak fight the Canaanites
He agreed only if she went with him
Deborah agreed but said that woman would receive the credit.
The Canaanite general, Sisera, was killed by Jael, a woman

12. GIDEON Worked in the area of Manasseh
Encountered the angel of the Lord and received instructions to fight the Midianites
The fleece verification (Judges 6:36-40)
Began with a force of 32,000 but attacked with 300
Refused the offer to rule as king (Judges 8:22-23)

13. Fought against the Ammonites and gained a victory
ABIMELECH
Gideon’s son
Presented himself as candidate for king
Jotham, a brother, warned the people with a fable (Jg.9:7-15)
Hired “ hit men” and killed all but one of his brothers
Killed in the assault of Thebez when a woman dropped a stone on him
JEPHTHAH
Fought against the Ammonites and gained a victory
Vowed to offer in sacrifice the first thing that came out to meet him upon his return. (Jg.11:30)
Upon returning, his daughter came to meet him.

14. SAMSON AND THE TEMPLE AT GAZA
“Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived” Judges 16:29-30

17. A PHILISTINE TEMPLE AT TEL QASILE

19. ARTIST RECONSTRUCTION

20. SAMSON COINS
Scholars say the scene shown on the artifact recalls the story in Judges of Samson fighting a lion

21. INTERLUDE: THE BOOK OF RUTH

22. THE STORY Set during the time of the Judges
Deals with Elimelech who took his family to Moab during a time of famine.
While there, Elimelech died. His sons married Moabite women, but the sons also died, leaving three widows.
Naomi returned to Israel after the famine, bringing one daughter-in-law, Ruth.
Ruth’s “confession of faith” (1:16-17)
Upon returning, Ruth met a certain Boaz whom she later married

23. THE SIGNIFICANCE The providence of God Mercy demonstrated
Illustrating Lev. 19:9:
“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.”
“And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” (2:2)
Boaz’ mercy to Ruth as a foreigner (2:5-12)
The concept of the “kinsman redeemer” (Ruth 4:1-6)
The responsibility to maintain a family line (See Deut. 25:5-6)
The genealogy of David
The birth of Obed, King David’s grandfather (Ruth 4:18-22)
The inclusion of a “foreigner” in the lineage of David and Jesus