Joshua and JudgesThe Israelites in the Holy Land

The Bible Course

Document#: TX001078

To the Promised Land • Led by God, and the Ark of the Covenant

• What is the Ark of the Covenant?• This was a special box which contained the actual Law which

was written by the finger of God. • This box was where the physical presence of God would rest!

• A “Dwelling Place” is made for God! • We call this the Tabernacle.

• It was a movable tent that could travel with the Israelites. • It was like a portable Church!

• God would appear in the Tabernacle as the Mysterious “Glory” – a fiery and thunderous cloud. • The Israelites always knew when God was physically present

by seeing the cloud.

The Tabernacle

The Ark of the Covenant

A Time of Renewal – 40 Years of Wandering

• Before setting out, the Israelites committed a great sin. – They Worshiped the Golden Calf.

• As Moses was receiving The Law!

• So, they needed to be taught what it meant to be Holy. – It takes 40 YEARS!– What is the significance of 40?

• Remember, 40 is a number of renewal and transition.

• While the Israelites wander in the desert, they learn how to be more like God. We have to learn how to be God’s people.

Joshua – Coming into the Promised Land• Joshua was the successor to Moses who led the Israelites

into Canaan, the Promised Land.• Joshua is Blessed by God!

• If Joshua continues to be faithful to the Law, God Promises to be with Joshua like God was with Moses.

FYI - The Canaanites (Don’t Take NOTES!)• There were already a people living in Canaan – The

Canaanites. • The Canaanites had lived there for thousands of years, and so

would not give up their land without a fight. • The Canaanites were a sophisticated people, who had a complex

economy and religious system. – It’s hard to tell how different the Early Israelites were from Canaanites. – worshiped a variety of gods and goddesses– Their main gods were Astarte and Baal

The Land of Canaan

Joshua: “God Is on Our Side”• The Battle of Jericho

• They do receive some help from locals. • For example, Rehab hides Israelite spies at Jericho. For this, she is

spared from the destruction. • Local Canaanites heard about Yahweh’s miracles in Egypt, and now

they’re afraid!

• They circle around the city for a week, led by the Ark of the Covenant – the walls came tumbling down!

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Joshua’s Undying Devotion to God• Joshua models a true

commitment to the Covenant with God.

• He demonstrates to the Israelites that when they remain true to the Covenant, God will abundantly bless them.

• Read Joshua 1- What will make Joshua successful?

“As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

(Joshua 24:15)

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mBiblical Judges

• After Joshua’s death, the Israelites fall into a cycle of sin, calamity, repentance, and deliverance. All about the covenant!

• The Book of Judges is a series of short stories about human leaders’ accomplishing God’s will.

• The time of the Judges was from 1200 to 1000 BC.

• There are twelve heroic yet flawed leaders in the Bible who are considered judges.

• Judges = leader of the people.

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The Role of the Biblical Judges

• Settle disputes with their own tribe and between tribes

• Lead the military defense against outside invaders

• Challenge Israel to remain faithful to God and the Covenant

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Gideon Deborah Samson

Deborah • One of the Great Women of the Old Testament.

– Constantly reminding the Israelites to keep the Covenant.

– As usual, the Israelites fail and are conquered by the Philistines.

• She rallies the people and helps raise an army. People have their doubts, but Deborah insists that they have faith in God. – God sends a thunder storm, which helped the

Israelites defeat the enemy.

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Samson • Born to an old and barren woman. • When he was born he was dedicated to God.

– This kind of person was called a Nazirite. • They make vows not to cut their hair, or

drink strong drink.

• An Angel told his mother that he would be a great hero and stand against the Philistines. – God promised Samson great strength.

• Samson struggles against the Philistines. – They kill his first wife (a philistine woman), and

he remarries another philistine woman named Delilah. Delilah was paid by the Philistine leaders to find out how to defeat him.

– Eventually, Delilah learns that she must cut Samson’s hair!

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Samson cont… • Delilah cuts Samson’s hair, and he looses his strength.

Then, the Philistines come and put him in prison. • BUT! His hair grows back in prison. And one day, Samson

was brought from his cell and chained between two columns– to mock him while they celebrated their pagan festival. – Samson prays to God for strength, and pushes the

columns that held up the temple: destroying the Philistines along with himself.

Success and Failure in the

• When the Israelites were faithful to their Covenant with God, they experienced military success.

• When the Israelites were disobedient to the Covenant, they experienced military defeat.

Books of Joshua and Judges

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How can a “God of love” wage such a savage and brutal war?

• It is important to remember that the words in the Sacred Scriptures are conditioned by the language and culture of the Israelites.

• The metaphor of God as a warrior provided the Israelites with a sense of security.

• God freed them from the clutches of Pharaoh and would lead them into battle in the Promised Land.

• For the Israelites, war was a holy act to fulfill the promise God made to the fathers and mothers.