Topic 3 History of Israel

1. Topic 3 History of Israel • Deuteronomistic History • Chronicler’s History • Later history

2. I. Deuteronomistic History Content • Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings • Tells rise and fall of Israel. • Conquest – Monarchy – Exile (Babylonian captivity) Origin • Written c. 587 BC to explain Exile: Why did Israel come to ruin? • Takes theme from “Retribution Theology” in Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 30:15-20). • Faithfulness to covenant brings blessing; unfaithfulness brings curses. • Uses older sources/traditions – edits to illustrate theme; Israel’s ruin was due to failure to obey the covenant.

3. I. Deuteronomistic History • Joshua: Conquest of Canaan (c. 1250-1200) • “Idealistic” view of Conquest • Quick military conquest of whole land in 3 campaigns. • Land divided among tribes. (Map of Twelve Tribes of Israel) • Emphasizes God’s gift of the Promised Land • Miracles show God fighting for his people. • Covenant renewal ceremony (ch. 24): in response to all God has done for Israel, the people recommit sole allegiance to Yahweh. • Judges: Struggle for the Land (c. 1200-1020) • “Realistic” view of Conquest • Individual tribes gain foothold in midst of Canaanites. • Continuing struggle for possession and mastery of land. • Period of “tribal confederation” – loose league of 12 tribes. • “Judges’ Cycle” (Jdg. 2:11-23; BPJM, p. 22) • Apostasy (abandoning faith – worshipped Canaanite god Baal) • Oppression (defeat by enemy) • Repentance (turning around) • Deliverance (by a judge) • Peace (until judge dies) • Judges – charismatic military heroes (Deborah; Gideon; Samson; etc.); belong more to local tribes than to whole nation.

4. I. Deuteronomistic History • United Monarchy (1020-922 BC) • Saul (1 Sam.) • Background: Philistine threat to take over Palestine. Map • Samuel “anoints” Saul as first king. • Accomplished little; disobedient; falls from favor. • David is groomed as successor; kills Philistine giant Goliath. • David (2 Sam.) • Moved capital to Jerusalem; prepared to build temple; “Zion theology” regards Jerusalem as God’s chosen city. • Military conquests rounded out borders. (Map) • “Nathan prophecy” (2 Sam. 7): basis for “Davidic theology” that David and his heirs are chosen by God to rule in perpetuity. • Bathsheba affair exposes David’s faults (2 Sam. 11). • Israel’s most popular king; Golden Age; prototype of messiah. • Solomon (1 Kings 1-11) • Period of wealth and foreign trade. • Main accomplishment: built Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kgs. 6-8). • Sponsored wisdom movement. • Weaknesses: high taxes; forced labor; many foreign wives.

5. I. Deuteronomistic History • Divided Monarchy (1 & 2 Kings) Division in 922 BC: northern tribes refused to acknowledge Solomon’s son as king; chose their own (1 Kgs. 12). • Kingdom of Israel – North (Map of Divided Kingdoms) • 10 tribes – capital at Samaria • Kings arise by power – all paganizing • King Ahab and foreign wife Jezebel – promoted Baal worship • 722 BC – conquered by Assyria; northern tribes scattered and lost (2 Kgs. 17:7-8) • Kingdom of Judah – South • 2 tribes – capital at Jerusalem • Kings descended from David - good kings/bad kings • Manasseh – worst king; allowed many pagan practices. • Josiah – major reform; tried to purge pagan practices. • 587 BC – conquered by Babylonia; temple destroyed; many taken into “Babylonian captivity;” Exile begins.

6. II. Chronicler’s History Contents • 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah. • Parallels Deut. Hist., then continues. Origin • Written in post-Exilic period (c. 350 B.C.). • Perspective similar to P-source.

7. II. Chronicler’s History • Exile (587-39 BC) • “Babylonian captivity” – many deported to Mesopotamia. • National tragedy (Lam. 1) – homeland in ruins; living in foreign land; has Yahweh been defeated? can he be present in Babylonia? • Maintained identity; preserved traditions; produced literature (Pentateuch; Deuteronomistic History). • Religion properly called “Judaism” emerged. • Restoration (539-333 BC) • 539 – King Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylonia – liberated Jews; allowed/encouraged return (Ezra 1). • Three key figures in return and rebuilding: • Zerubbabel – rebuilt Temple (516 BC) • Nehemiah – rebuilt city wall of Jerusalem (445 BC) • Ezra – brought Torah (Law of Moses) to Jerusalem (398 BC)

8. III. Later History • Hellenistic period (333-166 BC) • 333 – Alexander the Great conquered Palestine. • Jews ruled by his successors; hellenistic influences. • 167 – Antiochus IV “Epiphanes” persecuted Jews: outlawed Jewish practices; desecrated temple; demanded worship of Greek gods; etc. • Book of Daniel (written c. 165 BC) • Call to faithfulness and assurance of God’s ultimate victory. • Dan. 1-6: stories of Daniel/friends as models of faithfulness in earlier persecution. • Dan. 7-12: “apocalyptic” visions of God’s victory over pagan kingdoms; final establishment of his own righteous reign; resurrection of the dead and reward of the faithful. (See BPJM, 77.) • Probably the latest book of OT. • Maccabean Revolt & Hasmonean period (166-63 BC) • Successful rebellion; achieved Jewish independence. • Hasmonean dynasty brought most of Palestine under Jewish control. (Map) • 1 & 2 Maccabees – describe persecution and revolt.

9. Philistines