Beginner’s Bible Study Blog-Session Four
The book of Judges deals with the period of time following Israel’s conquest of the land of Canaan. The land has been divided into tribes and family groups. Judges is concerned with social and national issues as a new nation is born. Conflicts arise as the faith of the Israelite people is strained by the assimilation of the original inhabitants and the continuous interference of nations surrounding this new Israel. The second concern surrounds the conflict of one God (monotheism) with the multiple gods/goddesses of agriculture and sex that the Canaanite people worshipped.
These conflicts lead to a pattern of repetition for hundreds of years in Israel’s history.
- Israel sins by going awhoring after the Baal’s (gods of Canaanite people) and forsaking God.
- God sends judgment in the form of invasion by some marauding hosts (example: Philistines)
- Israel repents and cries to God.
- God raises up a “judge” or “savior.”
The Judges were raised up by God from among the tribes to respond to a specific interference from the outside world. There was no central capital of Israel during this period of time. There are 14 judges. One is a women.
Othneil: Judges 3:7-11
Ehud: Judges 3:12-30 Shamgar: Judges 3:31
Deborah & Barak: Judges 4:1-5:31 Gideon & Abimelech: Judges 6:1-12:7)
Tola & Jair: Judges 10:1-5 Jephthah: Judges 10:6-12:7
Ibzan, Elon, & Abdon: Judges 12:8-15 Samson: Judges 13:1-16:31
The Book of Ruth fits in the time period of the judges and reflects the customs and conditions of those early days of life in the budding Israel. The three major characters are Naomi (mother-in-law), Ruth (daughter-in-law), and Boaz (close relative of Naomi). This is a wonderful story concerning building blocks of this covenant community: Inheritance, Property, and Name. Settle in and open your Bible and read the entire book of Ruth. Then answer the following questions
- Why does Ruth go with Naomi?
- Is there something to be learned from the reaping and harvesting practices of yesteryear for our world today?
- Why does having a Name mean so much in the Israelite history and is there something in this custom that might be of worth in today’s world?
- Turn to Matthew 1 and Luke 3 (beginning at verse 23) and find the significance of this story.
I Samuel through 11 Chronicles represents a time in Israel’s history where Kings instead of Judges were in leadership. Samuel is the last of the Judges (I Samuel 7:15) and the people of Israel demanded that he appoint a king over them. (1 Samuel 8) Samuel warms them that a king will develop a draft and slavery and tax systems. Israel was quite stubborn and refused to listen to him. The 3 kings to serve the unified nation were Saul, David, and Solomon. The capital quickly became Jerusalem under King David and the nation grew strongest and largest under Solomon who also built the first temple. Following Solomon’s death the nation of Israel divided itself into two kingdoms. Judah was the southern kingdom whose capital remained in Jerusalem and whose kings all were descended from David. Israel was the northern kingdom whose capital moved around and succession of kings followed a pattern of overthrow by the army.
The northern kingdom of Israel was defeated by invading armies in 722 BCE and the southern kingdom of Judah in 597 BCE. Key leaders and families were sent into exile and the temple and capitals were destroyed. Israelites who were able to remain in the area of their ancestors began to merge the customs and cultures of their neighbors. In approximately 539 BCE Cyrus II of Persia in an effort to cultivate goodwill begins to let subject people return to their homelands and rebuild temples. The books of Ezra & Nehemiah tell the story of this rebuilding in Jerusalem and a purging of a hybrid Judaism that had sprung up in the homeland.
Esther is the final Old Testament book deals with the history of the nation of Israel that began with the book of Joshua. The Persian king’s name is Ahasuerus. Principle characters in addition to the king include: Queen Vashti, Mordecai, Esther, & Haman. God is not mentioned by name in this book. It is a wonderful story of romance, determination, revenge, hope, family, and faith. Enjoy!
At the end of each session we are asking you to turn to a passage of scripture and read and reflect on four questions:
1. What do I think this passage means for those who read it the first time?
2. What does this passage mean for me right now?
3. What are you going to do or how are you going to act differently in the future as a result of what this passage says?
4. What questions do I have about this passage that I need clarification on?
Read the following Bible Passage using the above formula: The entire book of Esther.
You are invited to post your comments or question on the Beginner’s Bible Study Blog and join us in person once a month on the first Sunday of the month following worship to discuss this blog further.
*The Beginner's Bible Study Blog would like to acknowledge the following sources in creation of this study: Downloading the Bible by Jonathan Brant, The True Story of the Whole World by Craig G. Bartholomew & Michael Goheen and The Layman’s Bible Commentary, Vol 6 by Eric G. Rust.
