Introduction of the Books of JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH, SAMUEL and KINGS. In these books the history of Israel is continued from the death of Moses at the end of the book Deuteronomy and a constant theme is the recurring disobedience of the nation and often its rulers, to the laws of God revealed by Moses and served by the prophets.

Oral traditions and written documents of varying ages and characteristics were brought together to form the books as we know them and these appear to have given continuity and a general consistency by successive editors profoundly influenced by the outlook of Deuteronomy between the time of Josiah's reform (622 B.C.) and the return from Exile (538).

JOSHUA - (1) The Conquest of the Promised Land. The Preparations - Chapter 1 to 2 - (2) The Crossing of the Jordan - Chapter 3 to 5 - (3) The Conquest of Jericho - Chapter 5 to 7 - (4) The Taking of AI. Sacrifice on Mount Ebal; The Law Read There - Chapter 8 - (5) The treaty between Israel and the Gibeonites - Chapter 9 - (10) Five Amorite Kings Form a Coalition. The South of Palestine is Subdued - Chapter 10 - (6) The Conquest of the North - Chapter 11 to 12 - (7) The Apportioning of the Land among the Tribes - Chapter 13 to 21 - (8) Joshua Finishes his Course - Chapter 22 to 24 - In summary : Joshua describes the conquest of the Promised Land and the partition of the territory between the tribes and ends with the last discourse of Joshua: here the conquest is shown as the collective action of a united nation. The capture and settlement of the Promised Land.

JUDGES - (1) First and Second Introduction. A Summary account of the Settlement in Canaan and genaral reflections on the Age of the Judges - Chapter to 1 to 3 - (2) The Story of the Judges told in Episodes, the Calling of Gideon, Jephthah and the Lesser Judges, Samson, The Crime at Gibeah and the War against Benjamin - Chapter 3 to 21 - In summary : Judges depicts each of the tribes as fighting to win its own territory. It contains the traditions of the century and a half during which there was no king in Israel and groups of tribes were led in war and ruled in peace by governors. The nation of Israel is rescued by a series of judges or military leaders.

RUTH - The short book is placed with it because its story is set in the same period but it does not form a part of the single conspectus of national history which runs from Joshua to the end of Kings - Chapter 1 to 4 - In summary : A beautiful story of God's love and care.

1 & 2 SAMUEL - (1) The childhood of Samuel - Chapter 1 to 3 - (2) The Ark in Philistine Hands - Chapter 3 to 7 - (3) Samuel and Saul, the Institution of the Monarchy - Chapter 8 to 15 - (4) Saul and David, David at Court and the Flight and among the Philistines - Chapter 16 to 31 - (5) 2 SAMUEL - David learns of Saul's death and David King of Judah and of Israel - Chapter 1 to 8 - (6) David's Family and the Intrigues for the Succession - Chapter 9 to 24 - In summary : 1 & 2 Samuel place side by side, various traditions relating to the beginnings of the monarchical period; the prophet Samuel, through whom God chooses Saul as the first of the kings is represented as the last of the 'judges'. The early history of Israel including the reigns of Saul and David.

1 KINGS - (1) The Davidic Succession - Chapter 1 to 2 - (2) Solomon in all his Glory, the Trader and his Decline - Chapter 3 to 11 - (3) The Political and Religious Schism - Chapter 12 to 13 - (4) The two Kingdoms until Elijah and the Elijah cycle, the great Drought, the Aramaean Wars, Naboth's Vineyard and another War with Aram - Chapter 14 to 22 - (5) 2 KINGS - The Elisha Cycle, the Moabite War, some Miracles of Elisha, the Aramaean Wars and the history of Jehu - Chapter 1 to 10 - (6) From the Reign of Athaliah to the death of Elisha - Chapter 11 to 13 - (7) The two Kingdoms to the Fall of Samaria - Chapter 14 to 17 - (8) The last years of the Kingdom of Judah and the two Wicked Kings - Chapter 18 to 21 - (9) Josiah and the Religious Reform and the Destruction of Jerusalem - Chapter 22 to 25 -

In summary : The two Books of Kings open with the concluding chapters of the history of David's family begun in 2 Samuel chapter 9 and are a continuation of Israel's national story up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587. A political history of Israel, focusing on the reigns of selected kings from the time of Solomon to the captivity of the Jewish people by Babylon.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -