Session 2D
The People and the Land in the
Old Testament …continue Pt 7
Session # 3A
Introduction to Historical Books
& Joshua
HISTORICAL (17)
LAW (5)
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
HISTORICAL (12)
Former Prophets
Joshua
Former Prophets
Judges
Writings
Ruth
Former Prophets
1 Samuel
Former Prophets
2 Samuel
Former Prophets
1 Kings
Former Prophets
2 Kings
1 Chronicles Writings
2 Chronicles Writings
Writings
Ezra
Nehemiah Writings
Esther
Writings
POETICAL (5)
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
HEBREW SCRIPTURE
1. TORAH
2a. FORMER PROPHETS
2b. LATTER PROPHETS
3. WRITINGS
PROPHETICAL (17)
MAJOR (5)
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
MINOR (12)
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Latter Prophets
Latter Prophets
Writings
Latter Prophets
Writings
Monarchy
HISTORICAL CONTENT
CHRISTIAN OLD TESTAMENT: Historical Books
(In chronological order)
HEBREW SCRIPTURES: HEBREW SCRIPTURES: Writings
Former Prophets
(Hagiographa)
Conquest
1. Joshua
Pre-monarchy Judges
2. Judges
United
Kingdom
Saul
3. 1 Samuel
David
4. 2 Samuel
Solomon
Divided Kingdom
Israel in the north (922-722
BC)
Judah in the south (922-586
BC)
5. 1 Kings
7. Ruth: Story of faithfulness in
the midst of unfaithfulness
8. 1 Chronicles
9. 2 Chronicles
(Retelling the story of the
Kings from a theological
hindsight)
6. 2 Kings
Return: Rebuilding the People
10. Ezra
Preservation of Jews in Persia
11. Esther
Return: Rebuilding the Wall
12. Nehemiah
THE FORMER PROPHETS
4)
Why “Former Prophets?”
a)
They relate the early history of prophecy.
They wrote the national history of Israel in the
light of theological and prophetic interests.
I)
II)
I)
Relationship Between History and Prophecy
(i)
Prophecy is not primarily futuristic, but concerned with
obedience in time and space, in the here and now.
(ii) Prophecy looks to the covenants of the PAST and
interprets their significance for the PRESENT as well as
FUTURE. The medium it uses to tie the PAST to the
PRESENT is HISTORY.
THE FORMER PROPHETS
4)
a)
Why “Former Prophets?”
III) Jewish tradition believes that
these historical books were
indeed written by prophets.
c) General Statement on
Authorship
i) All of the historical books are actually
anonymous.
ii)The title of each book indicates subject
matter of a particular book, and usually does
not claim direct correspondence to
authorships even though the key character
for which the books are named may have
been the source of most the materials that
bears their names.
JOSHUA
A. TITLE
c) The book is named for
the principal character,
Joshua, whose name
means “the LORD is
salvation” or “the LORD
saves.”
2) THE PERSON OF JOSHUA

Originally, his name was Hoshea, but
Moses changed it to Joshua (Num 13:8,
16)
OUTLINE
a)
The defeat of the land (1—12)
b)
The distribution of the land
(13—21)
c)
The dedication of the people to live
in the land
(22—24)
d. Overall Lesson from Joshua
i)
God is in control of events in history.
(1)Joshua
11:23
(2)Joshua
21:43-45
(3)The
idea that God gave the land is found
more than 50 times in the book. That it is a
fulfillment of the land promised to Israel’s
ancestors is also emphasized (11:23; 21:4345). In this way, God emerges as a
trustworthy Sovereign, as one who keeps his
promises. This is also emphasized in
Joshua’s farewell speeches ( ch. 22-24).