Packing for Israel Lesson 2: The History of the Bible Part A I. Introduction A. Word about time designation BC: Before Christ, AD: Anno Domini or year of the Lord, BCE: Before the Common Era, CE: Common Era Please note: 1. BCE and CE have been adopted by publishers who wish to remain neutral or sensitive to non-christians 2. The Anno Domini designation is arguably not accurate. Christ was likely born in 4-6 BC II. Time Lines A. Biblical Events Book of the Bible Approx. Date Key Person/Event Genesis??? Creation, flood 2150 Abraham 2050 Isaac 2000 Jacob 1914 Joseph Exodus 1525 Moses 1445 Exodus from Egypt Numbers 1444-1405 Wandering in desert Joshua 1405-1398 Conquest of Canaan 1390 Death of Joshua 1410-1050 Period of the Judges Judges 1200 Gideon 1075 Samson 1 Sam. 1100 Samuel born 1050-930 Israel s first three Kings United Kingdom 1043 Saul made king 1011 Death of Saul 2 Sam./1 Chronicles 1011 David made king 971 David dies 1 Kings/2 Chronicles 970 Solomon made king 960 Solomon s temple built 931-928 Israel 10 tribes of the north, Samaria is the capital Judah 2 tribes of the south (Judah and Benjamin) Jerusalem is the Capital. 2 Kings 840 Elijah 928-722 Period of Kings of Israel 721 Fall of Northern tribes (Assyria)
928-587 Period of Kings of Judah 586 Fall of Southern tribes (Babylon) 840-400 Period of minor prophets Esther Exile for 70 years Ezra 538 Temple rebuilding begins 516 Temple dedicated Nehemiah 444 Nehemiah works on the walls 432 Old Testament ends 400 years of Intertestamental silence Matthew, Mark, Luke and John 5 BC Birth of Christ (timed against death of Herod in 4 B.C.) 29 AD Jesus public ministry 33 AD Jesus is crucified and resurrected 35 AD Paul is converted Epistles 50 AD New Testament Letters begin (starting with Galatians) 67 AD Paul is executed 70 AD Titus (Roman) destroys Herod s temple Revelation 95 AD John writes Revelation on Island of Patmos (From Land of the Bible, p. 7-9) B. Foreign Empires that ruled in Israel Period Empire Major Events 587 BCE Babylonian Destruction of the first Temple. 538-333 BCE Persian Return of the exiled Jews from Babylon and construction of the second Temple (520-515 BCE). 333-63 BCE Hellenistic 63 BCE-313 CE Roman Conquest of the region by the army of Alexander the Great (333 BCE). The Greeks generally allowed the Jews to run their state. But, during the rule of the king Antiochus IV, the Temple was desecrated. This brought about the revolt of the Maccabees, who established an independent rule. The related events are celebrated during the Hanukah holiday. The Roman army led by Titus conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple at 70 CE. Jewish people were then exiled and dispersed to the Diaspora. In 132, Bar Kokhba organized a revolt against Roman rule, but was killed in a battle in Bethar in Judean Hills. Subsequently the Romans decimated the Jewish community, renamed Jerusalem as Aelia Capitolina and Judea as Palaestina to obliterate Jewish identification with the Land of Israel (the word Palestine, and the Arabic word Filastin originate from this Latin name). 313-636 Byzantine 636-1099 Arab 1099-1291 Crusaders 1291-1516 Mamluk 1516-1918 Ottoman 1917-1948 British Dome of the Rock was built by Caliph Abd el-malik on the grounds of the destroyed Jewish Temple. The crusaders came from Europe to capture the Holy Land following an appeal by Pope Urban II, and massacred the non-christian population. Later Jewish community in Jerusalem expanded by immigration of Jews from Europe. During the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem were rebuilt. Population of the Jewish community in Jerusalem increased. Great Britain recognized the rights of the Jewish people to establish a "national home in Palestine". Yet they greatly curtailed entry of Jewish refugees into Israel even after World War II. They split Palestine mandate into an Arab state which has become the modern day Jordan, and Israel. (www.science.co.il/israel-history.asp)
C. Some key biblical dates to memorize 1. Abraham approximately 2000 BC 2. David approximately 1000 BC 3. Jesus approximately -0- III. The Patriarchs A. The age of the patriarchs (pre-egyptian Hebrews) was approximately 2150-1500 BC Patriarchs: Greek word meaning father-ruler B. Apparently the Hebrews do not appear in recorded history until the reign of Marniptah, King of Egypt from (1290-1224 BC). On a military campaign, an account is etched in granite listing conquered people and the Israelites are mentioned as those now living in Canaan. (Jewish Virtual Library) C. The biblical record is found in Genesis 12-50. (The Middle and Late Bronze Age) D. The patriarchs are Abraham (Gen. 11-20), Isaac (Gen. 21-26), Jacob (Gen. 25-35) and many would add Joseph (Gen. 37-50). E. Consider the travel of the patriarchs:
1. Abraham Abram means exalted father Abraham means father of a multitude a. His story 1) His birth and call to the promised land (Gen. 11-12) 2) Ur Haran Canaan (Gen. 12:1-20) 3) He deals with his nephew Lot (Gen. 13-14) 4) He pays tithes to Melchizedek (Gen. 14 and Heb. 7:1-10) 5) Abraham s Lapses of Faith a) He lied twice to protect himself Gen. 12:11-20, Gen. 20:1-13. b) He slept with Hagar in order to get an heir. Gen. 16:1-16 and Gen. 21:9-14 6) God s covenant with Abraham (Gen. 15:1-21 and Rom. 4:1-25, Gal. 3:6-25 and Heb. 6:13-20) a) This was a one-sided covenant God s self imposed obligation to Abraham (Gen. 17:7) b) It foreshadows the new covenant (See Heb. 8:7-9:25) between God and the believer 7) Covenants: a solemn binding with both blessing and curses attached. Involved a formal ratification: salt (Num. 18:19, Lev. 2:13) a shoe (Book of Ruth) and blood (Heb. 9:12) Special note: Three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) all lay claims to the Abrahamic Covenant. For the Jewish reference see Ps. 105:1-44, for the Christians see Gal. 3:10-29, for the Muslims see the Quran 2:124-2:140 8) Birth of Ishmael (Gen. 16:1-16) 9) 13 years later the promised son Isaac (Gen. 17-21) and Romans 4:18-25, Hebrews 11:11-12). Abram is 100 and Sarai is 90 10) Hagar and Ishmael sent away (Gen. 21:8-21, Gal. 4:21-31) 11) Isaac offered as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:1-19, Heb. 11:17-19 and Jam. 2:20-24) 12) Death of Sarah and Abraham (Gen. 23-25) the cave at Machpelah 2. Isaac (his name means laughter ) a. Most of the stories about Isaac are actually focused on someone else: His promised birth/abraham
His wife / Rebekah His sons / Jacob and Esau b. The stories that focus on him as an adult are in Gen. 26. They mirror stories about his father: 1) He too lied and said his wife was his sister 2) He also negotiated with Abimelech over water rights c. God s covenant is reaffirmed through Jacob (Gen. 26:4-5) d. Isaac marries Rebekah at age 40. At age 60 he had twin sons, Esau (name means hairy ) and Jacob. The elder would serve the younger (Gen. 25:23) e. The blessing of his sons occurs in Gen. 27-28:5 when Isaac is over 100 years old. f. He died at 180 years old and is buried at Mamre (Hebron). 3. Jacob (his name means supplanter or conniver ) a. He was a fraternal twin of Esau. 1) They were at war with each other before they were even born (Gen. 25:19-34) 2) Esau sells his birthright to Jacob (Gen. 25) b. Jacob deceives Isaac in order to steal his blessing (Gen. 27) c. Jacob journeys from Canaan to Haran region 1) Jacob s dream (Gen. 28) 2) Laban s treachery (Gen. 29) 3) Jacob marries Leah and Rachel (Gen. 29) 4) He prospers (Gen. 30) d. He returns to Canaan and faces Esau (Gen. 31-35) e. His name is changed to Israel (meaning Prince of God ) at Peniel on the Jabbock River (Gen. 32) f. Jacob has 12 sons (the twelve tribes of Israel): 1) Rachel: Joseph, Benjamin 2) Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun 3) Rachel s handmaid Bilhah: Dan, Naphtali 4) Leah s handmaid Zilpah: Gad, Asher 4. Joseph (name means may God add )
IV. The Exodus a. His birth is found in Gen. 30:22-24, the rest of his life is covered in Gen. 37-50. b. The eleventh son of Jacob, son of Rachel, father of two sons Ephraim and Manasseh. (replacing Joseph and Levi in the twelve tribes of Israel) c. At 17 years of age, he was sold into slavery by his brothers (Gen. 37) d. Eventually he become the second in command to the pharaoh of Egypt and makes tremendous preparations for a devastating regional famine. e. Eventually his brothers seek help in Egypt and are finally reconciled to Joseph (Gen. 42-47) f. Joseph lived to the age of 110 and was buried in Shechem (Ex. 13:19 and Joshua 24:32) A. The Hyksos ruled Egypt from 1720-1550 BC. They were a Semitic group (similar in background to Abraham s family) which may explain their assistance to Joseph and his brothers. B. Israelites under persecution 1. Joseph s family arrived in Egypt as his guests (Gen. 50). After a period of time, the Hebrews became Egyptian slaves. There arose up a new King over Egypt who knew not Joseph (Ex. 1:8). It is generally accepted that Seti I (1305-1290 BC) was the Pharaoh of the oppression and Ramses II (1294-1224 BC) was the Pharaoh of the Exodus. 2. God raised up a leader named Moses who appears on the scene in approximately 1525 BC (see Ex. 1-4). His father was Amram and his mother was Jochebed. After being initially rejected by the Hebrew slaves, Moses was called by God to lead His people out of Egypt. (Burning bush Ex. 3) 3. He and his brother Aaron confront Pharaoh in an attempt to have him let the children of Israel leave and return to their land. (See Ex. 5-13).
C. Wanderings of the Israelites 1. Statistics (12:37-42) 2. 600,000 men plus women and children maybe 2-3 million people 3. Consecration of the first born and the Passover regulations (13:1-16) 4. The drama at the Red Sea ( yam suph sea of reeds ) (14:1 15:21)
a. Note: there are number of scholarly articles arguing for a particular location of the Red Sea. Some have it as the Gulf of Aqaba, others believe it to be the Gulf of Suez. Neither seems likely due to: 1) Those bodies of water are note made up of actual reeds 2) Their location does not square with the location of the Israelites first encampment in the Wilderness of Shur. It is likely the Red Sea was located at the northern end of the Gulf of Suez. 5. The journey continues (15:22 18:27) D. The Stages of Israel s Journey 1. It took approximately 24 months for Israel to travel from Egypt to Kadesh Barnea. The straight line route via the way of the Philistines was only 249 miles an 11 day trek. 2. The debacle at Kadesh Barnea Num. 14:20-38, Deut. 1:34-40. Note the sentence: vs. 23, 30-35. 3. Moses mistake Num. 20:13 4. The Talking Donkey Num. 22-24 5. The record of Israel s wanderings Num 33:1-48 and Deut. 2:14 V. Joshua leads the conquest of Canaan Pay special attention to the scope of their assignment: Num. 33:51-56.
(The Visual Resource Book, p.45)
A. The Military Efforts: Took 6 years. They did not complete the job. 1. The Central Campaign: Focused on the cities of Jericho and Ai and then the cities of the western foothills. ***The story of Rahab fits here (Joshua 2) 2. The Southern Campaign: Focused cities such as Lachish, Debir, Libnah, Eglon and Makkedah. 3. The Northern Campaign: Focused on the area west and north of the Sea of Galilee. VI. The Period of Judges A. Title of the book: Shophatim from the Hebrew root, to judge These judges also served as military leaders whom God would raise up to lead his people in times of crises. B. The book of Judges covers the time period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the monarchy under Saul. C. Loose confederation of 12 tribes moving towards a unified kingdom. D. While the book of Joshua records victory after victory for the people of God, the book of Judges records a series of stories outlining the apostasy of Israel. (see Judges 2:10-16) E. Compare Joshua 24:15 and Judges 2:11-13 F. The loose federation made them more vulnerable to well-armed, well organized enemies. It was a time of religious and political turmoil for the Israelites. Primarily, the struggle was with neighboring countries (Moab, the Midianites, Ammon and the Philistines). However, there was also struggle against the Canaanites who lived in the land (especially during the time of Deborah). And the Israelites also fought among themselves Ephraim was ravaged by Manasseh in chapter 12 and Benjamin was almost annihilated by the other tribes in chapters 20-21 (Expositor s Bible Commentary, Vol. 3, pg. 376). G. Judges gives a geographical survey of apostasy illustrating a sequence of events that climax in the statement everyman did that which was right in his own eyes (See 17:6, 21:25). H. The cycle of: rebellion, defeat, repentance and deliverance is repeated seven times in this book. Sin against God, God allows an enemy to oppress the people, the people repent and ask for a deliverer the redeemed and then fall back into sin. Example Judges 3:7-31, 4:1.
I. The Judges Assuming you include Eli and Samuel as the last of the Judges, there are a total of 15: Judge Passage Oppressor Years of Oppression Years of Peace The Southern Campaign: 1. Othniel 3:5-11 Mesopotamia 8 40 2. Ehud 3:12-30 Moab 18 80 3. Shamgar 3:31 Philistines - - The Northern Campaign: 4. Deborah 5. Barak 4:1-5:31 Canaanites 20 40 The Central Campaign: 6. Gideon 6:1-8:32 Midianites 7 40 7. Tola 10:1-2 8. Jair 10:3-5 Abimelech 3 45 The Eastern Campaign: 9. Jephthah 10:6-12:7 6 The Second Northern Campaign: 10. Ibzan 12:8-10 Ammonites 18 7 11. Elon 12:11-12 10 12. Abdon 12:12-15 8 The Western Campaign: 13. Samson 13:1-16:31 Philistines 40 20 14. Eli 15. Samuel Philistines J. Key Bible Stories in the Period of Judges 1. Deborah (4:1-5:31) 2. Gideon (6:1-7:25) 3. Samson (13:1-16:31) 4. Ruth (Ruth)