Series:   Joshua / Judges for Beginners
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Introduction to Joshua and Judges

By: Mike Mazzalongo     Posted: Thu. Nov 7th
In this first lesson Mike covers introductory material such as, authorship, dating, historical context, along with a comparison of authors and other points of interest to prepare students for the study of these two books in proper context.
Sources

Chapters 1-4

Joshua

  1. Gleason L. Archer Jr. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Revised and Expanded Edition, Moody Publishers, 2007.
  2. Merrill F. Unger Unger's Bible Handbook. Revised Edition, Moody Publishers, 1966
  3. Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992.

Judges

  1. Gleason L. Archer Jr. A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. Revised and Expanded Edition, Moody Publishers, 2007.
  2. Eugene H. Merrill Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel. 2nd Edition, Baker Academic, 2008.
  3. C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament. Vol. 2, Eerdmans Publishing, 1978.

Period of the Judges

  1. The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation by Jeff Cavins, Sarah Christmyer, and Tim Gray.
  2. The New Oxford Annotated Bible

God's Faithfulness to the Covenant

  1. The New Interpreter's Study Bible
  2. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary

Lesson Plan

1. The Holy Bible: Primary text used for the events, dates, and themes within the books of Joshua and Judges.

  • Joshua and Judges. (New International Version).

2. Commentaries:

  • Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Hendrickson Publishers, 1994.
  • Gill, John. Exposition of the Old Testament. London: Mathews and Leigh, 1810.

3. Historical Context:

  • Bright, John. A History of Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.
  • Coogan, Michael D. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. Oxford University Press, 2017.

4. Bible Encyclopedias:

  • Douglas, J.D., ed. The New Bible Dictionary. InterVarsity Press, 1996.
  • Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Yale University Press, 1992.

Recommitment and the Battles for Jericho and Ai

1. Commentaries on the Book of Joshua:

  • Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible:
  • The Expositor's Bible Commentary.
  • Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

2. Bible Atlases and Maps:

  • Zondervan Atlas of the Bible by Carl G. Rasmussen: Provides maps and geographical context for the events in Joshua, including the battle of Ai.
  • The Macmillan Bible Atlas by Yohanan Aharoni and Michael Avi-Yonah.

3. Academic Articles and Journals:

  • Journal of Biblical Literature: Articles analyzing the historical and archaeological aspects of Joshua's conquest of Canaan, including the battle of Ai.
  • Biblical Archaeology Review: Offers discussions on the archaeological findings related to the cities of Jericho and Ai.

4. Books on Biblical History:

  • Ancient Israel's History: An Introduction to Issues and Sources edited by Bill T. Arnold and Richard S. Hess.
  • The Israelites in History and Tradition by Niels Peter Lemche.

Chapter 4

Review

1. Biblical Texts:

  • The Holy Bible: The primary source of information on Ai and the Gibeonites is the biblical text itself.
    • Book of Joshua, Chapters 7-8 (for Ai) and Chapter 9 (for the Gibeonites).

2. Bible Commentaries:

  • Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible:
    • Provides detailed expositions on the events described in Joshua, including the story of Ai and the Gibeonites.
    • Reference: Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Hendrickson Publishers, 1994.
  • Expositor's Bible Commentary:
    • Offers scholarly interpretations and explanations of the events surrounding Ai and the Gibeonites.
    • Reference: Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel. Zondervan, 1992.

3. Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias:

  • The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary:
    • Provides detailed entries on "Ai" and "Gibeonites," exploring their historical and archaeological background.
    • Reference: Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Yale University Press, 1992.
  • New Bible Dictionary:
    • Offers concise descriptions of Ai and the Gibeonites, including their historical significance.
    • Reference: Douglas, J.D., ed. The New Bible Dictionary. InterVarsity Press, 1996.

4. Historical and Archaeological Sources:

  • A History of Israel:
    • Provides historical context and analysis of the Canaanite cities, including Ai and Gibeon, within the broader narrative of Israel's conquest.
    • Reference: Bright, John. A History of Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.
  • The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures:
    • Discusses the archaeological findings and historical significance of Ai and the Gibeonites in the context of Israel's conquest of Canaan.
    • Reference: Coogan, Michael D. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. Oxford University Press, 2017.

Deception by the Gibeonites

The Holy Bible

  • Primary Text: The account of the Gibeonite deception is detailed in Joshua 9:1-27. This is the primary source for understanding the events, errors, and consequences as described in the brief account.

2. Bible Commentaries

  • Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible:
    • Provides an in-depth analysis and theological reflection on Joshua 9, including the Gibeonite deception and its implications.
    • Reference: Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Hendrickson Publishers, 1994.
  • The Expositor's Bible Commentary:
    • Offers a detailed commentary on the events in Joshua 9, discussing the errors of Israel and the long-term consequences of the treaty with the Gibeonites.
    • Reference: Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel. Zondervan, 1992.

3. Bible Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

  • The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary:
    • Includes entries on "Gibeon" and "Gibeonites," providing historical context, explanations of the events in Joshua 9, and discussion of the long-term effects.
    • Reference: Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Yale University Press, 1992.
  • New Bible Dictionary:
    • Summarizes the account of the Gibeonite deception and its significance within the broader narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan.
    • Reference: Douglas, J.D., ed. The New Bible Dictionary. InterVarsity Press, 1996.

4. Historical and Theological Studies

  • A History of Israel:
    • Discusses the historical context of the Gibeonites within the narrative of Israel's conquest and settlement in Canaan, including the broader consequences of their deception.
    • Reference: Bright, John. A History of Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.
  • The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures:
    • Analyzes the literary and historical aspects of the Gibeonite story in Joshua 9, along with the theological implications for Israel.
    • Reference: Coogan, Michael D. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. Oxford University Press,

Conquests North & South

1. The Holy Bible

  • Primary Text: The book of Joshua in the Bible is the primary source for understanding the northern and southern conquests.
    • Joshua Chapters 9-12 provide the biblical narrative of these military campaigns.

2. Commentaries on the Book of Joshua

  • Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary by Richard Hess
    • Provides a detailed analysis of the text, including the historical and theological significance of Joshua's conquests.
    • Reference: Hess, Richard S. Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary. IVP Academic, 1996.
  • The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel
    • Offers comprehensive commentary on the conquests, focusing on the historical context, literary structure, and theological themes.
    • Reference: Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel. Zondervan, 1992.
  • Joshua: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary by Trent C. Butler
    • A modern scholarly commentary that discusses the archaeological, historical, and theological aspects of Joshua's conquests.
    • Reference: Butler, Trent C. Joshua: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Yale University Press, 1983.

3. Bible Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

  • The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
    • Includes entries on "Canaan," "Joshua," and "Conquest," providing detailed background information and analysis of the northern and southern conquests.
    • Reference: Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Yale University Press, 1992.
  • The New Bible Dictionary
    • Offers concise articles on the key events and locations related to Joshua's conquests, including discussions on the geography of Canaan and the strategic significance of the conquered regions.
    • Reference: Douglas, J.D., ed. The New Bible Dictionary. InterVarsity Press, 1996.

4. Historical and Archaeological Sources

  • A History of Israel by John Bright
    • Provides a historical overview of Israel's conquest of Canaan, including discussions on the northern and southern campaigns.
    • Reference: Bright, John. A History of Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.
  • The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures by Michael D. Coogan
    • Discusses the historical context of the conquests and the archaeological evidence related to the events described in the book of Joshua.
    • Reference: Coogan, Michael D. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. Oxford University Press, 2017.

5. Biblical Archaeology

  • Biblical Archaeology Review magazine
    • Offers various articles that explore the archaeological findings related to the conquest narratives in Joshua, including the identification of key cities like Hazor and Jericho.
    • Example Reference: Biblical Archaeology Review, multiple issues.

Kings Defeated by Israel

1. The Holy Bible

  • Primary Text: Joshua 12:7-24 is the primary biblical source for the list of kings defeated by Joshua.

2. Bible Commentaries

  • The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel
    • Reference: Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel. Zondervan, 1992.
  • Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary by Richard S. Hess
    • Reference: Hess, Richard S. Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary. IVP Academic, 1996.
  • Joshua: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary by Trent C. Butler
    • Reference: Butler, Trent C. Joshua: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Yale University Press, 1983.

3. Bible Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

  • The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
    • Reference: Freedman, David Noel, ed. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Yale University Press, 1992.
  • The New Bible Dictionary
    • Reference: Douglas, J.D., ed. The New Bible Dictionary. InterVarsity Press, 1996.

4. Historical and Archaeological Sources

  • A History of Israel by John Bright
    • Reference: Bright, John. A History of Israel. Westminster John Knox Press, 2000.
  • The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures by Michael D. Coogan
    • Reference: Coogan, Michael D. The Old Testament: A Historical and Literary Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures. Oxford University Press, 2017.

5. Theological and Literary Analysis

Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey edited by Kevin J. Vanhoozer

    • Reference: Vanhoozer, Kevin J., ed. Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey. Baker Academic, 2008.
  • Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation by Tremper Longman III
    • Reference: Longman, Tremper III. Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation. Zondervan, 1987.

Lessons

1. Bible Commentaries

  • The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel
    • Reference: Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel. Zondervan, 1992.
  • Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary by Richard S. Hess
    • Reference: Hess, Richard S. Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary. IVP Academic, 1996.
  • Be Strong (Joshua): Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life by
    • Reference: Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Strong (Joshua): Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life. David C. Cook, 2010.

2. Study Bibles

  • The NIV Application Study Bible
    • Reference: The NIV Application Study Bible. Zondervan, 2005.
  • The ESV Study Bible
    • Reference: The ESV Study Bible. Crossway, 2008.

3. Sermons and Devotional Literature

  • "Joshua: Courage to Conquer" by David Jeremiah
    • Reference: Jeremiah, David. "Joshua: Courage to Conquer". Turning Point Ministries, 2005.
  • "Joshua: No Falling Words" by Dale Ralph Davis.
    • Reference: Davis, Dale Ralph. Joshua: No Falling Words. Christian Focus, 2000.

4. Biblical Theology and Application Books

  • Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey edited by Kevin J. Vanhoozer
    • Reference: Vanhoozer, Kevin J., ed. Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey. Baker Academic, 2008.
  • Living the Battle Plan: Lessons from Joshua by Mary Ellen Ashcroft
    • Reference: Ashcroft, Mary Ellen. Living the Battle Plan: Lessons from Joshua. Zondervan, 2004.
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