Old Testament Test 3

Joshua- Successor to Moses, led the conquest of Canaan

Leads Israel into the Promised Land after Moses

Famous events: Crossing the Jordan, Fall of Jericho

Division of the land among the tribes

Emphasis on obedience to God’s law

Judges

A cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance

Key judges: Deborah, Gideon, Samson

Everyone did what was right in his own eyes

Israel lacked a king and often fell into idolatry

Ruth- Loyal Moabite, ancestor of David

Story of loyalty, redemption, and God’s provision

Ruth, a Moabite, shows faithfulness to Naomi

Boaz acts as a kinsman-redeemer

Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of David

1 & 2 Samuel- Prophet who anointed kings

Samuel: prophet, priest, and last judge

Saul becomes Israel’s first king (anointed by Samuel)

David rises as a man after God’s own heart

David’s kingship and personal failures (e.g., Bathsheba)

God’s covenant with David

1 & 2 Kings

Solomon’s wisdom and building of the temple

Kingdom divides after Solomon’s death

Northern Kingdom (Israel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah)

Key prophets: Elijah (taken to heaven), Elisha (his successor)

Fall of Israel to Assyria; fall of Judah to Babylon

1 & 2 Chronicles

Retells Samuel and Kings with focus on Judah

Emphasizes temple worship, Levites, and Davidic line

Encourages post-exilic readers about their heritage

Ezra- Priest and scribe; led religious reforms

Focus on religious reform and teaching the Law

Ezra leads a group of exiles back to Jerusalem

Addresses intermarriage and covenant faithfulness

Nehemiah- Rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls

Cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia

Rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem despite opposition

Works with Ezra to renew covenant and public reading of the Law

Esther- Queen who saved the Jews

Set in Persia under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes)

Esther becomes queen and risks her life to save her people

Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews is reversed

Mordecai is honored; Feast of Purim established

God’s providence is clear, though His name is not mentioned

Deborah

Female judge and prophetess

Gideon

Defeated Midianites with 300 men

Boaz

Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer

Saul

First king of Israel

David

Second king; established Jerusalem

Solomon

Built the first temple, known for wisdom

Elijah & Elisha

Prophets during the kings of Israel

Mordecai

Esther’s guardian; honored by the king

Haman

Tried to destroy the Jews; was hanged

Conquest of Jericho

(Joshua 6) was the Israelites' first victory in Canaan. Following God’s command, they marched around the city for seven days. On the seventh day, after blowing trumpets and shouting, Jericho’s walls collapsed. The Israelites captured and destroyed the city, sparing only Rahab and her family. This marked the start of their conquest of Canaan.

Period of the Judges (cycles of rebellion and deliverance)

was a time of moral decline and political instability in Israel after Joshua’s death. It followed a repeated cycle:

1. Rebellion – Israelites sinned and worshiped idols.

2. Oppression – God allowed enemies to conquer them.

3. Repentance – The people cried out for help.

4. Deliverance – God raised a judge to rescue them.

5. Peace – A time of stability followed, but the cycle repeated

Ruth’s loyalty and redemption

Ruth showed loyalty by staying with her mother-in-law, Naomi, after her husband's death. She worked in the fields of Boaz, a kind relative who later redeemed and married her. Their union led to the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ, highlighting faith, redemption, and God’s providence.

Anointing of Saul and David

• Saul’s Anointing: The prophet Samuel anointed Saul as Israel’s first king after the people demanded a ruler (1 Samuel 10). Saul started well but later disobeyed God, leading to his rejection.

• David’s Anointing: God chose David, a shepherd boy, to replace Saul. Samuel secretly anointed him (1 Samuel 16), and God’s Spirit left Saul and rested on David.

Division of the kingdom after Solomon

After Solomon’s death, Israel split into two kingdoms due to heavy taxation and forced labor (1 Kings 12):

• Northern Kingdom (Israel) – Led by Jeroboam, consisted of 10 tribes, and fell into idolatry.

• Southern Kingdom (Judah) – Led by Rehoboam (Solomon’s son), included Judah and Benjamin, and retained Jerusalem as its capital.

Exile of Israel (722 BC) and Judah (586 BC)

• Israel’s Exile (722 BC): The Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom (Israel) due to their idolatry, scattering the 10 tribes.

• Judah’s Exile (586 BC): The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling the people to Babylon for 70 years.

Return under Cyrus and rebuilding efforts

After Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon (539 BC), he allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1). They rebuilt:

• The Temple (led by Zerubbabel, completed in 516 BC).

• The Walls of Jerusalem (led by Nehemiah).

• Spiritual Reforms (led by Ezra).

Esther’s intervention and the origin of Purim

Esther, a Jewish queen of Persia, risked her life to stop Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews. With King Xerxes’ favor, she exposed Haman, who was then executed. The Jews were saved, leading to the festival of Purim, celebrating their deliverance and God’s providence (Esther 9).

Kinsman-Redeemer

A close relative who redeems or rescues a family member in need (Boaz in Ruth)

Nazirite Vow

A special vow of dedication to God involving abstinence (Samson)

Prophets’ Role

Called kings and people back to faithfulness

Temple Worship

Central focus in Jerusalem; emphasized in Chronicles

Covenant Faithfulness

God’s blessings and curses tied to Israel’s obedience

Exile and Restoration

God disciplines but also restores His people