Historical Books Study Guide (Test 2)

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the key individuals, events, empires, and concepts from the Old Testament Historical Books (Joshua through Esther).

Joshua

The new leader of Israel who guided the people into the Promised Land, instructing them to drive out the wicked inhabitants and dividing the land by tribe.

Canaanites

The wicked and evil inhabitants of the Promised Land who were given ample time by God to repent, but were ultimately driven out by God's people.

Rahab

A woman of Jericho who was brought into the family of God by faith during Israel's conquest of the land.

Joshua 21

The chapter that records that every one of the Lord’s promises came to pass, demonstrating His faithfulness.

Judges (Cycle of Sin)

The recurring pattern where God's people worshiped idols in peace, were disciplined by foreign oppressors, cried out for deliverance, were rescued by a judge, and experienced peace before repeating the cycle.

Judges (Deliverers)

A total of 12 leaders graciously raised up by God and empowered by His spirit for moments of deliverance, who became progressively worse throughout the book as Israel descended into chaos.

Ruth

A Moabite foreigner who came to God in faith, married Boaz, and was included in the lineage of David and Jesus.

Boaz

The man who married Ruth, illustrating how God works to incorporate foreigners into His covenant purposes and the lineage of David.

Samuel

The prophet, priest, and final judge of Israel who was raised up by the Lord and anointed both Saul and David as kings.

Saul

The first king of Israel, anointed by Samuel, who had good qualities but disqualified himself through rash disobedience and indifference to God’s clear instructions.

David

The king anointed by Samuel who began as an ideal, humble ruler dependent on God, united Israel under God's authority, and received a covenant promising an eternal throne through his descendants.

Bathsheba

The woman with whom David fell into grave sin.

Uriah

The husband of Bathsheba whom King David had murdered.

Nathan

The prophet who confronted David regarding his grave sin involving Bathsheba and Uriah.

Psalm 51

The psalm written by David out of repentance following his confrontation by the prophet Nathan.

Absolam

David's son who murdered another son and turned on David by staking a claim for the throne while David was still alive.

Solomon

David’s son who completed the glorious temple for God's presence, but whose kingship declined after marrying many foreign wives who drew him away from God.

Rehoboam

Solomon's son whose rash response to a request from his people caused the nation to divide into the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel.

Northern Kingdom of Israel

The northern nation whose kings all led people away from God; it declined over a few hundred years and was overthrown by the Assyrian Empire.

Southern Kingdom of Judah

The southern nation led by many ungodly kings and a handful of good kings, which fell to the Babylonian Empire some 100+ years after Israel.

Assyrian Empire

The foreign power that overthrew the northern kingdom of Israel, killing its people or carrying them away into exile.

Babylonian Empire

The empire that conquered the southern kingdom of Judah some 100+ years after Israel fell, taking the people into exile.

1-2 Chronicles

Post-exilic historical books that retell the stories of 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings, highlighting the good characteristics of God's kings to bring hope and anticipate a righteous savior king.

Cyrus

The Persian king whose decrees allowed Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and Judah after about 70 years in exile.

Zerubbabel

The leader of the first wave of returning exiles who rebuilt the altar and temple despite opposition from local people.

Ezra

A priest and expert in the law who led a wave of returnees to promote God’s laws so the community could return to a faithful lifestyle.

Nehemiah

The leader who gained permission to lead a third wave of exiles roughly 15 years after Ezra, rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, and partnered with Ezra to lead reforms.

Esther

A young Jewish woman in exile who was chosen by King Xerxes to be queen of Persia and used her position of influence to rescue God's people.

King Xerxes

The Persian king who selected Esther as queen and was persuaded by Haman to sign an edict to wipe out the Jews.

Haman

An official of King Xerxes who targeted the Jews and persuaded the king to sign an edict that would effectively wipe them out.