Comprehensive SLD Study Guide: From Joshua to Solomon and Modern Israel

The Book of Joshua: Chapter 2

• Main Characters:

  • Joshua

  • Rahab

  • The two spies

  • The King of Jericho

• Important Events:

  • Joshua sends two spies into Jericho.

  • Rahab hides the spies on her roof.

  • Rahab lies to the king’s men to protect the spies.

  • Rahab asks for protection for her family.

  • The spies tell Rahab to hang a scarlet cord from her window.

• Key Ideas:

  • Courage and faith

  • Trust in God

  • Loyalty and protection

• Important Vocabulary:

  • Spy: A person sent secretly to gather information.

  • Jericho: A city in Canaan.

  • Scarlet cord: The sign Rahab used so her family would be saved.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Why did Joshua send spies to Jericho? To scout out the area for invasion to see the structure of fortifications, etc.

  • 2. How did Rahab help the spies? She hid them from the King of Jericho under flax seeds.

  • 3. What promise did the spies make to Rahab? That they would spare her in the invasion of Jericho.

  • 4. What did the scarlet cord represent? The sign Rahab used so her and her family would be saved from the Israelites invasion.

The Book of Esther and Anti-Semitism

• Main Characters:

  • Esther

  • Mordechai

  • King Achashverosh

  • Haman

• Important Events:

  • Esther becomes queen.

  • Haman plans to destroy the Jewish people.

  • Mordechai refuses to bow to Haman.

  • Esther risks her life to speak to the king.

  • The Jewish people are saved.

• Key Ideas:

  • Courage

  • Standing up against hatred

  • Jewish survival

  • Hidden miracles

• Definition of Anti-Semitism:

  • Anti-Semitism is hatred or prejudice against Jewish people.

• Connection to the Book of Esther:

  • Haman hated the Jews and wanted to destroy them.

  • The story illustrates the inherent dangers of prejudice and hatred.

  • The holiday of Purim celebrates the survival of the Jewish people.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Why did Haman hate Mordechai? Because he was a Jewish man that refused to bow down to Haman’s antisemitism and hate. He was scared of somebody who he believed to be inferior taking a stand for what he believed was right instead of getting scared in the face of prejudice and injustice. This is what happens when good is stronger than evil.

  • 2. How did Esther save the Jewish people? The queen told the king about Haman’s plan, having the bravery to show herself as Jewish so that the king would spare the Jewish people.

  • 3. What is anti-Semitism? Hate against Jewish people.

  • 4. Why is Purim celebrated? Because it celebrates the pride of being Jewish that Esther and Mordechai had that saved them from near death.

Modern Zionism and Theodore Herzl

• Definition of Zionism:

  • Zionism is the movement supporting a Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel.

• Historical Context for the Beginning of Zionism:

  • Jews faced persistent anti-Semitism in Europe.

  • Many Jews sought safety and the right to self-determination.

  • Jews maintained a long-standing hope to return to their historic homeland.

• Theodore Herzl (The Father of Modern Zionism):

  • He believed Jews needed their own country because they could not successfully assimilate in Europe.

  • Key Accomplishments:

    • Wrote the foundational text “The Jewish State.”

    • Organized the First Zionist Congress in the year $1897$.

    • Provided inspiration to Jewish communities globally.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. What is Zionism? Zionism is the belief that Jewish people needed Israel as their homeland.

  • 2. Why did Herzl believe Jews needed a homeland? Because they couldn’t assimilate in Europe.

  • 3. What was the First Zionist Congress? It was a Congress held by Zionists in Basel, Switzerland to discuss Zionist issues.

The Alfred Dreyfus Affair

• Who Was Alfred Dreyfus?

  • A Jewish officer serving in the French army.

• Critical Events of the Case:

  • Dreyfus was falsely accused of spying.

  • The accusations were widely accepted by the public primarily because he was Jewish.

  • Later, he was proven innocent of all charges.

• Historical Importance:

  • The case serves as a primary example of strong anti-Semitism in Europe.

  • It was a pivotal influence on Theodore Herzl and the development of Zionism.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Why was Dreyfus accused? Because they needed a scapegoat for a spying crime related to The Bordereau, an intelligence report that gave classified information to rivals of France. So, of course, they chose a Jew, which was army officer Albert Dreyfus.

  • 2. How did anti-Semitism affect the case? Because they had no real evidence for the case, except that the handwriting didn’t match Dreyfus’, which supposedly proved that Dreyfus forged the handwriting. Really, they only accused him because he was a Jew, which they hated.

  • 3. How did the Dreyfus Affair influence Herzl? Because he realized that no matter what Jews did, they couldn’t assimilate into Europe, so Zionism was needed.

The British Mandate and the White Papers

• The British Mandate:

  • Following World War I, Britain gained control over Palestine.

  • Britain was given administrative power and the responsibility to help create a Jewish homeland.

• The White Papers:

  • These were official British documents that placed limits on Jewish immigration to Palestine.

  • They caused significant distress among the Jewish population, as Jews fleeing danger were prevented from entering the land easily.

• Consequences and Key Ideas:

  • There was a significant increase in conflict between Jewish and Arab populations.

  • The issue of Jewish immigration became a central point of contention.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. What was the British Mandate? It was the right given to Britain to control Palestine and have administrative power over it. They were supposed to help create a Jewish homeland.

  • 2. What did the White Papers do? It was a hypocritical move by Britain to limit Jewish immigration to Palestine when Jews needed it most. It showed how Britain was unfit to rule over Palestine.

  • 3. Why were many Jews upset with Britain? Because they said they would help to create a Jewish homeland but did quite the opposite.

The Balfour Declaration and the UN Partition Plan

• The Balfour Declaration ($1917$):

  • Definition: A statement issued by Britain supporting the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

  • Significance:

    • Provided international legitimacy and support to the Zionist movement.

    • Encouraged further Jewish immigration to the region.

  • Study Questions:

    • 1. What was the Balfour Declaration? It was a letter from Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild supporting a Jewish homeland in Palestine. It showed that the British government supported Zionism.

    • 2. Why was it important to Zionists? Because it represented that their efforts weren’t for nothing, because the British government now supported them. All their hard work, sweat, and tears had finally come to fruition.

• The UN Partition Plan ($1947$):

  • Definition: A plan proposed by the United Nations to divide Palestine into separate, independent Jewish and Arab states.

  • Results:

    • Jewish leadership accepted the terms of the plan.

    • Arab leadership rejected the plan.

    • Outbreak of fighting followed the proposal.

  • Study Questions:

    • 1. What was the Partition Plan? A UN plan to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab states.

    • 2. Who accepted the plan? Jewish leaders.

    • 3. Why did conflict continue? Because Arab leaders didn’t accept the plan, leading to disagreement on who would get Palestine.

Pre-IDF Brigades

• Main Groups:

  • Haganah

  • Irgun

  • Lehi

• Purpose and Key Facts:

  • These were Jewish defense groups established prior to the creation of the State of Israel.

  • Their primary role was the protection of Jewish communities and settlements.

  • The Haganah eventually became the core of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

  • Some groups were involved in attacking Arab communities during the conflict.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Why were the pre-IDF brigades formed? To defend during the conflict between Arab and Israel.

  • 2. Which group became part of the IDF? Haganah.

  • 3. What was the purpose of these groups? To protect Jewish communities and attack Arab ones.

The Book of Judges: Chapters 4 and 5

• Main Characters:

  • Deborah (Judge of Israel)

  • Barak (Leader of the Israelite army men)

  • Sisera (Oppressive army leader)

  • Yael

• Important Events:

  • Deborah leads the Israelites and instructs Barak to assemble an army.

  • Barak engages Sisera’s forces in battle.

  • Yael kills Sisera by driving a tent peg through him.

  • Chapter $5$ consists of the Song of Deborah, a song of praise to God after the victory.

• Key Ideas:

  • Leadership

  • Courage

  • Trust in God

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Who was Deborah? She was the judge of Israel who told Barak to assemble an army of men to defeat the oppressive army leader Sisera.

  • 2. Why is Yael important? Because she was the person who finally killed Sisera. A seemingly unimportant person who was motivated by her role to have the bravery and strength to kill Sisera without hesitation.

  • 3. What is the Song of Deborah? The song of praise that Deborah sang to God after winning against Sisera.

The Book of Judges: Chapters 13–16

• Main Character:

  • Shimshon (Samson)

• Important Events:

  • An angel announces the birth of Shimshon.

  • Shimshon possesses extraordinary strength derived from his hair, as part of his Nazirite vows.

  • Delilah takes a bribe from Philistine leaders to discover the source of his strength.

  • Shimshon loses his strength after his hair is cut while he sleeps.

  • Shimshon is captured but eventually destroys the Philistine temple by pulling down the pillars.

• Key Ideas:

  • Strength and weakness

  • Trust and betrayal

  • Following God’s rules

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. What gave Shimshon his strength? His hair was God’s power because it was there from his Nazirite vows to never cut his hair. When he eventually got his hair cut, he lost all his God-given strength.

  • 2. How did Delilah betray him? She took a large bribe from Philistine leaders to figure out the secret to his strength. She then told them when she figured out it was his hair, and they were able to capture him.

  • 3. How did Shimshon defeat the Philistines in the end? By taking down the temple he was trapped in. He got God-given strength one more time to do that.

1 Samuel 1–2:11: Elkanah and Hannah’s Prayer

• Main Characters:

  • Hannah

  • Elkanah

  • Samuel

  • Eli

• Important Events:

  • Hannah suffers because she is barren and is mocked by Elkanah's other wife.

  • Hannah prays deeply for a child and promises to dedicate him to God.

  • Samuel is born; Hannah fulfills her promise by bringing him to the prophet Eli.

• Key Ideas:

  • Prayer

  • Faith

  • Keeping promises

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Why was Hannah sad? Because she was barren and Elkanah’s other wife wasn’t and made fun of her for it.

  • 2. What promise did Hannah make? That if she ever had a son, she would devote it to God.

  • 3. Who raised Samuel? Eli the prophet raised Samuel because of Hannah’s promise.

1 Samuel 8–9 and 15–16: The Rise and Fall of King Saul

• Samuel the King Maker (Chapters 8–9):

  • The Israelites demand a king to be like other nations because Samuel’s sons failed as leaders.

  • Samuel is upset because the LORD was intended to be the King over Israel.

  • Samuel warns the people about the responsibilities/burdens of kingship.

  • Saul is chosen and anointed as the first king of Israel.

• Saul’s Downfall and David’s Anointment (Chapters 15–16):

  • Saul disobeys God’s direct orders by sparing the king of the Amalekites and capturing him instead of killing all of them.

  • Samuel informs Saul that he has lost God’s favor and will lose his kingdom.

  • God instructs Samuel to anoint David because God looks at the heart rather than physical stature or age.

• Key Ideas:

  • Leadership and obedience

  • Humility

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Why did the Israelites want a king? Because Samuel’s sons had failed, and they wanted to be like other nations.

  • 2. Why was Samuel upset? Because the LORD was supposed to be the King over all of Israel.

  • 3. Who became the first king of Israel? Saul.

  • 4. Why did Saul lose God’s favor? Because he didn’t follow God’s orders by not killing all of the Amalekites, sparing the king by capturing him instead of killing.

  • 5. Who anointed David? Samuel.

  • 6. Why was David chosen? Because God saw in his heart that he was the right choice for Israel, even though his other siblings were stronger and older.

1 Samuel 17–19: David, Goliath, and Jonathan

• David and Goliath (Chapter 17):

  • Goliath, a giant measuring $9 \text{ feet } 9 \text{ inches}$, challenges the Israelites.

  • David accepts the challenge, using only a sling and a stone.

  • David defeats Goliath because he has the power of God on his side.

• David, Jonathan, and Saul (Chapters 18–19):

  • Jonathan and David form a deep, close friendship characterized by loyalty and sacrifice.

  • Saul becomes intensely jealous of David because David is celebrated for his success in battle more than Saul.

  • Saul attempts to kill David; Jonathan protects David by warning him of the danger.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Why was Goliath feared? Because he was $9 \text{ feet } 9 \text{ inches}$ tall and way stronger than everyone else.

  • 2. What weapons did David use? A sling and a stone.

  • 3. Why was David successful? Because he had the power of God on his side.

  • 4. Why was Saul jealous? Because David was doing so well in battle and people were congratulating him instead of Saul.

  • 5. How did Jonathan help David? When Saul was going to kill David, Jonathan protected David and told him of danger.

  • 6. What qualities made Jonathan a good friend? Loyalty, honesty, and sacrifice.

1 Samuel 31, 2 Samuel 1 and 5: The Death of Saul and the New Kingdom

• Death of Saul and Jonathan:

  • Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle.

  • David mourns their deaths deeply, demonstrating honor and respect for the fallen king and his best friend despite the fact that Saul's death paved the way for David's inheritance of the throne.

• David Becomes King (2 Samuel 5):

  • David is officially made king over all of Israel.

  • He establishes Jerusalem as the capital city to promote unity and strengthen the kingdom.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. How did Saul die? In battle.

  • 2. Why was David sad? Because his king and best friend died.

  • 3. What does David’s reaction teach us? That we must have respect and show honor to those who died, even if it benefits us through an inheritance or such.

  • 4. Where did David rule from? Jerusalem.

  • 5. Why was Jerusalem important? Because it was the capital, making unity and strengthening the kingdom.

2 Samuel 11–12 and 15–19: David's Sin and Absalom's Rebellion

• David and Bathsheba (Chapters 11–12):

  • David commits adultery with Bathsheba, a married woman.

  • To cover up the sin, he sends her husband, Uriah, to the front lines of battle where he is killed.

  • Nathan the prophet confronts David, leading David to admit his sin and repent.

  • Lesson: Accountability is necessary; covering up actions makes matters worse.

• Absalom’s Rebellion (Chapters 15, 18–19):

  • Absalom (David's son) turns the hearts of the people against David to take the throne.

  • David is forced to flee Jerusalem to escape the conspiracy.

  • Absalom dies in battle; David mourns the loss of his son deeply before returning to his kingly duties.

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. What mistake did David make? He cheated with a married woman named Bat Sheba, and sent her husband to the front line, where he would surely die, to cover it up.

  • 2. Who confronted David? Nathan the prophet.

  • 3. What lesson is learned from this story? That we should take accountability for our own actions instead of trying to cover it up, as that will only make it work.

  • 4. Why did Abshalom rebel? Because he thought that he was suitable for king and that they should appoint a judge over all of Israel to hear everyone’s problems.

  • 5. Why did David leave Jerusalem? Because he heard of Absalom’s conspiracy and knew that he would not be free from him unless he fled.

  • 6. How did Abshalom die? He died in battle.

  • 7. Why was David upset? Because Absalom was his son and he was sad that he died at his army’s hands.

1 Kings 1–2: The Succession of Solomon

• Main Characters:

  • David

  • Solomon

  • Adonijah

• Important Events:

  • Adonijah attempts to seize the throne as David grows old.

  • Solomon is chosen and anointed as the rightful king.

  • David gives final instructions to Solomon to remain strong, follow God’s decrees, and be obedient.

• Key Ideas:

  • Succession and transition of power

  • Wisdom in leadership

• Study Questions and Answers:

  • 1. Who tried to take the throne? Adonijah.

  • 2. Who became king after David? Solomon.

  • 3. What advice did David give Solomon? To follow God’s decrees and be strong and obedient.

Summary of Key Terms and Figures

• Important People:

  • Joshua, Rahab, Esther, Mordechai, Haman, Theodore Herzl, Alfred Dreyfus, Deborah, Yael, Shimshon, Hannah, Samuel, Saul, David, Jonathan, Nathan, Abshalom, Solomon.

• Important Vocabulary:

  • Anti-Semitism: Hatred or prejudice against Jewish people.

  • Zionism: The movement supporting a Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel.

  • Mandate: Administrative power granted over a territory (specifically British control of Palestine).

  • White Papers: Documents limiting Jewish immigration.

  • Balfour Declaration: $1917$ statement supporting a Jewish homeland.

  • Partition Plan: $1947$ UN plan to divide Palestine into two states.

  • Anoint: To ceremonially confer divine office or kingship.

  • Prophet: A person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God.

  • Rebellion: An act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler.

  • Covenant: A solemn agreement.