Smoky Mountain Bible Institute
Lesson #57
Break out your maps and histories as we travel again in
our time machine to examine history & geography through a Biblical
worldview. Let's visit the new nation of Israel under the leadership of Joshua
in 1406 BC.
After crossing the Jordan on dry ground, the young nation
of Israel sets up camp on the plain just outside Jericho. In accordance with
God's instructions, they conquer Jericho and the rest of the Promised Land.
They are not as thorough as they are told to be (which causes much idolatry and
pain in future generations), but in less than six years they have conquered,
taken control of, and divided up the Promised Land. A good map that covers the
conquest and division of the land can be found on pages 357 and 365 of your
Lutheran Study Bible. Or, just google images of "Joshua's conquest of Canaan"
and many good images will come up, just be sure to check the source of the
image for its trustworthiness.
Joshua dies at the ripe old age of 110, by this time they
are settled in, and we move into the period of the Judges. This was a time when
people did what they thought was right in their own minds, and was supposed to
be functioning as a theocracy with God as king, but with people judging for
themselves what was right and wrong, the people were in essence making
themselves god. The period of time covered by the Book of Judges is
approximately 1380 to 1049 BC. This book contains a painful repetitive cycle: sin
and rebellion against God, punishment and persecution, repentance, and redemption.
If one were to add up the years of the 12 judges, one would come up with 410
years, but many of the judges’ times are not identified clearly, and they were
all regional; few of the judges ruled over the whole land of Israel as Moses
and Joshua did. So we need to realize that these were localized events, and
some overlapped in time or were even concurrent, and there were times in this
window between Joshua and Saul where Israel may have had no earthly leader or
judge. Below is my summary of the tables found on pages 92, 93, 106, & 107
of Dr. Steinmann's book, From Abraham to
Paul. The judges are presented in 6 cycles following the cycle of
oppression, repentance, deliverance, and rebellion. The dates following the
names are well researched estimates found in Dr. Steinmann's book.
Cycle Oppressor Judge / Translation or meaning of name
1. Judges 3:7-11 Cushan-Rishathaim, 1378-1371 BC Othneil / The lion of God, 1371-1332 BC
2. Judges 3:12-31 Eglon, 1332-1315 BC Ehud
/ Selfless love, 1315-1236 BC
Shamgar / The
sword, 1315-1236 BC
3. Judges 4:1-5:31 Jaabin, 1236-1217 BC Deborah
/ The busy bee, 1217-1178 BC
4. Judges 6:1-10:6 Midianites, 1178-1172 BC Gideon / The feller, bruiser,
breaker or destroyer
1172-1133 BC
Tola
/ The worm, 1131-1109 BC
Jair
/ The enlightener, 1109-1088 BC
5. Judges 10:7-12:15 Amorites, 1088-1071 BC Jephthah / He
will open, 1088-1083 BC
Philistines, 1088-1049 BC Ibzan
/ Illustrious 1083-1077 BC
Elon
/ Oak, 1077-1068 BC
Abdon
/ Ruin or Destruction, 1068-1061 BC
6. Judges 13:1-16:31 Philistines, 1088-1049 BC Sampson / Son, 1371-1332 BC
I put the translation of the judges’ names because I
found it interesting in most cases how aptly they were named with regard to the
turn of events surrounding their lives. As we come to the end of the judges it
is worth noting that many count the prophets Eli and Samuel among the Judges.
With the help of Josephus and 1st Samuel we can date Eli's
priesthood / judgeship from 1109-1069 BC and Samuel’s priesthood / judgeship
from 1060 to 1049 BC. This leads us into the beginning of the Jewish monarchy
which is estimated to have begun with the anointing of Saul as king in
approximately 1049 BC.
Till next month,
Pastor Portier
