Overview of Joshua Through Kings

I should have posted this a week ago before we started Joshua, not after we finished Joshua.  Some background information regarding these books is useful to reading them and gives a deeper understanding to their message.

The Books of Joshua, Judges, 1 &2 Samuel and 1 &2 Kings form one literary unit, known as the Deuteronomic History (Dtr).  Most of this material was written in its final form during the reign of the great reforming king, Josiah (640-609 BC).  (An addition was added to cover the decades leading up to Jerusalem’s destruction in 587 BC.) 

In many ways, this history looks through a theological lens at the history of the time from the entry of the Israelites into the Promised Land around 1250 BC to the loss of the Promised Land in 587 BC.  This group of books is actually known as the Former Prophets in the Jewish Canon.  This is helpful to know, for it points us toward the focus of these books, which is less about history as we may think of history and more to these books as a retelling, through prophetic critique, the relationship between Israel and God. 

1 & 2 Kings for example, focus quite a bit on the lives of two great prophets, Elijah and his successor Elisha.  On the other hand, kings who ruled for decades may have a small paragraph written about them.  Another book which we do not have, the Book of the Kings of Israel & Judah is often referenced as having the historical details of these kingly reigns (see for example, 2 Kings 13:10, for this comment regarding King Joash.)

So what is the overall message of this set of books?  It seems to settle around three issues.  First, possession of the Promised Land depends upon Israel’s obedience, specifically with regard to worshipping God alone.  Second, this worship must take place at Jerusalem, not at other sites in the Promised Land.  Finally, God has made a covenant with David.  We will look at this covenant in some detail, but essentially a promise is made by God to David.  This promise is that his lineage will reign forever.  Obviously there is tension between these themes, as the first theme appears to be conditional, while the third theme is not.  And clearly the second and third themes mesh together, as David’s lineage ruled from Jerusalem, the center of worship.

We will cover 600 years of history in three weeks consisting of fifteen readings. Much is left out in this type of approach.  Hopefully this will raise some interest to look further into these issues, which do have great meaning for us today.  I should note that the 11 AM Sunday Parlor Class continues to cover many issues in the Old Testament (They are in the Book of Joshua right now.) 

Peace,
Randy