OT Historical Books Final

I. Crossing (abar) into the Land (1.1—5.15)
II. Taking (laqah) the Land (6.1—12.24)
III. Dividing (halaq) the Land (13.1—21.45)
IV. Serving (abad) the Lord in the Land (22.1—24.33)

I. Prologue: The roots of Israel's apostasy (1.1—3.6)
A. Prelude to apostasy: incomplete conquests (1.1—2.5)
B. The unfolding and consequences of apostasy (2.6—3.6)
II. The downward spiral of Israel's apostasy (3:7—16:31)
III. Epilogue: the depths of Israel's apostasy (17.1—21.24)
A. The idolatry of Israel: like Canaanites in worship (17—18)
B. The moral disintegration of Israel: like Canaanites in practice (19—21.25)

I. The problems of the book established: widowhood, lack of food, extinction of Elimelech's name
(chapter 1)
II. Ruth and Boaz meet: the problem of food solved; the-beginning of the solution regarding Ruth's
widowhood and the extinction of Elimelech's name (chapter 2)
III. A solution proposed but there is a complication (chapter 3)
IV. Climax, resolution: marriage and baby born (4:1-17)
V. Genealogical note tying in to King David (4:18-22)

I. Before the monarchy: God rules and rescues his people (1:1—7)
II. The beginning of the monarchy: The people demand a king (8—12)
III. The people's choice: the reign and rejection of king Saul (13—15)
IV. God's choice: The ascent of David and the descent of Saul (16—31)
V. The reign of God's king is established and blessed: David gains a city and everlasting dynasty
(2 Sam 1—10)
VI. David's sin and its consequences (11—20)
VII. Epilogue (21—24)

I. The united kingdom: from David to Solomon (1 Kgs 1—11)
II. The divided kingdom: from division until the fall of Israel in 722 B.C. (1 Kgs 12—2Kgs 17)
III. The southern kingdom: from exile of Israel until exile of Judah in 587/6 B.C. (2 Kgs 18—25)

I. The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (1—6)
II. Ezra goes to Jerusalem; the issue of mixed marriages (7—10)

I. Nehemiah's first journey to Jerusalem and the building of the wall (1—12)
II. Nehemiah's second journey to Jerusalem and reform of the people (13)

I. Act One: Queen Vashti is deposed and Esther is chosen as queen (1:1—2:18)
II. Act Two: Haman's plot to destroy the Jews, Mordecai's plan and Esther's intercession, the
downfall of Hainan and the exaltation of Mordecai (2:19—8:2)
III. Act Three: Esther appeals again to the king, Mordecai writes an edict to counter Haman's, the
Jews defeat their enemies, the festival of Purim is instituted (8:3—9:32)
IV. Epilogue: the greatness of Mordecai in position and heart (chapter 10)

1. Detailed descriptions of people and their thoughts can improve your exposition by signaling to the reader that the description(s) will play a role in the ensuing story.
a. The description of Absalom's features – particularly his hair (2 Sam. 14:25-27)
b. The description of Tamar as beautiful and Amnon's "love" for her (2 Sam.13:1) introduces the horrific events that will follow. They also prepare the reader for the irony that Amnon does not really know what beauty or love is.
2. Transitional words (such as a wayyiqtol) can improve your exposition by signaling to the reader that a narrative or sequential transition is taking place.
a. The wayyiqtol (1 Kings 12:26) signals a narrative transition between the events of Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
3. Repeated key words or roots can improve your exposition by signaling to the reader that there is a relationship in the present text to prior redemptive stories in which the key word is used.
a. The use of the hiphil form of nuaḥ in Josh. 4 and Gen. 2.
b. The phrase "Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” in 1 Kings 12:28 signals big trouble for Jeroboam and the people.

The "united monarchy" is the period of Israel's history in which her kings ruled over a united nation. Saul, David, and Solomon reigned during the "united monarchy."

I. the nation of Assyria
II. Hezekiah withstood Sennacherib
III. The angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp before battle causing Assyria to retreat.
IV. it is found in 2 Kings 20 and 2 Chron 32. and Isaiah 37

Deut.—2 Kings 3. This name tells us that the book of Deut. has strongly influenced how these books were written and must be understood in light of Deut. Former prophets. 1) Because these are in fact a prophetic interpretation of parts of Israel’s history; 2). It also demonstrates that the prophets were not innovators but provided a continuation of Mosaic ministry, as promised in Deut. 18:15. 3) In principle the idea of a “Deuteronomistic History” is helpful in that we see the theological concerns of Deut. played out in Israel’s history. Hence it is useful in stressing the unity of the narrative. It is possible to hold this without accepting the more unhelpful constructs concerning the authorship and provenance of Deut. residing in Josiah’s 7th cent. reforms. Finally, it is preferable to simply use the term “former prophets” since these books are in fact a prophetic interp. of at least some of Israel’s history. As such, prophets were not innovators but provided a continuation of Mosaic ministry (Dt 18.15ff). Theological organizing...4) The welfare of the people of Israel and Judah in the land and their successful participation in fulfilling the mission God has given them is intricately tied to their faithfulness and their king’s faithfulness to the Lord. This faithfulness is measured by the extent to which they keep the covenant expressed in the Torah, esp. Deut. and their submission to the prophets the Lord sends to enforce that covenant.

1. The events of the book (at least in part) function as an apologetic for the need of kingship in Israel (esp. 21:25).
2. Subsequent books then continue to way in which kingship unfolds in Israel's history. For example:
a. Ruth provides a background to David's history.
b. 1-2 Sam. detail the rise of Samuel, the prophet who would play a crucial role in the formative years of Israel's monarchy. The books also detail the lives and rules of Saul and David.
c. 1-2 Kings & 1-2 Chronicles detail the rules of Israel and Judah's kings.
3. Theological intent of Ezra-Nehemiah – To display the goodness of the LORD through:
a. the grace and faithfulness of God to his promises to do good to his people show that this story is not over - it is going somewhere.
b. and, in light of this mercy they have a chance to get it right this time.
c. the LORD's faithfulness in relationship to:
i. The Temple
ii. The people and the wall
iii. The Torah

Samuel & Kings:
1) Through the prophetic Word the Lord shows himself King over his people, his world, and the very course of history itself.
2) Through the prophetic Word, the Lord is shows himself a covenant making and keeping God.
3) Through the prophetic Word the Lord provides the right kind of king in his anointed.
4) Justification for Davidic monarchy
5) Kingship
6) Kingdom of God and Davidic kingdom
6) Davidic covenant
7) Effects of sin
8) God’s sovereignty
9) God’s grace and hope for the future
10) Conditionality and unconditionality
11) Concern for the covenants
12) Judgment and repentance

1. Kings is ultimately a book of hope, because:
a. Even in the midst of the sheer rebellion of his people, the LORD faithfully continues to deliver his prophetic word to his people.
b. The judgment(s) that transpire in the book underscore the LORD's faithfulness to his covenant promises. This faithfulness can then function as a sign-post to subsequent generations who have lost their way.
c. The book is also sprinkled with evidences of God's mercy – even in the midst of judgment.
d. They detail the historical and conceptual background of the coming King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

1446 BC (early) or 1260 BC (late)

1050-1010 BC

1010-970 BC

970-930 BC

930 BC

841-813 BC

722 BC

586 BC

538 BC

458 BC

445 BC

Unknown

2166-1446 BC (early) or 2000-1260 BC (late)

1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late) - 1050 BC (settlement)

1050-586 BC

538-430 BC

C - Creation
A - Abraham
S - Sinai
K - Kings
E - Exile
T - Temple

1. Joshua: 1:1-18
2. Judges: 2:16-19 ; 21:25
3. Samuel: 1 Sam 2:30; 2 Sam 7:8-16
4. Kings: 1 Kgs 2:3-4. ; 2 Kgs 23:24-27; 2 Kgs 17:7-8; 19-20

Joshua 7

Judges 17-21

Joshua 3

Joshua 24

1 Samuel 2 (or prayer?)

1 Samuel 4 - The Philistines

1 Samuel 15

2 Samuel 7

1 Kings 8

2 Kings 17

2 Kings 23

2 Kings 25

Ezra 7