Joshua, Judges and Ruth

Joshua, Judges & Ruth

The Smart Guide to the Bible™ Series

Rebecca Bertolini

Larry Richards, General Editor

Nelson Books

A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers

Since 1798

www.thomasnelson.com

© 2008 by GRQ, Inc.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version® (NKJV), copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

To the best of its ability, GRQ, Inc., has strived to find the source of all material. If there has been an oversight, please contact us, and we will make any correction deemed necessary in future printings. We also declare that to the best of our knowledge all material (quoted or not) contained herein is accurate, and we shall not be held liable for the same.

General Editor: Larry Richards

Managing Editor: Michael Christopher

Scripture Editor: Deborah Wiseman

Assistant Editor: Amy Clark

Design: Diane Whisner

ISBN 10: 1-4185-1005-X

ISBN 13: 978-1-4185-1005-3

Printed in the United States of America

08 09 10 11 RRD 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Chapters at a Glance

Introduction

Section One: Joshua

Introduction to the Book of Joshua

Joshua 1-2: Preliminary Preparations

God’s Mandate

Joshua’s Instructions

Spies’ Escapades

Rahab’s Settlement

Joshua 3-4: Crossing the Jordan

Educating the People

Crossing the River

A Happy Ending

Erecting the Memorials

Joshua 5-6: Conquest of Jericho

Identification with God

Confrontation with God

Stalking in Silence

Conquest in Clamor

Joshua 7-8: Tragedy and Triumph at Ai

God Demands Attention

Following Directions

Getting It Right

Covenant Renewal

Joshua 9-10: The Southern Invasion

Gibeonite Trickery

Deception Exposed

Amorite Armored Assault

Sortie of Southern Cities

Joshua 11-12: Conquest of the North

Fighting Their Foes

Inventory of Invasions

East of the Jordan

West of the Jordan

Joshua 13-22: Division of the Land

Caleb’s Claim

Taking Possession

Cities of Refuge

Establishing Accountability

Joshua 23-24: Joshua’s Farewell

Final Sermon

Rekindled Pledge

Laid to Rest

Section Two: Judges

Introduction to the Book of Judges

Judges 1:1-2:15: Leaderless without Joshua

Triumphs They Have Known

Capitulation and Failure

Angelic Confrontation

Disenfranchised Generation

Judges 2:16-3:31: Early Judges in Israel

Apostasies Inventoried

Foes Enumerated

Othniel—The Spirit-Filled

Ehud—The Left-Handed

Shamgar—The Philistine-Goader

Judges 4-5: Deborah, a Lady Leader

Barak’s Initiation

Jael’s Triumph

Deborah’s Song

God’s Victory

Judges 6:1-7:15A: Convincing Gideon

Gideon’s Confrontation

Gideon’s Hesitation

Gideon’s Preparation

Judges 7:15B-8:35: Conditioning Gideon

Gideon’s Aggression

Gideon’s Opposition

Gideon’s Remission

Judges 9:1-10:5: Abimelech, a Kingdomless King

Establishing His Position

Validating His Position

Forfeiting His Position

Others in His Position

Judges 10:6-12:15: Jephthah, Plus Three

Rejection and Remorse

Leadership and Letters

Victory and Vows

Criticism and Chastisement

Judges 13-14: Samson’s Strength

Samson’s Calling

Samson’s Birth

Samson’s Courting

Samson’s Riddle

Judges 15-16: Samson Subdued

Samson’s Vengeance

Samson’s Response

Samson’s Capture

Samson’s Requital

Judges 17-18: Micah’s Mistake

Idolatry of Micah

Exploits of Spies

Confrontation of Warriors

Settlement of Dan

Judges 19-21: Gibeah’s Punishment

An Abomination in Benjamin

A Massacre in Benjamin

A Reconciliation in Benjamin

Section Three: Ruth

Introduction to the Book of Ruth

Ruth 1-2: Ruth’s Character Tested

Naomi’s Sorrow

Ruth’s Devotion

God’s Guidance

Boaz’s Kindness

Ruth 3-4: Ruth’s Character Proved

Boaz at the Threshing Floor

Boaz at the City Gate

Boaz at His Own Home

Appendix A—The Answers

Appendix B—The Experts

Footnotes

Glossary

Endnotes

Introduction

Welcome to Joshua, Judges, & Ruth—The Smart Guide to the Bible™. This book is designed to put at your fingertips all the information and assistance you will need to fully understand why God left this record and communication for us today. You are about to discover a fascinating commentary that is both enlightening and pertinent, simple and entertaining. I pray this book will change your outlook forever. You can’t help but learn more about God’s Word.

To Gain Your Confidence

God left the Bible—his message to mankind—for people of all ages, cultures, and educational backgrounds. Everything he wanted us to know about himself, his dealings with people, and the way he has moved throughout history is recorded in these pages. God yearns for us to deepen our comprehension of him and broaden our relationship with him. That is why Joshua, Judges, & Ruth—The Smart Guide to the Bible™ will not be a complicated dissertation full of ancient Hebrew language explanations, arguments about dates, or debates over genealogical data.

Thumb through the pages and see for yourself. This book is full of lively conversation about the biblical text, fascinating opinions from a variety of experts, and illuminating definitions of terms. God wants you to comprehend his ways. Therefore, the goal of this book is to lay open God’s Word in a plain and straightforward style so that no matter who you are, you can enjoy furthering your acquaintance with God.

Why Has God Intervened in Human History?

At the beginning of time as we know it, God longed for a relationship beyond that of the heavenly beings whose duties bound them in admiration and devotion to him. So he created a universe and a human pair to place within it. Adam and Eve, with a free will to enjoy God and flourish in his presence, could also opt to forfeit that privilege. What joy it would have brought to the heart of God if mankind had chosen to embrace all that he offered of himself. Instead, the first man and woman decided, out of selfishness and pride, that they could do better without him and so consigned themselves to a life separated from the God who knew them best and loved them most.

Every human being who has ever walked the face of this planet has made a similar series of wrong choices, so this story is as much about us as it is about Adam and Eve. Because they wanted to go their own way their souls were subject to death, their bodies to decay, and their world to a state of constant decline.

But God did not want to leave them to wallow in their misery and suffering, so he worked out an alternate method to save them from themselves. Plan B began with the selection of a man named Abraham. God desired to raise up a nation, through this man and his wife, Sarah, that would live within the protection of the universal laws he had set up. These parameters would bring the most joy and fulfillment to the people he had designed. He longed to see all nations observe his hand of blessing on the race of Abraham and be drawn to God by their example. The last part of the plan would involve providing from among their descendants a savior—God born in human form—who could bring deliverance from the consequences of evil.

Where in Biblical History Do Joshua, Judges, and Ruth Fit?

From this humble beginning, each of the twelve sons of Jacob produced many generations of children until they numbered about two and a half million people.¹ At this time they were living in Egypt because of a seven-year famine in which the only available food was stored in vast repositories along the Nile River. After the drought became a thing of the past, Abraham’s descendants stayed on, living side by side in peace with the Egyptians.

Some time elapsed before Pharaoh recognized the threat in this sheep-raising group of people living within Egypt’s boundaries. Should they take up weapons to overthrow his system of government, he could not very well defend his interests.

At the same time, he could scarcely overlook the manpower they could supply in the building up of his great public works projects. So he enslaved the entire nation and worked out vicious schemes to keep them weak and groveling.

At this time, God raised up a man to rescue his chosen people. His name was Moses—brought up as royalty in Pharaoh’s own court and tempered by forty years on the back side of the desert. With God’s miraculous help, Moses led the entire nation of Israel away from bondage on a difficult journey through wilderness country to a land that God had promised would be their very own.

On the brink of entering this coveted homeland, Moses died. He was the only leader they had ever known. Enter Joshua—and all the extraordinary circumstances and events God would work out to bring his people success in their new place of residence.

Directly on Joshua’s heels follows the rule of the judges, men and women who filled the leadership gap and temporarily liberated the fallen nation from the depths of humiliation and subservience. And in the midst of this chaos unfolds the story of Ruth, a woman of surprisingly noble character.

What Are Joshua, Judges, and Ruth All About?

The events in these books document an unparalleled time in the history of the nation of Israel. Joshua, at Moses’s death, ably steps in as the captain of their fighting force and champions Israel’s cause all over the Middle East in the land that we now know as Israel. He successfully trounces their dangerous and immoral neighbors, then helps Israel settle into the land and make it their home.

But as soon as the generation that experienced victory firsthand passed on, strict adherence to God’s principles was neglected. Their descendants embarked on a wretched pattern of rancorous living, followed inevitably by God’s disciplinary correction. They got their act together for a little while and then fell directly back into the sordid habits they couldn’t seem to shake. Although God raised up provisional leaders from time to time (the judges), his real desire was that they look to him as their authority to know the blessings of obedience that their fathers experienced. Unfortunately, this group of people (not unlike ourselves) seldom caught the vision and most often did what seemed right to them.

This, in fact, gave rise to one of the most telling statements in the book of Judges, repeated word for word in two places: In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes (17:6; 21:25 NKJV).

The story of Ruth shines in radiant contrast to the other depressing events that came out of the time of the judges. In spite of many challenges, this foreign woman made a personal choice to follow the authority of the God of the Bible. The outcome was joy and blessing for herself and those she loved.

Why Study Joshua, Judges, and Ruth?

Every part of the Bible is useful for one of the following purposes:

• Instructing and teaching knowledge and wisdom

• Revealing harmful attitudes and conduct

• Demonstrating how to change damaging behavior

• Training in patterns of godly living

Therefore, our study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth will give us a more complete picture of the God of the Bible and push us along the road to spiritual maturity. Often, we tend to concentrate more on certain portions of the Bible that are easier for us to understand. Perhaps we park on what makes us feel the most comfortable. Joshua, Judges, and Ruth were written about a period of time that many have chosen to overlook. But a second glance reveals a rich heritage of living stories and eternal truths, amazing events, and basic principles. These books of the Bible will also answer some challenging questions. Here are a few:

• Are we all doomed to make the same mistakes over and over?

• Why does God allow suffering?

• How can I pass on a living faith to those who come after me?

• Is killing ever appropriate?

• How can I conquer fear and anxiety?

Which Translation of the Bible Should You Use?

For our study I have chosen the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible as the most accurate and readable. There are several translations from the original Hebrew that are adequate, but upon examination you will find that the NKJV states the original author’s words quite reliably and remains one of the easiest to read in our English vernacular.

How to Use Joshua, Judges, & Ruth—The Smart Guide to the Bible™

As you read this book, keep in mind that it is divided into three sections. The first section will deal with the book of Joshua, the sixth book of the sixty-six books within the covers of your Bible. The next division will cover the book of Judges, a book that follows the time period of Joshua’s leadership and thus comes right after Joshua in the Bible. The last section of this book will discuss the book of Ruth, which comes after the book of Judges even though its events took place sometime during the rule of the judges.

The best way to begin is to sit down with this book and your Bible.

• Start the book at chapter 1.

• As you work through each chapter, read the accompanying Bible verses from your Bible.

• Use the sidebars loaded with icons and helpful information to give you a knowledge boost.

• Answer the Study Questions and review with the Chapter Wrap-Up.

• Then go on to the next chapter. It’s that simple!

• This book contains a variety of special features to help you learn, as explained in the section coming up soon, called Understanding the Bible Is Easy with These Tools.

• It will also be helpful to remember the following:

• There will be several interchangeable terms. For example, Scripture, Scriptures, Word, Word of God, God’s Word, and other variations are all ways of referring to the Bible. I will use each one at various times, but I will use Bible most of the time.

• The word Lord, in the years before Christ, refers to Yahweh (or Jehovah), the God of Israel. After Jesus was born that same title was used for him. He was the God of the Bible in human flesh.

• The offspring of Abraham are called: Israelites, children of Israel, Hebrews, and the chosen people. Any one of these may be used to refer to the nation that came from Abraham’s family line. Actually, Israel was the name that God gave to Abraham’s grandson Jacob, and since the entire family came through his part of the line, any variation that uses his name makes the most sense.

One Final Tip

Sometimes when we sit down to read what God has written to us, our minds are already so full of the day’s anxieties and plans for the next event that we can scarcely concentrate on the words before us. If we allow a few moments of restful prayer, dedicating our time to God, our hearts can be quieted and we can hear his voice. Ask God, through his Spirit, to be your teacher. Allow him to use his own words and the aid of this book to guide you into new discoveries and timeless truths. You are about to embark on the greatest adventure of your life.

About the Author

Rebecca Bertolini has devoted her adult life to teaching the Scriptures. She lives for those Aha! moments when truth comes alive to a wondering group of children, or a passage takes on new meaning for a struggling adult. Her striving for scriptural accuracy is exceeded only by her passion for practical application. Best of all from the reader’s point of view, her experience in education, both secular and sacred, helps her present biblical information in a provocative and transforming style.

About the General Editor

Dr. Larry Richards is a native of Michigan who now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was converted to Christianity while in the Navy in the 1950s. Larry has taught and written Sunday school curriculum for every age group, from nursery through adult. He has published more than two hundred books that have been translated into twenty-six languages. His wife, Sue, is also an author. They both enjoy teaching Bible studies as well as fishing and playing golf.

Section One

Joshua

Introduction to the Book of Joshua

What Is the Book of Joshua About?

Led by Joshua, Israel conquers and possesses the land in the Middle East that is now called by their name. The first half of the book describes Israel’s seven-year combat with the pagan nations already in residence. Like any good general, Joshua leads his army in a campaign to divide the country in warfare right down the middle before continuing to win the southern and northern halves. The later chapters of the book of Joshua find the leader parceling sections of the newly subdued lands among the different family groups that make up the nation of Israel. Before his death, Joshua charges the people to hold fast to God and his way of success.

Who Is Joshua?

Born as a slave in Egypt, Joshua would have been in the prime of his life when Moses held aloft his legendary staff and split* the great Red Sea right down the middle for the ancestors of Abraham to cross unharmed. Joshua’s heart must have sunk with the rest of his brethren to see their Egyptian oppressors in chariots bearing down upon their heels. But the roar of the returning waters and the frantic cries of the drowning enemy would inscribe an indelible message of God’s enduring faithfulness on his heart. That event—and the miracles to follow—personally confirmed God’s promise* to Joshua that he would bring this fledgling nation to a land they could call home.

The barren wilderness crossing, with his fellow Jews, continued to be a schoolroom experience for this young leader-in-training.

• It was Joshua who captained* Israel’s defending forces in the desert against an Amalekite attack while Moses’s aching arms were held to the sky with the help of Aaron and Hur. From this, Joshua would learn that victory comes from God, not an individual’s own strength, courage, or ingenuity.

• It was Joshua who climbed* lofty Mount Sinai with Moses while God’s presence enveloped the mountain peaks in the form of a cloud. He camped on the slopes of Sinai until Moses descended with the Ten Commandments and a face that shone with the light of God’s glory. From this, Joshua would understand the importance in the life of a leader to schedule time in the presence of God.

• It was Joshua (with his friend Caleb) who tried to convince* the people, standing on the border of the new land for the first time, to take possession of what God had already granted them. His countrymen were picking up stones to kill him, but he stood firm. From this, Joshua realized that the majority is not always right, and being right is not always comfortable.

God was preparing Joshua for the eventual death of Moses and his own transition into leadership. Forty years after their journey began, God made the observation at Joshua’s commissioning* that life’s lessons had been learned well, for his own Spirit rested in a special way on Joshua.

When Did Joshua Live?

If Joshua was almost forty when Moses brought God’s people out of Egypt, Joshua would have been around eighty when he took over the reins of leadership.² The year was probably around 1407 BC, right in the very middle of the Bronze Age.³ Amenhotep III was ruling as the pharaoh at this time, but there was no threat from Egypt even though the Israelite nation had once been under their dominating thumb. Amenhotep had lost interest in the Middle East and maintained a weak foreign policy, so Joshua could make a move against his Asiatic holdings and not worry about reprisal.⁴ Joshua was 110 when he died* at the end of the book, so the events recorded took place over about thirty years.

Who Wrote Joshua?

Many sources affirm that Joshua is the most likely candidate to have written the book that is named after him.⁵ Here is a short list of reasons why Joshua is the probable author and the book was not written by an unknown, years later:

• Intimate biographical details* are included around the events. Joshua was the key eyewitness.⁶

• Several stories are written in the first person, as if the author were a part* of the action.

• A few of the people and places were still (at the writing of the book) unchanged* since the time the events took place.

• >The unity and flow of language and theme nullify the argument for multiple authorship.⁷

• The Talmud states that Joshua was the author with several small sections* added by Eleazar and Phineas after his death.⁸

What Is the Theme of Joshua?

One of the main themes repeated in Joshua is that of success through obedience. Victory always came when God’s people followed his instructions. Another truth, often stated, relates to God’s faithfulness*. He could be trusted to bring about everything that he ever promised. Also on display are the qualities of good leadership. From the example of Joshua, a person can observe the characteristics of a godly authority figure worth emulating. The last issue to boldly appear throughout the book of Joshua has to do with the inheritance of God’s people. The land would be theirs for the claiming. However, their possession had to be maintained to be retained.

Joshua 1-2: Preliminary Preparations

Chapter Highlights:

• God’s Mandate