Joshua and Judges

The Bible Course

Document#: TX001078

Golden Calf Changes Israel’s Relationship with God

• The People of Israel have Aaron make an idol for them to worship.

• The “golden calf” is a fertility god like the ones they knew in Egypt

• Worshiping the golden calf involves not only idolatry but also immoral behavior

The Institution of the Priesthood• The Israelites’ rejection of God causes God to reject them

God no longer called Israel “my people.” Now Israel was “your people.” After all, the people decided they didn’t want the Lord for their God. God had every right to disown them.

• Moses pleads for the peopleGod was offering Moses the chance to be the new Abraham. But Moses was supremely selfless. Instead of taking the chance to be the founder of a new nation, he pleads with God for Israel.

• Covenant brokenMoses was so furious that he threw the stone tablets on the ground and smashed them. The smashed tablets were a good symbol of the covenant that Israel had broken.

• The tribe of Levi earns its priesthood by attacking idolatry(Ex 32:25-29) It was certainly a harsh judgment but by slaughtering the idolaters, the Levites prevented the utter destruction of Israel. The nation would survive but things would be different.

After the Fall

• By falling into idolatry, Israel loses some of its unique relationship with GodIsrael’s sin in worshiping the golden calf was much like the original sin of Adam & Eve. Once again, it destroyed the unique relationship with God.

• The laws given after the golden calf are meant to teach humility and holinessWith laws of ritual purity, God meant to teach his people humility. They would have to live apart from the other nations so they would not be infected with false religions. They would have to make regular sacrifices, each time deliberately slaughtering one of the animals they had worshiped as gods in Egypt. (Every day they would have to kill one of their false gods)

Heaven on Earth• Moses receives instructions for building the Tabernacle.• The design of the Tabernacle is an earthly representation of

the heavenly temple.

Ark of the Covenant• Is the place where God rests; here God comes to meet His people• People know when God is present when the “pillar of cloud” or the

“pillar of fire” come down upon the Ark of the Covenant.• Contains: 1. Bowl of manna (Ex 16:33-34), 2. tablets of the law

(Ten Commandments) (Ex 25:21), 3. Budding rod of Aaron symbolizing his priestly role (Num 17:25)

In the Wilderness• Spies come back from Canaan with a pessimistic report

Most of the spies believed the task before them was impossible: Israel could not conquer Canaan. Caleb & Joshua were confident that Israel could conquer the land.

• The people despair and rebel.

• As punishment for their lack of faith, the rebellious generation will not enter the Promised Land.

• Moses loses patience and shares the people’s punishment.

Joshua• Joshua was the successor to Moses who led the Israelites

into Canaan, the Promised Land.• Canaan was promised by God to Abraham.• The Canaanites held polytheistic beliefs and refused to

hand over their land to the Israelites.

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“Joshua: God Is on Our Side”• Joshua and the Israelite army swiftly conquer the land of

Canaan. A pivotal moment is the taking of the small town of Jericho.

• In the Book of Joshua, God is presented as a warrior waging a holy war.

• The Israelites believed God was on their side.

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How can a God of love wage such a savage and brutal war?

• It is important to remember that the words in the Sacred Scriptures are conditioned by the language and culture of the Israelites.

• The metaphor of God as a warrior provided the Israelites with a sense of security.

• God freed them from the clutches of Pharaoh and would lead them into battle in the Promised Land.

• For the Israelites, war was a holy act to fulfill the promise God made to the fathers and mothers.

Joshua’s Undying Devotion to God• Joshua models a true

commitment to the Covenant with God.

• He demonstrates to the Israelites that when they remain true to the Covenant, God will abundantly bless them.

“As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

(Joshua 24:15)

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What is the role of a judge or someone passing judgment

today?

Biblical Judges• After Joshua’s death, the Israelites

fall into a cycle of sin, calamity, repentance, and deliverance.

• The Book of Judges is a series of short stories about human leaders’ accomplishing God’s will.

• The time of the Judges was from 1200 to 1000 BC.

• There are twelve heroic yet flawed leaders in the Bible who are considered judges.

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JUDGE YRS of SERVICE

Oppressor YRS of Opp

YRS of Peace

BiblicalRef

Province or Tribe

Othniel Cushan-Rishathaim of Mesopotamia

8 40 Judges3:8-11

Judah

Ehud Eglon, King of Moab

18 80 Judges3:12-30

Benjamin

Shamgar Philistines Judges 3:31 Son of Anath

Deborah w/ Brak

Canaanites led by King Jabin

20 40 Judges4:1-5:31

EphraimNaphtali

Gideon Midianites & Amalekites

7 40 Judges6:1-8:27

Manasseh

Tola 23 Judges 10:1-2 Issachar

Jair 22 Judges 10:3-5 Gilead

Jephthah 6 Ammonites & Philistines

18 Judges10:6-12:7

Gilead

Ibzan 7 Judges 12:8-10 Bethlehem

Elon 10 Judges 12:11-12 Zebulun

Abdon 8 Judges 12:13-15 Ephraim

Samson 20 Philistines 40 Judges 13-16 Dan

Samuel Last judge First Prophet 1 & 2 Samuel Benjamin

The Role of the Biblical Judges• Settle disputes with their own tribe and

between tribes• Lead the military defense against outside

invaders• Challenge Israel to remain faithful to God

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Gideon Deborah Samson

Success and Failure in the

• When the Israelites were faithful to their Covenant with God, they experienced military success.

• When the Israelites were disobedient to the Covenant, they experienced military defeat.

Books of Joshua and Judges

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The Israelites worship

other gods.God becomes angry

and gives the Israelites over to

the power of their enemies.

The Israelites cry out to God.

God raises a judge to deliver the Israelites.

The judge frees the Israelites from their

enemies.

The land has peace while the

judge lives.

The judge dies and the cycle begins again.

Book of Judges has the Judges cycle

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