Old Testament Survey: The History Books (Part 1 of 3)

JOSHUA (“Jehovah/the Lord Saves/Is Salvation”)

Author: Joshua (except the very end of Chapter 24, which have been attributed to high priest Eleazar and son Phinehas).

• “Jesus” is the Greek form of this name.

Date of Authorship: ca. 1370 BC.

Setting: “The Promised Land,” particularly the River Jordan, Jericho, and Ai

Key Figures:

• Joshua, Caleb
• Rahab
• Eleazar, Phinehas

Thematic Breakdown:
* Claiming the Promise (Joshua 1-12)

• Key Verse: Joshua 1:5-9
• Crossing Jordan (Joshua 3-5)
• Jericho and Ai (Joshua 2, 6-8)
• Other Conquests (Joshua 9-12)

Living the Promise (Joshua 13-24)

• Key Verse: Joshua 14:7-12

JUDGES

Author: Samuel?

Date of Authorship: Sometime before ca. 1080 BC.

Setting: Canaan; ca. 1375-1075 BC.

Key Figures:

• Othniel, Ehud, Deborah (and Barak),
• Gideon, Abimelech,
• Jephthah,
• Samson, Delilah

Thematic Breakdown:
* Face of Failure (Judges 1-3:6)

• Key Verse: Judges 2:12-17

* Calls for Deliverance (Judges 3:7-16)

• Key Verse: Judges 3:9
• Othniel (“Lion of God”) (Judges 3:7-11)
• Ehud (“I will give thanks”) (Judges 3:12-30)
• Shamgar (“Sword”) (Judges 3:31)
• Deborah (“Bee”) (Judges 4-5)
• Gideon (“Hewer”) (Judges 6-8)
• Tola (“Worm”) (Judges 10:1-2)
• Jair (“He Enlightens”) (Judges 10:3-5)
• Jephthah (“He Opens”) (Judges 11)
• Ibzan (“Their Whiteness”) (Judges 12:8-11)
• Elon (“Mighty,” “Terebinth”)
• Samson (“Like the Sun”) (Judges 13-16)

*  Further Failure (Judges 17-21)

• Key Verse: (Judges 21:25 (see also Judges 17:6)

RUTH (“Friendship”)

Author: Unknown

Date of Authorship: Likely sometime after 11th century BC

Setting: Moab; Judah

Key Figures:

• Naomi, Ruth, Boaz

Thematic Breakdown:
* Family Re-Defined (Ruth 1)

• Key Verse: Ruth 1:16-17

* Revival through Redemption (Ruth 2-4)