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...
read more