chapter 9: the rise of the kingdom understanding the scriptures

Chapter 9: The Rise of the Kingdom

UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES

ANTICIPATORY SET Read the account of the siege of Jericho (Jos 5:13—6:27). Is the collapse of the walls of Jericho just a fanciful story? Later in the lesson we will see three pieces of archaeological evidence that support the biblical account.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

BASIC QUESTIONS What made Joshua an effective leader of Israel? How was Jericho conquered? What was the role of Rehab in Jewish and Christian history? What was Joshua’s legacy to Israel?

KEY IDEAS Obedient to God’s leadership, Joshua renewed the Mosaic Covenant through circumcision and led Israel into the Promised Land. Israel took the city of Jericho through God’s power. Israel was aided by Rahab, a pagan woman, who became an ancestor of David and Jesus. At the end of his life, Joshua renewed the covenant with Israel and gave them new laws.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Who was the leader of Israel after Moses? Joshua led Israel. Did Israel ever succeed in conquering Canaan completely? Though Israel would ultimately conquer Canaan, the Jews would never completely drive out the Canaanites who tempted them to paganism. What role did Rahab play in the conquest of Jericho? This harlot or innkeeper sheltered and hid Joshua’s spies and helped them escape after they had been detected.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

FOCUS QUESTIONS How was the crossing of the River Jordan a type of Baptism? As the Jews crossed into the Promised Land through the waters of the River Jordan, Christians cross into the promise of eternal salvation through the waters of Baptism. Extension: “Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John [St. John the Baptist]... and Jesus was baptized” (Mt 3:13–16). How did Joshua renew the Mosaic Covenant between the Israelites and God? He had the men of Israel circumcised. How was Jericho conquered? The Israelites marched around the city once a day, carrying the Ark of the Covenant while the priests blew trumpets. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times and then gave a great shout, at whose sound the walls of the city collapsed. What is the importance of Rahab in Jewish and Christian history? She married an Israelite and, according to St. Matthew (1:5), became an ancestor both of King David and of Jesus Christ.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

GUIDED EXERCISE Conduct a think / pair / share to identify three pieces of recent archaeological evidence to support the biblical account of the conquest of Jericho.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

FOCUS QUESTION

What did Joshua accomplish at Shechem? Joshua called a council of the heads of all the tribes of Israel at Shechem where he renewed the Mosaic Covenant with them. Shechem is where God had promised to give the land of Canaan to Abraham and where Joshua would be buried.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

GUIDED EXERCISE Work with a partner to answer the two questions below in regard to “God’s jealousy.” Though people usually think of jealousy as a fault, God claims this trait for himself on several occasions, including when he gave Moses the First Commandment (cf. Ex 20:2–6). Joshua warned the people their God is a jealous God (cf. Jos 24:19–20).

Before this, Joshua had challenged the people to serve the one true God and no other gods (cf. Jos 24:15). In the Book of Revelation (cf. 3:15–16), Christ warned the Christian community in Laodecia not to be lukewarm in their service of God. What does God mean when he describes himself as a jealous God? How can people provoke God’s jealousy? Give examples.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why did Joshua try to dissuade the leaders of Israel from renewing the Mosaic Covenant? He was underlining the seriousness of their covenant with God; God would severely punish them if they were unfaithful. Extension: Perhaps Joshua wanted them to understand they were making a free decision. Inwardly, he must have been joyful. What was the significance of this statement: “Joshua... made statutes and ordinances for them”? The Israelites could amend and add to the laws of Moses.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

CLOSURE Write for five minutes about what qualities made Joshua an effective leader.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Study Questions 1–7 (p. 187) Practical Exercises 1–2 (p. 188) Workbook Questions 1–11 Read “The Right Time to Attack” through “Samuel the King‑maker” (pp. 174–179)

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT Conduct a think / pair / share to complete Practical Exercise 2 about the lessons to be gleaned from Rahab’s role in salvation history.

Share responses.

1. Joshua (pp. 168–173)

ANTICIPATORY SET At the time of the invasion of Canaan, the Israelites were a huge family comprised of the Twelve Tribes, all descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God alone was their King, and Moses had given them a Law by which to live. Unlike most nations that have ever existed, they had no earthly king. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this arrangement.

2. The Conquest of Canaan and the Judges (pp. 174–179)

BASIC QUESTIONS What factors made the land of Canaan ripe for conquest? Who were the judges? What was Israel’s pattern during the conquest of Canaan? How did God and Samuel view Israel’s desire for a king?

KEY IDEAS The withdrawal of the Egyptians and civil wars among the Canaanites made the land of Canaan ripe for conquest. Judges were warrior‑prophets who led Israel and rescued the nation from surrounding enemies. Israel repeated a pattern of faithfulness, idolatry, internal strife, and attack by enemies, later to be rescued by a judge. Israel demanded Samuel appoint a king for the nation; God allowed this rejection of himself as king; Samuel warned Israel of the cost of having a king.


FOCUS QUESTIONS What were the Canaanites’ “hornets”? They had civil wars and other difficulties. How did the Egyptians help Israel gain Canaan? Egyptian forces withdrew, so Canaan lacked military assistance. How was the conquest of Canaan an example of divide and conquer? Canaan was divided internally, and the various cities would not help one another. The Israelites were united and able to conquer city by city.


GUIDED EXERCISE Read the story of the capture of the Ark of the Covenant and its effect on the Philistines (1 Sm 4–5). The word tumors is most likely a translation for boils affecting all parts of the Philistines’ bodies. The boils, in combination with an infestation of mice and rats, probably signify bubonic plague. GUIDED EXERCISE Conduct a think / pair / share using the paragraph “Meanwhile, Israel was falling...” (p. 176) and the following question: How does the idea of divide and conquer apply to Israel at that time?

2. The Conquest of Canaan and the Judges (pp. 174– 179)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What was the pattern of Israel’s history in the time of the judges? Time and again Israel turned from faithfulness to idolatry. Israel then fell into anarchy and even civil war. Then, in the darkest hour, God provided a judge, a warrior‑prophet, who rescued Israel from her enemy. However, as soon as the danger had passed, Israel returned to idolatry, and the cycle began again. What did Israel find attractive about the Canaanites? The Canaanites were sophisticated city dwellers whereas the Israelites were nomads living in tents. The Canaanites lived in comfortable homes and worshiped in beautiful temples with impressive ceremonies. Who were the Philistines? They were a people who had settled on the coast and constantly harassed Israel. Extension: In modern parlance a philistine is a boorish person who is indifferent to artistic and cultural values. In the second century AD, the Roman rulers began to call the land of Judea Palestine—after the Philistines—as an affront to the Jews.


GUIDED EXERCISE Read the story of Samson (Jgs 13–16). Share details that surprised you about the moral qualities of Samson. GUIDED EXERCISE Conduct a think / pair / share using the following question: How is the standard, “every man did what was right in his own eyes,” in contrast to the Mosaic Covenant Israel had sworn with God?


FOCUS QUESTIONS What did the Israelites pose as the solution to their problems? They wanted a king to rule over them, or, better, to fight their battles. What was the problem with Samuel’s sons? They were greedy men who “took bribes and perverted justice.” By rejecting Samuel as their ruler, who were the Israelites really rejecting? They were rejecting God, who reassured Samuel, “They are not rejecting you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”


GRAPHIC ORGANIZER Complete the following table to understand the points Samuel made in his discourse.


CLOSURE Write a paragraph giving examples of Israel’s infidelity to the Mosaic Covenant during this period.


HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Study Questions 8–12 (p. 187) Workbook Questions 12–20 Read “Saul, the Anointed One” through “The Man After God’s Own Heart” (pp. 180–184)


ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT Write your own definition of the word freedom. Did you define freedom in terms of doing as you please, a sort of license? Another definition of freedom is “the capability one has over moral choices for the purpose of accomplishing God’s will.” Using freedom to commit sin is a misuse of freedom. In addition, sin is habit‑forming and actually takes away the freedom not to sin. The Israelites continually fell into sin because they misused their freedom.


ANTICIPATORY SET Recall details about modern‑day coronations or inaugurations. The essence of the coronation of the King of Israel was the pouring of oil on the king’s head. This made the king anointed, the Hebrew word for which is messiah, and the Greek christos.

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

BASIC QUESTIONS Whom did God give to Israel to be king? What were Saul’s sins, and what were their consequences? Whom did God choose to be the next king?

KEY IDEAS God gave Israel the king they desired in the person of Saul. Samuel anointed Saul, making him the messiah (“christ”) of Israel. Saul offended God by not offering worship the way God wanted; consequently, he lost his son’s right to rule after him. Saul next sinned by not destroying everything in Amalek; consequently, Samuel told Saul his kingship would be taken away. God chose David, a man after his own heart, to be the next king, and Samuel anointed him. David became Saul’s favorite.

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why did Saul appear kingly? He was the most handsome man in Israel and a head taller than anyone else. What is the significance of pouring oil over someone? To anoint (pour oil on someone or something) is a sign of consecration or setting it apart as sacred. The Hebrew word for this is messiah; the Greek, christos. Though Israel’s desire for a king was a rejection of God, how did he respond? God not only allowed Israel to have a king but also he chose who the king would be through an anointing and a bestowal of prophetic power.

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

GUIDED EXERCISE Conduct a think / pair / share using the following question: What was Saul’s first big mistake as king?

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What was Saul’s punishment for having taken worship into his own hands? Samuel prophesied Saul’s descendants would not rule after him. Why did God order Amalek be completely destroyed? Samuel told Saul to destroy everything in Amalek for two reasons. First, the Amalekites were evil. Second, this would take away Israel’s motivation to attack its neighbors. Extension: Besides being fought for self‑preservation, wars are also undertaken with the hope of robbing the enemy of valuables. What did Saul do when he conquered Amalek? He kept what he considered valuable and destroyed what he considered worthless.

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

FOCUS QUESTIONS What were Saul’s excuses for keeping the booty from Amalek? Initially he said he wanted to spare the cattle so he could sacrifice them to the Lord. Later he explained he feared his soldiers and thus did what they wanted. How did Saul rip Samuel’s mantle? Samuel refused to pardon Saul’s sin, and, as Samuel turned to walk away, Saul grabbed Samuel’s mantle, which tore. What did the torn garment signify? Samuel interpreted it to mean God was going to rip Saul’s kingship from him.

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

GUIDED EXERCISE Most have known the story of David and Goliath since a young age. Read silently the biblical account (1 Sm 17). Then participate in a discussion using the following question: What surprised you or was different from what you had remembered about the biblical narrative of David and Goliath?

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

FOCUS QUESTIONS Why did God choose David over his older brothers? God saw what was in David’s heart and chose him for that reason. Why did the Spirit of the Lord depart from Saul before coming upon David? There could only be one anointed (messiah) at a time. How did David endear himself to Saul? An evil spirit tormented Saul, and David played his lyre, which soothed Saul.

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

CLOSURE Have each student free write for five minutes about Saul as a tragic figure.

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Study Questions 13–17 (p. 187) Practical Exercises 3–4 (p. 188) Workbook Questions 21–33

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT A class discussion using the following question: Based on Saul’s behavior in war and David’s behavior when fighting Goliath, what did God mean when he said David was a man after his own heart?

3. King Saul (pp. 180–184)

The End

chapter 9: the rise of the kingdom understanding the scriptures

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