Joshua–Kings

The historical books of the Old Testament recount the fortunes of the people of Israel beginning with the conquest of the Promised Land. Joshua through Kings bring the story up to the point where the independent kingdom of Judah is destroyed by foreign invaders and much of the population deported to Babylon. This is a book about history, but what it deals with particularly is salvation history; it is part of God’s revelation to mankind and is, therefore of enduring religious interest. Many of the great names of salvation history, as well as their exploits, fill the pages of this volume, and with them the Lord God of Israel engages—wooing them, commanding them, tolerating them, and punishing them for breaking the Covenant made with Moses during the exodus from Egypt. Here we see Joshua leading the people into Canaan and dividing it among the 12 tribes. During the difficult years of settlement, God raises up leaders to act as judges and saviors—Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson, among them. Here too is the delightful story of Ruth the Moabitess, ancestor of David. The prophet Samuel accedes to the peoples’ clamor for a king—anointing first Saul, then David. The volume reports the reign of Solomon—who built the temple of Jerusalem—and the career of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah; it also describes the prophets who strive to keep both kings and people loyal to the Law. Eventually Jerusalem falls, in the year 587. The monarchy is at an end, but the people of God will soon re-emerge from apparent failure, and Jerusalem and the Law will be restored.