Questions and Answers on Joshua and Judges.

Questions and Answers on Joshua and Judges. After watching the TBP videos Joshua and Judges, write answers to the following questions…

Questions and Answers on Joshua and Judges.

Introduction

After watching the TBP videos Joshua and Judges, write answers to the following questions in a Word document, with your name and the name of the assignment at the top of the page.  

1. In the video on Joshua, who is it they say is doing battle against the Canaanites?  What part is Israel to have in the battle for the Promised Land?
2. In the Joshua video, 3 points are made in answer to the question, \”Why does God declare war?\”  What are those 3 points?
3. How does the video explain the statements in Joshua about \”all of the Canaanites\” being slaughtered?  Was it really a Genocide?
4. According to the Judges video, what is the main point of that book?
5. Why did God tell the Israelites to drive out the Canaanites from the land?
6. According to the video, if the leaders and people are so corrupt at this time, why does God\’s Spirit fall upon the leaders and why does He use them for His purposes?
7. In the final chapters of Judges the statement is repeated several times, \”In those days Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes\”.  What hint of hope is there for the future in that phrase?

https://thebibleproject.com/explore/joshua/

https://thebibleproject.com/videos/judges/

https://thebibleproject.com/videos/judges/

https://thebibleproject.com/explore/2-samuel/

Student Name

Q & A on Joshua and Judges

Solution

The battle against the Canaanites was not for the Israelites but God’s. The Israelites were to remain spectators and supporters in God’s plan to deliver Israelites into the Promised Land in fulfillment of His promise to Abraham. God is to deliver Israelites by driving out the Canaanites, and they should trust, wait and remain obedient to the covenant/Torah, which is binding between God and them, and enter the land.

First, God declares war against the Canaanites for their moral corruption. The Canaanites indulged themselves in sexual immorality and child sacrifice, practices not pleasing to God. God did not want Canaanites’ immorality to influence the Israelites. Second, God initiated the destruction of the Canaanites and commanded Joshua not to leave any survivors. However, the event was not Genocidal as Canaanites continue to exist in various cities. The Israelites were commanded not to intermarry with the Canaanites.

The Canaanites still populated the towns. God was open to Canaanites who would return to Him. Thirdly, the stories mark a unique moment in the history of the Israelites. The battle was limited to the people living in the land of Canaan. God commanded the Israelites to pursue peace with other nations. God’s declaring of the battle is Him bringing justice on human evil at a moment in time and preventing the complete destruction of Israelites.

There are stories about Joshua destroying all the Canaanites. According to the video, the stories do not represent a Genocide, and is the book using non-literal hyperbolic language. The stories of hyperbole do not represent annihilation since, in the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites are commanded not to intermarry with the Canaanites. The Canaanites also continue to populate the cities that Joshua had destroyed, as told in the stories. God also commands Israelites to pursue peace with other nations.

The book of Judges is about Israelites total failure. Throughout this period, the Judges, who are military leaders, lead the Israelites. The book narrates a period of Israel’s moral corruption and poor leadership that makes the Israelites indifferent to the Canaanites. The book is a cycle of successes and failures of one judge after another. The Judges won strategic battles against enemies, but they still failed to honor God and lead people in a Godly manner.

The Canaanites were morally corrupt, and God did not want them to influence the Israelites, and therefore, ordered the Israelites to drive away all the Canaanites from the land. God did not want the Israelites to adopt the Canaanites’ cultural and religious practices, including child sacrifice and sexual immorality. However, Israelites failed to drive away all the Canaanites and settled alongside them, adopting their evil practices.

The book of Judges describes how God intends to raise a leader among the Israelites to deliver them from their own destruction. The book tells about multiple judges, all of who are corrupt in their own unique ways, but God still works with them. God’s primary purpose is to save His people, and the only available individuals to work with are the corrupt leaders. God helps them win many battles against the enemies, but they still disobey Him.

The statement sounds like a warning to the Israelites and highlights how they have repeatedly failed and destroyed themselves. They turned away from God who loves them, saved them, and delivered them into the Promised Land. The statement talks about Kings and shows a glimpse of hope of the origin of Kings and Kingship in Israel who would save and lead the Israelites in a Godly manner. God still intends to save Israelites from their own destruction.