Cebu Graduate School of Theology October 7, 2015

BI 510 Old Testament Studies I Redeem-Mel Fernan

Instructor: Steven M. Wilkinson
Finals Essay Grade: ____________

The history of the people of Israel is commonly dated back to the calling of Abraham.
Abraham was born in circa 1962 BC. When Abraham, then Abram, was 75 years old, God called
him out from his fathers household. He left Haran and set out for Canaan according Gods
instructions (Gen. 12:4). Abram then was a pagan at that time. When he was about 80-86 years
old, circa 1870-1876, God affirmed His promise to Abram into a covenant whereby his
descendants will inherit the land of Canaan (Gen. 15:8-21; Gal. 3:17). This covenant was
confirmed when Abraham was 99 years old (c. 1863) and the circumcision of Abraham and his
offspring became the sign of this covenant (Gen. 17:24). Furthermore, the birth of Isaac on 1862
BC has proven that God is indeed determined in fulfilling his covenant to Abraham. Abraham
was 100 years old when Sarah, who is in the age past child-bearing, bore him a son (Gen. 21:5).
In about 1860-1830 BC, God tested Abrahams faithfulness by asking him to offer his
only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. Isaac might have been in the age of 10 to 30 at that time. Abraham
passed the test though (Gen. 22:1-14). In 1822 BC, Abraham made sure that Isaac would marry a
woman of their own kin. Isaac married Rebekah when he was 40 years old (Gen. 25:20). Twenty
years later, Abraham may have witnessed the birth of his grandson, Jacob and Esau, in 1802 BC
(Gen. 25:26). Abraham then died at the age of 175 in 1787 BC (Gen. 25:7).
Isaacs twin sons Esau and Jacob came to have problems with their birthrights. Jacob got
the firstborn blessing by trickery which angered his brother. Jacob fled to Haran in about 1725
BC. He must be about 75 years old that time. In Haran, he met his uncle Laban as well as got two
wives, Leah and Rachel, daughters of Laban. Jacob spent about 20 years with his uncle,
begetting sons and accumulating riches in cattles (Gen. 31:41). Joseph was born in this period in
about 1711 BC (Gen. 30:25). Six years after Joseph was born, in 1705 BC, Jacob fled from
Laban and set out to return to Canaan. Along the way, God changed Jacobs name to Israel (Gen.
32:28). Shortly after Jacobs return, Joseph was sold by his brothers to merchants. Joseph
became a slave in Egypt (Gen. 37:2-36). A few years later, Isaac died at the age of 180 (c. 1682)
and was buried by Jacob and Esau (Gen. 35:28-29).
Meanwhile, in about this same period, there was a man living in the east, in the land
called Uz. His name is Job (Job 1:3). Job was a very rich man. According to oral tradition passed
down through many generations, this man experienced extreme suffering. His story, along with
the creative writing of his dialogue with his friends, was eventually written down in a much later
date in about 550 BC. His story became a source for understanding suffering and its relation to
Gods sovereignty.
 Back in the Middle East, Joseph rose to prominence and became second in command
after the Pharaoh in Egypt. Joseph was 30 years old when he got promoted from a prisoner to
Pharaohs adviser in 1681 BC (Gen. 41:6). Joseph managed to keep Egypt secure during a seven-
year famine. Two years into the famine, his brothers came to Egypt to buy food per Jacobs
instructions (Gen. 45:6). Joseph let himself be known to his brothers and to his father. Joseph
then asked the Pharaoh to provide a land for Jacobs family to live, safe from the famine. Jacob
came to live in Egypt at the age of 130 in about 1672 BC (Gen. 47:9). After seventeen years,
Jacob died at the age of 147 (Gen. 47:28). His sons buried him in the tomb of his fathers. Jacobs
sons continued to live in Egypt. Joseph died there as well at the age of 110 in about 1601 BC
(Gen. 50:26).
The Jacobs descendants flourished in Egypt until the time when a new Pharaoh who
does not know them rose. The new Pharaoh became fearful of the Israelites numbers and started
to persecute them. An order was given to kill all Israelite infants (Exod. 1:22). It is in this time of
crisis Moses was born (c. 1526 BC). By Gods providence, Moses was saved and grew up as an
Egyptian prince himself. When Moses was 40 years old, he killed an Egyptian and fled to
Midian. In Midian, Moses became a shepherd. Moses came to know the LORD there as well.
God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exod 3:2-22). Moses was 80 years old
when he went to face the Pharaoh to release the Israelites for slavery (Exod. 7:7). In circa 1446
BC, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt with power from God.
The Israelites were led into Mount Sinai where God called them to be His own people
and gave them the Law as the foundation of the new nation of Israel through whom God will
fulfill His covenant to Abraham 430 years ago (Gal. 3:17). Two years after Gods introduction of
Himself to His people, Gods instructed them to spy out the land which He will be giving them
(c. 1444 BC). Ten of the spies, however, were fearful and enticed the Israelites to rebel. Only
two were faithful to God, Joshua and Caleb. God, therefore, punished the Israelites by not
allowing the first generation to possess the land. Instead, they wander in the wilderness for forty
more years (Num. 13:1-14:38).
After forty years of wandering and the older generation, save for Joshua and Caleb, were
dead, the Israelites arrived in the border of the Promised Land in Moab in 1406 BC (Deut. 1:3).
There Moses restated the covenant between God and the Israelites. After that, Moses himself
died in Moab because he was not allowed to enter the land as well (Deut. 34:7). Moses died at
the age of 120 years in 1406 BC.
The account of the history of Israel from Abraham to Israels arrival in the border of
Canaan is found in the Pentateuch. Most of the Pentateuch is traditionally believed to be
authored by Moses himself (Exod. 17:14; Num. 33:2). The account of Moses death, however,
cannot be written by Moses. It is believed to be written or ordered by Joshua. This puts the
composition of the books of Genesis to Deuteronomy in the period between the Wanderings to
the occupation of the Promised Land.
Joshua, at 80 years old led the Israelites to conquer Canaan and possess it as God had
instructed. Joshuas name means the LORD saves. The conquest of Joshua most probably
lasted in about 5 years (1406-1401 BC). Joshua, along with Caleb, was one of the spies sent out
by Moses 40 years earlier. He is also Moses loyal companion and bodyguard and Gods choice
to replace Moses (Deut. 31:23). After the conquest, he led the appropriation of the land to the
tribes of Israel. Joshua died at the age of 110 years in circa 1374 BC (Joshua 24:29).
Caleb is also one of the older generations who were loyal to the LORD. He is also one of
the spies sent to explore Canaan forty years prior to the conquest (Num. 13:6, 30). He is from the
tribe of Judah and most probably one of its elders. Caleb was 80 years, along with Joshua, when
the conquest began. Joshua gave him the hill country of Hebron (Joshua 14:6-15). It was never
stated when Caleb died but he survived until the beginning of the Judges (Judges 1:12).
The book of Joshua, where the account of the conquest is found, is believed to be written
by an eyewitness (Joshua 5:1, 6; 10:13). It cannot be written by Joshua even though it bears his
name. Therefore, it must have been written after the conquest or in the time of Samuel.
After the conquest was the period called the Judges. This period began after the death of
Joshua (c. 1380 BC) and ended in the beginning of the era of Israelite monarchy (1050 BC). The
judges were people who lead Israelites from their oppressors in the Canaan. Judges were Spirit-
led people. This period happened before there was a king in Israel. This is the period when
people did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 18:1).
Most notable among the judges are Deborah, Gideon, Samson and Samuel. Deborah is a
prophetess whom God used to deliver Israel from a Canaanite king Jabin. Deborah did not lead
the army herself but through her spiritual insight, inspired Israel to come back to God and strike
back at their oppressors (Judges 4:4-24). Gideon is another good judge as well. He was a farmer
God used to deliver Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6:11-40). Gideon is famous for his fleece
testing of God and his 300 army who fought and destroyed a much larger Midianite army. He
judged Israel for 40 years. Another famous judge is Samson. Samson was a Nazirite and was
famous for his incredible strength. However, he failed morally and died in his last effort to save
Israel from their oppressors at that time, the Philistines.
Before Samuel, there was an account about a woman named Ruth. Ruth is a Moabite, a
foreigner who became famous for her devotion to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, and went
back to Israel with her. Ruth became the wife of Boaz, a relative of Naomi, after Naomis son
died in Moab. Ruth was given prominence because she became the great-great-grandmother of
David.
 The accounts in the books of Judges and Ruth were all in about the same period. The
book of Judges might have been composed in the time of Samuel. However, the book of Ruth is
believed to be written in the time of David.
Samuel is the last judge of Israel. He was born in about 1105 BC. Samuel was born from
a once barren woman (1 Sam. 1:5). His name means heard of God. He was pledge to God and
lived with the High Priest Eli since he was a young boy (1 Sam. 1:11; 2:18). Samuel was a
prophet of God as well. He was the first person to anoint the first king for Israel, Saul. Samuel
was also the one who anointed David. The age of Samuel was not known when he died.
However, he died in the period of Davids rise and Sauls decline as king.
The end of the era of the Judges began the United Monarchy of Israel (c. 1050 BC). Its
first king is Saul, a Benjamite (1 Sam. 9:1). Saul is an ideal king in the eyes of the people. He is
tall, young and impressive (1 Sam. 9:1-2). However, Saul was rejected as king by God Himself
because of his disobedience (1 Sam. 15:23-28). David, a young shepherd boy, was chosen by
God to replace Saul and was anointed by Samuel at the height of Sauls reign. Saul reigned for
forty years before he died in a battle against the Philistines in circa 1010 BC (1 Sam. 31:1-6;
Acts 13:21).
After Sauls death, David reigned as king. However, the throne was divided at first
because one of Sauls son assumed it after Sauls death (2 Sam. 2:10). Judah followed David
while the northern tribes followed Ish-boshet. David eventually became king over all Israel when
Ish-boshets own men killed him (2 Sam. 4:1-12). David was the first of the greatest kings of
Israel (1010-970 BC). He was 30 years old when he became king. He is famous for his psalms
and is called the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Sam. 23:1). The greatest highlight in Davids reign
was when God made a covenant with him. God promised to David that there will always be a
king in the line of David and his kingdom is everlasting (2 Sam. 7:9-16). David reigned for 40
years (1 Kings 2:10).
The books of Samuel spanned a period between Samuels birth in 1105 BC to the old age
of David in 970 BC. The books of Samuel, however, are not written by Samuel himself. The
composition of Samuel is believed to be after the united kingdom of Israel was dividedwhen
there was a northern kingdom of Israel and a southern kingdom of Judah.
The third king in the United Kingdom of Israel is Solomon (970-930 BC). Solomon is
Davids son through Bathsheba. He was appointed by David to be the next king right before
David died (1 Kings 1:30; 2:1-4). Solomon is said to be Israels wisest king. He is famous in the
ancient Middle East for his wisdom. Solomon made Israel great through the wisdom God gave
him. He also built the magnificent temple for God in and the kings palace (967-950 BC).
Solomon reigned for 40 years as well (1 Kings 11:42). David and Solomons reign was the
height of the United Kingdom of Israel and is considered as Israels Golden Years.
 The book of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs has significant relevance
in the period of Davidic and Solomonic kingdom. Many of the songs in Psalms were attributed to
David. However, the Psalms are collections of hymns throughout the history of Israel. The
compilation of all of Psalms must have been finished after the exile to Babylon. Most of the
Proverbs are also attributed to Solomon. However, the proverbs were also a collection of
proverbs known to that period. Therefore, it is impossible to put an exact date. The same is the
case with Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. The date of their composition is difficult to assess.
However, what is common to these writings are that most of the settings are relevant to the
period of the United Kingdomin David and Solomons reign respectively.
Shortly after the death of Solomon, the United Kingdom of Israel was demolished (933
BC). The northern kingdom of Israel separated itself from the southern kingdom of Judah. This
separation was prophesied shortly before Solomons reign ended (1 Kings 11:13). This is due to
Solomons unfaithfulness to God in his later reign. After Solomons death, his son, Rehoboam,
became king in Judah while the northern kingdom rallied in rebellion behind Jeroboam, the first
king of the north (1 Kings 12:19-20; 2 Chron. 10:19).