HISTORICAL BOOKS & MIDRASHIC LITERATURE

Historical Books - Introduction

I. HISTORY
1. Deuteronomical History – Joshua, Judges, I + II Samuel, I & II Kings – (6)
2. Chronicle History – I + II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah – (4)
3. Popular History – Ruth, Esther, Tobit, Judith – (4)
4. Maccabean History – I & II Maccabees – (2)
II. BIBLE
Proto Canonical Books: First Canon or Hebrew Canon
Former Prophets: I + II Kings; I + II Samuel, Judges, Joshua – 6
Chronicles Books: I + II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah - 4
Popular Historical Books: Ruth, Esther (Hebrew) - 2
Deutero-Canonical Books: Second Canon or Greek Canon (Apocrypha Books for Jews &
Protestants
Esther (Greek), Judith, Tobit, I+II Maccabees - 4 (1)
III. PERIOD
1. Pre-Monarchic Period (1250 B.C. - 1050 B.C.) - (3)
Formative period or Settlement period - Book of Joshua
Conquest & Settlement - Book of Judges, Ruth
I + II Samuel
2. Monarchic Period (1050 B.C. - 587 B.C.) – (6) I + II Kings
I + II Chronicles
3. Exile Period (721 B.C. - 539 B.C.) – 2
II Kings and II Chronicles
4. Persian or Post Exilic Period (539 B.C. - 333 B.C.) – (3)
Ezra + Nehemiah
Esther
4. Hellenistic or Greek Period (333 B.C. - 134 B.C.) - (4)
Tobit, Judith, I+II Maccabees

TOTAL BOOKS-16
The beginning of the Deuteronomic History (1290 B.C.) → II Mac (134 B.C.)
(Solomon built the Temple 480 years after the Israelites left the land of Egypt – 1Kg 6:1. In that case
the time of Deuteronomic history will be from 1406 B.C.)
Joshua 1290 to 1250 Conquering the promised land and settlement of the twelve
tribes.
Judges 1250 to 1050 (Life histories of 13 Judges who ruled before the emergence
of Monarchy)
Ruth 1200 to 1150 (Story of a Moabite woman who enters in the Israelite race)
I Sam 1100 to 1010 (From the birth of Samuel to Death of Samuel)
II Sam 1010 to 971 (Rule of David from Jerusalem to his old age)
I Kings 971 to 853 (From the death of David to the rule of Jehoshaphat of Judah
and Ahaziah of Israel - Samaria)
II Kings 853 to 560 (From Ahaziah to the release of Jehoiachin from prison)
I Chr 1950 to 971 (From the story of Abraham to the reign of David)
II Chr 971 to 537 (From Solomon to the beginning of the Persian rule)
Ezra 537 to 450 Building of the Second Temple and coming of Ezra, the priest
and scribe to Judah.)
Nehemiah 445 to 410 (Nehemiah, Governor of Judah)
Esther 483 to 465 (Story of Esther and Mordecai in the 5th century B.C.)
Tobit - 722 B.C. (After the fall of Samaria, Northern Kingdom)
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Judith 485 B.C. (Nebuchadnezzar referred to be the King of Assyrians.
Holofernes and Bagoas are mentioned as the officials of 5 th
cent B.C. Persian king Artaxerxes III. It could be only after
the Persian conquer)
I Maccabees 184 to 134 Time of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and the sons of Mattathias
II Maccabees 184 to 160 Time of Antiochus Epiphanes IV and the sons of Mattathias

DEUTERONOMIC HISTORY
Deuteronomic History from the time of Samuel, the Judge (1100 B.C.) to the time of exile (until 550
B.C.) was compiled during the period of Exile. The books were put together by the same school of
thought, which edited the book of Deuteronomy. It gets its major inspiration from the Theology of
Deuteronomy & it gets insights from the prophetic spirit of the life of Jeremiah.
 Chapters 5-26 of Deuteronomy recorded the early stage of Deuteronomical reform – 700 B.C.
 The application of this reform in Judah by King Josiah and the beginning of Deuteronomy
History – 622 B.C.
 Final edition of Deuteronomical History & source additions to Deuteronomy during the
Babylonian exile – 587 to 539 B.C.
 Deuteronomical History means – Victory of the Words of God was ascertained through the
prophecies of the prophets. The real history of the days of kings centred on the prophets.
 The theological reflection on Jeremiah by the Deuteronomic writers. The Deuteronomists going
in line with the message of Deuteronomy and the book of Jeremiah wished to show that it is not
only during exile, but also during the people’s stay in the promise land that people felt that God,
JHWH is powerless.
E.g. Jeremiah
Original Oracles - Chaps 1-25 & 46-51
Memories or biographical accounts – Chaps 26-45
Prose oracles
Handed down & edited – by the school of Deuteronomy
Appear in prose & contain many typical Deuteronomy words
Especially in Ch. 7, 17, 21, 32
The purpose for the Deuteronomic History is to explain why the Kingdom of David has failed and the
people were exiled despite God’s promises (Covenant)
 The exile was not meaningless
 It did not mean that God was powerless. Message of
Deuteronomy
 Nor that he simply used the people of Israel and then cast them aside & Jeremiah
 Result of sin and blindness of the people
 The spirit of Deuteronomistic History is basically Prophetic in character.
 It is also the reflection on the community of David’s reign & community of the time when the
book was written.
 The Deuteronomists gathered both the written (Chronicles) & oral legends (Joshua + Judges) to
form a continuous History. They also gathered the long speeches – Joshua 23-24; Samuel – 1
Sam 12; David – 2 Samuel 7; Solomon – 1Kgs 8.
The Themes in the Deuteronomic History
(-) Destruction as the justifiable outcome of sins
Critical of kings & people alike
(+) Value the covenant highly
Calls for repent
Hints of hope
Restoration of Israel & bless again
The Four Stages involved in the Deuteronomical History
1) Israel’s failure in covenantal loyalty, it’s “sin”; 2) The punishment or suffering such as falling into
the hands of enemies; 3) The cry to God for deliverance; 4) Intervention of God on behalf of Israel.
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 Grace/ Mercy of God → sin of Israel → Punishment → God’s forgiveness → Grace/ Mercy of
God → Sin of Israel.
This continual circle of sin, punishment, cry for help, forgiveness, mercy and deliverance oscillates
between two poles, prophecy and fulfilment. One can call it as prophecy and fulfilment pattern. This
pattern confirms the acts of God in the world. Here fulfilment points to faithfulness of God to his
promises and thus shows the effectiveness of the prophetic Word.
The Covenant
* Book of Deuteronomy → Introduction
Promise of Land
* The Historical Books
Military
* Political
Historical

Family
* Social
Civil
* Religious Cultic and Prophetical
Deuteronomy History has 5 stages
1. Joshua – Joshua
2. Judges – Judges and I Samuel
3. David – I + II Samuel
4. The Kings – I + II Kings
5. Fall & Exile – II Kings
1. JOSHUA
Obedience to God
Ch. 1 and the end of Chs. 22-24
Faithful to God
The conquest and Israel’s superiority over Canaanites termed as the Blessing from JHWH, Glory &
pride of Israel
Role of the Ark of the Covenant (Chs. 2-3)
The importance of the places of worship like Gilgal (Chs 4-5)
Stories of warning and punishment (Ch.7)
2. JUDGES
Sprit of Rebellion + Disobedience
Gradual process of settlement
Local uprising
Six major and 6 minor judges coming to liberate the tribes of Israel
Sin, punishment, call for help, rising up of the Judge, victory & peace – Sin & Punishment
3. I SAMUEL
Life story of Samuel as Judge, Prophet and Priest
Samuel anointing Saul as king of Israel
I Sam 12:5 – Warning of Samuel
Samuel anointing David as king of Israel to replace Saul
Conflict between Saul and David
Death of Saul
4. II SAMUEL
David as the King of united Israel
Sin of David with Bathsheba
Conflict between David & Absalom (II Sam 9-20)
Covenant of God with David (II Sam 9 – 20)
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5. I KINGS
Death of David
Solomon anointed as king of Israel and seeking wisdom
Building of the Temple at Jerusalem
Kings in the South - Ahaz (745-715 B.C.), Hezekiah (715-687 B.C.), Josiah (640-609 B.C.)
Kings from North – Jeroboam I (922-901 B.C.), Ahab (869-850 B.C.), Jeroboam II (686-646)
The cycle stories of Prophet Elijah
6. II KINGS
The cycle stories of Prophet Elisha
Assyrian Exile of the Northern kingdom and destruction of Samaria
The evil has not stopped but increased - divine punishment cannot be stopped (2Kgs 23:26-27)
Babylonian Exile for the Southern kingdom and destruction of Jerusalem.
Theories Regarding Settlement of Israel in Canaan
1. The gradual settlement of Canaan by Israel
2. The conquest theory
3. Social revolution and Re- Tribalization
I APPROACH – Conquest
William F. Albright (American) proposed this approach. It favours the forced conquest of the land
of Canaan by the Israelites. They spied out the land, then entered in it and conquered the gateway
city (Jericho) and continue to capture several other cities both in the North and South side of the
country. This traditional viewpoint was held till 20th century.
Joshua chapters 1-11 speak of Holy War –– Processions (Josh 6) - Around the walls of Jericho -The
processions - Rounding of trumpets - Ram’s horns - Accompaniment of the troops by the sacred
Ark of the Covenant. - Centre – North & South – campaign.
(North) Bethel + Debir (South) – 13th Century B.C. (later part) destruction
The historical evidence of conquest in Joshua is well supported by Archaeological evidences found
in Lachish, Eglon and Debir (South); Bethel and Hazor (North); these cities have faced destruction
heavily. Thick layer of ash & debris in the later part of the 13th century B.C. This points to the
massive unified military conquest.
II APPROACH – Gradual Settlement
Martin North (1971) – German Scholar is against conquest theory. He proposes the second
approach.
Historical value of the accounts of a conquest ≠ The evidence of Archaeology
He favours gradual settlement over number of generations by different groups entering Canaan
from different directions & times.
Individual tribe or groups of tribes that are independently acting are securing the foothold in the
land. Under Saul & David the conquest of the land was complete.
There is no evidence of the destruction of Jericho during 13 th century B.C. The archaeological
evidence of 13th century B.C. in Jericho points to only a sparse occupation and settlement of the city
& without walls.
III. APPROACH - Social Revolution & Re-Tribalization
Social revolution model
Oppressed slaves, indigenous peoples and Canaanites slaves migrating from the coastal plains &
valleys to escape the oppressive rule of the city state system - settled in hill country & formed
unified groups; Mutual aid and self-defence.
The run-away slaves from Egypt also joined hands with them and attacked the city state network.
Peasant - Farmers combination + Yahwist (Yahwism & Covenant – 2 aspects of the slaves from
Egypt)
Leaders of city state supporters challenged this attack. It resulted the armed revolt of the Yahwist
and Peasant – Farmers combination from within the city (with in the walls) & outside attack.
Evidences are from the Bible and the Egyptian ancient history
Collaboration of Rehab & her family (Josh 2)
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Amarna letters – correspondence between Egyptian Pharaoh & Canaanite kings. Tel-el- Amarna
(Egypt). Canaanite kings accusing one another of being Habiru - outlaw
- New kingdom in Egypt (1550 B.C. Onwards).
- Re – Sun God. Amon replaced Re from the time of New Kingdom. Pharaoh worshipped Amon
& the people had to worship the king – cult of Pharaoh himself
- Thebes becomes the capital city of Egypt
- Amenhotep III (1390-52 B.C.) meaning ‘Amon Satisfied’.
- Amenhotep IV or Akhenaton (1352-36 B.C.).
- Akhenaton – Glory of Aton - Name of Pharaoh
- Akhetaton – capital city = the horizon of Aton
- Aton – became the only God (Monotheism)
- Aton was associated with the old sun God, Re.
- After the death of Akhetaton Aton is changed to Amon and the monotheism disappeared.

Re
↓
Amon
↓
Aton
↓
Amon

 Habiru = lawless or exiled from their own territories.

 Many kings could not withstand their attacks without outside help.
 Wandering band of rogue people
 Whole tribes or class without loyal to any state
 Employed by one king against another king
 They were from nomadic groups or local peasants who were forced out of their land due to
economic pressures & taxes who later turned to revolt.
 Amarna letters picture the chaotic situation in Canaan. Egypt preoccupied with internal problem
was unable to exert a strong hand or presence there.
 Backdrop of social revolution is the political & social turmoil.
 Scores of new settlements in central hill country consisting of small - unwalled villages
containing clusters of dwellings consisting of homes for extended families which were the
pioneers of cultivation and habitation.
 Two set of factors involved in such settlement of Hill country.
(1) The cluster of technological innovations that was instrumental in the settlement and
cultivation
- (a) Introduction of Iron = Iron machines were made
- (b) The growing use of the slaked Lime plaster – It helped as a better waterproof material to
the construction of cisterns
- (c) Perfection of terracing to use the land for agricultural purposes.
(2) Substantial population ready to move into this territory mostly peasants.
 Farmers & Herdsmen fleeing from Canaanite city-state network. The new area was
inaccessible to the chariots, like weapons that were at the disposal of the Canaanite rulers.
 Along this Canaanite groups were the groups called Habiru who were disaffected by the city-
state network. Habiru = ‘ibri meaning Hebrew – Hebrew root ‘br’ = to cross over = one who
crossed over the social and legal boundaries to become an out law or renegade. The non-
Israelites called the Israelites with this name (Gen 14:13; 39:14,17; 41:12; Ex 1:16,19; 2:7).
These Habiru or Hebrews with their military experience and expertise for defense helped the
Canaanite groups comprising of peasant-farmer combination that were pushing themselves in
the hill country against the city-state network.
 The Kenites, the itinerant smiths and the metalworkers, were also the most loyal and steadfast
groups to those who revolted against the city-state dwellers.
 There were also the Renegade Priests.
 The Formation of El confederation:
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 El meaning the chief god of the Semitic pantheon.
 In order to ward off the city state dominance, various groups saw the need to cooperate & to
form alliances. One such alliance was based on religion. It is a way to express & strengthen
their union as well as to counter the religious ideology of the city state network (Baalism). This
alliance adopted the name Israel i.e., El fonds.
 Moses or Exodus group or El confederation # Israel / the people / tribes of Israel
 Moses / Exodus/ El-Federation not be identified as an “Israel – in-Embryo”.
 It is one among the numbers of separate groups that made important contributions to the
creation of Israel.
First, only later developments of the people of Israel in Canaan are projected in the Deuteronomical
History.
Secondly, certain key elements of biblical Israel were most likely not contributed by Moses group.
 The name Israel probably derived from a pre-Yahwist “El-Federations”.
 Tribal system was later adaptation of the unifying covenant or proto covenant notion to the
larger collection of heterogeneous groups
 How was then the story & experience of the Moses group come to play a pivotal role in the
origin of Israel in Canaan?
 Moses group faced crucial challenges both in Egypt & in its wilderness wanderings.
 It developed number of social, political, economical or religious strategies to deal with those
challenges.
 The experience of the Moses group became probably the paradigm of the other struggling
(oppressed) groups for their point venture of liberation from the Canaanites.
 City states Model x egalitarianism – towards equality.
 The new structures & institution moved towards not accumulating of economic & political
power by individuals or groups.
 New situation probably also gave chance for women leadership – Miriam (prominent place for
women).
 The following passages (Mic 6:4; Ex 15:20; Num 12) speak of Miriam respected equally by
people like Moses & Aaron
 The crucial role played by Hebrew midwives in the story of liberation from Egypt (Ex 1:15-2)
 Physical, psychic bondage of Egyptian socio-political, economical system - Religious ideology
that legitimated the System – YHWH, the God of oppressed.
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