Old Testament Overview Part 3

Continuing on from our session during work week. I have time off tommorrow and I plan on getting caught up on everything. So check back soon! (Remember these Eras are from Max Anders 30 Days to Understanding the Bible with some added detail from me :)

Era #5 : Judges

• Judges - people called by God to lead the Israelites. Read Judges Chapter 2. Because Israel is disobedient and does not conquer all the inhabitants that had populated the land, God leaves some pagan nations in their land to test their faithfulness. He does not want the Israelits to marry with these cultures (because of idols) and He doesn't want them to get involved with their gods.
• Cycles - Israel goes through a period where they are disobedient. As you read judges you will see a cycle of 1.) Israel Sins 2.) God disciplines them with military conquest 3.) Israel cries out to God and repents 4.) God raises a Judge to free them 5.) Israel serves God as long as that Judge is alive.
• Ruth - Story of redemption. Ruth was a Moabite woman who moved back to Israel with her Jewish mother-in-law AFTER her husband had died. She claimed the God of Israel to be her God. Ruth is another Gentile woman in the lineage of Jesus.
• Samuel - Samuel is the last judge. He is also a priest and a prophet. Samuel is a typology of Jesus Christ. (Christ is a prophet, ruler, and king)

Era #6 Kingdom

• United Kingdom - Israel wants to be like the other nations and have a king. This is not what God would want but He allows it.
• Saul- Hebecomes the first King. He is from the tribe of Benjamin.
• David - God appoints David after Saul's disobedience. David was a man after God's own heart. He is from the tribe of Judah and through his Kingship our Savior Jesus Christ would come.
• Solomon - The wisest and richest man to ever live. He was David's son with Bathsheeba and is also in the lineage of Jesus. (note: an adultrous woman is included in the lineage of Jesus!)
• Divided Kingdom
• The Northern Kingdom - When Israel splits all tribes but Judah go to the North. Eventually Benjamin returned to the southern kingdom with Judah. The Northern Kingdom capital was Assyria. There were 18 evil kings. There is not a lineage of family succesion. The Northern Kingdom was called "Israel" and Israel was captured by Assyria in 722 BC.
• Southern Kingdom - Also known as "Ephraim" or "Judah". They had 19 kings and 1 Queen. (mostly good...some evil) All Kings are descendents of David. It is the lineage/kingship of Jesus Christ. They were defeated by Babylon but it took three different seiges.

Note: Seige #1 happened in 605 BC. This is the start of the 70 years of Captivity. Daniel and his friends were taken. Seige #2 happened in 597 BC. Ezekial and 10,000 captives were taken. Seige #3 happened in 587 BC. Babylon took over Judah completely.

This is a picture of what the temple probably looked like after Solomon built it. (During Isreals time as a United Kingdom. It remained in use through the Southern Kingdom of Judah after Isreal Divided.)
Era #7- Exile

• Captivity- Judah was put into captivity for 70 years. The northern Kingdom was also taken into captivity (see above) but they were never restored.
• Daniel - prophet the prophesied future (end times) and world history.
• Ezekiel - prophet who prophesied about Isreal's restoration from 70 years (along with some end times prophecy)

Note: Daniel and Ezekiel also encourage the Israelites captives to remain faithful
Era # 8 The Return Era

• Zerrubbabel - allowed by Persian ruler to go back and rebuild temple. (took many years)
• Ezra - sent back to teach the returning captives the law
• Nehemiah - allowed by Persian ruler to go back and build the walls of Jeruselem.
• Esther - a jewish girl who becomes a queen in Persia and because of her courage saves the Jewish race from genocide.

Era #9 - Silence Era

• Changing of the Guard- When Isreal was taken captive, Babylon was in power. While they were in captivity Babylon was overtaken by the Medes and the Persians. The Persians eventually fully took over and they were defeated by Greece. Greece was defeated by Rome. Rome was in power when Christ was on earth (and long after) For a detailed breakdown of World History click here.
• Political Sects - There were some political groups that formed. One example is the Maccabees. Who fought against Greek Hellinization of the Jews and Jewish religious freedom.
• Religious Sects - Many of these were formed in the silence years. Two examples are the Pharisees and the Saducees.
• Awaiting a Savior-the Jewish people were persecuted and oppressed. They had returned to their land after captivity but this time they were not ruling. They were instead a people group in a world empire. They were pushed around, persecuted, and oppressed for 400 years. Their hope was that God had promised them a Savior that would come to save them. They were looking for Him.

This is a replica of what the temple looked like after it was rebuilt by the Jewish exiles who returned. Herod also helped restore and build the temple during his reign. This is what the temple looked like during Jesus' time.