OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY – 9

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY – 9

THE NEVI’IM – THE PROPHETS

Joshua 1:2 Moses, my servant is dead…

At the beginning of our present study, I explained that the Hebrew Scriptures were referred to as the TANAK.  This word is derived from the three divisions of the Scriptures:  The Torah, the Nevi’im and the Kethuvim:  TNK = Tanak.

Last week, we concluded our survey of the Torah.  Today we are taking a look at the Nevi’im, or “The Prophets.”  Unlike the Christian world’s classification of the Old Testament books (Major and Minor Prophets), the Hebrew Scriptures groups the books of the Nevi’im starting with the book of Joshua and includes all of the history books from the entry into the Promised Land (the land of Canaan) after the death of Moses (circa 1422 BC) up to and including the Babylonian captivity of the Southern Kingdom of Judah (516 BC); although it excludes the books of I and II Chronicles, putting those books into the third section, the Kethuvim.  It also includes the writings of the literary prophets during that history. So, the Nevi’im covers approximately 900 years.

NEVI’IM – The Prophets – Are broken down into two sections.

·         (יְהוֹשֻעַ / Yĕhôshúa‘)—Joshua

·         (שֹׁפְטִים / Shophtim)—Judges

·         (שְׁמוּאֵל / Shmû’ēl)—Samuel  (includes both I Samuel and II Samuel as a single book)

·         (מְלָכִים / M'lakhim)—Kings (includes both I Kings and II Kings, as a single book)

·         (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ / Yĕsha‘ăyāhû)—Isaiah

·         (יִרְמְיָהוּ / Yirmyāhû)—Jeremiah

·         (יְחֶזְקֵאל / Yĕkhezqiēl)—Ezekiel

The Twelve Minor Prophets (תרי עשר, Trei Asar, "The Twelve") are considered one book.

·         (הוֹשֵׁעַ / Hôshēa‘)—Hosea

·         (יוֹאֵל / Yô’ēl)—Joel

·         (עָמוֹס / ‘Āmôs)—Amos

·         (עֹבַדְיָה / ‘Ōvadhyāh)—Obadiah

·         (יוֹנָה / Yônāh)—Jonah

·         (מִיכָה / Mîkhāh)—Micah

·         (נַחוּם / Nakḥûm)—Nahum

·         (חֲבַקּוּק /Khăvhakûk)—Habakkuk

·         (צְפַנְיָה / Tsĕphanyāh)—Zephaniah

·         (חַגַּי / Khaggai)—Haggai

·         (זְכַרְיָה / Zkharyāh)—Zechariah

·         (מַלְאָכִי / Mal’ākhî)—Malachi

JOSHUA: (Yehoshua – IAUE is Salvation)

Joshua 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of IAUE, it came to pass, that IAUE spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

IAUE had led Moses up to the top of Mt. Pisgah to view the Promised Land from afar.  Moses died and was buried by IAUE.  The children of Israel were waiting in the plains of Moab for Moses to return from Mt. Pisgah.  Apparently, the first notice they received of Moses’ death was this word IAUE spoke to Joshua.  They knew his death was imminent because Moses had given his final instructions (recorded in the book of Deuteronomy) for possessing the Promised Land and how they were to observe faithfully the laws of IAUE.  They just didn’t know how it was going to happen.  Moses was, after all, perfectly strong and healthy.  Even at 120 years of age, his eyesight was not dim. 

                       

Joshua had one of the most difficult jobs in the history of mankind.  He was to take the leadership of a people whose prior leader spoke with Elohim in person, who’s face glowed from his interaction with IAUE, who worked signs, wonders and miracles among the people.  The Hebrews were willing to follow Joshua on one condition.

Joshua 1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.

17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only IAUE thy Elohim be with thee, as he was with Moses.

IAUE accommodated that condition by parting the Jordan River during the season when its banks overflowed. 

Joshua 3:7  And IAUE said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

Joshua commanded the priests bearing the ark of the covenant to step their feet into the edge of the Jordan’s banks.  As they obeyed, the waters of the Jordan that flowed downstream stood still and rose in a heap, providing a clear river bed upon which to cross.  The people walked across the river bed of Jordan just as their fathers had walked across the Red Sea with Moses.

Joshua 4:14  On that day IAUE magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

In chapters 5 through 12, we read the exciting chronicle of the overthrow of 31 nations. This took approximately five years to accomplish.  Joshua was 85 years old when he began to portion out the land to the tribes of Israel.  Many Bible teachers have extrapolated series of lessons on spiritual warfare (or principles of living in victory) from these chapters.

From chapters 13 through 24, we see how the land was divided among the various tribes of Israel.  More nations still had to be overthrown to secure these tribal inheritances.  After another twenty-five years, Joshua died, having lead Israel until he was 110 years old.  (Circa 1392 BC)

A fact most people fail to remember when they read the book of Joshua is that the bulk of these 31 nations were populated with giants, the offspring of the Nephilim (sometimes referred to as the sons of Anak…or, the Anakim) (Numbers 13:25-33).  When you see movies or artist depictions of the overthrow of Jericho, you never see the people of Jericho any taller than the Hebrews; but in fact many of the people were enormous.  Some accounts record heights from 15 feet up to 30 feet and taller. Ten of the original 12 spies who searched out the land 40 years prior to this time reported that they were as grasshoppers compared to them. This oft ignored or unknown fact is of great significance in the overall message of the Scriptures. (We will discuss why this is upon the completion of our Old Testament survey.)

Joshua 24:31  And Israel served IAUE all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of IAUE, that he had done for Israel.

The children of Israel continued to observe the Torah of IAUE faithfully after the death of Joshua and during the remainder of the lives of their tribal elders who had outlived Joshua. The elders served as their tribal “accountability figures.”  It is not much different today.  The faithfulness of many believers today is connected to the faithfulness of some central leader or powerful spiritual figure.  Should that person fail or pass away, they no longer have someone to follow.  Their own relationship with IAUE is not secured on the basis of their own faith and obedience. This is not faith in IAUE.  It is faith in one who has faith in IAUE. Unfortunately, this is how the book of Joshua ends.  The following book of Judges will demonstrate the consequences of this.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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