Joshua–Kings
Overview
The historical books of the Old Testament recount the fortunes of the people of Israel beginning with the conquest of the Promised Land. Joshua through Kings bring the story up to the point where the independent kingdom of Judah is destroyed by foreign invaders and much of the population deported to Babylon. This is a book about history, but what it deals with particularly is salvation history; it is part of God’s revelation to mankind and is, therefore of enduring religious interest. Many of the great names of salvation history, as well as their exploits, fill the pages of this volume, and with them the Lord God of Israel engages—wooing them, commanding them, tolerating them, and punishing them for breaking the Covenant made with Moses during the exodus from Egypt. Here we see Joshua leading the people into Canaan and dividing it among the 12 tribes. During the difficult years of settlement, God raises up leaders to act as judges and saviors—Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson, among them. Here too is the delightful story of Ruth the Moabitess, ancestor of David. The prophet Samuel accedes to the peoples’ clamor for a king—anointing first Saul, then David. The volume reports the reign of Solomon—who built the temple of Jerusalem—and the career of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah; it also describes the prophets who strive to keep both kings and people loyal to the Law. Eventually Jerusalem falls, in the year 587. The monarchy is at an end, but the people of God will soon re-emerge from apparent failure, and Jerusalem and the Law will be restored.
Top Highlights
“Here I am, for you have called me’ (v. 8). ‘This young boy gives us an example of the highest form of obedience. True obedience does not question the meaning of what is commanded, nor does it judge, since he who decides to practise perfect obedience renounces his own judgment’ (St Gregory the Great, In primum Regum, 2, 4, 10–11).” (Page 223)
“However, the real danger is that the people, by choosing a king and swearing allegiance to him, will be excluding God from the picture (cf. v. 18). From now on the prophets will spend most of their energy convincing people that trusting in God does not mean one has to reject human resources (such as the monarchy), nor does the use of human resources involve turning one’s back on God. In any event, the main danger posed by having a monarchy will be a tendency to solve military, political and social problems without reference to God or even in contravention of his Law.” (Pages 236–237)
“In Naboth, too, we can see a figure of Christ, who was crucified after false witness was laid against him, yet he was the Son of God, the Lord of the vineyard, that is, Israel (cf. Mt 21:23).” (Page 509)
“The book of Joshua is not so much a report about a military campaign as a vivid lesson in theology about how faithfully God keeps his promises, and a call to respond to that faithfulness.” (Page 100)
“The Fathers apply David’s experience to Jesus Christ: ‘David, that is, Christ, strangled the lion and the bear when he descended into hell and freed everyone from the jaws of death […]. Since the strength of the bear is his paws, and the lion’s, his mouth, these fierce creatures prefigure the devil. Moreover, all this is said of Christ who would have to free the one, true Church from the clutches of evil, that is, from the power of the devil’ (St Caesarius of Arles, Sermons, 121, 4).” (Pages 270–271)