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Deuteronomistic Sermons
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Deuteronomy 4; 29
Joshua 1 and 23
Judg 2:11ff
1 Samuel 12
1 Kings 8
2 Kings 17
Deut 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD
our God
 but the revealed things belong to us and
to our children forever
 to observe all the words of this law
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Theology in Joshua
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Deut 31:7 Moses: promise of land to be
carried out through Joshua
Joshua 2-12 fulfilled to a “T”
Josh 21:45 None of the promises failed
(see also 23:14)
Josh 23:15-16 Judgment certain if
covenant transgressed or if Israel would
serve other gods
Theology in Joshua
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24:31 Israel served Yahweh all days of
Joshua
Judg 2:10-11 The next generation did
what was evil in eyes of Yahweh
Joshua: the Conquest Model
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apparently faithful to the Bible
archaeological “confirmation:” Lachish,
Bethel, Hazor, Tell Beit Mirsim, Eglon
Israelites? Philistines? natural
catastrophes?
Conquest Model: Problems
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Jericho--no city from 1300-1100
Ai--gap between 2400-1200
Gibeon--no LB city
also Hebron, Heshbon, Dibon, Hormah
(Num 21:3), and Arad did not exist at
the time of Joshua
Conquest Model:
Presuppositions
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Radical discontinuity between Israel and its
Canaanite neighbors
Cultural change is caused by invasion of new
people
Relationship between theory and
imperialism?
Problems: Yahweh as warrior; land taken
from Canaanites. If Jericho was not razed, is
your faith vain?
Peaceful Immigration Model
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Israel settled in area between older cities
Little continuity with biblical tradition; stories
of conquest are etiological (Ai = “ruin”)
Move into land without theological
significance; emphasis on promise of land to
matriarchs and patriarchs
Embarrassing Holy Wars were not fought
Immigration Model:
Presuppositions
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Nomadism; but early Israelites raised
crops and livestock; sophisticated
ceramics
camel not domesticated until 1200
Hence those who entered the land were
not true nomads.
Peasants’ Revolt
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Amarna (14c) Palestine ruled by city
kings in class conscious society
These kings complained about lawless
“Apiru” or “habiru”
Israelites in Exodus described as
“mixed multitude”
Peasants’ Revolt
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Fugitives from Egypt galvinized
peasants into full-scale revolt (70
families became 250,000 people)
archaeological continuity between LB
and Iron ages
Rahab the prostitute (lower class); cf.
Judg 1:22-26 (informer from Bethel)
Results of Revolt Model
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democratization of housing
equality of land distribution
hostility to kingship and hierarchy of
every kind; harboring of runaway slaves
encouraged (Deut 23:15-16)
but least like biblical picture
Theological implications of
Revolt Model
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Conquest was not imperialism but a
mighty blow for justice
Connection of Yahweh with justice is
central and original
unity of Israel is ideological or
theological
More Theological Implications of
Revolt Model
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Yahweh is the one who puts down the
mighty from their thrones
“Conquest” was more political than
religious
Crimes against property are not capital
crimes in the Bible; no class distinctions
in law
Revolt Model: Weaknesses
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Was covenant unity so early?
Why does the Bible indicate that majority
came from outside the land
Are the Apiru really Hebrews?
Israel settled in hill country because they
were unable to beat royal strongholds;
ruralization and decline of city-states in LB
Egalitarian villages also outside the confines
of premonarchic Israel
Dtr Scheme in time of Othniel
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Sin 3:7
Punishment 3:8
Cry to the LORD 3:9a
Deliverance 3:9b-10
Rest 3:11
Judges
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Ehud
Deborah
Gideon
Jephthah
Samson
Minor judges in 10:1-5; 12:7-15
Judg 10:6-16
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Yahweh refuses to act until they actually
dispose of other gods
They put away gods; Yahweh could no
longer bear to see Israel suffer
Climactic sin: choice of king (1 Sam
12:19)