EXPANDED SECTIONS
EXPANDED SECTIONS
Unit 1
¤ More details about theology
Unit 2
¤ The Bible - A relevant record
¤ Inspiration, infallibility, inerrancy
Unit 3
¤ A short note on language
¤ Adapting hieroglyphics to make an alphabet
Unit 4
¤ A structured narrative
¤ Old Testament verses in Aramaic
Unit 5
¤ Prophecies fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ
Unit 6
¤ Doctrines linked to pre-history
¤ The Patriarchs
¤ Slavery to exodus
¤ The conquest of Canaan
¤ The time of the Judges
UNIT 1 - INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
UNIT 1: MORE DETAILS ABOUT THEOLOGY
When people talk about theology and doctrines, they are usually referring to systematic theology, which takes the facts and teachings of the Bible and organise it into a systematic collection of topics.But note the process: we start with the facts and teachings of the Bible, and organise it into various doctrines – not the other way round. Starting with a doctine, or a thought of a doctrine, and then looking for Bible verses to support it is the start of all heresies and cults. And unfortunately this happens way too many times, even today.
Systematic Theology is the source of the Church's doctrines, and can be split into various disciplines focused on the theme, and the three sub-themes, of the Bible.
GOD: We can split the systematic study of God into
Theology proper: the study of the character of God,
Christology: the study of Christ, and
Pneumatology: the study of the Holy Spirit.
HUMANITY would contain at least:
Biblical cosmology: how the universe and everything in it came to be, and
Theological anthropology: the study of the nature of humanity,
RELATIONSHIP overlaps in some aspects with the first two:
Hamartiology: the study of sin (how the relationship was broken),
Soteriology: the study of salvation (how the relationship is restored),
Ecclesiology: the study of the church (how the restored relationship should be lived out).
"EXTRAS": then there is
Bibliology: the study of the Bible, which is what this study is all about,
Eschatology: the study of the end times,
Angelology: the study of angels (God's messengers).
Apologetics: quite literally, the defence of the faith; the Greek word apologia means ”defence“, as a lawyer gives at a trial. In every generation, people face the challenges, questions, and concerns of the gospel message of the Christian faith, and relating that to their world and its questions – apologetics is an attempt to give well-reasoned evidence-based and philosophical answers to these questions.
This is not an exhaustive or "agreed-upon" list. Some would add Christian ecology (stewardship of our planet), Christian sociology (how the teachings of the Bible should impact our society), and more.
UNIT 2 - THE BIBLE: A RECORD
THE BIBLE - A RELEVANT RECORD
The Bible's relevance to the modern world lies in its ability to address the needs of contemporary society. Its messages address fundamental aspects of the human experience and provide a framework for understanding and navigating the complexities of modern life. It has something to say about every area of human existence:¤ Ethical and moral guidance: ethics and morals are a minefield in our modern world. The Bible gives us universal principles based on unchanging truth to apply to contemporary issues.
¤ Personal and spiritual growth through spiritual practices and inner transformation. The Bible tells us more than just how to be saved – it tells us how we can grow, both in our spiritual life, but also in our everyday life.
¤ Social justice and activism: advocacy for the marginalized, and ethical leadership. it is actually surprising how much of the Bible is focused on dealing with the parts of society that the world would like to get rid of. If you doubt this, read Jesus' Sermon on The Mount, and Deuteronomy's prescriptions regarding orphans, widows, and foreigners!
¤ Cultural and historical impact: The Bible has an influence on many aspects of modern culture; seen in its historical context we can extract principles for our lives. Most of the world's common law rests on the teachings of the Bible.
¤ Community and relationships. Biblical teachings on love, reconciliation, and community offer us guidance for fostering healthy relationships and resolving conflicts, and the Bible's emphasis on community and mutual support is relevant for building strong, supportive social networks in today's fragmented world.
¤ Existential and philosophical questions. We all struggle with questions about the purpose of life, human nature, and the nature of suffering, and the Bible provides perspectives that are still meaningful in the modern search for existential answers. Its messages of hope, redemption, and resilience offer encouragement and strength in the face of contemporary challenges and uncertainties.
¤ Educational and intellectual engagement. Engaging with biblical texts can foster critical thinking and discussion about moral and philosophical issues.
INSPIRATION, INFALLIBILITY, INERRENCY
¤ INSPIRATION:Inspiration of Scripture is the belief that the Bible is the word of God, written by humans under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This means that God is the source of the Bible's words, but the Holy Spirit so directed the human writers of the Bible that the finished product was precisely what He intended. It is fully "God-breathed", yet also fully "human-recorded", without God reducing the authors to machines or mechanical scribes.
The Greek word pneuma, which means "breath", is used to describe how God "breathed into" the writers of the Bible. This ensured that the writers wrote what God wanted to say – God shines through every word, and yet the personalities and abilities of every writer is also clearly manifested.
(See triangle image below these definitions for the differences between inspiration, infallibility, and inerrancy.)
¤ INFALLIBILITY:
The infallibility of the Bible the belief that the Bible is completely trustworthy as a guide to salvation and the life of faith and will not fail to accomplish its purpose. It means that the Bible is true in what it teaches, and incapable of teaching any error, in matters of faith and practice, since it is breathed out by God who cannot lie. The Bible is infallible if and only if it makes no false or misleading statements on any matter of faith and practice. While we should note the historical and literary context of a teaching, the teaching is true and should be obeyed, irrespective of the context in which we finds ourselves.
Infallibility is a stronger term than inerrancy: "infallible" means there can be no errors in matters of faith and practice, whereas "inerrant" means there are no errors.
(See triangle image below for the differences between inspiration, infallibility, and inerrancy.)
¤ INERRANCY:
Inerrancy of Scripture is the belief that the Bible is without error in its original writings, and that it speaks truly when interpreted correctly. It holds that the Bible is free from material errors and internal contradictions, that the scientific, geographic, and historic details of the scriptural texts in their original manuscripts are completely true and without error, though the scientific claims of scripture must be interpreted in the light of the phenomenological nature of the biblical narratives.
Inerrancy is not the same as infallibility: "inerrant" means there are no errors, whereas "infallible" means there can be no errors (in matters of faith and practice).
UNIT 3 - THE BIBLE: A WRITTEN RECORD
A SHORT NOTE ON LANGUAGE
Language was there from the very first, but we don't have a clue how it came into existence. We are not going to study the development of language, but it presents us with a lot of challenges. We have never found a "primitive" language, which should have been there if language evolved over time, but the opposite is true! Instead of the oldest languages being the simplest, they are every bit as sophisticated as modern languages.In fact, the most ancient languages for which we have written texts, Sanskrit and Sumerian, have more intricate grammatical forms than many modern languages. Sanskrit verbs have about 500 parts – most English verbs have only 5 parts (as in do, does, did, done, doing). According to at least one scholar Sanskrit is "one of the most perfect writing systems ever devised".
ADAPTING HIEROGLYPICS TO MAKE AN ALPHABET
Each sign in Proto-Sinaitic possesses a distinctive phonetic value that represents a consonant of the Northwest Semitic language spoken by its creators and users. The process involved a few steps:1. selecting a hieroglyph based upon pictorial recognition of the object represented by the sign,
2. assigning a Semitic name to the sign,
3. deriving a sound value from the name using the acrophonic principle,
4. assigning a sound value to the image.
To explain:
· The Egyptian word "house" translates into Semitic as "bayit", and so the hieroglyphic starting sign was used to represented the Semitic starting sound "b".
· The symbol for "snake" translated to "nahash", and was used to represent the starting sound "n".
· "Water" --> "mayim" --> "m".
· A figure with arms upraised in praise --> "halal" (praise) --> "h".
UNIT 4 - THE BIBLE: A COMPLETE WRITTEN RECORD
A STRUCTURED NARRATIVE - EXPANDED SECTIONS
A STRUCTURED NARRATIVE: THE OLD TESTAMENTThe Old Testament books are grouped together based on their typical content.
The Pentateuch / Law (Torah)
This section contains the first 5 books of the Old Testament, Genesis to Deuteronomy. The title is derived from the Greek word pentateuchos, meaning "five books" or "five volumes", and in the Jewish tradition these books are collectively known as the Torah, which translates to "law' or "instruction".
Most of the Pentateuch indeed consists of the laws given to the Israelites when they became a nation at the time of the Exodus, but it also contains a lot of history:
¤ Genesis covers the creation of the world, the early history of humanity, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, as well as the history of Joseph and how Jacob's family moved to Egypt.
¤ Exodus details the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery, the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai, and the journey towards the Promised Land.
¤ Leviticus focuses on the laws and rituals required for worship and maintaining holiness.
¤ Numbers chronicles the Israelites' wanderings in the desert and their preparation to enter the Promised Land.
¤ Deuteronomy recapitulates the Law and Moses' farewell speeches as the Israelites stand on the brink of entering Canaan.
The Historical Books
Spanning from Joshua to Esther, these books narrate the history of Israel from their conquest of Canaan through their exile and return.
¤ Joshua describes the Israelites' conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership.
¤ Judges chronicles a period of tribal confederation and the cyclical pattern of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance.
¤ Ruth provides a story of loyalty and redemption, highlighting the lineage of King David.
¤ 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings detail the establishment and division of the monarchy, focusing on figures like Saul, David, Solomon, and the subsequent kings of Israel and Judah.
¤ 1 and 2 Chronicles offer a retrospective view of Israel's history with a focus on Judah and the Temple.
¤ Ezra and Nehemiah cover the return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple.
¤ Esther tells the story of a Jewish-born queen who saves her people from annihilation.
Wisdom Literature
These writings reflect on the nature of wisdom, human suffering, and the search for meaning.
¤ Job explores profound questions about suffering and divine justice.
¤ Psalms is a collection of hymns and prayers that express a wide range of emotions and theological reflections.
¤ Proverbs provides practical advice on living a wise and righteous life.
¤ Ecclesiastes offers a contemplative perspective on the meaning of life and the futility of human endeavors without God.
¤ Song of Solomon is firstly a poetic celebration of love and beauty, which is sometimes interpreted allegorically to symbolize the love between Christ and the Church.
The Prophetic Books
These are divided into Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel) and Minor Prophets (Hosea through Malachi), and contain messages from God delivered through prophets who addressed both immediate concerns and future hopes. (The division has nothing to do with importance, but refers to the length of the books – the major prophets are longer books, the minor ones are shorter.)
Major Prophets:
¤ Isaiah prophesies the coming of the Messiah and the eventual redemption of Israel.
¤ Jeremiah warns of Jerusalem's impending destruction and proclaims a new covenant.
¤ Lamentations reflects on the mourning for Jerusalem's fall.
¤ Ezekiel includes visions and prophecies concerning the restoration of Israel.
¤ Daniel contains apocalyptic visions and prophecies about future empires and the end times.
Minor Prophets:
The Minor Prophets, though they are shorter, usually address particular historical moments in the history of Israel, and provide essential insights into God's character and plans. They address various social and moral issues faced by Israel, as well as some eschatological (future or end-time) issues.
¤ Hosea uses his troubled marriage as a metaphor for Israel's unfaithfulness to God, emphasizing God's enduring love and the call to repentance.
¤ Joel prophesies about a locust plague as a symbol of impending judgment and promises the outpouring of the Spirit in the last days.
¤ Amos condemns social injustice and predicts the destruction of Israel, but also foretells the restoration of David's fallen kingdom.
¤ Obadiah pronounces judgment on Edom for its hostility towards Israel and foresees the eventual triumph of God's people.
¤ Jonah tells the story of a prophet who initially resists God's call to preach repentance to Nineveh, showcasing God's compassion for all nations.
¤ Micah denounces corruption and injustice while prophesying the birth of a ruler in Bethlehem and the future restoration of Israel.
¤ Nahum foretells the downfall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as a result of its wickedness.
¤ Habakkuk questions why God allows injustice but is reassured that the righteous will live by faith.
¤ Zephaniah warns of the coming "day of the Lord" and calls for repentance, while also promising a future blessing for the faithful remnant.
¤ Haggai urges the people to rebuild the Temple and promises that God's glory will return.
¤ Zechariah offers visions and prophecies about the future restoration of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah.
¤ Malachi addresses the spiritual apathy of the post-exilic community, foretelling the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord.
A STRUCTURED NARRATIVE: THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Gospels
The four Gospels focus on the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, each with a slightly different emphasis, and was written between 55 and 95.
¤ Matthew: the life and teachings of Jesus from His birth to His resurrection, with special emphasis on Him being the expected Messiah of the Jewish nation.
¤ Mark: focuses on the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, presenting Him as a man of action, probably written for a Roman audience.
¤ Luke: details the life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus, emphasising His humanity as the Son of Man.
¤ John: focuses on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus, emphasising His divine nature as the Son of God.
ACTS
Chronicles the founding and expansion of the early Church and the apostles' activities, with striong focus on the apostle Paul's missions, from about AD30 to 62.
PAUL'S EPISTLES
Letters by the apostle Paul to various churches, written from about AD 48 to 67. It deals with various issues faced by the early churches, of which the relationship between Jewish and non-Jewish Christians was one of the most important.
¤ Romans: addresses the theology and issues facing the Roman church, reflecting on events up to that time.
¤ 1 Corinthians: addresses issues within the Corinthian church, some from a letter sent to him by the church, reflecting on early church practices and challenges.
¤ 2 Corinthians: continues addressing issues in the church, and a defense of his apostolic authority, dealing with false "apostles" in the Corinthian church.
¤ Galatians: discusses the issues of Judaizers and the nature of Christian freedom, reflecting on early church controversies.
¤ Ephesians: addresses the Church's role and relationship in the context of early Christian communities.
¤ Philippians:a letter of encouragement and gratitude to the church in Philippi.
¤ Colossians: focuses on Christ's supremacy against developing heresies questioning the sufficiency of Christ and His sacrifice.
¤ 1 Thessalonians: early letter addressing the Thessalonian church's faith and concerns about the second coming of Christ.
¤ 2 Thessalonians: addresses further concerns in the church and clarifies teachings about the second coming of Christ.
¤ 1 Timothy: Personal letter to Timothy with instructions for church leadership and organization.
¤ 2 Timothy: a personal letter of encouragement and instruction to Timothy, reflecting Paul's final years. Considered to be the last letter he wrote before his death.
¤ Titus: guidance to Titus on church leadership and conduct on the island of Crete.
¤ Philemon: a personal letter regarding the slave Onesimus, reflecting early Christian attitudes towards slavery.
PASTORAL EPISTLES
General epistles from other authors to various churches, addressing concerns and issues with which the churches were struggling.
¤ Hebrews: traditionally attributed to Paul, though authorship is debated. Addresses the relationship between Christianity and Judaism, with a focus on the superiority of Christ.
¤ James: traditionally attributed to James, the brother of Jesus.It provides practical wisdom and advice for Christian living, early teachings and ethical guidelines.
¤ 1 Peter: traditionally attributed to the apostle Peter. Offers encouragement to suffering Christians, reflecting early church struggles and persecutions.
¤ 2 Peter: traditionally attributed to the apostle Peter. Addresses false teachings and the second coming of Christ, reflecting concerns of the early church.
¤ 1 John: raditionally attributed to the apostle John. He ddresses issues of heresy and false teachings, focusing on the divine nature of God and Christ.
¤ 2 John: traditionally attributed to the apostle John this brief letter addresses love and truth within the church.
¤ 3 John: traditionally attributed to the apostle John, addresses personal matters and church leadership issues.
¤ Jude: traditionally attributed to Jude, the brother of James.It addresses the threat of false teachers and the need to remain faithful.
REVELATION
Traditionally attributed to the apostle John, this is a prophetic account of future events, the end times, and messages to seven churches in Asia Minor.
OLD TESTAMENT VERSES IN ARAMAIC
Only a small portion of the Old Testament was originally written in Aramaic. These sections are:Ezra 4:8 - 6:18: These passages primarily deal with official correspondence between the Persian kings and the Jewish leaders concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
Daniel 2: 4b - 7: 28: This section contains several visions and narratives about the Babylonian and Persian empires, including the famous story of the fiery furnace and the writing on the wall.
Jeremiah 10: 11: This is a single verse that serves as a condemnation of idol worship, originally written in Aramaic.
Aramaic became widely used during the Babylonian exile when it was the common language of much of the Ancient Near East. These sections reflect the influence of that time, with Aramaic being the administrative and international language of empires such as Babylon and Persia. Incidentally, it is also confirmation that these sections were indeed written at the historical time it covered, using the language commonly spoken at that time.
UNIT 5 - THE BIBLE: A SELECTIVE RECORD
PROPHECIES FULFILLED IN THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST
Conservative Bible scholars identify between 300 to 365 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus Christ fulfilled, spanning predictions about his birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. Here are some key examples with their Old and New Testament references.(For a detailed list of all fulfilled prophecies, resources such as Hope Faith Prayer and Preaching.com provide comprehensive lists and analysis of specific verses fulfilled throughout His life and mission.)
¤ Prophecies Regarding Jesus' Birth
Virgin Birth - Isaiah 7:14 (Fulfilled in Matthew 1:22-23)
Born in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2 (Fulfilled in Matthew 2:1)
Lineage from David - Jeremiah 23:5 (Fulfilled in Luke 1:32-33)
¤ Prophecies About His Life and Ministry
Teaching in Parables - Psalm 78:2 (Fulfilled in Matthew 13:34-35)
Healing the Blind, Deaf, and Lame - Isaiah 35:5-6 (Fulfilled in Matthew 11:5)
A Ministry in Galilee - Isaiah 9:1-2 (Fulfilled in Matthew 4:13-16)
¤ Prophecies Related to His Death
Betrayed by a Friend - Psalm 41:9 (Fulfilled in John 13:18)
Sold for Thirty Pieces of Silver - Zechariah 11:12-13 (Fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-16)
Silent before His Accusers - Isaiah 53:7 (Fulfilled in Matthew 27:12-14)
Hands and Feet Pierced - Psalm 22:16 (Fulfilled in John 20:25-27)
Casting Lots for His Garments - Psalm 22:18 (Fulfilled in John 19:23-24)
¤ Prophecies About His Resurrection
Not Abandoned to the Grave - Psalm 16:10 (Fulfilled in Acts 2:31)
Conquering Death - Isaiah 25:8 (Fulfilled in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
UNIT 6 - A HISTORICAL RECORD: CREATION TO CANAAN
DOCTRINES LINKED TO PRE-HISTORY
Every major strand in the Biblical narrative traces back to the events described in the first ten-and-a half chapters of Genesis. To list a few:¤ Relationship between God and humanity: from perfection to brokenness, with a vague promise of restoration.
¤ Theology proper: who God is, His nature, dealings with humanity
¤ Anthropology: humanity's original state, fall, sinful nature.
¤ Sociology: human society, from perfection to grieving God, and beyond.
¤ Sin: origin, effects.
¤ Salvation: the need for it, the hope of a saviour.
¤ Cosmology: the universe and everything in it.
¤ Ecology: humanity's responsibilities in relation to the rest of the created world.
TIMELINE OF THE PATRIARCHS
| FULL TIMELINE OF THE PATRIARCHS | ||
| DATE (approximate) |
EVENT | REFERENCE |
| 2166 BC | Birth of Abram | Genesis 11:26 |
| 2091 BC | God calls Abram to leave Haran and promises to make him a great nation. Abram is 75 years old. | Gen 12:1-3 |
| 2086 BC | Abram and Sarai in Egypt due to a famine | Gen 12:10-20 |
| 2085 BC | Abram separates from Lot; God reiterates His promise of land | Gen 13 |
| 2081 BC | Abram rescues Lot and is blessed by Melchizedek | Gen 14 |
| 2080 BC | God makes a covenant with Abram | Gen 15 |
| 2079 BC | Ishmael is born to Abram and Hagar | Gen 16 |
| 2067 BC | God establishes circumcision as a covenant sign; Abram's name is changed to Abraham | Gen 17 |
| 2066 BC | Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham is 100 years old. | Gen 21:1-7 |
| 2051 | Isaac is weaned, and Hagar and Ishmael are sent away | Gen 21:8-21 |
| 2029 BC | Abraham offers Isaac as a sacrifice, but God spares him | Gen 22 |
| 2026 BC | Sarah dies at the age of 127 | Gen 23 |
| 2025 BC | Isaac marries Rebekah | Gen 24 |
| ? | Abraham marries Keturah, fathered 6 sons, later sent them to the East, away from Isaac | Gen25:1-7 |
| 2006 BC | Esau and Jacob are born to Isaac and Rebekah | Gen 25:19-26 |
| 1991 BC | Abraham dies, his sons Isaac and Ishmael buries him | Gen 25:8-11 |
| 1986 | Esau sells his birthright to Jacob | Gen 25:29-34 |
| 1929 BC | Jacob deceives Isaac and receives the blessing; he flees to Paddan-Aram | Gen 27-28 |
| 1922 BC | Jacob marries Leah and Rachel; begins 14 years of labor for Laban | Gen 29:15-30 |
| 1915 BC | Birth of Joseph, Jacob's eleventh son, to Rachel | Gen 30:22-24 |
| 1915 BC | Jacob leaves Laban, returning to Canaan | Gen 31 |
| 1914 BC | Jacob wrestles with God, and his name is changed to Israel | Gen 32 |
| 1913 BC | Reconciliation with Esau; Jacob settles in Shechem | Gen 33 |
| 1898 BC | Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt | Gen 37 |
| 1886 BC | Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams and becomes ruler of Egypt | Gen 41:41:41-46 |
| 1886 BC | Isaac dies, his sons Esau and Jacob buries him | Gen 35:29-29 |
| 1876 BC | Jacob's family moves to Egypt during the famin. Jacob is 130 years old. | Gen 46 |
| 1859 BC | Jacob dies at 147 years old, after blessing all his sons and the sons of Joseph | Gen 48 & 49 |
| 1805 BC | Joseph dies at 110 years old, makes his brothers swear an oath to take his bones with them when leaving Egypt | Gen 50:26 |
ISRAEL: SLAVERY TO EXODUS
SLAVERY TO EXODUS |
||
| DATE (approximate) |
EVENT | REFERENCE |
| 1876 BC | Jacob (Israel) moves to Egypt with his family due to famine, joining Joseph, settles in Goshen. | Gen 46 & 47 |
| 1859 | Jacob blesses his sons, as well as Joseph's two sons, and dies. Buried in family burial cave in Machpelah, according to his instructions to his sons. | Gen 48-50:14 |
| Joseph reassures his brothers of his forgiveness | Gen 50:15-21 | |
| 1805 | Joseph dies, instructs them to take his bones to Canaan when they leave Egypt | Gen 50:22-26 |
| 1876-1650 BC | From Jacob's arrival to the rise of a new Pharaoh "to whom Joseph meant nothing", his descendants multiply and prosper in Egypt, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham. | Gen 47:27, Ex 1:1-7 |
| 1650 BC | A new Pharaoh enslaves the Israelites, fearing their growing population, and subjects them to harsh labor. | Ex 1:8-22 |
| 1526 BC | Birth of Moses, adopted by Pharoah's daughter, raised as a prince. | Ex 2:1-10 |
| 1486 BC | Moses, now aged 40, kills an Egyptian foe beating an Israelite, flees to Midian to escape from Pharoah | Ex 2:11-15, Acts 7:23 |
| 1486 BC | Moses meets his wife, tends the flock of his father-in-law for 40 years. | Ex 2:17-25 |
| 1446 BC | God appears to Moses in a burning bush at Mount Horeb, commissioning him to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses now 80 years old. | Ex 3:1-4:28, Ex 7:7 |
| Moses meets with Aaron and Israelite leaders, tells them God has heard their groaning.
Pharoah refuses to let Israel go. God sends ten plagues upon Egypt, culminating in the death of the firstborn. |
Ex 7-12:42 | |
| First Passover eaten | Ex 12 | |
| Consecration of the firstborn | Ex 13:1-2 | |
| Pharaoh allows the Israelites to leave, chase after them with army. God parts the sea for Israelites to walk through, Egyptian army drowns | Ex 14:1-15:21 | |
| Israel journeys to Mount Sinai. Manna and quail, water from the rock, Amalekites defeated, Moses' father-in-law visits and advises him. | Ex 15:22-18:27 | |
| 1446/5 BC | Israel arrives at Mount Sinai. God gives Moses the Ten Commandments and establishes a covenant with Israel. Instructions for the Tabernacle and other laws are provided. |
Ex 20-40, Lev 1-27 |
| Census, various laws, various uprisings against Moses. | Num 1-12 | |
| 1445 BC | Spies sent into Canaan. The Israelites rebel against God's plan to enter Canaan after hearing the spies' report. As punishment, they wander in the wilderness for 40 years. | Num 13-36 |
| Balaam blesses Israel instead of cursing. Second census, war against Midianites, various laws given. |
Num 22-36 | |
| 1445-1406 BC | Forty years in the wilderness. | Num 15-36 |
| 1406 BC | Moses provides instructions, blessings, and warnings to Israel before they enter Canaan. | Deut 1-30 |
| Joshua appointed to succeed Joshua. | Deut 31:1-8 | |
| Moses' final address to the Israelites
Moses blesses the tribes of Israel |
Deut 31:9 - 33:29 | |
| Moses views the Promised Land from Mount Nebo but is not allowed to enter. He dies. | ||
| Spies sent toJericho, saved by Rahab the prostitute | Josh 2 | |
| The Israelites miraculously cross the Jordan River to arrive in Canaan. Twelve stones are taken from the Jordan River and set up at Gilgal as a memorial. |
Josh 3 & 4 | |
| Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal | Josh 5:1-12 | |
ISRAEL: THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN
THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN |
||
| DATE (approximate) |
EVENT | REFERENCE |
| 1406 BC | The Israelites miraculously cross the Jordan River into Canaan. | Joshua 1 - 3 |
| 1406 BC | Twelve stones are taken from the Jordan River and set up at Gilgal as a memorial. | Joshua 4 |
| 1406 BC | The new generation of Israelites is circumcised at Gilgal, and the Passover is celebrated. The manna ceases. | Joshua 5:1-12 |
| 1406 BC | The walls of Jericho fall after the Israelites march around the city for seven days. | Joshua 5:13 -6:27 |
| 1406 BC | Israel suffers a defeat at Ai due to Achans sin. | Joshua 7 |
| 1406 BC | After dealing with Achan's sin, the Israelites conquer Ai through a strategic ambush. | Joshua 8:1-29 |
| 1406 BC | Joshua builds an altar, and the people reaffirm their covenant with God at Mount Ebal. | Joshua 8:30-35 |
| 1406 BC | The Gibeonites deceive Israel into making a peace treaty with them. | Joshua 9:1-27 |
| 1406 BC | The Southern Campaign: Israel defeats a coalition of southern kings, including a miraculous hailstorm and the sun standing still. | Joshua 10:1-43 |
| 1405 BC | The Northern Campaign: Joshua leads Israel to victory over a coalition of northern kings. | Joshua 11:1-23 |
| 1400 BC | After seven years of conquest, the land is divided among the twelve tribes. | Joshua 13:1 - 22:34 |
| 1390 BC | Joshua gives his farewell address, urging faithfulness to God, and dies at the age of 110. | Joshua 23:1 - 24:33 |