The book of Joshua was named after its author, one of the 12 spies who didn't doubt God's ability to give them victory over the inhabitants of Canaan.

Got Milk?

A military strategist, Joshua led the people in 3 brilliant campaigns to conquer the land of Canaan, the "land of milk and honey", with God's help.

God halted the Jordan river to allow the Israelites to cross without getting wet, imploded the city walls of Jericho to let the Israelite army charge right in, did not-very-nice things with hailstones (Ow!) to the enemies of Israel, and made the sun and moon stand still to give Israel more daylight hours for a decisive battle.

(Ok, so it was the earth that stood still. Tell me when they rename Sunset Boulevard to EarthTurn Boulevard.)

But, for various reasons, not all of the inhabitants were eradicated as God had commanded.

	How Not to be Seen

Nevertheless, the land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel and then after years of peace in the land, Joshua died.

	Israelites groan under attack
In anger God hands them over to their enem- ies	MONOPOLY- THEISM	God raises up a ruler to save them
	Israel worships other gods

The book of Judges details a period of time after the death of Joshua and of those who had seen God's miracles on their behalf. Israel's history during this time was marked by a cycle of worshipping the gods of the nations they had failed to eradicate, God's jealous anger towards His people for their disobedience, His giving the people over to their enemies, the groaning of the Israelites under attack, God raising up a ruler or judge to defeat their enemies and the eventual death of the judge at which time Israel would begin the cycle all over again. The more memorable Judges were Gideon, Deborah - a female judge, and playboy Samson who got a close shave with a haircut. There's even a woman named Jael who showed a certain finesse with a tent peg and hammer.

The book of Ruth is a recounting of how Ruth, though a foreigner, became the great-grandmother of King David. This all happened during the time of the Judges and is a very touching love story.

The book of First Samuel recounts the lives of Samuel, the last of the judges; Saul, Israel's first King who fell from power because of disobedience; and David, Israel's most famous King. During his reign and his son's after him, the nation of Israel reached the height of its glory.

DAVID & GOLIATH
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9 f e e t t a l l

This book includes the well known account of David and Goliath.

David, though successful in battle and in almost every other way, had an affair with a beautiful married woman, Bathsheba and had her husband killed; a sin for which he paid dearly. The book of Psalms is a collection of one hundred and fifty songs from throughout Israel's history many telling about the coming Savior.

Let's see, 50 yards with no wind...that would be an F-sharp

King David, a talented musician, wrote a large number of these.

"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't let you do that...Dave."

The book of Second Samuel ends with David as an old man while First Chronicles extends its historical account to the death of David. The book of First Kings picks up where Second Samuel left off, recounting King David's last days, and Second Chronicles continues where First Chronicles left off.

David's son, Solomon became king and asked God for wisdom to rule Israel wisely which God granted as well as promising him riches, honor and longevity.

The Tin Man, Dorothy and Scarecrow discover Solomon had gotten there before them

Solomon wrote Song of Songs, a romantic song about pure marital love probably written for his first bride. Many parallels can be found here of God's love for Israel and for the 'as yet future' church in this beautiful love song. Solomon was no prude and his descriptions of his bride would probably get at least a PG-13 rating today.

	Song of Songs by Solomon & the Psalm Psingers Parental Warning: PG-13

Solomon also wrote most of the book of Proverbs; a book applying divine wisdom to everyday living.

And later in life he wrote Ecclesiastes, a treatise on the futility of life lived apart from God.

During Solomon's reign the temple was built in Jerusalem, much of it overlaid with pure gold. He accumulated seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines who led him astray in his later years to follow and worship other gods.

Solomon died and his son Rehoboam became King. But because of his harshness towards the people, all of Israel rebelled and took Jeroboam, one of Solomon's ex-officials, to be their King. Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin in the south remained with Rehoboam and were known from then on as the nation of Judah.

The rest of the book gives brief biographies of the kings that ruled over Israel and Judah, some of whom were good but most of whom were bad.

There are also glimpses of God's moral and political spokesmen, the prophets. God moved one of them, Elijah, to defeat the prophets of the false god Baal.

The book of First Kings ends with Israel still divided from Judah and neither nation in too great spiritual health.

Spiritual Health Monitor

Israel	Judah