1. The Book of Joshua (יהושע), containing the history of the conquest
and division of the land of Canaan by the Israelites, from their
crossing the Jordan to the death of Joshua.
Among the various incidents related in the book the following are
noteworthy:—The circumcision of those who had been born during the
wandering of Israel in the wilderness; the celebration of the first
Passover in the Holy Land; the appearance of “the prince of the host of
the Lord” (v. 14), just before the war commenced, in order to remind
Joshua that “the place upon which he stood was holy;” [5] the crossing
of the Jordan; the taking of Jericho; the disastrous consequences of
Achan’s sin, as an illustration of the principle that the whole
community is made responsible for the crime of the individual till the
crime is discovered and punished; the battle at Gibeon, famous through
Joshua’s exclamation, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou
moon, in the valley of Ajalon!” (x. 12); and the appointment of the
cities of refuge.
2. The Book of Judges (שופטים) contains episodes of the history of
the Israelites from the death of Joshua to the days of the high-priest
Eli. The name “Judge” is identical with that of chief magistrate, or
simply chief or leader. The judges were persons chosen by God, and
inspired with an extraordinary spirit of courage and bravery, to be the
liberators of the country, or part of the country, from the tyranny of
oppressors. The virtues that were required in order to qualify them for
this mission were patriotism and courage. Some of them may have
continued in power after the restoration of peace and order, but on the
whole their mission as judges was fulfilled with the cessation of war.
They were not the religious teachers of the nation, nor are they set up
as examples of piety.
During the period of the judges the tribes of Israel were not united
(song of Deborah, Judges v. 15–17). There was no common government, or
if there was one, it must have possessed little power and influence.
The people became degraded; many worshipped idols and altogether
ignored the Divine commandments. But the conscience of the nation was
roused when a shocking crime was committed at Gibeah in the tribe of
Benjamin, and all Israel united in demanding the punishment of the
evil-doers (chaps. xix. to xxi.). The book contains two beautiful
poetical passages, the song of Deborah (v.) and the parable of Jotham
(ix.).
3. The two books of Samuel (שמואל א׳ וב׳)—also called the first and
second books of Kings—contain the history of Israel during the time of
the high-priest Eli, the prophet Samuel, and Saul, the first king of
Israel (Book I.); and the reign of David (Book II.).