Studying the Historical Books

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After completing our 3 1/2-year cycle of readings in the Torah, we decided to continue with the historical books that follow, beginning with Joshua.

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September 28, 2025 – Celebrate Rosh Hashanah!

Rosh Hashanah, also called the Feast of Trumpets, begins the Days of Awe. For 10 days between this feast and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), Israel trembled in repentance as, according to tradition, their lives hung in the balance while the Book of life was opened in heaven. The blowing of the shofar or ram’s horn is a feature of this celebration. Many scholars believe Jesus was born around the time of this feast, and it represents the new birth of believers, too.

Memo about Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah as a ‘Memorial’

… and some additional notes here

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September 21, 2025 – Prepare for Rosh Hashanah!

Rosh Hashanah is in two weeks – the start of the High Holy Days and the Ten Days of Awe, which end at Yom Kippur.

One traditional Rosh Hashanah reading is the fall of Jericho in Joshua 6, in which blowing the shofar causes the city walls to fall down. Crucial to the story is the aid Rahab the harlot gave to the Israeli spies related in Joshua 2:1-24.

Other calls to flee coming destruction are found in Lot fleeing Sodom (Genesis 19) and Jeremiah 51 when he calls for the exiles to flee the coming destruction of Babylon. It is repeated in Revelation 18:4. Jesus warned believers to flee to the mountains before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans (Matthew 24:16).

In this season we must examine ourselves and rediscover the critical urgency of God’s call to separate from entanglement with the world system and its values.

Notes on Joshua 2:1-24, and Joshua 6:1-27

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September 14, 2025 – Jeremiah 42 – Jeremiah Taken to Egypt

After the destruction of Jerusalem, the Babylonians left Gedaliah to be governor of Judah to be administrator over the remaining poor folks and returning refugees in the land. But he is killed by some who consider him a traitor. His murder is avenged, but a faction of Jews want to flee to Egypt out of fear of the Babylonians. Jeremiah says God wants them to remain in the land, but they refuse to listen, and carry Jeremiah with them into Egypt.

Notes on Jeremiah 42:1-22

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September 7, 2025 – Jeremiah 39 – The Destruction of Jerusalem

The destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. was a monumental tragedy for Israel. The Babylonians finally breach the walls of Jerusalem and burn the Temole. King Zedekiah tries to flee, is captured, blinded and carried into captivity. Jeremiah describes the ravages of the siege in the Book of Lamentations. He is allowed to stay, but is taken away by some Jewish survivors in the opposite direction – to Egypt.

Notes on Jeremiah 39:1-18 (and Jeremiah 52:16-34; 2 Kings 25:22-26)

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August 31, 2025 – Jeremiah 38 – Jeremiah Thrown into a Cistern

As Babylon tightens its siege of Jerusalem, Jeremiah’s enemies have him thrown into a mud-filled cistern, hoping he’ll die there. A eunuch who is a servant to King Zedekiah persuades the king to allow him to rescue the prophet. Finally, even though Zedekiah seems to be leaning toward obeying God’s direction, he vacillates out of fear of the powerful princes of Judah.

Notes on Jeremiah 38:1-28

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August 24, 2025 – Jeremiah 23 – Jeremiah vs the False Prophets

God delivers a withering takedown of the numerous false prophets who opposed Jeremiah’s predictions of doom with prophecies of success and prosperity for Israel. He contrasts the damage they’ve done with the future, righteous reign of Messiah. And the frivolous and flesh-pleasing words of the false prophets are contrasted with the Word of God, which is like fire and like a hammer.

Notes on Jeremiah 23:1-40

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August 17, 2025 – Jeremiah 32 – Jeremiah is Arrested

Jeremiah is thrown into prison by King Zedekiah for constantly saying that the Babylonians would defeat Israel, and that they should submit to Nebuchadnezzar. God has the prophet buy a piece of land as a sign of future prosperity for the land. In a prophecy, God recites a litany of sins that have doomed His people to exile, but also presents a vision of hope and a new covenant.

Notes on Jeremiah 32:1-44

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