Did You Know?

The walls of Jericho famously fell after the Israelites marched around the city for seven days.

This account is recorded in Joshua 6:1-20, with the Israelites circling the city once daily for six days and seven times on the seventh, followed by trumpet blasts and a great shout. Rahab, a woman who had helped Israelite spies, was spared along with her family (Joshua 6:22-23).

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

Rahab hid Israelite spies in Jericho and was later included in the genealogy of Jesus.

Her assistance to the spies is recorded in Joshua 2:1-16, and her inclusion in Jesus' lineage appears in Matthew 1:5. She is notable as one of very few Gentile women specifically named in Jesus' genealogy.

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

The Book of Judges describes a repeating cycle of Israelite disobedience, oppression, and deliverance.

This pattern occurs throughout the book as various judges, or military-religious leaders, rise to rescue Israel from oppression after periods of idolatry (Judges 2:16-19). The book covers a turbulent period before Israel had a centralized monarchy.

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

Deborah was a prophetess and judge who led Israel to victory against a Canaanite army.

Her story, along with the military commander Barak, is recorded in Judges 4-5, including a victory song celebrating the triumph. Deborah is notable as one of the few female leaders explicitly named in the Old Testament.

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

Gideon, a reluctant judge, defeated a large Midianite army with only 300 men.

God deliberately reduced Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 men to ensure the victory would be attributed to divine intervention rather than military strength (Judges 7:2-7). The unusual battle strategy involved trumpets, torches, and clay jars (Judges 7:16-20).

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

Samson was known for his extraordinary strength, which was tied to his uncut hair as part of a Nazirite vow.

His story is recorded in Judges 13-16, including feats such as killing a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:6) and slaying a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:15). His strength was lost after Delilah discovered the secret of his hair and had it cut (Judges 16:17-19).

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

Samson died alongside his enemies by pulling down the pillars of a Philistine temple.

This final act is recorded in Judges 16:28-30, described as his greatest feat of strength, killing more Philistines in his death than during his life. It is often cited as an example of self-sacrificial vengeance in the Old Testament.

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

The Book of Ruth tells the story of a Moabite woman who remains loyal to her Israelite mother-in-law.

Ruth's famous declaration of loyalty, 'whither thou goest, I will go,' is found in Ruth 1:16. Her story highlights themes of loyalty, kindness, and inclusion of outsiders within the Israelite community.

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

Ruth married Boaz, a wealthy relative of her deceased husband, through a legal process called levirate marriage.

Boaz's kindness toward Ruth and their eventual marriage are detailed in Ruth 2-4, following the ancient near eastern custom of a near relative marrying a widow to preserve the family line. Their union produced a son, Obed, who became the grandfather of King David (Ruth 4:17).

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]

Ruth is one of only a few women, and the only Moabite, mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus.

Her inclusion appears in Matthew 1:5, alongside other notable women such as Rahab, Tamar, and Bathsheba. This inclusion is often highlighted as reflecting a theme of God's grace extending beyond ethnic and cultural boundaries.

[Joshua, Judges & Ruth]