After wandering in the desert for 40 years following the Exodus from Egypt, the return to Canaan held great promise for the exiled Israelites. They were no longer a wandering people but one with their own land and their own God. These elements are foundational for Israel’s mission of building a holy society and being a “light unto the nations.” But the path to gaining sovereignty in the Holy land would be a difficult one. This lesson will explore the challenges of leadership that plagued the Hebrews in their first attempt to live under their own sovereign rule.
Glossary
Yehoshua = Joshua • Avraham = Abraham • Shlomo = Solomon • Devora = Deborah • Moshe = Moses • Tzfat = Safed • Yericho = Jericho • Yerushalayim = Jerusalem • Tiveria = Tiberias • Lashon hara = evil speech • Shimshon = Samson • Nazir = Nazarite • Binyamin = Benjamin
The Jewish Story Explained is based on the book Letters to Auntie Fori: 5,000 Years of Jewish History and their Faith by Martin Gilbert.
