Bible crossword puzzle: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and 1 and 2 Samuel

Based on material in chapters seven and eight, Discovering the Bible by Alex Varughese

TL'DAR: The crossword is over book material about how the people entered and possessed the land of promise as well as the challenges the Israelites faced during the early years of their settlement in Canaan. Topics covered also include the transitional role Samuel played in the story of Israel, the Davidic covenant, and the kingships of Saul and David.

Priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant across the Jordan River beneath a pillar cloud — "Joshua passing the River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant," oil on panel by Benjamin West, c. 1800 | Image Source

More classic art masterpieces used as illustrations

Challenge: Can you solve this crossword puzzle even if you do not have the book by Varughese?

ACROSS

3 The man Samuel anointed as Israel's first king
7 The second king of Israel who was referred to as a man "after God's own heart." Our textbook said he was the king during Israel's Golden Years.
8 David's son who killed his brother Amnon in retaliation for the rape of their sister Tamar. This man later tried to wrest the throne from his father
9Saul's son who was David's close friend
12 A woman prophetess-judge whose leadership brought deliverance from oppression to Israel
13 The book that presents the stories of entering, possessing, and distributing the land as a solemn act of worship
14 A Jericho resident who assisted two spies sent to her city because she heard about God's power at work among the Israelites
16 A priest who had two evil sons

DOWN

1 A biographical sketch of a Moabite lady who was the great-grandmother of King David
2 A book covering 350 years of Israel's "Dark Ages." It takes its name from the warrior heroes who were the central characters in its stories
3 Israel's last judge, a priest and the first of the prophets; this man stands between the era of judges and the era of statehood and kingship
4 A judge of Israel who defeated a far larger Midianite army with only 300 men (pared down from the 32,000 soldiers who initially showed up for the battle)
5 Mother of Samuel. She had made a vow to God that if He would give her a son, she would consecrate that son as a Nazarite
6 The woman with whom David committed adultery. The second son that David fathered with her was named Solomon
10 A physically powerful man who was raised as a godly Nazarite but whose life illustrates how leaders can falter badly
11 The prophet who confronted David about his sins in the affair with Bathsheba
13 Father of King David
15 The god of a Canaanite fertility religion

This crossword puzzle was created for use in the course Introduction to Biblical Literature. The words and clues come from the textbook Discovering the Bible: Story and Faith of the Biblical Communities edited by Alex Varughese and published by what is now called The Foundry.

-- Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu

Historical Context

The books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and 1 and 2 Samuel span an important period in ancient Israelite history. They capture for us the transition from the conquest of Canaan to the establishment of the monarchy. The Book of Joshua follows the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land under the successor to Moses. It has narratives of military campaigns and tribal inheritances. The Book of Judges chronicles a tumultuous era marked by cycles of apostasy, foreign oppression, and deliverance through charismatic leaders known as judges. Ruth offers an intimate glimpse into Israelite society during the time of the judges. It focuses on loyalty, redemption, and the inclusion of foreigners. The books of Samuel detail the rise of the monarchy in Israel, from the prophet Samuel's anointing of Saul as the first king to the reign of David, Israel's most renowned king. While these five books give us some history, they also provide helpful insights into Israel's religious, social, and political development.