Summary Of The Books Of:
The Old Testament

1960's King James Version
Thomas M. Bennett

Pray for God’s Wisdom and Understanding,
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

The Old Testament has, 39 books, 929 Chapters, 23,214 Verses,
generally separated into 4 divisions:

1. The Pentateuch, traditionally designated as the 5 books of Moses.
2. Historical Books, numbering 12, from Joshua to Esther.
3. Poetical Books, numbering 5, from Job to Songs of Solomon.
4. Prophetical Books, including the writings of the 4 Major Prophets,
   from Isaiah to Daniel, and the 12 Minor Prophets from Hosea to Malachi.
5. Old Testament Timeline (biblehub.com)
6. Tanakh + Septuagint page.

1. THE PENTATEUCH

1. Genesis 1-50. In the beginning, The 1st book of Moses.
The word "genesis" signifies "generation" or "origin" and comes from the Greek translation of Genesis 2:4. It is an apporopriate title for the first book of the Bible, which contains the record of the origin of the universe, the human race, family life, nations, sin, redemption, etc. The first 11 chapters, which deal with primeval or pre Patriachal times, present the antecedents of Hebrew history from Adam to Abraham. The remaining chapters (12-50) are concerned with God's dealings with the Patriarchs Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, and Jacob's son Joseph, all "fathers" of the people whom God has choosen to carry out His plan for the redemption of mankind. The book closes with these "Chosen People" in Egypt.

2. Exodus 1-40. The 2nd book of Moses.
The name means "going out" or "departure." While it refers to one of the important events of the book, the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, other highly significant events are also found here, such as the oppression of the Chosen People in Egypt, the flight and call of Moses, and God's covenant with the nation of Israel at Sinai--an experience climaxed by His giving of the moral law (Ten Commandments) through Moses to the people. A code of secular laws is also included, and the latter part of the book contains an elaborate description of the sacred Ark of the Covenant and its tent (tabernacle), God's place of dwelling among His people.

3. Leviticus 1-27. The 3rd book of Moses.
This book was so named because it treats of the laws of service and worship of special importance to the tribe of Levi. It has been aptly called "The Handbook of the Priests." Many basic precepts of the New Testament are foreshadowed in this book, such as seriousness of sin in God's sight, the necessity of atonement for sin, the Holiness of God, and the necessity of a mediator between God and man.

4. Numbers 1-36. The 4th book of Moses.
The name of this book originated from the two numberings of the people related in it: the first at Sinai in the second year of the Exodus and another on the plains of Moab opposite Jericho in the 40th year. A better title is the one given by the Hebrews themselves, Bemidhbar ("In the Wilderness"), for it describes the locale of the major events of the book. In all these events, the writer sees the guiding hand of God, sustaining, delivering, and keeping covenant with His people, as He prepares them for entrance into the land promised first to Abraham (Gen. 12:1ff).

5. Deuteronomy 1-34. The 5th book of Moses.
The final book of the Pentatuech derives its English name from the Greek word deuteronomion, meaning the "second law," or the "law repeated." Deuteronomy is essentially Moses' farewell address (es) to a new generation in which he summons them to hear the law of God. to be instructed in the application of its principles to the new circumstances awaiting them, and to renew intelligently the covenant God had made with their fathers - a covenant that must be faithfully observed as the condition of God's blessings upon them in the Promised Land.

2. THE HISTORICAL BOOKS

6. The Book of Joshua 1-24.
This book serves as the connecting link between the Pentateuch and the later historical books; its name is derived from the principle character, Joshua. Chapters 1 to 23 describe the conquest of the land and its division among the tribes of Israel. In the final chapters (23-24) Joshua, somewhat after the fashion of Moses, exhorts the people in a series of farewell addresses " to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses" and solemnly challenges them to the renewal of their covenant commitment to God.

7. The Book of Judges 1-21.
Named after the "judges of Israel," the heroic leaders whose deeds it records, this book covers a period of time from the death of Joshua to the birth of Samuel, an era often called the "the dark ages" of Hebrew history. Here is a story, on the human side, of disobedience and disaster, and on the divine side, of direction and deliverance. Of the 13 judges named, only 3 are well Deborah, Gideon, and Samson.

8. The Book of Ruth 1-4.
The Book of Ruth offers a striking contrast to the Book of Judges, but its story is associated with the same period. In Judges, national sin and corruption portray a dark picture. The story of Ruth the Moabitess and her loyalty and devotion to Naomi, her Hebrew mother-in-law, presents the reader with a picture of the nobler side of Hebrew life in the days of the Judges.

9-10. 1st Samuel 1-31 and 2nd Samuel 1-24, The Books of 1 & 2 Samuel,
These books were named after Samuel, not only because he is the principle figure in the first part, but also because he anointed the other principle characters, Saul and David. Orignally a single book which was divided when translated into Greek, the books of Samuel cover a period of time in Israel's history from the birth of Samuel to the close of the reign of David. First Samuel presents the transition from Israel's judges to the monarchy. Second Samuel deals almost exclusively with the history of David and presents a vivid picture of the theocratic monarchy in which the king represents God's rule over the people.

11-12. 1st Kings 1-22 and 2nd Kings 1-25. The Books of 1 & 2 Kings,
These books are the sequel to 1 and 2 Samuel and should be read as a continuation of the history of the Hebrew nation contained in the former work. Originally one book. 1 and 2 Kings relate the history of Israel from the last days of David to the destruction of the northern kingdom, Israel, in 721 B.C., and to the fall of the southern kingdom, Judah, in 586 B.C. This is the period of Israel's glory, division, decline, and fall.

13-14. 1st Chronicles 1-29 and 2nd Chronicles 1-36. The Books of 1 & 2 Chronicles,
In the Hebrew Canon these books formed a single volume called "Things of the days" (i.e., annals). The translators of the Greek Septuagint Version gave them the title, Paraleipomena, meaning "things left over," implying their use as a supplement to Samuel and Kings. Jerome (C. A.D. 340-420) called them "a chronicle of the whole and sacred history" from Adam to Cyrus (538 B.C.) hence their English name. Actually, Chronicles is a summary of Hebrew history that duplicates much of Samuel and Kings.

15-16. Ezra 1-10 and Nehemiah 1-13. The Books of Ezra, and Nehemiah,
Written origanally as one book, these two books describe the return of the Jewish exiles after more than a half-century of bondage in Babylon, and the subsequent restoration of Jerusalem, its Temple and its walls. Ezra and Nehemiah are of special importance, since they contain nearly of all of the direct information know of the post-Exile period of Hebrew history.

17. The Book of Esther 1-10.
The Book of Esther, in the form of a short story similar to the Book of Ruth, has its settings in the palace of Shushan, or Susa, one of three capitals of the Persian Empire. The story gives us a vivid picture of the Jews in exile, of the hostility of their non-Jewish enemies in Persia, and of how Esther became the queen of Ahasuerus (Xerxes), subsequently risking her life in order to save her people, the Jews, from total destruction. God's providential care of His people is magnified throughout, though the word "God" never appears in the book.

3. THE POETICAL BOOKS

18. The Book of Job 1-42.
So named from Job, its chief character, the book deals with an ageless question, one that is puzzling to every generation - the problem of human suffering, particularly the afflication of the righteous. The reader is given an account of the pious Patriarch Job, of the argument carried on between Job and his friends as to the cause of his sufferings, and finally, of the solution to his difficulty. The book's principal aim is to refute the popular view that all suffering is the result of sin in the life of the sufferer.

19. The Book of Psalms 1-150.
A collection of 150 psalms, whose Hebrew name is "The Book of Praise." Authors of individual psalms include David, Solomon, Moses, Asaph, and others who are anonymous, The variety and unity of Psalms have given this book a unique place in the devotional life of the individual and the Church. Almost every aspect of man's relation to God is depicted in these poems: simple trust, the sense of sin, appeal to a higher power in time of trouble, and the conviction that the world is in the hands of a loving God.

20. The Book of Proverbs 1-31. or, The Preacher,
This book is a compendium of proverb collections, Although Solomon inspired the development of the book, its entire content did not derive from him, A proverb is a short, pithy saying with practical implications. The ones included here cover a variety of subjects, for example, chastity, control of the tongue, laziness, knowledge, relations with others, justice. Perhaps above everything else in Proverbs there is the reiterated assertion that the source of true wisdom is "the fear of the Lord."

21. The Book of Ecclesiastes 1-12. or, The Preacher,
In English, The title means "Preacher." Traditionally held to have been written by Solomon, this book is now almost universally recognized as about him rather than by him. The author's purpose is to prove the vanity of everything "under the sun." This truth is first announced as fact, then proved from the "Preacher's" experience and observations. Finally, the author shows that the fullness of life is found only in the recognition of things "above the sun," things spiritual and as well as material.

22. The Book of Songs of Solomon 1-8.
This book, the only one in the Bible that has love for its sole theme, is a collection or cycle of marriage songs. Again, as with Ecclesiastes, the composition is about Solomon, and not by him. The Song is didactic and moral in its purpose, and has traditionally been interpreted as showing God's love for His Chosen People and Christ's love for His Bride, the Church.

4. THE FOUR MAJOR PROPHETS

23. The Book of Prophet Isaiah 1-66.
This book, as is true of all the prophetical books, derives its name from the prophet whose messages it records. The unity of Isaiah, a problem related to authorship and contents, has been the subject of much debate. The message of the book is twofold: judgement upon Judah for her sins (1-39), and comfort and hope for an exiled people (40-66), In these messages of encouragement are found some of the most graphic portrayals of the Messiah (Jesus Christ) in the Old Testament.

24. The Book of Prophet Jeremiah 1-52.
Jeremiah was God's spokesman during the decline and fall of the southern kingdom, Judah. Among the Prophets not one had a more difficult task than that of standing alone for God in the midst of the apostasy of his own people, and not one bares his soul to his reader as does Jeremiah. Although Jeremiah announced the coming destruction of Judah, he looked beyond this judgement to a day when religion, no longer national, would be individual and spititual. This new kind of religion would result from God's "new covenant" with his people.

25. lamentations 1-5. The Book of Lamentations of Prophet Jeremiah,
Entitled in most English versions The Lamentations of Jeremiah, this book is placed immediately after Jeremiah in the Septuagint, Vulgate, and English Bible. In the Hebrew text it is found among the "Writings" In spite of the ancient tradition that Jeremiah was the author, present scholarship is reluctant to accept this view. The book is composed of five poems, lamenting the siege and destruction of Jerusalem (586 B.C.) The poet also makes sincere confession of sin on behalf of the people and leaders, acknowledges complete submission to the will of God, and finally prays that God will once again smile upon his people and restore them to their homeland.

26. The Book of Prophet Ezekiel 1-48.
Ezekiel was carried into exile in Babylon, where he received his call and exercised his prophetic ministry. His dual role of prophet-priest and his position as "watchman" over his people make Ezekiel unique among the prophets and may account for the uniqueness of his message and his methods of delivery. The book contians 48 chapters, divided at the halfway point by the fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel's prophecies before this event are chiefly messages of condemnation upon Judah for her sin; following the city's fall, the prophet speaks to a helpless people of the hope and certainty of restoration to their homeland and of worship again in the Temple.

27. The Book of Prophet Daniel 1-12.
Traditionally considered as the work of the Prophet Daniel in exile in Babylon during the 6th century B.C., many modern scholars classify the book as an "apocalypse" that was the product of a pious Jew living under the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 B.C.). In a series of events and visions, the author presents a view of history in which God rules and prevails over men and nations to achieve ultimate victory for the "saints" of God.

4. THE TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS

28. The Book of Prophet Hosea 1-14.
Sometimes called the "Prophet of Divine Love," Hosea was a native of Israel and was called to be God's spokeman during that kingdom's darkest hour. The apostasy of his own people was enough to break Hosea's heart, but he also bore a heavy cross in his own life--his wife had proved unfaithful. In this bitter experience Hosea came to fathom God's love for his erring children and pleads with his people to repent and avail themselves of God's divine compassion and a love that will not let Israel go.

29. The Book of Prophet Joel 1-3.
Traditionally called the "Prophet of Pentecost," since his prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit (2:28ff.) is quoted by Peter (Acts 2:16) as being fulfilled at Pentecost, Joel was the kind of man who could see the eternal in the temporal. The occasion of his message was a devastating locust plague, which he interpreted as foreboding the Day of the Lord when God would act directly to punish his people for their sins. Joel calls upon the people of Judah to repent, promising that repentance will bring God's blessing, material and spiritual.

30. The Book of Prophet Amos 1-9.
Among the "writing" prophets Amos was the first of a new school, for, like Elijah and John the Bapist, he denounced sin with rustic boldness. A shepherd and native of Judah, he was called by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam 2 (786-746 B.C.). Sparing no one, the prophet fearlessly announced the impending judgement of God. Altough the dominant note of the book is judgement, the final words promise the restoration of a righteous remnant.

31. The Book of Prophet Obadiah (1).
The shortest of the prophetic books, containing only 21 verses, is a scathing denunciation of the Edomites, descendants of Esau, who from the beginning had been hostile to Israel, Its message is primarily one of destruction and doom for Edom. The latter part of the prophecy is concerned with the Day of the Lord when God's judgement will be upon other nations as well as Edom and concludes with the promise that "the kingdom shall be the Lord's."

32. The Book of Prophet Jonah 1-4.
The Old Testament counterpart of John 3:16, this book declares the universality of God's love embracing even pagan nations. Its authorship and historicity are disputed. If one is willing to accept the miraculous, there is no compelling reason to deny its its historicity. There is strong possibility that the book is about Jonah and not by him. The author relates how Jonah refused God's call to preach to the people of Nineveh, his punishment for his disobedience, his ready response to a second summons, and his bitter complaint at God's sparing the city following her repentance. Christ Himself alludes to Jonah when speaking of His own death and Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-41, 16:4; Luke 11:29-32).

33. The Book of Prophet Micah 1-7.
The Prophet Micah was a younger comtemporary of Isaiah and spoke at a time when conditions in Judah paralleled those in the northern kingdom of Israel during Amos' day. Micah's messages are strikingly similar to those of Amos: many of the same sins are denounced and the same rugged, direct, indignant, and convincing language is used. While announcing God's certain judgement upon sin, he also spoke of a sure deliverance to come through the Messiah whose place of birth he predicts.

34. The Book of Prophet Nahum 1-3.
This book is a vivid prediction of the approaching downfall of Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, one of the most warlike of the ancient heathen nations, Of the Prophet Nahum, whose name means "consolation" or "comfort," little is known. His purpose was to comfort his people, long harassed by Assyria, with the promise that this cruel and oppressing people would soon meet destruction at God's hand.

35. The Book of Prophet Habakkuk 1-3.
While this book is true prophecy, Its method is quite different from other writings of the prophets. Dramatically constructed in the form of a dialogue, this book contains the prophet's complaints (questions) and God's reply to them. In God's answers Habakkuk discovers the doorway leading from questioning to affirmation, through which he enters into a faith that enables him to affirm, "I will rejoice in the Lord...God, the Lord, is my strenght."

36. The Book of Prophet Zephaniah 1-3.
This book, though brief, is comprehensive, embracing the two great themes of prophetic teachings: judgement and salvation--both extending to all nations. In some great catastrophe of his day, perhaps the Scythian invasion (c. 626 B.C.), Zephaniah sees God's terrible judgement upon the nations, including Judah. He exhorts the people to repent and assures them that God will dwell in the midst of a righeous remnant following repentance.

37. The Book of Prophet Haggai 1-2.
This book, the first among the writings of the post--Exilic prophets, consists of four prophecies delivered within the space of 4 months, some 15 years after the return of the first exiles to Jerusalem. Work on the second Temple had begun shortly after exiles' arrival, but had been delayed for almost two decades. Haggai comes forward with a series of timely and vigorous messages challenging the people to respond wholeheartedly to a noble task---rebuilding the House of God.

38. The Book of Prophet Zechariah 1-14.
Sometimes called the "Apocalypse of the the Old Testament," this book contains the messages of the Prophet Zechariah, a comtemporary of Haggai, The main divisions of the book (1-8, 9-14) are noticeably dissimilar in both style and subject matter, a fact that has led some to assign the last division (9-14) to another author. The first eight chapters are primarily concerned with the rebulding of the Temple, although the language used is highly symbolical, Chapters 9 to 14 deal with "last things," the "end times," Many Messianic references are found, and the writer foresees the Day of the Lord when Israel will be restored, the nations judged, and God's kingdom triumphant.

39. The Book of Prophet Malachi 1-4.
The name of the last book of the Old Testament and of the Prophet whose oracles it contains. Malachi (from Hebrew meaning "my messenger") is an invaluable historical source concerning the Judaean Jews during the Persian period. two themes are predominant: the sin and apostasy of Israel (1-2): and the coming judgement upon the faithless, with blessings promised for those who repent (3-4). The growing Messianic expectation in the Old Testament is apparent in Malachi by the announcement of God's "messenger of the covenant," by whose coming Israel will be purified and judged; and of the return of the Prophet Elijah who will proclaim the Day of the Lord.

Thanking God for teaching us his Word, In Jesus name we pray, Amen.