old testament survey...pentateuch/torah/the law –foundational texts of the jewish people. consists...

Introduction to the BibleOld Testament Survey

Presented by Deacon Tim Cross

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveyGenres in Hebrew Scripture

Major Genres within the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament):

● Foundational Myths & Legends - stories about the origins of the world, first

generations of humans, or the early years of a nation; intended to provide

foundational world-view upon which people base their communal and

individual lives (Genesis, parts of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

▪ Legal Codes - collections of laws and instructions by which the people are to live (Leviticus, parts of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

▪ Scrolls/Genealogies - lists of inter-relationships between peoples, either of successive generations or of different nations (parts of Genesis, much of

Numbers)▪ Annals - semi-historical narrative accounts of select events in a nation's life,

focusing especially upon political and military exploits of its leaders, since usually written under royal sponsorship (Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2

Kings, etc.)▪ Prophetic Books - collections of the oracles or words of God spoken to the

people through human intermediaries (prophets) and the symbolic actions they perform at God's direction for the people's benefit (Isaiah, Jeremiah,

Ezekiel, etc.)

Major Genres within the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament):

● Psalms/Odes/Songs - poetic lyrics of songs/hymns intended for communal

worship and/or individual prayer (Psalms)

● Prayers/Laments - words addressed by people to God, esp. reflecting situations

of crisis or lament (Lamentations)

● Proverbs - generalized sayings and aphorisms containing advice on how to live

well: "do good and avoid evil" (Proverbs)

● Wisdom Literature - various types of inspirational stories that encourage

people to live wisely (Job, Wisdom, etc.)

● Apocalypses - symbolic narratives that interpret historical crises through God's

eyes to provide hope for a better future (Daniel)

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveyStructure of Old Testament (in Christian Bibles)

● Pentateuch/Torah/The Law – foundational texts of the Jewish people. Consists of the first five books

of Hebrew Scripture: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

● Historical – pseudo-historical books on the nation of Israel from entrance into Promised Land

through revolt against Seleucid rule. “Deuteronomic” History: Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2

Kings. “Chronicler’s” History: 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah. Other: Ruth, Esther, Lamentations.

Deuterocanonical: Judith, Tobit, Baruch, 1 & 2 Maccabees.

● Wisdom Writings – collection of writings offering wisdom and moral insights: Job, Psalms, Proverbs,

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Deuterocanonical: Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Wisdom of Solomon.

● Prophets – written collection of the oracles (prophetic words) of God spoken to the people through

mediators called prophets. Generally speaking to issues of the present time and warning of what will

come in the future if people do not change their ways. Divided into “Major” and “Minor” prophets

based on size of book. Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. Minor: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, (Jonah),

Michah, Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

● Apocalyptic – Daniel.

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveyCulture of Ancient Israel

● Jewish society, like most Mediterranean/Middle Eastern Societies = honor/shame

focus.

● Honor/Shame Society – intense focus on one’s honor and avoiding bringing shame to

one’s family, clan, tribe.

● Tribal society -- structure is around community and relationships, not importance of

self.

● God Relationship is Communal – they were the “Chosen People” not the “Chosen One.”

Relationship with God not so much personal as community-based. Dishonoring God

individually could bring shame on whole family, tribe, people of Israel.

● God-Centered – although often failing to live up to standards and falling away from God,

Israel as a nation, community, culture, down to daily lives, structure around relationship

to God. (No separation of church and state.)

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveyVoices or Authors in Pentateuch

Yahwist (J)

◦ Earliest and most

comprehensive source

◦ Uses frank/earthy

language to express God’s

closeness to his people.

◦ God = YHWH.

◦ God walks & talks with his

people.

◦ Stress on blessing,

leaders, Judah.

◦ Mount Sinai

◦ Natives = Canaanites

Elohist (E)

◦ More formal, distant God

◦ More refined speech re:

God

◦ Anti-Jerusalem in

approach

◦ God = Elohim or El

◦ God speaks in dreams

◦ Stress on prophetic

narrative, fear of the Lord,

northern Israel

◦ Mount Horeb

◦ Natives = Amorites

Deuteronomist (D)

◦ Majestic speech about

God

◦ Focuses worship in

Jerusalem

◦ God = Elohim or El

◦ Stress on obeying law,

cultic nature, Judah

◦ Favors dry lists and

schemata

◦ Genealogy lists

Priestly (P)

◦ Written during exile period of

Jewish history

◦ Moralistic approach w/ speech

recalling God’s work

◦ God = YHWH

◦ Stresses obedience to God and

permanence of blessing/covenant

◦ Stresses fidelity to Jerusalem,

whole land of Israel, obedience to

Mosaic law

◦ Long homiletic speech, military

imagery

◦ Uses many fixed phrases

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveyFour Themes of the Pentateuch

Promise

◦ Hebrew people descendants of slaves.

◦ Yet from the beginning Israel was convinced there was always the hope based on the divine promise.

◦ God promised an ultimate victory for mankind after the first fall from grace (Gn 3:15).

◦ God promised a new order in the universe after the catastrophe of the flood (Gn 9:8-17).

◦ In Abraham the promise becomes more specific; it envisages a single land and a single people (Gn 12:1-3).

◦ Throughout the rest of Genesis, that promise, renewed in each generation, is the one great binding force that brings coherence and unity to the individual stories.

Election

◦ In Deuteronomy: “You are a

people sacred to the Lord, your

God; he has chosen you from all

the nations on the face of the

earth to be a people peculiarly

his own.”

◦ For God, election is the act of

sovereign free choice; for

humanity it indicates the choice

of one from among all others.

◦ The ultimate goal of the promise

was the election of the one

people, Israel, as the Chosen

People to bring about the new

order God promises.

Covenant◦ In priestly tradition, election usually accompanied

by a covenant – the entering into a special, committed relationship.

◦ Four covenants to mark four periods of history.

◦ First covenant is between God and Adam (implied in Gn 1:26-29). God creates, gives Adam stewardship over creation and relationship with God.

◦ Second covenant is with Noah and his household (Gn 9:8-17). He will spare them and renew creation through them (and animals Noah saves). Agrees never to destroy world through water again.

◦ The third covenant is between God and Abraham and his whole tribe (Gn 17). God will make Abraham the father of many nations.

◦ Fourth covenant is between God and the whole of Israel, represented by Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 19:1-6). God will give them a land to be their own. They must obey him to maintain blessings and authority over land.

◦ The Sinai covenant is not only the climactic point of the Pentateuch but of the entire Old Testament.

Law

◦ The Law is at the heart of Jewish

life. Given so that they might

remain faithful to God.

◦ For their benefit; not their harm.

◦ Emphasis on communal

responsibility and relationship to

God.

◦ Provides concrete instructions for

Israel regarding her relationship

with God, her own members and

outsiders.

◦ Can seem bizarre to us, but

designed to ensure God woven

into all aspects of life. Designed

to protect unique role as Chosen

People, but with compassion

towards the foreigner.

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveyThe Pentateuch –Heart of Hebrew Scripture

Books of the Law

Genesis Summary—Genesis is the book of origins or beginnings. It is a record of creation (the universe, earth and man), humanity's fall from grace, the story of Noah's flood and the tower of Babel. The second part relates the story of God's plan to redeem both man and the world beginning with a covenant with Abraham. The rest of Genesis relates the lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, ending with the people of God living in Egypt.

Exodus Summary—A new pharaoh enslaves the people of God, who cry out for deliverance. God raises up Moses through whom he delivers his people from Pharaoh through a series of plagues. God then guides his people to Mount Sinai where he gives them a set of laws, a constitution by which to live. The people of God become the nation of God. The 10 commandments are part of that law and represent the law's essence. God orders the building of his tabernacle so that he can dwell amongst his people.

Leviticus Summary—God gives laws to his people, governing their sacrifices and festivals. In addition, God gives a set of purity laws to his people, including dietary restrictions to keep them holy.

Numbers Summary—Israel lacks faith in entering the Promised Land. God punishes Israel by making them wander in the desert for forty years untilall of the adult generation that came out of Egypt has died. The book of Numbers takes its name from the census that is conducted at the beginning of the book to count the number of men in order to determine the size of God’s army that would have conquered the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy Summary—“Deuteronomy” means “the second law” and basically, it is a recounting of the laws that God previously gave to his people at Mount Sinai. The reason the laws are repeated is because the adult generation that came out of Egypt has passed away and a new generation must renew their covenant with God.

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveyMajor Historical Periods Covered in Old Testament

Block #1: Primeval History – Beginning of Time to 2000BC (Genesis chapters 1-11).

● The first eleven chapters of Genesis tell us about the creation of the world, the fall of the first

man and woman, and the spread of sin.

● These chapters of the Bible are often referred to as “primeval” history because they deal with

events that occurred before recorded history.

● Most well-known passages include:

● God creates world in six days, resting on seventh

● Adam & Eve created, tricked by serpent into eating the fruit from Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad, banished from Eden

● God condemns man to working the land and woman to child-bearing, curses serpent with promise that the mother of the son of

man will crush his head under her heel

● Cain and Abel

● Tower of Babel

● Noah, the Ark and the Great Flood


Block #2: The Patriarchs – 2000BC to 1700BC (Genesis chapters 12-50).

● God comes into the life of a nomad called Abraham living in area of Sumer (Euphrates & Tigris River basin) and enters into a covenant relationship with him.

● God calls on Abraham to take his family to Canaan. Abraham symbol of faith and trust in God.

● God promises Abraham that his and his wife’s (Sarah) descendants will be as numerous as the stars of the sky and will inherit a land of their own – the Promised Land.

● The rest of Genesis tells the story of Abraham and Sarah’s son, Isaac, their grandsons, Jacob and Esau, and great-grandsons, Joseph and his brothers. Patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Matriarchs, without whom God’s story would not have moved forward, are Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.

● Jacob’s twelve sons become the Founding Fathers of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

● Well-known passages include:

● God calls on Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Horeb

● Jacob tricks Isaac into giving him Esau’s inheritance

● Jacob works for years in Laban’s service to marry Rachel

● Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers

● Joseph becomes great leader in Egypt, plays with his brother’s heads, forgives them and invites them to live in Egypt to avoid famine


Block #3: Egypt and the Exodus –1400BC to 1250BC (Exodus).

● At the beginning of the book of Exodus, we discover that the descendants of Jacob’s (renamed Israel by God) children– now for the first time called Israelites – are in slavery in Egypt.

● God hears their cries for freedom and calls Moses to lead the people out of Egypt.

● On their way to the Promised Land, the people stop at Mount Sinai where God extends the covenant he made with Abraham to all the Israelites.

● God gives Moses the Ten Commandments which spell out how the people are to relate to God and each other.

● During their journey through the desert, the people complain and lose faith in God. As a result, they wander in the desert for forty years before they enter the Promised Land.

● Well-known passages:

● Ten plagues of Egypt: water turns to blood, frogs, locusts, flies, hail, death of first born

● Passover – angel of death

● Moses (really God) parts Red Sea

● Song/Dance of Miriam

● Moses and 10 Commandments

● Worship of Golden Calf

● Poisonous snakes and seraph

● Building of Tent for God and Ark of Covenant


Block #4: Conquest of the Promised Land, Era of the Judges –1250BC to 1050BC (Joshua and Judges).

● Moses dies before the Israelites enter the Promised Land.

● God calls a new leader, Joshua, to lead the people into the land, much of which is inhabited by other people (the Canaanites or Amorites).

● The Israelites must fight to gain control of the land. When they trust God, they are successful in their battles; when they do not trust God, they fail.

● Eventually they gain control of the land, and each of the twelve tribes is given its own section of the land.

● In Judges, new invaders, the Philistines, try to capture the land. At this time, the Israelites have no king because God is their ruler. But God calls special prophets and warriors, called Judges, to help deliver justice and defend the land against the Philistine invasion.

Well-known passages:

◦ 12 memorial stones from bed of Jordan

◦ Joshua captures Jericho – walls come tumbling down

◦ “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” – Renewal of the covenant.

◦ Power women: Deborah leads Israel to victory; Jael drives a tent peg through Sisera’s temple.

◦ Less than enthusiastic Gideon and his horns.

◦ Samson & Delilah.


Block #5: The Monarchy, Kingdoms of Judah and Israel –1050BC to 587BC (1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings).

◦ At the end of the period of the Judges, the Israelites want their own king. God reluctantly answers their plea.

◦ He has Samuel – the last of the Judges – anoint Saul as the first king of Israel.

◦ David follows Saul as the next king.

◦ David is a mighty warrior and unites all the twelve Tribes into one kingdom.

◦ David’s son, Solomon, builds a Temple at Jerusalem, the capital city. After Solomon’s death, there is disagreement between the tribes, and the kingdom splits in two.

◦ Israel is the name of the northern kingdom and Judah the southern kingdom. Many of the kings of Israel and Judah worship foreign gods and allow injustice in the kingdom. Most northern kings = bad; some southern kings = good.

◦ God raises up prophets (e.g. Amos, Hosea and Isaiah) to call the people to obey their Covenant with God.

◦ Well-known passages:

◦ Samuel as a young man: “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

◦ David slays the giant Philistine, Goliath

◦ David sleeps with Bathsheba and has her husband Uriah killed.

◦ David wants to build a house for God; God promises David’s “house” will stand forever. {Messiah foreshadowing.]

◦ Solomon splits the baby;

◦ Solomon builds the Temple.

◦ Solomon & the Queen of Sheba.

◦ Elijah and the widow of Zaraphath; Elijah and the prophets of Baal; Elijah finds God in the whisper of the wind.

◦ Elisha and the cure of Naaman the leper.


Block #6: Exile and Return –587BC to 1AD (Ezra, Nehemiah and 1 Maccabees).

◦ Despite the prophets’ warnings, the people of Israel and Judah continue to turn away from God’s covenant with them.

◦ So God lets their kingdoms be conquered. Israel is conquered by the Assyrians in 721 BC. Judah is conquered by the Babylonians in 587 BC.

◦ Many of the people are taken into captivity, so this period is called the Exile.

◦ Prophets like Ezekiel comfort the Israelites with the promise that God is still with them.

◦ Seventy years pass in exile. Then King Cyrus allows the people – now called Judeans or Jews –to return to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.

◦ The people see God’s hand at work. When Alexander the Great comes along, the Greeks rule Israel.

◦ About 150 BC the Maccabees, a Jewish family, leads a successful revolt against the Greeks to restore Jewish independence. During this troubled time, the people are hoping for a messiah, or savior, to make them great again.

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveySummary of Major Historical Books

Historical Books

Joshua Summary—After Israel’s renewal of the covenant in Deuteronomy (at the foot of the promised land), the Book of Joshua narrates the conquest of this land and the division of the land among the twelve tribes of Israel.

Judges Summary—After Joshua’s death, the people of God began a cycle of sin which included: idolatry, judgment of God by an invading army, the people’s repentance and clamor for deliverance, raising of a judge and the peace of God’s people. This cycle repeats itself twelve times in the Book of Judges.

Ruth—Occurring during the time of the judges, this book tells the story of a foreigner called Ruth, who becomes part of God’s people through marriage.

1 and 2 Samuel Summary—Narrates the establishment of the ministry of the prophet Samuel who anoints Saul as the first king of Israel and is witness to the rise of the united kingdom in Israel. These books then trace Saul’s demise and David’s ascendance and kingship.

1 and 2 Kings Summary—Narrates Solomon’s kingship, the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah, and God’s judgment of his disobedient people into exile.

1 and 2 Chronicles Summary—Narrates David and Solomon’s kingship as well as a selection of southern kings and Judah’s judgment into exile. First and Second Chronicles is written for the people who returned from exile as a way to encourage them in their faith.

They were spiritual heirs of David and Solomon and God would not forget the promises he made to David and to his people. Thus, David and Solomon are portrayed in a more positive light, and only the southern kingdom (Judah) is highlighted.

Ezra and Nehemiah Summary—These two books should be seen as one volume. They narrate the return of the exiles from Babylon in three different groups. One is lead by Zerubbabel, who begins to rebuild the temple. Another is lead by Nehemiah, who rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem. A third is lead by Ezra the scribe, who teaches God’s people the law and reestablishes the worship of God and Israel’s festivals.

Esther Summary—Occurs during the exile of Israel and retells the story of Queen Esther, a Jew who saves her people from an evil plot to destroy them.

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveySummary of Major Wisdom Books

Wisdom Books

Job Summary—The Book of Job traces the story of the character by the same name. The setting of the story is a test of Job's faith by removing everything that is of value to him (wealth, family and health). God finally answers Job but offers no explanation for the suffering. Instead God humbles Job and seeks to remove any sense of self-righteousness in order that he might find his purpose in God. The book ends with God restoring everything that Job had lost. [Job should not be seen as an actual, historical figure.]

Psalms Summary—The Book of Psalms is essentially a hymnbook for the Hebrew nation. It contains 150 songs and prayers that focus on Israel's religious life. There are 70 Psalms attributed to King David, many of which detail Saul's vengeful pursuit of the would-be king David.

Types of Psalms: Laments / praises; royal Psalms (where God's kingship is celebrated); thanksgiving Psalms; and messianic Psalms that the New Testament writers used in speaking about Jesus (for example Psalm 22). One of the most beloved parts of Scripture is Psalm 23 (The Lord is My Shepherd) while Psalm 119 celebrates the goodness of God's word. It is also the longest Psalm (stanza for each letter in Hebrew alphabet).

Proverbs Summary—Proverbs are short sayings that communicate a moral truth or principle. The goal of the Book of Proverbs is to communicate wisdom for godly living, a wisdom that originates and comes from God. Wisdom is more precious than gold and only a fool is not interested in receiving its instructions.

Ecclesiastes Summary—The Book of Ecclesiastes is attributed to Solomon and is a biography that examines the meaning of life. One of his conclusions is that all of men's actions are essentially transitory and meaningless. Therefore one should enjoy life's simple pleasures including work which is God's gift to humans. The author's final conclusion on life's meaning however is the most noteworthy: Fear God and keep his commandment for that is the whole duty of everyone (Eccl 12:13).

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveySummary of Books of the Major Prophets

Isaiah Summary – Isaiah was a prophet who spoke out against compromise among God’s people. This made him less than popular. But in doing so he reveals so much to us today about God’s holiness, righteousness, and much about Jesus Christ as God’s suffering servant (Isa 53). God often used Isaiah as a visual aid to demonstrate what he was trying to get them to understand. In Isaihah 20:2-6 he is told to preach naked to show the people that they too would be shamed if they followed earthly rulers over God. Isaiah teaches us that God does act as judge but he does so in order to teach us and redeem us.

Jeremiah Summary – Jeremiah went through a lot as a prophet for the Lord. He had his share of beatings and persecution at the hands of his own people. This was all because he was sent to them with the unpopular message of repentance and of the defeat of the nation. Jeremiah is one of the prophets that warned the people of their exile or banishment from the land with the coming of the Assyrian army and the destruction of Jerusalem. Not quite the most popular message! We admire Jeremiah’s willingness to be bold and speakthe truth even when it wasn’t popular or got him into trouble.

Lamentations Summary – Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 BC. Lamentations contains Jeremiah’s reflections on those devastating events. Jeremiah is often called the “Weeping prophet” and lamentations certainly carries that tone. Even though the people had been sinful, it is still difficult watching them come to ruin. Even so, there is still hope for God’s people to return to their former glory but the process is hard – exile from the land only to have their children later come and reclaim it.

Ezekiel Summary – Ezekiel was a prophet to the exiles in Babylon at the same time Jeremiah was back home prophesying in Jerusalem. When the Babylonians and Assyrians took the people of Israel and Judah into captivity they normally took the rich and powerful first. That is how Ezekiel is in exile while Jeremiah was still back home preaching to those left behind. Ezekiel is in Babylonia trying to get the newly exiled Israelites to finally get their hearts right.

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveySummary of Books of the Minor Prophets

Daniel Summary – Like Ezekiel, Daniel is also in Babylon. We normally think of the word prophesy or prophet being about predicting the future. Prophesy is actually about revealing things from God to mankind. Sometimes those are future events and other times it is a message from God about right here and now. Daniel is apocalyptic literature in mostly symbolic language about events that are to come. It was to show the people in Babylon through the exile that God was still concerned for them and had a plan for their future. We learn this through Daniel’s recording of several visions God gave him about future events (now long past). The final two chapters are considered deuterocanonical; three sections: Daniel and the kings of Babylon, including the stories of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lions' den (1:1-6:29), Daniel's visions of the four beasts, Gabriel and the 70 weeks, and the Hellenistic wars (7:1-12:13), and the appendix, containing the stories of Susanna's virtue and Bel and the dragon (13:1-14:42).

Hosea Summary – Hosea was called by God to be a prophet who was to speak out about the spiritual adultery of idolatry. God used Hosea as an object lesson by having him go and marry a prostitute. She would cheat on him time and time again, just like God’s people had cheated on God through worshipping idols. We learn from Hosea how great God’s love is for us, how much he puts up with and how badly he wants us to be pure and make things right.

Joel Summary – Joel was writing in order to warn the people of an upcoming disaster. The land was going to be invaded by a mighty army. He uses the analogy or image of an invasion of locusts that come in and ravage the land, devouring everything in their path. He urges the people to repent or perish. Joel tells the people the Day of the Lord is coming…this is a day of judgment and wrath. In this case the day of the Lord is a dreadful thing to be feared for those who were unrepentant. We learn from Joel that sin does matter, that God is watching, and that there is a price to be paid for rebellion against the Lord.

Amos Summary – Amos preached judgment on the northern tribes of Israel due to their sin and rebellion. Amos is made up of a series of sermons and judgments preached against God’s people with the hope of their repentance. They didn’t listen. The last chapter of Amos prophesies Israel will be destroyed and later be restored.

Obadiah Summary – This prophesy is about Edom and Jerusalem. Edom was a nation made up of relatives to the Jews (through Esau – See Obadiah 1:6 and Genesis 25-27). When Jerusalem was attacked, Edom should have helped them. Instead they mocked Israel and incurred the wrath and judgment of God. Edom is the shortest book in the Old Testament, only 1 chapter long. In this book we see how passionate God is for his people and will eventually bring judgment on those who stand opposed to God’s people.

Jonah Summary – Jonah is really a book about God’s mercy. It is one of the few times in the Old Testament that God offers a nation, other than Israel, opportunity to repent. It shows that God is interested in the hearts of all people, everywhere. Jonah failed to recognize God’s goodness and mercy. First he flees from God’s call and last he pouts and complains about God’s mercy. God is good in spite of our misunderstanding. [Jonah is more satire/moral story than true prophetic literature.]

Micah Summary – Like the rest, Micah is concerned with God’s judgment against Israel’s sin. Micah also speaks out against false hope that things will go well because they are “God’s people” even if they aren’t acting like it. We often think of sin as something between us and God but it can be more than that. Micah emphasizes how they have acted evilly against even their own people and how God will bring judgment on them for it.

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveySummary of Books of the Minor Prophets

Nahum Summary – Like Jonah Nahum also prophesies against Ninevah. This time God is fed up with their sin and will bring destruction. Ninevah was the capital of Assyria and was viewed as a great and powerful nation. But no one can stand up to the judgment of God. God made good on his word and destroyed them.

HabakkukSummary – Habakkuk starts out with Habakkuk questioning the integrity of his own people, Israel. He calls for God’s judgment to come upon them for their wickedness. When God declares he will answer Habakkuk’s plea by bringing the Assyrian’s to destroy them Habakkuk is left with the question of why God would let someone even more wicked have victory over God’s people. God doesn’t answer his question directly. Habakkuk is left with his question but with a new realization that even though he doesn’t “Get it” that God does and that he just has to live by faith (Hab 2:4)

Zephaniah Summary – Like many of the books before Zephaniah is a book about God’s judgment on Israel for their sin but the promise and hope of restoration to follow.

Haggai Summary – Haggai kicks off the last three prophets, who were preaching to those who were now back home from exile. The message of Haggai is to keep first things first. The people had come back home and built nice homes for themselves but God’s temple had not be rebuilt properly. He called on them to make this right.

Zechariah Summary – Zephaniah happens just after Haggai, once the people have started rebuilding the temple. Much of Zechariah is very difficult to understand so don’t feel too bad if this is a difficult book to read. Zechariah looks forward to the coming of the Messiah.

Malachi Summary – The last book of the Old Testament picks up where Haggai and Zechariah left off. The people still have much to do to get their priorities in line. Even though they had gone through a rough exile and were finally back home it shows people can still very easily become complacent. It ends the Hebrew Scriptures with the promise of a new Elijah who will precede the coming of the Lord. It is a foreshadowing and lead-in to the New Testament.

Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament SurveySummary of the Deuterocanonical Books

Book of Tobit: religious novel focusing on Tobit, a wealthy Israelite living among the captives deported to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, in 721 B.C., his trials and tribulations and those of his family; in the person of the fictional Tobit, the book illustrates Jewish piety and the power of prayer, and includes many maxims also found in the wisdom books. Includes: Tobit's ordeals (1:1-3:6), the plight of Sarah, who became Tobit's daughter-in-law (3:7-17), Tobiah's journey and marriage to Sarah, including a visit from the angel Raphael (4:1-9:6), Tobiah's return and the cure of Tobit's blindness (10:1-11:18), Raphael's revelation of his identity (12:1-22), Tobit's song of praise (13:1-18), and an epilogue containing Tobit's final advice and death (14:1-15).

Book of Judith: this is a tract for difficult times, with God, the master of history, delivering the Jews from the Assyrians through the pious widow Judith, who kills the Assyrian general Holofernes; the name Judith means "Jewess"; three sections: the perils the Jews are facing during the Assyrian invasion (1:1-7:32), the deliverance of the Jews through Judith's plan and leadership (8:1-14:10), and the victory over the Assyrians, including Judith's hymn of thanksgiving (14:11-16:25).

First Book of Maccabees: recounts the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid kings and pagan influences in the second century B.C.; the revolt was led by the heroic sons of the priest Mattathias, Judas Maccabeus, Jonathan and Simon, and by his grandson, John Hyrcanus. Includes widow who allows her 7 sons to be tortured to death rather than betray their faith.

Second Book of Maccabees: this book is not a sequel to 1 Maccabees, but covers a 20-year period in the second century B.C.; the author condenses a five-volume work by Jason of Cyrene, and there is overlap with 1 Maccabees, as the book reiterates the importance of the Maccabean revolt and introduces ideas about the afterlife. Includes: two letters from Judean Jews to Egyptian Jews (1:1-2:18), the author's preface mentioning Jason's work (2:19-32), the attempt by the chief minister Heliodorusto profane the Temple (3:1-40), the desecration of the Temple and persecution of the Jews (4:1-7:42), the victories of Judas Maccabeus and purification of the Temple (8:1-10:8), the renewed persecution of the Jews (10:9-15:36), and an epilogue containing the author's apology (15:37-39).

Book of Wisdom: also known as the Wisdom of Solomon, another compilation of proverbs and sage advice attributed to Solomon, but was written in Greek probably by a Jew living in Alexandria, Egypt, about a hundred years before Christ

Book of Sirach: the longest of the wisdom books; its Latin name, Ecclesiasticus, means "church book," suggesting its use in teaching catechumens and the faithful; the prologue says that Jesus ben Sira taught this wisdom to boys in Jerusalem and that it was translated into Greek by his grandson around 132 B.C..

Book of Baruch: ascribed to Baruch, the secretary of the prophet Jeremiah, contains different compositions, in prose and poetry, Hebrew and Greek, collected around the theme of the Babylonian exile.

old testament survey...pentateuch/torah/the law –foundational texts of the jewish people. consists...

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