Bible Survey

Genesis The first book of the Bible is named Genesis or “beginning.” Genesis presents the divine origin of the world. This is not a scientific account of the beginning of the universe or of life. It is Israel’s faith statement of God’s activity in the origins of the universe and of mankind fundamental for our salvation. Genesis also provides an account of the beginnings of Israel and God’s call to Abraham, and his relatives, the Patriarchs. In Genesis the stage is set for salvation since it is here we are told of Creation, sin, and God’s first promises to save mankind. The book can be divided into two sections. The first section, chapters 1 through 11, present the story of Creation and the beginning of Israel’s salvation. The second section, chapters 12 through 50, introduce us to the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Exodus The second book of the Bible is called Exodus, from the Greek word for ‘departure,’ because its central event is the departure of the from Egypt. Exodus recounts the Egyptian oppression of Jacob’s ever-increasing descendants and their miraculous deliverance by God through Moses, who led them across the Red Sea to Mount Sinai where they received the Law entering into a covenant with the Lord. The Law, or Torah in Hebrew, constitutes the moral, civil, and ritual legislation by which the Israelites were to become a holy people. Many elements of the Law were fundamental to the teaching of Jesus as well as to New Testament and Christian moral teaching. Dramatic episodes of rebellion, repentance, and divine mercy are recounted in this book. These events made Israel a nation and confirmed their unique relationship with God. Leviticus The third book of the Bible is called Leviticus, derived from the Greek title that means, “That Which Pertains to the Levites.” It actually deals more with the priests, who are of the tribe of Levi. Leviticus is God’s guidebook for his newly redeemed people. It treats mainly cultic matters (sacrifices and offerings, purity and holiness, the priesthood, the operation of the sanctuary, and feast days). It is also interested in various behavioral, ethical, and economic issues (idolatrous worship, treatment of others, the sale of land, slavery). In Exodus, Israel was redeemed and established as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Leviticus shows how God’s people are to fulfill their priestly calling through sacrifice (chapters 1- 17) and sanctification (chapters 18-27). Numbers The fourth book of the Bible is called Numbers. It derives its name from the account of the two censuses taken of the Hebrew people, one near the beginning and the other toward the end of the journey in the wilderness. It continues the story of the journey begun in Exodus and describes the experiences of the Israelites for a period of thirty-eight years. Numerous legal ordinances are interspersed in the account, making the book a combination of law and history. The book divides neatly into two parts. Each part begins with a census of the people (chapters 1 & 26) and inaugurates a period of preparation prior to entering the Promised Land. The book ends with the Israelites across the Jordan outside the land of Canaan. Deuteronomy The fifth book of the Bible is called Deuteronomy, meaning, “copy of the law.” This title is appropriate since the book replicates much of the legal content of the previous books, serving as a “second law.” The book brings to a close the five books of the Torah or Bible Survey

Pentateuch with a retrospective account of Israel’s past; the exodus, the Sinai covenant, and the wilderness wanderings, along with a look into Israel’s future as they are about to enter Canaan, the Promised Land. The book consists of three long passages by Moses. Each of these passages contains narrative, law, and exhortation. The book can be understood as a survival manual for Israel in their life as a people, how to live and what to avoid. They can choose to love the Lord and keep his commandments, or to serve other gods. Whichever choice they make as a people carries consequences, a blessing or a curse. Joshua The Book of Joshua is the sixth book of the Bible. It presents a narrative of the way Israel took possession of the land of Canaan, making it the land of Israel. The process is swift and is followed by an orderly division and disposition of the land among the twelve tribes with a concluding ceremony of covenant renewal. The Israelites are led by Joshua, the successor of Moses. The book depicts not only how Joshua carries on the work of Moses, but how the conquest of Canaan is continuous with the exodus from Egypt, especially in the crossing of the Jordan River, which is patterned after the crossing of the Red Sea. The theological message of the book is that God has been faithful to the promise of the land. If Israel relies totally on the Lord, and remains united as a people, then Israel will possess the Land. Judges The Book of Judges refers not to specialized judicial officers or magistrates, but to leaders in general. These judges led Israel from the end of the conquest of Canaan until the establishment of the monarchy. The period of Judges therefore extends from the death of Joshua until the installation of Saul as Israel’s first king by the prophet Samael, who was also the last judge. The main part of the book consists of a series of stories about thirteen leaders, or judges, Samson being the most well known. The narrative describes a repeating pattern of events; (1) Israel forgets God and sins; (2) God responds in anger and allows a foreign power to oppress Israel; (3) Israel repents of its sin and pleads for God’s help; and (4) God raises up a judge to deliver his people and restore faithfulness in Israel. The book reaffirms that the future of Israel depends upon the people’s obedience or disobedience to God’s law and their fidelity to the worship of God alone. Ruth The Book of Ruth, set in the days of the judges, is named for the Moabite woman who commits herself to the Israelite people by an oath of loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of her husband. God rewards Ruth’s loyalty by giving her a new husband, Boaz, and a privileged position in the family line of David and Christ. She is one of the few women listed in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:5. The aim of the book is to demonstrate God’s care for those who are faithful to family and to the Lord, regardless of nationality, and to accent the special favor of the house of David in God’s plan for the people of Israel.

Bible Survey

First Samuel First Samuel covers nearly one hundred years from the birth of Samuel to the death of Saul. During this time the people of Israel are oppressed again and again by the powerful Philistines, who reside along the Mediterranean coast and press inward to Israel’s territories. This oppression set the stage for the battle between David and Goliath, who was a Philistine. First Samuel records the crucial transition from leadership under the judges to the monarchy under the kings. The book is built around three key men: Samuel (Chs. 1 through 7), Saul (Chs. 8 through 31), and David (Chs. 16 through 31). Throughout the story a consistent theme is maintained. Israel’s success and prosperity depend upon their faithfulness to the Lord. Second Samuel treats the highlights of David’s reign, first over Judah and then over Israel as a whole. It traces David’s ascension to the throne, the days of his prosperity and faithfulness, and the period of David’s sins and repentance. A central concern of the book is the affirmation of the dynasty of David as God’s chosen people. The book can be surveyed in three divisions: The triumphs of David (Chs. 1-10), the transgressions of David (Ch. 11), and the troubles of David (Chs. 12-24). The Book of First Kings traces the life of Solomon, son of King David, from his ascent to the throne, during his powerful reign and the building of the Temple, until the division of the kingdom among his successors. First and Second Kings are not a modern-style history book, but rather a religious history; theological purpose determined the selection of material and the interpretation of events. Kings are measured upon faithfulness to the covenant, and the nation’s success depends upon the people’s loyalty to the Lord. The book divides clearly into two sections: the united kingdom (Chs. 1 through 11) and the divided kingdom (Chs. 12 through 22.) The Book of Second Kings continues without interruption the narrative of First Kings. The twin kingdoms of Israel to the north and Judah to the south head towards captivity as the once united kingdom becomes increasingly diminished. Division has led to decline and now ends in double deportation, with Israel captured by Assyria and Judah by Babylon. The prophetic movement develops during this time in both the north and south, as time and again the kings are warned and invited to repentance by God’s messengers. The book traces the history of the divided kingdom in chapters 1 through 17, and the history of the surviving kingdom in chapters 18 through 25. The Book of First Chronicles cover the same period of Jewish history described in Second Samuel through Second Kings. The books are not a simple repetition of the same material, but rather a theological reinterpretation of that material in connection with the people’s lives after the Exile. Their theological aim is to affirm the priority of the Davidic dynasty in God’s plan for Israel and to reassert the centrality of Temple worship in the postexile period. Chronicles retraces the whole story of Israel’s history up to the return from captivity in order to give the returned remnant a divine perspective on the developments of their past. The whole Book of First Chronicles, like Second Samuel, is dedicated to the life of David. It begins with the royal line of David (Chs. 1 through 9) before surveying key events of the reign of David (Chs. 10 through 29). Bible Survey

The Book of Second Chronicles parallels the history of First and Second Kings, but virtually ignores the northern kingdom of Israel, apparently because of its abandonment of worship at the Jerusalem Temple. The Chronicler focuses on the kings of Judah who pattern their lives and rules after the model of David. The Temple and Temple worship are central throughout the book. The author is concerned to demonstrate that the fortunes of the people depend upon their faithful worship of God alone. Chronicles repeatedly teaches that whenever God’s people forsake him, he withdraws his blessings, but trust in and obedience to the Lord bring victory. Solomon’s glory is seen in chapters 1 through 9, and Judah’s decline and deportation in chapters 10 through 36. Second Chronicles ends on a note of hope at the end of the captivity, when Cyrus issues the decree for the restoration of Judah, “Now, all of you who are God’s people, go there, and may the Lord your God be with you.” (36:23). The order of the books in the Hebrew Scriptures differs from our Old Testament, ending with the Book of Second Chronicles and this note of hope. Our Old Testament ends with the Book of Malachi, which offers another kind of hope, the messenger of the covenant, “The messenger of the covenant whom you desire – see, he is coming! Says the Lord of hosts.” (3:1) The Book of Ezra continues the story exactly where Second Chronicles ends and shows how God’s promise to bring his people back to their land is fulfilled. God is with his people, and although their days of glory seem over, their spiritual heritage still remains, and God’s promises will be fulfilled. Ezra relates the story of the first two returns from Babylon. The first led by Zerubbabel, a “prince” of Judah and a direct descendant of King David, and the second led decades later by Ezra. Ezra is an expert in the Law and is known in the (Jewish commentary on Scripture) as a second Moses because of his devotion to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Ezra is responsible for the religious renewal of the people in Jerusalem. The two divisions of the Book of Ezra are the restoration of the Temple, (chapters 1 through 6), and the reformation of the people (chapters 7 through 10.). These divisions are separated by a 58-year period during which the story of Esther takes place. If you are familiar with the Jewish festival of Purim than you know something about the Book of Esther. The Book of Nehemiah is the second part of the story of Israel after the Exile. Ezra and Nehemiah were considered one continuous book in the , though now stand as two separate books in the canon of Scripture. The book is named after its chief character, Nehemiah. The main topic of the book is the story of Nehemiah’s efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Subsequent to the rebuilding of the walls Nehemiah, as governor, institutes political reconstruction and leads the people in moral reform. The two main divisions of the book are the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem (chapters 1 through 7), and the restoration of the people (chapters 8 through 13). The Book of Esther tells the story of the deliverance of the Jewish people. We are shown a Persian emperor, Ahasuerus, who issues a royal decree promoted by his wicked minister Hamon ordering the destruction of the Jews. The threat is averted by two Jews, Esther and Mordecai. Their influence and intervention allow the Jews to turn the tables on their enemies. This deliverance is commemorated by the inauguration of the Jewish festival of Purim (9:20-32). Bible Survey

Known as the “Jewish Mardi Gras” celebrated late winter/early spring, Purim calls for drinking, dancing, and costumes. It’s a time for charity, and gifts of food are given to friends and family. Chief among these are hamantaschen — buttery triangular cookies, filled with jam or poppy seeds, reminiscent of the three-cornered hat worn by Haman!

Chapters 1 through 4 describe the threat to the Jews, and chapters 5 through 10 describe the triumph of the Jews. The Book of Job tells the story of a man who loses everything, his wealth, his family, his health, and wrestles with the question, why? This book confronts the problem of evil and suffering in the life of a just man. The book begins with a heavenly debate between God and Satan. Satan, the “Accuser” charges that no one loves God from pure motives, but only for material blessings. To refute Satan’s accusations, God allows him to strike Job with two series of assaults. The book then moves through three cycles of earthly debates between Job and his friends who say that Job is suffering because of his sins. Following these cycles of debates, Elihu offers a more perceptive and accurate view than those offered by the other friends. He tells Job that he needs to humble himself before God and submit to God’s process of purifying his life through trials. In the end Job acknowledges the sovereignty of God in his life and receives back more than he had before his trials. The Book of Psalms is the prayer book of Israel mostly intended to be sung. The lyrics of these songs have been preserved; the music has been lost. The Book of Psalms contains different types of prayer, generally characterized as a movement from lament to praise, echoing Israel’s exilic and post-exilic experiences. The Book of Psalms is divided into five books like the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. The divisions are as follows: Psalms 1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150. These divisions are evident because at the end of each book is a doxology, a short hymn of praise to God, including “Amen.” I invite you to read through the Book of Psalms. No doubt you will find favorites that speak to you. Psalm 23 is a popular favorite. Take a look at Psalms 22 and 91, both will be familiar to you. Psalm 51 is a beautiful prayer of repentance. The Book of Proverbs is the most practical book of the Old Testament because it uses simple illustrations that expose fundamental realities of life. It includes instruction on wisdom and folly, the righteous and the ungodly, pride and humility, justice and vengeance, the family, laziness and work, poverty and wealth, friends and neighbors, love and lust, anger and strife, life and death. Proverbs touches upon every facet of human relationships. Bible Survey

The Book of Proverbs may be divided into six segments: the purpose of Proverbs (1:1-7), the proverbs to the youth (1:8 through 9:18), the proverbs of Solomon (10:1 through 24:34), the proverbs of Solomon copied by Hezekiah’s men (25:1 through 29:27), the words of Agur (30:1- 33), and the words of King Lemuel (31:1-31). Agur and King Lemuel are otherwise unknown sages. I encourage you to read through the Book of Proverbs noting those that you find most inspiring. I am often drawn to Proverbs 3:5-7. The Book of contains the reflections of a philosopher rather than a testimony of belief. The title “Ecclesiastes” is an attempted Greek translation of the authors name, Qoheleth, the Hebrew root qahal meaning one who conducts an assembly. The author seeks to understand by the use of reason the meaning of human existence and the good which man can find in life. The book concludes that the “good life” is only attained by revering God. The work is without formal structure. The author is described as a sage, a teacher, and a skilled writer. Because the book echoes Greek philosophy it is most probably dated to around the 3rd century B.C, several decades after the death of Alexander the Great, when Greek culture took hold in the region. This dating makes it unlikely that Solomon, traditionally assumed to be the author, is the author of this work. I encourage you to read 3:1-11. It will “sound” familiar to you. The Song of Songs is a collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dramatic tale of mutual desire and courtship. It presents an inspired portrayal of ideal human love, applicable to the sacredness and the depth of married union. The traditional approach of both Jews and Christians is to interpret the book allegorically. The text is speaking about human love, but the real meaning was either the mystical love of God for his people, Israel; or, for Christians, the love between Christ and his church. Scholars do not agree on how many songs make up the anthology. Some find as many as fifty- four, others find as few as six. The book is not easily outlined. The songs do not seem to be arranged in any kind of thematic way. I invite you to read through this short book to gain an appreciation for the lyrics of these ancient love songs. The Book of Wisdom was written about 50 years before the coming of Christ. The author, whose name is not known to us, at times speaks in the person of the wise king Solomon in order to emphasize their value. The primary purpose of the author was the edification of the Jewish people in a time when they had experienced suffering and oppression. The first ten chapters in particular provide background for the teaching of Jesus and for some New Testament theology about Jesus. Chapter 2 should hold no surprises for you! The principle divisions of the book are the reward of righteousness (1:1-6:21). The praise of wisdom by Solomon (6:22-11:1). The special providence of God during the Exodus (11:2-16; 12:23-27; 15:18-19:22), with digressions on God’s mercy (11:17-12:22) and on the folly and shame of idolatry (13:1-15:17). The Wisdom of Ben Sira derives its title from the author, “Yeshua (Jesus), son of Eleazar, son of Sira.” The title “Sirach” comes from the Greek form of the author’s name Sira. The title “Church Book” appended to some Greek and Latin manuscripts is due to the extensive use the church made of this book in presenting moral teaching to catechumens and to the faithful. Bible Survey

The book contains many well-crafted maxims dealing with a variety of subjects such as the gift of wisdom, the value of fear of the Lord, relationship with others, attitude toward work, wealth and death, God revealed in the natural world, praise of ancestors. The contents of the book are not easily divided into separate parts. Chapters 1-43 deal largely with moral instructions. Chapters 44:1-50:24 contain a eulogy of the heroes of Israel. There are two appendixes in which the author expresses his gratitude to God (51:1-12), and invites the unschooled to acquire true wisdom (51:13-30).