Old Testament - Most of the OT focuses on the nation of Israel (aka-Hebrews)

 

A. Summary of the 5 Books of Moses and 12 books of history

Imagine these 17 books as the backbone of OT history which can be divided into 3 parts:

Pre Kingdom – Kingdom – Post Kingdom

1. Pre Kingdom (Gen 12- 1 Sam 8) God chose a people to be His own special people

In Gen 12 God calls one man to follow Him. Abraham heeds the call and leaves his homeland, extended family, and wealth to follow God. The rest of Genesis tells the stories of Abraham, his son Isaac, Isaac’s son Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons. 

Exodus – Deuteronomy - Four hundred years after Genesis closes; Abraham’s now many descendents are slaves in Egypt. Moses leads them out of Egypt, instructs them, and brings them close to the Promised Land.

Josh –Ruth - Joshua leads them to the Promised Land and the Israelites settle there. Alternating cycles of obedience/disobedience bring them consequential periods of peace/strife.

2. Kingdom (1Sam 9-2 Chr) - 1 Sam 9- The Israelites ask for a king placed over them. Although God recognizes the request as unwillingness to follow Him, He chooses Saul as Israel’s first king. The kingdom grows, and through the subsequent reigns of David (2 Sam) and Solomon (1 Kings) blooms into full splendor. During Solomon’s reign, the kingdom begins to deteriorate.  After Solomon’s reign, it splits, and eventually falls into enemy rule. (2 Kings)     Note: 1 and 2 Chr overlap 1 Sam – 2 Kings

3. Post Kingdom (Ezra – Esther) Israel spends 70 years in captivity, and then returns to settle in the Promised Land, but without a king. She waits for the fulfillment of God’s promises for over 400 years before the events of the NT take place.

 

B. Summary of the Poetry (Job – Song of Solomon)

These 5 works were written primarily during the Kingdom years. David wrote many of the psalms, and King Solomon wrote Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Earlier works include Job which may have been written during Genesis days, and Psalm 90 written by Moses. Later works include psalms written after the kingdom fell.

 

C. Summary of the major and minor Prophets

These 17 books were written during the Kingdom and Post Kingdom periods. The terms “major” and “minor” are loose references to length. While the major prophets books are arranged in chronological order, the minor prophets are not, except the last three.  After Malachi’s ministry, God was silent for 400 years.  The prophets delivered two types of messages:

Strong warnings to Israel to follow their God more closely

Promises that one day a righteous king would rule over them.