AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT

(Message by Tanny)

1. The Old Testament

a) Books 1-5: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

i) These books were written perhaps as long ago as 3400 years ago, by Moses. These five books are sometimes called the Pentateuch or the Torah.

b) Books 6-16: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah.

i) These books explain the history of Israel from the time that the nation was established about 3400 years ago. It includes information about the time when the nation was conquered by the Assyrians about 2700 years ago, and when it was conquered by the Babylonians about 2600 years ago. The Assyrians and Babylonians forced many Jews out of their homeland. But, many Jews returned during the next few centuries, shortly before the time of Jesus.

c) Books 17-22: Ester, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon.

i) These books are sometimes called the books of Writings, or the books of Poetry, or the books of Wisdom.

d) Books 23-27: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel.

i) These books contain prophecies that were delivered by prophets named Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. These prophets lived about 2700 to 2500 years ago. Some of their prophecies found fulfillment more than 2500 years ago. Christians believe that many of the prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus about 2000 years ago. And many of their prophecies have found fulfillment during the past 200 years.

e) Books 28-39: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

i) These books are sometimes called the books of the "minor" prophets. They are called "minor" because their books are short in length.

The End ...