The Old Testament

Torah or Pentateuch

Torah (Hebrew) "Instruction" or "Teaching" (also known as the Five Books of Moses)
Pentateuch (Greek) "Pente" (five) "teuchos" ("scroll" or "book")

The Torah (or Pentateuch) is considered the foundational text of Judaism and is also a significant part of the Christian Old Testament

The Pentateuch was translated from Hebrew to Greek in the third century B.C., and the term Pentateuch became the common term for these books in Greek-speaking circles.

First 5 Books of the Bible

Genesis 1450-1410 B.C.

Exodus 1450-1410 B.C.

Leviticus 1445-1444 B.C.

Numbers 1450-1410 B.C.

Deuteronomy 1407-1406 B.C.

Creation, entrance of sin into the world, establishment of God's nation, and promise of redemption. (50 chapters)

God Redeems His nation, Israel, from Egypt. (40 chapters)

Priestly laws governing sacrifice, worship and the purification from sin. (27 chapters)

The wandering of God's people in the wilderness. (36 chapters)

Moses final discourse as he prepares God's people to enter the Promised Land. (34 chapters)

The Twelve Books of History

Twelve tribes united to become one nation, and how they later separated into two separate kingdoms: Northern kingdom of Israel, and Southern Kingdom of Judah. God's activity with His chosen people from the time of thei entrance into the Promised Land until their captivity in Babylon. Written from around 2,000-450 B.C.

Joshua 1,300 B.C.

History of of Israel's conquest of the Promised Land. (24 chapters)

Judges 1,000 B.C.

Shows the hazards of Israel's lack of central authority, the consequences of sin, and God's willingness to rescue those who repent. (21 chapters)

Ruth 1,375-1050 B.C.

God rewards those who trust in Him. (4 chapters)

1 Samuel 1,000 B.C.

Record the life of Israel's last judge, Samuel, the reign and decline of Israel's first king, Saul, and the selection anf preparation of Israel's greatest king, David. (31 chapters)

2 Samuel 930 B.C.

Record the history of David's reign, to validate the Davidic dynasty, and to depict David as the ideal example of good leadership. (24 chapters)

1 Kings 562 B.C.

To contrast the lives of the godly and ungodly kings throughout the history of Israel and Judah and to demonstrate the consequences of idolatry and wickedness. (22 chapters)

2 Kings 562 B.C.

To contrast the lives of the godly and ungodly kings throughout the history of Israel and Judah and to demonstrate the consequences of idolatry and wickedness. (25 chapters)

1 Chronicles 430 B.C.

To unify God's people, to trace the roots of King David and the twelve tribes, and to teach that genuine worship ought to be the center of individual and national life. (29 chapters)

2 Chronicles 430 B.C.

To unify the nation around true worship of God by showing the rewards of faithfulness and the consequences of sin. (36 Chapters)

Ezra 430 B.C.

To show God's faithfulness in restoring His people to their land. (10 chapters)

Nehemiah 430 B.C.

To chronicle the return of the exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and to encourage the people to remain faithful to God's laws. (13 chapters)

Esther 470 B.C.

To demonstrate God's sovereignty and His loving care for His people.

The Books of Poetry

Job 2000-1800 B.C.

To demonstrate God's sovereignty and address the problem of suffering. (42 chapters)

Psalms 1440-586 B.C.

To provide poetry for the expression of praise, worship, and confession to God.
(150 chapters)

Proverbs 960 B.C.

To apply divine wisdom to daily life and to provide moral instruction. (12 chapters)

Five Books of wisdom, songs and poetry of the people of Israel covering a wide range of human experiences: joy, love, pleasure, heartbreak, pain, relationships, loss, suffering, doubt, decision-making, and each individual’s need for intimacy with God.

Ecclesiastes 935 B.C.

To teach that life is meaningless apart from God.
(31 chapters)

Song of Songs 960 B.C.

To celebrate romantic love as God intended it and to picture God's love for his people. (8 chapters)

The Prophets

Isaiah 700-681 B.C.

To call the nation of Judah back to God and to tell of God's plan of salvation through the Messiah. (66 chapters)

Jeremiah 627-586 B.C.

To urge people to repent of their sins and turn back to God. (52 chapters)

The message of the Prophets is that God's judgement is coming if they (Israel) don't turn back to Him. Eventually, justice caught up with Israel and judgements came. the nation of Israel was conquered and many of its people were dispersed to other countries and regions. There is also hope that God is faithful and will restore His people and the land He promised.

Major Prophets
(differentiated primarily due to book length)

Lamentations 586 B.C.

To record in graphic detail the consequences of sin and to show that God suffers along with His people. (5 chapters)

Ezekiel 571 B.C.

To announce God's judgement on Israel and other nations and to proclaim restoration for God's people. (48 chapters)

Daniel 605-535 B.C.

To demonstrate through Daniel's experiences that God is sovereign over the whole earth and to encourage the Jews to remain faithful to God despite persecution. (12 chapters)

Minor Prophets

Hosea 753-715 B.C.

To illustrate God's love for His sinful people. (14 chapters)

Joel 835-796 B.C.

To warn people of God's lingering judgement unless they turned from their sins. (3 chapters)

Amos 760-750 B.C.

To pronounce God's upon Israel for its complacency, idolatry, and oppression of the poor. (9 chapters)

Obadiah 586 B.C.

To condemn Edom for its cruel treachery toward Jerusalem. (1 chapter)

Jonah 785-760 B.C.

To show that God wants all people to come to know Him. (4 chapters)

Micah 742-687 B.C.

To warn God's people that judgment is coming and to offer pardon to all who repent. (7 chapters)

Nahum 663-654 B.C.

To pronounce God's judgement upon Assyria. (3 chapters)

Habakkuk 612-589 B.C.

To show that God is still sovereign despite the apparent triumph of evil. (3 chapters)

Zephaniah 640-621 B.C.

To shake the people of Judah out of their complacency and urge them to return to God. (3 chapters)

Haggai 520 B.C.

To call the people to finish rebuilding the Temple. (2 chapters)

Zechariah 520-480 B.C.

To give hope to God's people by revealing God's future deliverance through the Messiah. (14 chapters)

Malachi 430 B.C.

To confront the people with their sins of insincere worship and corruption and to restore their relationship with God. (4 chapters)

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