God's Book, Old Testament The Bible is written by men. God instructed the men what to write. That means that the whole Bible is God's book. Because it is God's Book we know it is true. Below are some of the books of the Old Testament: GENESIS The name Genesis means "in the beginning." It tells of the creation of the earth and the sun and the moon, and all the other things that God made. EXODUS This is the second book of the Bible. The name Exodus means "going out." . It's about how God used Moses to lead Hebrews out of Egypt. LEVITICUS The third book of the Bible tells about the family of Levi. It's called Leviticus because it tells about the way the family of Levi and the priests were to serve God. It also tells all the other Israelites how to serve God. NUMBERS The fourth book of the Bible is called Numbers because it tells of the numbering, or counting, of the people of Israel. DEUTERONOMY This is the fifth book of the Bible.

Its name means "giving the Law the second time." Moses reminds the children of Israel about the Law which God had given to them, and how important it was for them to obey that Law. JOSHUA This tells what Joshua did when he was the leader of the Israelites. JUDGES Before the Israelites had kings, God gave them judges. This book tells of that period of time, 450 years, when the Israelites were ruled by judges RUTH A wonderful story of Ruth and how she trusted the Lord SAMUEL 1 and 2 There are two books in the Bible named after Samuel the prophet. These books tell about the birth and life of Samuel. Samuel was the prophet of God who chose Saul to be Israel's first king. He later appointed David king to take the place of Saul. These two books also tell the story of both Saul and David up to the time Saul died and David became the king in Israel. KINGS 1and 2 These two books give the history of Israel during the time that kings reigned over them, beginning with King David, and ending with Zedekiah, their last king.

CHRONICLES 1 and 2 These two books contain stories of the Israelites that were not written in the first and second Books of Kings. EZRA This book is named after the priest who served the Israelites during the time they were captives in Babylon. NEHEMIAH Nehemiah wrote nearly all of this book. It is about Israel during and after the time they returned to Palestine following their captivity in Babylon. ESTHER This book records the experiences of Esther, a Jew, who became the wife of Ahasuerus, the king of Persia. JOB This book is the life's story of a very faithful servant of God. PSALMS The Book of Psalms contains the beautiful writings of King David and other servants of God. Psalms mean "hymns." David was a musician who played the harp, and he was also a poet. In the poetic Psalms which David wrote, he expresses his love for God, and thanks God for all the wonderful things He had done for him. PROVERBS This is a book of wise sayings nearly all of which were written by King Solomon.

ECCLESIASTES The name of this book means "the preacher." It contains many things which are good for all of us to follow. THE SONG OF SOLOMON This is another book of the Bible written by King Solomon. It is also called "The Song of Songs," or "Canticles" by some people. It is a story of love. ISAIAH Written by the Prophet Isaiah. JEREMIAH Written by the prophet Jeremiah. God asked Jeremiah to write a great deal about the sins of the people of Israel, and also to warn them that they would be punished for their sins. LAMENTATIONS The word "Lamentations" means feeling very sad. This book was also written by the Prophet Jeremiah, and he tells of all the trouble the people of Israel had because they had not done what God wanted them to do. EZEKIEL Written by another of God's prophets, Ezekiel. DANIEL This book was written by the Prophet Daniel. This book of the Bible is named after the Prophet Hosea. JOEL Joel loved God, and did what God asked him to do. In this book, he tells the people about terrible wars which were coming, and that the nations would fight each other.

AMOS Amos was a prophet and God told him to write that a time would come when the Jewish people would be brought back to the Promised Land. OBADIAH This book has only one chapter. It was written by God's prophet Obadiah JONAH This Book of Jonah tells about his experiences when Jonah was afraid and didn't do as God asked of him MICAH Micah was a prophet through whom God promised the people that a time will come when the nations of the earth will not fight each other any more. NAHUM Nahum was a prophet of God. HABAKKUK Habakkuk is a hard name to pronounce. He loved God, and wrote many wonderful things in this book. ZEPHANIAH In this book, the Prophet Zephaniah explains that a time is coming when everybody in the whole world will worship God and serve Him just the way He wants him to. At that time, there will be just one religion for everybody, and they will then know how good God really is. HAGGAI Written by the prophet Haggai. God told him to write of a troubled time that was coming.

ZECHARIAH This book, named after the prophet who wrote it, tells a great deal about trouble that would come upon the Israelites. It also tells about a happy time coming when the Israelites and all other nations, when they obey God, will be blessed. MALACHI This is the last book in the first part of the Bible, the part which is called the Old Testament. Like many of the other books of the Bible, it is named after the one who wrote it. Please remember this about all the books of the Bible. No matter who wrote them, God told them what to write Go to Day 1 of creation Go back to menu Enter the Bible - Books: Ecclesiastes AUTHOR: James Limburg, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament I. Author and Theme (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2) The author is identified as the "Teacher," which is Qoheleth in Hebrew. The thematic word "vanity" translates the Hebrew hevel, which repeats as a refrain throughout the book. Its literal sense is a breath of air or puff of wind; as a metaphor, it can mean emptiness, nothingness, meaninglessness. II.

The Search for Meaning (Ecclesiastes 1:3-2:26) In the first major section of the book the author reports on his search for meaning in life. Qoheleth has tried everything. Living for work proves to be wearisome. The perpetual search for wisdom brings only sorrow. And pleasures, from the sensual to the sophisticated, also finally end up as "vanity"--hollow and unsatisfying. Neither the accomplishments of one's work nor the accumulation of knowledge is ultimately satisfying. So the best thing to do is to enjoy the family and friends God has given you! III. Who Knows? (Ecclesiastes 3) "Who knows?" is the theme running through chapter 3. The Teacher acknowledges that there are particular times in life for particular activities. One of the haunting questions in life has to do with what the future will bring. And then there is the matter of death, with all its mysteries. There are some things that the Teacher does know (3:12-15), including the observation that all should stand in awe of God. IV.

Earthly Matters (Ecclesiastes 4) This chapter discusses a number of earthly matters, including evil and injustice, envy and workaholism, the advantages of life together with another, and the power of wisdom. V. Heavenly Matters (Ecclesiastes 5) This chapter turns to focus on some heavenly matters, reminding humans that God is in heaven and they are on earth. The Teacher counsels readers to enjoy the days that God gives them. VI. Death (Ecclesiastes 6-7) The major concern of these chapters is death. Death may come too soon, and funerals can serve as reminders of one's own mortality. In 7:15-29 the Teacher reflects on some of life's riddles. The Hebrew Bible marks 6:10 as the beginning of the second half of the book. VII. The Limits of Human Understanding (Ecclesiastes 8) Here the Teacher admits that even the theologians and philosophers do not understand the great mysteries of life and again counsels enjoying the days that God gives. VIII. How Then Should Life Be Lived?

(Ecclesiastes 9-12) In the context of remembering one's mortality, the Teacher reminds humans of the chanciness of life and advises enjoying God's gifts whether one is old or young. Wisdom is powerful, but young people are advised not to study overmuch, to remember and revere their Creator, and to live rightly. AUTHOR: James Limburg, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament • Bonhoeffer on Ecclesiastes. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who was executed under the Nazis, made extensive use of Ecclesiastes. In interpreting Ecclesiastes 3, as an example, he writes: "But, to put it plainly, for a man in his wife's arms to be hankering after the other world is, in mild terms, a piece of bad taste, and not God's will.

We ought to find and love God in what he actually gives us; if it pleases him to allow us to enjoy some overwhelming earthly happiness, we mustn't try to be more pious than God himself….'For everything there is a season'" (Letters and Papers from Prison [New York: Macmillan, 1971] 168-169). • Ecclesiastes and Solomon. While references in the book to "the son of David, king in Jerusalem" (1:1) and "king over Israel" both suggest a king as the author, with Solomon as the likely candidate, there are problems with identifying the author as Solomon. That king is never named in the book. The "king" association is dropped after chapter 2. "All who were before me in Jerusalem" does not fit with Solomon, who was only the second king of Israel in Jerusalem. Most important, the language of the book is clearly that of a time later than Solomon. There are at least two Persian loan words in the book (translated "parks" in 2:5 and "sentence" in 8:11), which point to a time during Persian rule, after 539 B.C.E.

• The epilogue. Many interpreters see the final section (12:9-14) as a late addition to the original composition and thus of less value than the "original" part of the book. If we read the book as a whole, however, the epilogue provides clues for understanding the message of the whole. We observe something of the Teacher's method of working in 12:9-10, some advice for young scholars in 12:12, and a summary of the message of the book in 12:13. • Hevel ("vanity," NRSV). Since the word occurs thirty-seven times in this book, it is important to get its sense. The literal meaning is "breath" (Isaiah 57:13; JPS translates as "breeze" here), vapor, or cloud of steam. This thematic word runs like a pedal point on an organ throughout the entire book. Interestingly, hevel is translated as "Abel," the son of Adam and Eve, in Genesis 4.

Already at the beginning of the Bible there is an allusion to the transitory nature of the human being in the name "Abel/hevel." • Jewish use of the book. In Judaism, the book is the text for the celebration of the fall festival of Sukkoth, or booths. Deuteronomy 16:1-17 lists the three ancient festivals (passover, weeks, booths), and vv. 13-15 tell how to celebrate booths. Jews today continue to celebrate the festival in the fall by building a small structure where they will eat and drink and visit with friends. The keynote of the festival is joy. This calls to attention the theme of rejoicing that runs through the book. • Luther on Ecclesiastes. Martin Luther's commentary on Ecclesiastes remains a classic that is still useful for our own understanding of the book.

Note, for example, what Luther says about 5:20: "This statement is the interpreter of the entire book: Solomon intends to forbid vain anxieties, so that we may happily enjoy the things that are present and not care at all about the things that are in the future, lest we permit the present moment, our moment, to slip away" (Luther's Works 15:93). • Structure of the book. Some have suggested that the book is a random collection of essays and sayings with no governing structure. Others suggest a simple division into longer essays in chapters 1-6 and collections of shorter sayings in chapters 7-12. There is, however, a certain progression of thought as is suggested by the content division above. An important marker in the Hebrew text is the note that the book divides into two equal parts between 6:9 and 6:10; any consideration of the book's structure should take this point of division into account. • Tone of the book. Does Ecclesiastes mark the "low-water mark" of Old Testament thought, as some have suggested? Is it really an especially gloomy essay? The book does indeed recognize life's problems, including death.

But the central message of the book is expressed in those passages that call for celebration of life together with family and friends and appreciation of the everyday good gifts that God provides (see 2:24-26; 3:12-13, 22; 5:18-20; 8:15; 9:7-10; 11:8-12:1). AUTHOR: James Limburg, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament • Enjoy the gifts of God. "It is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun….This is the gift of God" (5:18-19). The Teacher counsels enjoying the good days (7:14; 3:22) and the good things, because they are gifts "from the hand of God" (2:24-26; 3:12-13). Eat, drink, and enjoy the days that God gives you (8:15)! Enjoy good wine, the man or woman you love, throw yourself into your work, because God approves of all these things (9:7-10).

• God at a distance. "God is in heaven…," says 5:2. Isaiah spoke of the Lord as "high and lofty" and "holy" which means separate or distant (Isaiah 6:1-3). Jesus taught his followers to recognize God's transcendence in praying, "Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9). All should be in awe of God (Ecclesiastes 3:14) and worship God in humility and reverence (5:1-2, 7; 12:13). • God cares. God is the maker of everything on earth (3:11; 7:13). God gives humans their lives (5:18; 8:15); God is their maker and creator (7:29; 12:1) and takes life back to God when the creature dies (12:7). • Human beings--creatures of the earth. "And you upon earth…"--humans are addressed in 5:2.

On earth there are problems of injustice and evil (3:16-17), oppression (4:1-3; 5:8-9), greed (5:8-17), unfairness (7:15-18; 8:14; 9:11-12), and finally death (2:14-17; 3:19-21; 6:3-6; 7:2; 12:1-8). • What is God doing? "So you do not know the work of God," says 11:5 (see also 3:10-11 and 8:16-17). For Ecclesiastes, there appears to be a gulf between God in heaven and people on earth. Old Testament - OrthodoxWiki Old Testament This article forms part of the series on the The Old Testament - Septuagint or simply "LXX", the Koine Greek version of the Hebrew Bible. 1. Genesis | 2. Exodus | 3. Leviticus | 4. Numbers | 5.

Deuteronomy Historical Books IV Maccabees The Old Testament is first of the two divisions of Holy Scripture . According to historians, the Old Testament was composed between the 5th century BC and the 2nd century BC, though parts of it, such as the Torah, and Song of Deborah (Judges 5), date back much earlier. Traditionally the Old Testament is divided into the law books (the Pentateuch and historical books), the Psalms and other wisdom books, and the prophets because of what Christ said in Luke 24:44 : And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (KJV) The term Old Testament itself is a translation of the Latin Vetus Testamentum, from the Greek Ἡ Παλαιά Διαθήκη (hē Palaia Diathēkē), all meaning "The Old Covenant" (or "Testament").

The Latin rendered testament in English originally came from the Latin for "witness" and from there expanded to mean "to make a will"; thus, though it is purported to be synonymous with "covenant," it has a distinct legal flavoring. Further semantic extensions in English have made the English term more ambiguous [1] . The Orthodox Church also numbers among the genuine books of the Old Testament the so-called apocryphal books, literally meaning the "secret" or "hidden" writings. A less Protestant-biased term for these parts of Scripture is the deuterocanonical writings . Contents Numbers Deuteronomy , meaning "second law" Although scholars believe that the Law was not written by the personal hand of Moses, and that the books show evidence of being the result of a number of oral and written traditions and time periods, the Church connects the Law with Moses, the great man of God to whom "the Lord used to speak ... face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11). The Books of History The second section of the LXX Old Testament is known as the Historical Books.

This group covers the history of Israel from the settlement in the promised land of Canaan to the first centuries before Christ. They include: III Maccabees (English bible) In the canon of the Orthodox Church—which is generally that of the Septuagint , the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible—1 & 2 Samuel are called 1 & 2 Kings; and 1 & 2 Kings are called 3 & 4 Kings. Also, the so-called apocryphal books, listed above (I Esdras, II Esdras, Tobit, Judith, I Maccabees, II Maccabees, III Maccabees, IV Maccabees), are considered by the Orthodox as genuine parts of the Bible. The Old Testament apocrypha is a body of writings considered by the non-Orthodox to be of close association with the Bible, but not actually part of its official canonical contents. The historical books of the Bible were written well after the events described in them actually took place.

Wisdom books The Wisdom books include Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, as well as the Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach, also called Ecclesiasticus, and the Wisdom of Solomon from the so-called apocrypha. Wisdom of Solomon Wisdom of Sirach (Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach, also called Ecclesiasticus) Although not technically a wisdom book, the Prayer of Manasseh from the so-called apocrypha , is a penitential prayer of the King of Judah, which for the Orthodox is part of the Bible. (It is included in the Great Compline service of the Orthodox Church.) Prophets 16 books in the Old Testament are called by the names of prophets , although not necessarily written by their hands. A prophet is one who speaks the word of God by direct divine inspiration, not just one who foretells the future. Major prophets 3. The Law: The First Five Books | Bible.org From the series: Concise Old Testament Survey PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT PAGE 3.

The Law: The First Five Books The first five books of the Bible are sometimes called the Pentateuch which means “five books.” They are also known as the books of the law because they contain the laws and instruction given by the Lord through Moses to the people of Israel. These books were written by Moses, except for the last portion of Deuteronomy because it tells about the death of Moses. These five books lay the foundation for the coming of Christ in that here God chooses and brings into being the nation of Israel. As God’s chosen people, Israel became the custodians of the Old Testament, the recipients of the covenants of promise, and the channel of Messiah (Rom. 3:2; 9:1-5). GENESIS (The Book of Beginnings) Author: 1450-1410 B.C. Name of the Book: The name Genesis is taken from the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Theme and Purpose: Even a casual reading of the Book of Genesis reveals the prominence of the theme of blessing and cursing. For obedience and faith, there is blessing as in the Garden of Eden, but for disobedience, there is cursing.

The entire book turns on this theme and its antithetical opposite, cursing. But perhaps the main theme is the choice of a nation through Abraham and the Abrahamic covenant. Through Abraham God promised to bless the nations (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:1-21). Key Words: “Generations” or “account.” A key word or phrase is “these are the generations of” or “this is the account of.” It is used some eleven times to introduce the reader to the next section which gives the narrative about what happened in connection with the key events and persons of the book from the creation of the heavens and the earth to all the patriarchs of Israel. Key Idea: Beginnings: Genesis not only means ‘beginning’, but it is the book of beginnings. The book of Genesis gives us our historical point of reference, from which all subsequent revelation proceeds. In the book of Genesis all the major themes of the Bible have their origin.

It is a book of many beginnings: in it we see the beginning of the universe, of man and woman, of human sin and the fall of the race, the beginning of God’s promises of salvation, and the beginning of the nation Israel as the chosen people of God because of God’s special purpose for them as the channel for Messiah and Savior. In Genesis we learn about Adam and Eve, about Satan the tempter, about Noah, the flood, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph and his brothers. But here we also have the beginning of marriage, family, work, sin, murder, capitol punishment, sacrifice, races, languages, civilization, Sabbath, the first attempt at a united nations, and Babylonianism. The Bible is, through and through, a historical revelation. It is the account of God’s activity in history. Key Chapters: Since the call of Abraham and the promises of blessing to the nations through his seed is the prominent message of Genesis, the key chapters are those relating to the Abrahamic covenant and its reiteration, 12:1-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-9.

Key People: Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, Jacob, Rachel, Joseph. Christ as Seen in Genesis: Prophetically: Immediately after the fall, the promise of salvation is given in the seed of the woman (3:15), but then the Messianic links are made clear throughout Genesis: the line of Seth (4:25), the offspring of Shem (9:26), the family of Abraham (12:3), the seed of Isaac (26:3), the sons of Jacob (46:3), and the tribe of Judah (49:10). Typologically: There are several key types that portray the Savior in Genesis. (1) Adam is a type of Christ (Rom. 5:14). As Adam is the head of the old creation, so Christ is the head of the new spiritual creation. (2) Abel’s offering of a blood sacrifice points to Christ who would die for us. Abel’s murder by Cain may also illustrate Christ’s death. (3) Melchizedek is also a type of Christ (see Heb. 7:3).

(4) Joseph, who was loved dearly by his father, betrayed by his brothers, and yet became the means of their deliverance typifies Christ. Outline: The book easily falls into two major sections: Four Events and Four People I. Four Events (Gen. 1-11). A. The creation of the world and man (1-2) B. The corruption of man, the fall (3-5) C. The destruction of man, the flood (6-9) D. The dispersion of man, the nations (10-11) II. Four People: the election of a nation and the preparation for the redeemer (Gen. 12-50) A. Abraham (the father of faith and of the nation Israel) (12-23) B. Isaac (the beloved son of promise) (24-26) C. Jacob (scheming and chastening) (27-36) D. Joseph (suffering and glory) (37-50) EXODUS (The Book of Redemption) Author: 1450-1410 B.C.

Name of the Book: “Exodus” is a Latin word derived from the Greek exodos, the name given to the book by those who translated it into the Greek Septuagint (LXX). The word means “exit,” “departure.” Theme and Purpose: Two themes prevail in Exodus: (1) Redemption as pictured in the Passover, and (2) deliverance from the bondage of Egypt as seen in the Exodus out of Egypt and crossing the Red Sea. Key Word: “Redeem,” used nine times (6:6; 13:13; 15:13; 21:8; 34:20). After nearly four hundreds years of growth in Egypt, Exodus continues the history of God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, and describes their deliverance out of Egypt and their development as a nation, actually, a theocracy under God. It describes the birth, history, and call of Moses by God to lead the people out of their Egyptian bondage and into the promised land, the land of Canaan.

Through the Passover lamb, the sparing of the firstborn, along with the miracles of the ten plagues, and the crossing of the Red Sea, God showed His people that He was not only more powerful than any Egyptian Pharaoh, but was the sovereign Lord, Yahweh, the God of redemption and revelation. Once the people had crossed the Red Sea and arrived in the wilderness or desert, God gave them His righteous law and declared that they were a treasured possession to Him and were to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation as a testimony to the nations (Ex. 19:4-7). This holy law, including the Ten Commandments, demonstrated God’s holiness, taught them how to love God and one another, but in the process, it also demonstrated how all fall short of the holiness of God and need a way of access to God that provides forgiveness. This was provided for in the tabernacle, the sacrifices, and the levitical priesthood. Key Chapters: Chapters 12-14 record the redemption of Israel from slavery in fulfillment of God’s promises; delivered from slavery by blood (the Passover lamb) and by power (the parting of the Red Sea).

Key Verses: 6:6 Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgment’ (see also 20:2). 19:5-6 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel. Key People: Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Pharaoh. Christ as Seen in Exodus: While Exodus contains no direct prophecy of Christ, there are a number of beautiful types of the Savior. (1) In many ways, Moses is a type of Christ. Deuteronomy 18:15 shows that Moses, as a prophet, anticipates Christ. Both are kinsman-redeemers who were endangered in infancy, renounced their power to serve others, and functioned as mediators, lawgivers, and deliverers.

(2) The Passover is a very specific type of Christ as the sinless Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36; 1 Cor. 5:7). (3) The Seven Feasts, each of which portray some aspect of the Savior. (4) The Exodus, which Paul connects with baptism, pictures our identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 10:1-2; Rom. 6:2-3). (5) The Manna and Water are both portrayed as pictures of Christ (John 6:31-35, 48-63; 1 Cor. 10:3-4). (6) The Tabernacle portrays the Savior in its material, colors, furniture, arrangement, and the offerings sacrificed there (Heb. 9:1-10:18). (7) The High Priest quite clearly foreshadows the person and ministry of Christ (Heb. 4:14-16; 9:11-12, 24-28). Outline: Exodus easily divides into two sections: Redemption and Revelation I. Redemption From Egypt (1-18) A.

In Bondage (Subjection) (1-12) B. Out of Bondage (Redemption by blood and power) (12-14) C. Journeying to Sinai (Education) (15-18) II. Revelation From God (19-40) A. The Giving of the Law (19-24) B. The Institution of the Tabernacle (25-31) C. The Breaking of the Law (32-34) D. The Construction of the Tabernacle (35-40) LEVITICUS (The Book of Holiness) Author: 1450-1410 B.C. Name of the Book: Leviticus receives its name from the Septuagint and means “relating to the Levites.” The Levites were the priests who were chosen of God to minister to the nation. The book of Leviticus contains many of the laws given by God to direct them in their work as priests for the worship of God.

Theme and Purpose: Leviticus 11:45 says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” The directives given in the book of Leviticus showed Israel was to walk before God as a holy people. Leviticus was designed to teach Israel (1) how to worship and walk with God and (2) how the nation was to fulfill its calling as a nation of priests. The great theme of Leviticus is holiness. A holy God can only be approached on the basis of sacrifice through the mediation of a priest. Key Word: “Holiness.” Key Verses: 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement. 20:7-8 You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 And you shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you (see also 11:45).

Key Chapter: Chapter 16 deals with the Day of Atonement, which became the most important day in the Hebrew calendar because it was the only day the high priest was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies in order to make atonement for the people. “… for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you shall be clean from all your sins before the Lord” (16:30). Key People: Christ as Seen in Leviticus: Similar to Exodus, a number of types of Christ are evident in Leviticus. (1) The Five Offerings all typify the person and work of Christ in His sinless life, submission to the Father that we might have fellowship with God. (2) The High Priest as mentioned above is a very prominent type of Christ in Leviticus. (3) The Seven Feasts, again, as mentioned, also form a type of the Savior. Outline: Leviticus falls into two clear divisions: Sacrifice and Sanctification I. Sacrifice (1-17) 1450-1410 B.C.

Name of the Book: Numbers gets its name from the two accounts in chapters 1 and 26 of the numbering or counting of the people of Israel first at Mount Sinai and second on the plains of Moab. Theme and Purpose: Though Numbers gets its name from the numbering of the people, it is primarily concerned with nearly 40 years of wandering in the desert. A journey which should have only lasted eleven days became a 38-year agony of defeat simply because of the disbelief and disobedience of the people. Numbers, then, shows the consequence of failing to mix faith with the promises of God (see Heb. 3:16-4:2). Further, Numbers teaches us that while life does have its wilderness experiences, God’s people do not have to stay in those conditions. Joshua will illustrate this later. Another important theme shown throughout the book of Numbers is found in God’s continual care for his people. Over and over again, regardless of their rebellion and unbelief, He miraculously supplied their needs. He provided them with water, manna, and quail. He continued to love and forgive the people even when they complained, grumbled, and rebelled against Him.

Key Word: “Wanderings.” Key Verses: 14:22-23 Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs, which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, 23 shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. 20:12. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” Key Chapters: Chapters 13-14 stand as the key chapters because these chapters record a critical turning point for the nation. Here, at Kadesh-Barnea (32:8), after receiving the evil report from 10 of the 12 spies whom Moses sent to spy out the land, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb Israel focused on the giants in the land, failed to believe God, and refused to enter to possess and conquer the land, a Land that flowed with milk and honey.

Key People: Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Joshua, Caleb, Balak Christ as Seen in Numbers: (1) Perhaps no place is there a clearer portrait of Christ and His crucifixion than in the serpent lifted up on the standard (cf. Num. 21:4-9 with John 3:14). (2) The rock that quenched the thirst of the people is a type of Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). (3) The daily manna pictures Christ as the bread come down from heaven (John 6:31-33). (4) The pillar of cloud and fire portray the guidance of Christ and the cities of refuge certainly portray Christ as our refuge from judgment. (5) Finally, the red heifer is also a type of Christ (ch. 19). Outline: Numbers divides into three sections: Preparation at Sinai, Failure of the Old Generation, Preparation of the New Generation. I. Preparation at Sinai (Old Generation) (1-10) A. The Position and Numbering of the People (1-4) B. The Precepts of God and Sanctification of the People (5:1-9:14) C.

The Pilgrimage Toward the Promised Land (9:15-10:36) II. Failure of the Old Generation (11-25) A. Discontent Along the Way (11-12) B. Disbelief at Kadesh-Barnea (13-14) C. Discipline from the Lord (15-25) III. Preparation of the New Generation (26-36) A. Reorganization of Israel (26-27) B. Regulation of Offerings and Vows (28-30) C. Regionalization of the Land (31-36) The figures below illustrate the position of the tribes in camp and on the march: 1410 B.C. Name of the Book: The English title, which comes from the Septuagint, means “second law-giving” and comes from the mistranslation of 17:18, which actually says “a copy of this law.” Deuteronomy is a not a second law, but rather a review, expansion, and reiteration of the original law given at Sinai. Theme and Purpose: Watch yourself lest you forget.

After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites were on the eve of entering the promised land. Before they did, it was necessary (lest they forget what God had done and who they were) that they be reminded about all that God had done for them and about God’s holy law which was so vital to their ability to remain in the land and function as God’s holy nation and as a kingdom of priests to the nations (Deut. 4:1-8). As a part of this theme or purpose, the book also emphasizes the vital necessity of teaching children to love and obey God. Deuteronomy ends with the renewal of God’s covenant with Israel (chapter 29), Joshua’s appointment as the new leader (chapter 31), and Moses’ death (chapter 34). Key Word: “Covenant” (occurring some 27 times) Key Verses: 4:9, 23 Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.

23 So watch yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the Lord your God has commanded you. 4:31 For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. 10:12-14 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? 14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.

So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them. Key Chapters: Chapter 27 is key because in it there is a formal ratification of Israel’s covenant as Moses and the levitical priests call upon all Israel to take heed and listen, for in verses 9-10 it is declared, “This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today.” Chapters 28-30 are also key because of the promises regarding Israel’s near and distant future as it pertains to blessing for obedience or cursing for disobedience. Key People: Moses and Joshua. Christ as Seen in Deuteronomy: The statement about Moses in 18:15 is one of the clearest portraits of Christ.

It reads, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” Further, Moses, as a type of Christ, is the only figure other than Christ to fill all three of the offices of prophet (34:10-12), priest (Ex. 32:31-35), and king (although Moses was not king, he functioned as ruler of Israel; 33:4-5). 4 Outline: Deuteronomy divides into three sections: I. Preamble (1:1-5)

Question: The Bible. What is the fifth book of the Old Testament?
Answer: DEUTERONOMY