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THE BOOKS OF HISTORY CONTAINS TWELVE BOOKS
Joshua: Details how Joshua, the successor of Moses, led the people of
Israel into the Promised Land of Canaan. It records the military
campaigns and the division of the land among the people.
Judges: Israel turned away from God
after Joshua's death. This book records the sad story of their repeated
sins and the judges God raised up to deliver them from enemy forces.
Ruth: The story of Ruth, a woman of
the Gentile nation of Moab, who chose to serve the God of Israel.
She became the great grandmother of David.
I Samuel: This book centers on three
persons: Samuel who was the last of the judges of Israel; Saul, the
first king of Israel; and David who succeeded Saul as king.
II Samuel: The glorious 40 year reign
of King David is recorded in this book.
I Kings: King Solomon's reign and the
kings of the divided kingdom through the reigns of Ahab in the north and
Jehoshaphat in the south are the subjects of this book.
II Kings: The final decline of Israel
and Judah is recalled in this book. God's people fell into deep sin.
I Chronicles: The reign of David and
preparations for building the temple are recorded here. The time of this
book is the same as II Samuel.
II
Chronicles: This book continues Israel's history through Solomon's reign
with focus on the southern kingdom. It closes with the decree of Cyrus
which permitted the return of the people from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Ezra: The return of the Jews from
Babylonian captivity is detailed.
Nehemiah: The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under the direction of
Nehemiah is recalled by this book. The project was begun about 14 years
after Ezra's return with the people.
Esther: God's deliverance of the Jews through Esther and Mordecai is the
subject of this book.
THE BOOKS
OF POETRY CONTAINS FIVE BOOKS
Job:
This book is the story of Job, a man who lived around the time of
Abraham. The theme is the question of why righteous men suffer.
Psalms: The prayer and praise book of
the Bible.
Proverbs: Divine wisdom for practical problems of everyday life.
Ecclesiastes: A discussion of the
futility of life apart from God.
Song
Of Solomon: The romance of Solomon and his Shulamite bride. The story
represents God's love for Israel and of Christ for the church.
THE BOOKS
OF PROPHECY CONTAINS SEVENTEEN BOOKS
Several of these books were written during a period when the nation of
Israel was divided into two separate kingdoms: Israel and Judah.
Isaiah: Warns of coming judgment
against Judah because of their sin against God.
Jeremiah: Written during the later
decline and fall of Judah. Told of the coming judgment and urged
surrender to Nebuchadnezzar.
Lamentations: Jeremiah's lament (expression of sorrow) over the
destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon.
Ezekiel: Warns first of Jerusalem's impending fall and then foretells
its future restoration.
Daniel: The prophet Daniel was captured during the early siege of Judah
and taken to Babylon. This book provides historic and prophetic teaching
which is important in understanding Bible prophecy.
Hosea: Theme of this book is Israel's
unfaithfulness, their punishment, and restoration by God.
Joel: Tells of the plagues which
foreshadowed future judgment.
Amos:
During a period of material prosperity but moral decay, Amos warned
Israel and surrounding nations of God's future judgment on their sin.
Obadiah: God's judgment against Edom,
an evil nation located south of the Dead Sea.
Jonah: The story of the prophet Jonah
who preached repentance in Ninevah, capitol of the Assyrian empire. The
book reveals God's love and plan of repentance for the Gentiles.
Micah: Another prophecy against
Israel's sin. Foretells the birthplace of Jesus 700 years before the
event happened.
Nahum: Tells of the impending destruction of Ninevah which had been
spared some 150 years earlier through Jonah's preaching.
Habakkuk: Reveals God's plan to punish
a sinful nation by an even more sinful one. Teaches that "the just shall
live by faith."
Zephaniah: Judgment and restoration of Judah.
Haggai: Urges the Jews to rebuild the
temple after a 15 year delay due to enemy resistance.
Zechariah: Further urging to complete
the temple and renew spiritual commitment. Foretells Christ's first and
second comings.
Malachi: Warns against spiritual shallowness and foretells the coming of
John the Baptist and Jesus.
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