CHAPTER TWO

HISTORICAL BOOKS

The Book of Joshua

The Book of Joshua presents a systematic conquest of the country: Canaan, led by Joshua as the head
of the clans. The Book of Joshua narrates small events that make up great history:

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 Book of Joshua
Invasion of the Subjection of Land Distribution of Land Conclusion
Land

The Jericho Reuben, Gad, ½ Cities of Separation

Commission Defeat at Ai Manasseh, Refuge
The Spying Victory at Ai Caleb’s Auto-biography, Levite Service
The Jordan Gibeonites Judah, Ephraim, ½ Towns
The Memorials Manasseh, Benjamin,
EVENTS

The Chapters 6 – 9 Simeon, Zebulun, Chapters

Consecration Issachar, Asher, 20 – 21
Northern campaign Naphtali, Dan and Joshua Civil
and Survey and War
Summary of Kings. Threat
Chapters 13 – 19 Chapters
Chapters 1 - 5 Chapters 10 – 12 Chapters 22 23 – 24

Theme Obedient faith brings abundant blessing.

The Book of Judges

7 Major Judges 7 Minor Judges

Othniel Gideon Shamgar Ibzan
Ehud Jephthah Abimelech Elon
Barak Samson Tola Abdon
Deborah Jair

The book of Judges is a book of beautiful stories. It includes the story of Deborah, Gideon, Samson
and Delilah. These narratives were passed on as popular stories served as imaged history of an epoch
(a date in time), although important is not well known. The Book of Judges presents Israel as the
“Shofetim” meaning: “Chiefs” and “Judges” For that reason, some members of the tribe became Judge.
The judges were not saints, but nevertheless, Israel saw in them the savior that God in his mercy was
sending.

Focus Deterioration Deliverance Depravity

Division Introduction to First Gideon, the Gideon’s Samson the The Example of
the Judges Five Hesitant sons and Carnal National
Judges Hero the Six Champion Degradation
Judges
Topics Situation Sin, Servitude & Salvation Shocking
Decline
Religious Laxity Political Uncertainty Moral
Anarchy
Place Canaan & Transjordan
Author Probably the prophet Samuel

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 The First and Second Book of Samuel

The Book of Samuel divided in two, marks the third stage of sacred history of Israel. Samuel, the last
of the Judge, is also a prophet. This is a time during which the disunited Israelites feel the need to have
permanent authority: a King.

1. Samuel the prophet – Educated by Eli the Priest. He was called by Yahweh to anoint Saul.

2. Saul – The son of Kish from the Tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites wanted a king. Yahweh, through
Samuel anoints Saul as king. He reigned around the year 1025 BCE. He consolidated the
tribes and set to work on the war against the Philistines. When three of Saul’s son, Jonathan,
Abinadab and Malchishua were killed, Saul committed suicide.

3. David – Born in 907 BCE, from the tribe of Judah, he reigns as king of Israel for 40 years. He made
Jerusalem the capital of his Kingdom and wastes no time to bring the Ark there. This is the
logical place to build a permanent resting spot for the most holy object that the Jewish
people have ― the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. David had six wives (Deut.
17:17) but sinned against God by marrying Bathsheba, the wife of one of his generals,
whom he ordered to be in the frontline and is killed. David died at age 70 in 837 BCE.

4. Solomon – Before David dies, he appoints as king his son Solomon, who is 12 years old. Born in
848 BCE, ruling as king for 40 years, the best years in all of Israel's history, 40 years of
peace and prosperity. He is known as "wisest of all the men." The crowning achievement
of Solomon's reign is the building of the Temple which his father, King David, had dreamt
about. The Torah placed limits on the number of wives and wealth the king could have so
that he would stay focused on his responsibilities and not be distracted and corrupted by
materialism and power. Solomon makes one serious mistake, he has 700 wives and 300
concubines.

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 1st Book of Samuel 2nd Book of Samuel
Samuel The Last Saul, the First King David’s Rise to David’s Fall
Judge Power

Birth Rejection by David: Kingdom: David’s Sin – God’s

Growth Call God Chosen, Divided - United Judgment
Change Chapters 8 – 12

Rebellion against God

Ministry Impatient Trained, - Enlarging Absalom’s Revolt
Rash Tested, David’s Restoration of the
Disobedient Protected Throne and Final Reign
Insane
Jealous
Murderous

Chapters Chapters Chapters Chapters 1 – 10 Chapters 11 – 24

1–7 13 – 16 17 – 31

Attitude of Public Public Triumph, but Transgression and Trouble

the Israelites Trust Disillusion conflict in the Conflict in the Court
ment Country

The First and Second Book of Kings

The period of the kings is the third stage in Israel’s history. It follows the period of the patriarchs
(Abraham in 1750 B.C.) and that of the conquest (Moses in 1250 B.C.). David captured Jerusalem
around 1000 B.C., after Solomon’s death in 932 B.C., the kingdom of David and his son Solomon
would be divided. In the beginning, the actual books formed one book. This work is the fruit of the
prophet’s reflection and was edited during the exile in Babylon. The second part continues to look at
the progressive decline of the two kingdoms to the North and to the South, Israel and Judah.

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 1st Book of Kings 2nd Book of Kings
One Nation Becomes Two Two Nations Becomes None

King Solomon Kingdom Divided Reign of Jeroboam Revenge of Jehu

Temple Builder Elijah: The Prophet warns King II Reforms of Jehoash
Fame, Fortune, Ahab Record of Elisha Ruin of Israel
Failure King Ahab’s Final Reign in Israel the Prophet Reforms of Hezekiah
Ruins of Judah
Chapters 1 – 11 Chapters 12 – 22
Chapters 1 – 8 Chapters 9 – 25

Jerusalem Northern Kingdom: Israel Israel & Judah Judah

Southern Kingdom: Judah
King: With a Divided Heart Downfall of Israel Disruption

Northern Southern Kingdom of

Kingdom of Judah: Jerusalem
Israel: Samaria
Assyrian Kings under
Pagan Assyrian Yahweh’s control
Kings
Heroboam, Asa,
Jeroboam Jehoshaphat, Athaliah,
Omri Jehoash, Hoshea, Ahaz
Ahab Hezekiah, Josiah
Jehu
Jeroboam II Pre-Babylonian Exile
Prophets: Zephaniah,
Prophets Nahum, Jeremiah,
Habakkuk, Ezekiel
Elijah
Elisha Babylonian Exile
Amos Prophet: 2nd Isaiah /Book:
Hosea Lamentation
Micah
1st Isaiah Post Babylonian Exile
Prophet:
Writers Haggai, Malachi,
Obadiah, Zechariah, 3rd
Yahwist Isaiah, Ezra, Nehemiah,
Elohist Jonah, Tobit, Baruch,
Daniel, Joel, Baruch
Priestly
(600 – 500 Books: 1 & 2 Chronicles,
BCE/Babylonian Psalms, Ruth, 1 & 2
Exile) Maccabees, Ecclesiastes,
Deuteronomist Esther, Judith, Wisdom,
(700 – 600 BCE) Songs of Songs

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 The First and Second Book of Chronicles

The first and second part of the Book of Chronicles was probably written together with those of the
book of Ezra and Nehemiah in the 4th century B.C., after the Jews came back from Exile:

1. The future of the Jewish people depended on their faithfulness of the Law of Moses.
2. The Jews were no longer an independent nation, but an autonomous province of the Persian Empire.
3. They look forward to the coming of “David’s Son”.
4. The author addresses the Jewish people and convince them that there is no more blessing or future
for them unless they remain strongly united around their faith, obeying the Law and the priest and
true worship in the Temple of Jerusalem.

1st Book of Chronicles 2nd Book of Chronicles

Genealogies Saul David and Solomon the King: Judah

the Glorious Reign The Nation
Consecration

Restoration
Temple Revival
Rejection

Chapters Chapter Chapters Chapters Chapters

1–9 10 11 – 29 1–9 10 – 36

Process Little made great Great becoming little

Emphasis Personal Determination National Deterioration

The Book of Ezra

The decree of Cyrus the Great, conqueror of the Chaldeans authorized the return of the Jews to their
homeland from their exile in Babylon in 538 BC. The act was a gesture which is political in nature, but
the Bible sees it in the fulfillment of God’s promises to the prophets. However, the decree did not
modify the political situation of Palestine which became a province of the Persian Empire. Ezra,
together with Nehemiah kept the Jews united among themselves.

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Ezra’s Reforms

1. Collecting the books i.e., The Pentateuch (around 400 BC ) and putting them together for the first
time, and making the Sacred book the basis of their religion.

2. The existing books of the Bible were kept only in the hands of the priests.

3. The people to attend the traditional Temple ceremonies.

4. The communal reading of the Bible would become the basis of the people’s religious life.

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 C H A P T E R T H R E E

MINOR PROPHETS

The Book of Amos

Towards the middle of the 8th century BC, the kingdom of Israel was rich and prosperous:

1. Amos is a shepherd from Tekoa, a village, nine kilometers south of Bethlehem, in Judah.
2. God sends him to Israel in the north. Amos denounced social injustice and pagan practices.
3. Amos reveals to us a God who defends the rights of the poor.

In the Book of Amos, Yahweh roars from Zion, His voice thunders from Jerusalem, because of the
situation of the Northern Kingdom:

1. Small properties were disappearing and wealth was in the hands of a few rich people.
2. The poor increase in number.
3. The luxury of the few was an insult to the destitute.

Focus Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel

Pronouncement of Promptings of Picture of Judgment for Promises after Judgment

Judgment upon Israel Judgment by God Amos for God’s People
Divisions

Chapters Chapters Chapters Chapters

1–2 3–5 6–7 8–9

Topic Sermons and Indictment Signs and Encouragement

Place Neighboring Nations Northern Kingdom of Israel

The Book of Jonah

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The author of the Book of Jonah draws the central character of Jonah, the person who being real and
despite of his failings, manages to evoke certain sympathy in his struggle to understand what God
wanted him to do:

Jonah’s Rejection of God

1. He escaped from God.

2. He refused to follow God’s commands.
3. He embarked on a journey, boarded a ship but was shipwreck.
4. He was swallowed by a whale and dropped him in Nineveh.

Nineveh: A Sinful City of sinful inhabitants:

1. The city represents all that is hateful.

2. Repugnant and cruel oppressors.

The author of the book highlighted the actions of God showing His mercy and bestowing the same to
the Ninevites if they will repent.

The Book of Jonah

Running from God Running to God Running with God Running against God
First Commission of Jonah Prayer of Jonah Second Commission of Prejudice of Jonah
Results of Disobedience Communication with the Jonah Lessons from the Lord
Lord Results of Disobedience
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

God’s infinite mercy for all people; our reluctance to share His mercy.

The Book of Joel

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The Book of Joel informs its readers that “everything is temporary in our world”. Written around the
year 835 B.C. the book describes every event. The lives of people are threatened and the Lord comes to
judge the world. Joel speaks when the land is invaded by locust. The people are looking at their ruined
fields and their lost crops. Joel announces the Day of Yahweh: Freedom from the plague. God
promises a happy age and give the Spirit of the prophets to all his children.

The Book of Joel

Focus The Day of the Lord

Divisions The Day of the Locust The Day of the Lord The Judgment of the The Blessing of God’s
Nations Nation
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3:1 and 3: 17 Chapter 3:18 and 3:21
Topic Joel speaks of Locust’ Invasion and God’s Speaks” Valley of Decision
Description
Place Judah and Jerusalem

The Book of Hosea

Hosea began to preach around 746 BC, at the end of the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II, in the
Northern Kingdom of Israel. Hosea is a prophet deceived by his wife who he never stopped loving in
spite of her infidelities. God called Hosea to speak to an idolatrous and materialistic Israelites. Hosea
rises to accuse and threaten the Israelites who are unconcerned. He continues to preach while the
kingdom is collapsing and predicts the punishment of the people who are irresponsible and unfaithful
to the covenant with their God.

Personal National
The Agony of an Unfaithful Mate The Tragedy of an Unfaithful People
Marriage God: “Go, take God” “Go again, Series of Sermons Nation is guilty
Children yourself a wife love a woman Sins of the People God is Holy
Separation of harlotry and who is loved by Character of God Nation needs judgment
Reunion have children her husband, yet Hosea remains God is Just
of harlotry.” an adulteress.” true to his wife. Nation has hope
Chapters (1:2) (3:1) God is Love
1–3 Chapters 4 – 14
Adulterous wife yet faithful husband Adulterous Nation yet faithful God
God’s faithful love towards His unfaithful People

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 MAJOR PROPHETS

The Book of Ezekiel

Ezekiel was a Babylonian exile but a witness in the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. He was a
young priest taken to Chaldea with the ten thousand exiles after the first siege of Jerusalem in 598.
There he was called by God as he tells us. The first part of his book contains his discourse predicting
the total destruction of his country. It is surprising at the language Ezekiel attributes to God. God is
vesting his resentment and jealousy by continually threatening his people and taking delight in their
predicament and agony.

God will be known through His judgment and restoration; God is sovereign over heaven and earth.
About the Prophet Judgment on Judah Judgment on the nations Restoration of God’s People
Ezekiel’s Call and
Commission
God’s Glory All Nations answer to God’s Glory Returns
God’s hand and word Departs God
in him

God’s message through

him
Chapters 4 – 24 Chapters 25 - 32 Chapters 33 – 48
Chapters 1 – 3

The Book of Jeremiah

The prophet Jeremiah originated from Anathoth and comes from a family of priests. God entrusted him
the mission not to speak, but to uproot and destroy, to built and to plant. God gives him the mission to
speed up history. Jeremiah cooperated with God and announces that “the word should not frighten us,
in his supreme decisions which gave direction to history”.

Judah’s Sin and Judgment Prophesies against the A Sobering Ending

Nations
Jeremiah’s Call Exhortations to Judah

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 Idolatry Promises of Restoration Egypt, Damascus, Jerusalem in ruins
Corrupt Leadership Philistia, Kedar & Hazor,
Fall of Jerusalem and Moab, Elam, Ammon,
aftermath Babylon, Edom
Moral Compromise

Chapters 1 -45 Chapters 46 - 51 Chapter 52

Judgment is coming; repent

The Book of Isaiah

1 Isaiah son of Amoz, was active in the Kingdom of Judah.

2 He began his ministry around 740 BC – 700 BC.
3 The book is the largest work of prophecy in the Bible.
4 The richest in prophetic though, it is the source of Jesus’ meditation and prayer.
5 Isaiah was against oppression and injustice.
6 Isaiah hates vain worship and wanted Israel to return to God.
7 Isaiah spoke freely of Assyria as God’s instrument sent to punish the Israelites.

The Book of Isaiah and his disciples is the most important of the prophetic book. Isaiah’s words are
found in chapter 1 – 39 of the book bearing his name. The second and third parts of the book, namely
chapter 40 – 66, bring together the words of other prophets who wrote a century and a half later.

Author Isaiah, the Prophet Deutero (Second) – Isaiah to Trito (Third) – Isaiah
The Judgment of God The Supremacy The Servant of the Lord The Future
of the Lord Plan of the
Servant Songs: Lord
42: 1 – 9
49: 1 – 13
50: 4 – 11
52: 13 – 53: 12
Chapters
Chapters 1 - 39 Chapters 40 – 48 54 – 66
Chapters 49 – 53
Emphasis The law and judgment God’s grace and Deliverance
for disobedience Comfort……….. Promise………… Hope………..
Old Testament New Testament
Theme The justice and mercy of God

The Book of Daniel

1. Daniel is a teacher of the law in the days the great persecution at the time of the Maccabees.
2. The Book of Daniel depicts the Jews who settled in foreign countries and serve the king.
3. The author of the Book warns the Israelites that they should not compromise the demands of faith
and the practices of the law under any circumstances, whether in terms of food or idolatrous
worship.
4. The Book of Daniel and his vision was not an historical account, but a literary fiction.
5. The author used the art of using symbolic numbers and symbolic colors and having angels intervene
was prevalent. This category of books is called “Apocalypse” or “Revelations”.

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 Part One
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Daniel’s Daniel Daniel’s Nebuchadnezzar Belshazzar’s Daniel

Historical
Section

Education and interprets friends ’s second dream, banquet and miraculous

the captivity of Nebuchadnezzar’ spared from interpreted and fall of deliverance
his friends s dream the fiery fulfilled Babylon from the
furnace lions’ den

Part Two
Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapters 10 – 12
Prophetic
Section

Prophecy: Four Prophecy: Ram, Goat Prophecy: 70 Prophecy: Warring Kings of

Mythical Beast & Little and 2300 Days Weeks & Daniel’s the North & Southern
Horn prayer Kingdoms

THE WISDOM BOOKS

The Book of Job

1. The Book of Job heads the wisdom books of the Bible.

2. Job is a wealthy man from Uz.
3. Job’s wealth is loss and he is reduced to utter misery.
4. God tested Job by taking away everything from him.

 Human life is not satisfying.

 Suffering and death would not be so scandalous if it were not for us the absence of God in
our world.
 To contemplate nature to believe in God and in his Providence.

5. Job remained steadfast, trusting God who always rewards the just.

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6. In the end, God gave everything back to Job.

The Book of Job

Introduction to the Discussion of the Suffering Correction in the Suffering
Suffering

Job’s Purity & Words of Job: Eyes on Self Words of Elihu: Eyes on Words of Yahweh:
Prosperity. Curses Birth Yahweh. Sovereignty.
Curses Life
Satan’s proposition, To Job and his friends: “Whatever is under the
persecution & Words of Three Friends: whole heaven in Mine.”
persistence. Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad: “God does great things (41:11)
Eyes on Humanity which we cannot
Job’s Poverty & Plaque comprehend.”
(37:5)
Chapters 1 -2 Chapters 3 – 31 Chapters 32 - 37 Chapters 38 – 41

Submission under the Suffering Restoration from the Suffering

Job’s admission & Confession: Yahweh’s anger with Job’s three friends.
Yahweh’s blessing on Job.
“Therefore, I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.”
(42:6) “The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his
beginnings.” (42:12)
Chapter 42: 1 - 6 Chapter 42: 7 – 17

God’s sovereignty and humanity’s struggle in the midst of suffering

The Book of Psalms

1 The Psalms come from the collections of songs used in the Temple of Jerusalem.
2 The book of Psalms is a prayer book in ancient Israel and it fed the Jews piety.
3 Tradition states that David regulated the liturgy just as he composed all the psalms.
4 But the Levites – the Sons of Asaph and Yedutun, had a greater role in the writing and selection of
the psalms.

The Book of Psalms

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 Book One Book Two Book Three Book Four Book Five
41 Psalms 31 Psalms 17 Psalms 17 Psalms 44 Psalms

Psalms 1 – 41 are Psalms 42 – 72 are Psalms 73 – 89 are Psalms 90 – 106 are Psalms 107 – 150
1490 BC, Days of Moses

444 BC Days of Ezra

Analogy on the Analogy on the Analogy on the Analogy on the are Analogy on
Book of Genesis in Book of Exodus in Book of Leviticus in Book of Numbers in the Book of
relation to relation to relation to Sanctuary relation to the Reign Deuteronomy in
Humanity Deliverance of God relation to the
Word of God

The Authors The Authors The Authors The Authors The Authors
emphasized a stressed a stressed a Liturgical stressed a General stressed a
Personal character Devotional character and Historical character in the text. Prophetical and
in the text. in the character in the text. Natural character
Text in the text.
We worship God for who He is and what He has done.

The Book of Proverbs

We must not forget that the authors (King Solomon, Agur and Lemuel) of the Book of Proverbs did
nothing more than edit the “proverbs” or “maxims” of popular wisdom. Their writings would
encourage every effort to develop the instruction and the moral sense of generations to come. These
books which were preserve and recognized by the religious community are no less a work of God than
are the prophetic books.

The Book of Proverbs

Prologue to Wise Living Principles for Wise Personification of Wise Living
Living

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of “The fear of the Lord is “Charm is deceitful and beauty
knowledge.” (1:7) the instruction for is vain. But a woman who fears
wisdom. And before the Lord, she shall be praised.”
honor comes humility.” (31:30)
(15:33)

Chapter 1–9 10: 1 – 31: 9 31: 10 – 31

Emphasis Wisdom especially for youth Wisdom for All
Framework Subjects & Statements People & Problems Counseling & Correction
Style A book filled with short statements that declare a profound truth providing wisdom for life
Theme

The Book of Ecclesiastes (Qoheleth: Abbreviation: Qo, Hb. Preacher)

Ecclesiastes lived in the 3rd century BC, when Greek culture began to influence the Jewish people.

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Ecclesiastes wrote that we are in a world where the human person is a limited mortal being. The author
of the book signed his work with a pseudonym, or made up name. However, he presented his teaching
as if were the work of King Solomon. The word Ecclesiastes is the translation of the Hebrew Qoheleth
and many prefer to use this word avoiding confusion with Ecclesiastes (Sirach).

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes undertakes the investigation of experience at all levels, and asks
questions about creation, justice, the wise versus the fool, just and unjust, and even quotes a large
number of proverbs that he actually thinks will work in life. The author insists that we cannot know
what God is doing or why, and so our proper human response is to enjoy what God gives us now and
use it the best we can.

The Book of Ecclesiastes (Hebrew: Qoheleth)

Introduction Investigation and Discoveries Admonition Conclusion
“I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom.”
(1:13)
Writer A warning to THE END OF
Theme PERSONAL CONCLUSIONS the young THE SEARCH
Questions PURSUITS
Illustrations Without God’s help: A picture of Fear God
Knowledge Humans cannot discover the Old
VANITY

Amusements what is good for them to Obey Him

Possessions do. A final
Madness & Folly Admission Someday you
Labor Without God’s will face Him!
Philosophy Revelation: Humans do
Riches not know what will come
after them.
Chapters 1:1 – 11 1: 12 – 6: 12 7: 1 – 11: 6 11: 7 – 12: 8 12: 9 – 14
Search Nature Philosophy, Materialism, Fatalism, Relationships Theology
Style Proverbial Personal Poetical
Theme The meaninglessness of life apart from God

The Book of Songs of Songs

The Song is a Poem. It is about the Lover, God and the beloved, Israel. The book is a poem about a
love encounter. The author let this encounter happen as in a dream in order to unveil its mystery and
the call of love comes from elsewhere. The Songs of Songs, in Hebrew forms the superlative degree.
The Song is both the intuition and the experience of the search for the unique beyond every veil. The
Song is presented as being the work of Solomon: it is only a borrowed name as is the case with other
books in the Bible. The author was a “spiritual” and a sage of the 3rd century BC.

The Book of Song of Songs (Song of Solomon)

The Courtship The Wedding The Maturing Marriage

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 Bride muses Groom speaks Wife longs for Husband speaks Both partners
about her tenderly to His and describes of his wife in declare a
Emphasis beloved Bride her loving intimate terms permanent seal
husband on their love

Chief Speaker The Bride The Groom Wife Husband Duet

(“Darling”) (“Beloved”) (“Darling”) (“Beloved”)
Chapter (s) 1: 2 – 3: 5 3: 6 – 5: 1 5: 2 – 8: 14
Theme The joy and intimacy of love within the committed marriage relationship.

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