GENESIS

This book tells us that God created all things, including time, and He made the universe in six days. The first man and woman were named Adam and Eve and they were perfect. They lived in the idyllic Garden of Eden and the world had no sin or death. Yet they disobeyed the only restriction that God had given them, which was not to eat the forbidden fruit, and because of their sin, death and corruption entered the world. Mankind grew progressively more wicked and so God sent a great flood to wipe out all life on the earth. He spared his faithful servant Noah and his family by having them build a large wooden ark that contained Noah's family and a variety of animals that would be used to repopulate the earth. God began to reveal a grand plan for the redemption of mankind and the corrupted Creation. He chose a man named Abraham who trusted God through faith, and through Abraham's son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob, God created the nation of Israel through which will come the Redeemer and Savior of the world - the Messiah.

CHAPTERS 1–6

CHAPTERS 2–3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTERS 6–9

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTERS 12–22

CHAPTER 15 (Verses 5–6)

CHAPTERS 24–36

CHAPTERS 37–50

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EXODUS

The descendants of Israel multiply greatly in the land of Egypt and they are eventually enslaved. God reveals to His servant Moses that God is Yahweh, the self-existent God, and then He sends Moses to Egypt to lead the people out of captivity. God sends plagues against Egypt because the Pharaoh refuses to let His people go. With awesome miracles God uses Moses and Aaron to lead the entire Israelite nation out of Egypt. After the Exodus, at Mount Sinai, God makes a covenant with Israel and has Moses record the laws that the people must follow.

CHAPTERS 1–2

CHAPTERS 2–34

CHAPTER 33 (Verses 17–20)

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LEVITICUS

Through Moses, God reveals to the Israelites who have just partaken in the Exodus, that Yahweh is a perfect and holy God. Only perfect and holy people can approach Him and when they are not perfect, they must provide sacrifices to atone for their sins. The Israelites are given numerous laws and regulations to follow regarding offerings, sacrifices, cleanliness, and behavior.

CHAPTERS 1–27

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NUMBERS

God has freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and now they travel from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land. Moses undertakes a census of the nation and then more commands are given regarding the priestly service and the Tabernacle. Yet when the people arrive at the borders of the Promised Land they learn that Canaan is inhabited by mighty men and they lose faith in God's ability to overcome their Canaanite enemies and want to return to Egypt. For their disbelief the nation is sent into the wilderness where they wander for forty years.

CHAPTERS 1–36

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DEUTERONOMY

Deuteronomy means "second law" and that is exactly what it is: a second telling of the law to the Israelites. Under the leadership of Moses and Aaron, the Israelites have been freed from slavery in Egypt and because of their disbelief even after directly witnessing numerous miracles by God, were unable to enter the Promised Land. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years and the disbelieving generation died, but now the younger generation stands ready to cross the Jordan River. Moses reminds the people of God's commandments and retells some of the history of the Exodus and wilderness wanderings. Joshua is appointed to succeed Moses and lead the people into their inheritance and then Moses passes away after gazing upon the Promised Land.

CHAPTERS 1–34

CHAPTER 33 (Verses 26–28)

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JOSHUA

The people could not enter the Promised Land under Moses' leadership because they failed to trust God's promises. The doubting generation perished in the wilderness outside of Israel, but under the leadership of God's faithful servant Joshua, the Israelites were finally permitted to cross the Jordan River and enter the land that God had promised to them as their inheritance. Led by Joshua, Israel defeats many enemies and destroys the city of Jericho. The prostitute Rahab and her household are alone saved from the destruction of Jericho because of her faith in Yahweh. After most of Canaan is conquered by the Israelites, Joshua has the land portioned out to each of the tribes of Israel.

CHAPTERS 1–6

CHAPTER 1 (Verse 9)

CHAPTER 24

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JUDGES

After the Israelites finally crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land and took possession of much of the land, God appointed different "judges" to settle disputes among the people and lead the armies of Israel against their enemies. Having no government aside from the priests and judges encouraged the people to remember that God was their ruler and provided for them and protected them directly. This book is the historical record of the era of the Judges before the people cried out for an earthly king and includes the stories of such biblical heroes as Samson, Deborah, and Gideon.

CHAPTERS 6–16

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RUTH

The story of Ruth takes place during the time of the Judges after a severe famine had struck the land. When the famine was over, the Israelite widow Naomi returned to her land accompanied by her Gentile daughter-in-law Ruth, who was also a widow. Poor and destitute, they encounter Naomi's wealthy relative Boaz who takes an interest in Ruth because of her godly character. He becomes their kinsmen-redeemer and marries Ruth saving them from poverty. Ruth has long been seen as a foreshadowing of the Church and Boaz of Christ.

CHAPTERS 1–4

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1 SAMUEL

1 Samuel tells the story of the birth of the prophet Samuel and his oversight of Israel. The people demand a king rather than the God-appointed judges, so Samuel appoints Saul to be king. Saul turns out to be a wicked king and so God raises up David to succeed him. This book records the violent war with the Philistines in which David confronts a giant champion of the Philistine army named Goliath of Gath.

CHAPTERS 1–9

CHAPTERS 10–31

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2 SAMUEL

This is the record of David becoming king and his war with the House of Saul for possession of the whole kingdom. The rest of the book is an account of King David's reign, including the various wars he fought in and his sin and repentance over his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah.

CHAPTERS 1–24

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