The Basics About the Bible: Old Testament History Books

There is a wide variety of scholarly opinion on dating the earlier books, but, as we come closer to the present, the events can be finely dated.  Some modern translations will even translate postexilic dates into our current calendar month and year.

Joshua - exciting stories of the conquest of Canaan

- not-so-exciting surveys of the division of the land

Judges - a book for our times

- key phrase: "there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

- not for unescorted children, as i first found it!

Ruth - Set in the time of the Judges

- A loyal foreign girl finds love and a prodigal family finds grace

- This makes her eventually the greatgrandmother of King David & ancestor of Jesus.

becomes an example and and the center of an allegory for all time.
- "The book of the Prodigal Family"

I Samuel - Samuel, the last judge

- Saul, the first king

- David, shepherd boy anointed king, giant killer, friend and fugitive

II Samuel - David as king: mourns his enemy & his friend leads his nation in triumphs,

commits his greatest sins,and shows us the meaning of humility.  (also why he was accepted & Saul rejected)

I Kings - begins with David and ends with the middle years of the divided kingdoms

- David's last days

- Solomon's wealth and wisdom

- Solomon's sin and folly

- the first temple is built & dedicated (longest prayer in the Bible)

- the pivotal event of OT history: the division of the kingdom

- early kings of the divided kingdoms, now called Israel or Ephraim (north) and Judah (south)

- Elijah prophesies to Ahab and Jezebel in the northern kingdom

II Kings - Elijah goes to heaven in the chariot of fire; Elisha's more personal ministry

- later kings

- the fall of the kingdoms: Israel in chapter 17 is conquered by, & deported to, Assyria

Deportees from other nations are brought in (origin of Samaritans)

In chapter 25, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon burns Jerusalem

- we can consider these books as observing the events from man's point of view

I Chronicles - LOTS of geneologies and lists of names

- David's reign, including lists of his followers & servants and preparations for the temple

- we might consider the books of Chronicles God's view of what's important

II Chronicles - from Solomon's ascension to the throne to Cyrus' edict for Jews' return from exile

- this follows only the kingdom of Judah

Ezra and Nehemiah - return of the exiles, rebuilding the temple (2nd temple)

- Ezra's first verses are identical to II Chronicles' last verses

- The first six chapters of Ezra cover approximately 538-486BC (first return of exiles)

- There is about a 20 year gap before chapter 7.

- Ezra chapters 7-10 cover approximately 465-424BC.

- The second part of Ezra is the same time frame, and much the same events, as Nehemiah.

Esther - Chronologically, this book fits into the middle of Ezra.
Some people have been returning to The Land, but many do not.  If Ruth could be said to be about a Prodigal Family, Esther is about a Prodigal Nation.