Chapter 7: The Old Testament The story of God’s love for mankind since creation began

Old Testament explains man’s origin in God, mankind’s failure to follow God’s plan and commands, God’s promise of a Redeemer, God’s choice of a people to be His own, and the history of that people (the Jewish race) leading up to the coming of the Messiah

Main theme = God’s covenant with His chosen people

Old Testament Story Ancestors of the Faith Exodus Event Monarchy Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham Exodus Event God leads his people out of slavery and into freedom Monarchy Golden Era = greatest time and king in the Promised Land Destruction and Exile Jewish people disobey covenant and their country is conquered by the Babylonians and Jewish people are exiled Return and Rebuilding Jewish people allowed to return to the Promised Land Greece and Rome Romans conquer the Israelites and Promised Land

4 groups of books Pentateuch = 1st 5 books of the Bible Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers Deuteronomy Genesis means beginning in Greek – about beginning of mankind and origin of the world Exodus records the freeing of the Jewish people Leviticus tells of the formation of the priestly tribe of Levi and the rules God gave for worship Numbers describes the life of the Jewish people as they wandered in the desert looking for the Promised Land Deuteronomy means second law and summarizes the law of the Jewish people and the farewell of Moses

Historical Books Record the history of the Jewish people from the death of Moses through entrance into the Promised Land 16 books Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees

Wisdom Books Give practical advice on life and prayer Main theme = perfect knowledge will lead us to God; the meaning of pain and suffering we experience in life 7 books Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Eccelsiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, Sirach

Prophetic Books Prophet = messenger of God Prophets called people back to God and warned of not repenting of sins Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekial, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi 18 books