�ii

contents

Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v

List.of.Maps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xv

List.of.Charts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvi

Beginning.the.Study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction 1Order of the Study 1Literary Aspects of the Study 3Prose 4Poetry 5Historical Aspects of the Study 6The World of the Old Testament 6Conclusion 13

T h e P e n T a T e u c h

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

chapter�oneGenesis:.The.Need.for.and.Promise.of.Salvation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Introduction 17Genesis 1:1–11:9: The Need for Abraham 18Genesis 11:10–50:26: God’s Answer to Sin 27Conclusion 42

chapter�twoExodus–Leviticus:.God.Gives.the.Covenant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Introduction 45Exodus 1–4: Israel’s Enslavement and Moses’ Call 48Exodus 5–19: Israel’s Exodus 50Exodus 20–24: The Heart of the Covenant 56Exodus 25–31: Instructions Concerning the Tabernacle

and the Priests 62Exodus 32–34: Covenant Breaking and

Covenant Renewal 63

OT Survey Book.indb 7 6/15/07 10:13:33 AM

�i i i � Old Testament S U R V E Y

Exodus 35–40: Building the Tabernacle 64Leviticus 1–7: A System for Forgiving Sins 64Leviticus 8–10: Priests for Covenant Worship 66Leviticus 11–15: Clean and Unclean 67Leviticus 16: The Comprehensive Sacrifice 68Leviticus 17–26: Becoming a Holy People 69Leviticus 27: Devotion to Yahweh 70Conclusion 70

chapter�threeNumbers–Deuteronomy:.The.Struggle.for.Land. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Introduction 71Numbers 1–10: Departure from Sinai 74Numbers 11–20: Losing the Land 75Numbers 21–36: A New People for the Land 80Deuteronomy 1–4: The Land and the Past 81Deuteronomy 5–11: Basic Rules for Possessing the Land 82Deuteronomy 12–26: Specific Rules for Possessing

the Land 83Deuteronomy 27–28: Incentives to Keep the Covenant 84Deuteronomy 29–33: Accepting the Covenant 85Deuteronomy 34: The Death of Moses 85Conclusion 88

T h e F o r m e r P r o P h e T s

Introduction 89

chapter�fourJoshua:.God.Gives.the.Land. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Introduction 91Joshua 1–12: The Promised Land Conquered 94Joshua 13–22: The Promised Land Divided 99Joshua 23–24: Renewing the Covenant 100Conclusion 100

OT Survey Book.indb 8 6/15/07 10:13:33 AM

Contents � ix

chapter�fiveJudges:.Chaos.in.the.Promised.Land. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Introduction 102Judges 1:1–2:5: The Roots of Chaos 105Judges 2:6–16:31: Living in Chaos 106Judges 17–21: The Consequences of Living in Chaos 116Conclusion 118

chapter�six1.and.2.Samuel:.A.Kingdom.in.the.Promised.Land. . . . . . . . . . . 119

Introduction 1191 Samuel 1–7: Samuel’s Career 1191 Samuel 8–15: Saul, the First King 1221 Samuel 16–31: The Rise of a New King 1272 Samuel 1–10: David Builds a Kingdom 1322 Samuel 11–19: David’s Sin and Its Consequences 1362 Samuel 20–24: David’s Last Years 139Conclusion 140

chapter�seven1.and.2.Kings:.Losing.the.Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Introduction 1411 Kings 1:1–12:24: The Rise and Fall of Solomon’s

Family 1431 Kings 12:25–15:34: The Rise and Fall of Jeroboam’s

Family 1521 Kings 16:1–2 Kings 10:36: The Rise and Fall of

Omri’s Family 1552 Kings 11–17: The Decline and Fall of Northern Israel 1632 Kings 18–25: The Decline and Fall of Southern Israel 168Conclusion 171

T h e P r o P h e T s

Introduction 173Introduction to Reading Prophecy 174

OT Survey Book.indb 9 6/15/07 10:13:34 AM

x� Old Testament S U R V E Y

chapter�eightIsaiah:.Prophet.of.Sin.and.Salvation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

Introduction 179Isaiah 1–12: Sin and the Messiah 182Isaiah 13–27: Sin and the Nations 185Isaiah 28–35: Sin and the Fall of Israel 188Isaiah 36–39: Jerusalem’s Reprieve 189Isaiah 40–55: Salvation and the Servant of God 192Isaiah 56–66: Future Glory for God’s People 194Conclusion 195

chapter�nineJeremiah:.Prophet.of.Sin.and.Punishment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

Introduction 196Jeremiah 1: Introduction to the Prophecy 201Jeremiah 2–29: Israel’s Rebellion against God 203Jeremiah 30–33: Israel’s Ultimate Restoration 211Jeremiah 34–51: Israel and the Nations’ Destruction 215Jeremiah 52: Summary of the Prophecy 217Conclusion 219

chapter�tenEzekiel:.Prophet.of.Restoration.and.Hope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

Introduction 220Ezekiel 1–3: The Prophet’s Call 222Ezekiel 4–24: Sermons about Judah 224Ezekiel 25–32: Doom for Israel’s Enemies 227Ezekiel 33–48: Future Glory for Israel 227Conclusion 230

chapter�elevenThe.Book.of.the.Twelve:.Partners.in.Prophecy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231

Introduction 231Hosea: Israel’s Adultery 233Joel: Prophet of Apathy and Cruelty 237Amos: Prophet of Justice 238Obadiah: Prophet of International Hatred 243Jonah: Prophet of Israel’s Hatred of Assyria 245

OT Survey Book.indb 10 6/15/07 10:13:34 AM

Contents � x i

Micah: Prophet of Hope beyond Judgment 248Nahum: Prophet of Assyria’s Punishment 249Habakkuk: Prophet of Faith Amid Chaos 253Zephaniah: Prophet of Universal Punishment 255Haggai: Prophet of Temple Restoration 257Zechariah: Prophet of Jerusalem’s Restoration 260Malachi: Prophet of Restoration of the People of Israel 263Conclusion 265

T h e W r i T i n g s

Introduction 267

chapter�twelvePsalms:.How.to.Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268

Introduction 268Psalms 1–41: Worshipping God in Times of Trouble 273Psalms 42–72: Teaching Worship to the Next Generation 274Psalms 73–89: The Consequences of Rejecting a

Godly Heritage 275Psalms 90–106: Worship and Patience 277Psalms 107–150: Worship and Restoration 277Conclusion 279

chapter�thirteenJob:.How.to.Struggle.with.Doubt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280

Introduction 280Job 1–2: The Testing of Job 282Job 3–31: Job’s Dialogues with Eliphaz, Bildad,

and Zophar 284Job 32–37: Elihu’s Monologue 288Job 38:1–42:6: Yahweh Confronts Job 290Job 42:7–17: Healing and Restoration 290Conclusion 291

OT Survey Book.indb 11 6/15/07 10:13:35 AM

xi i � Old Testament S U R V E Y

chapter�fourteenProverbs:.How.to.Develop.Wisdom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292

Introduction 292Proverbs 1–9: Choosing Wisdom, Avoiding Foolishness 295Proverbs 10:1–22:16: Becoming a Righteous Child 297Proverbs 22:17–24:34: Sustaining Righteousness 299Proverbs 25–29: Becoming a Righteous Leader 300Proverbs 30: Dealing with Pride 301Proverbs 31: Choosing a Life Partner 302Conclusion 303

chapter�fifteenRuth:.How.to.Survive.Personal.Difficulties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304

Introduction 304Ruth 1: Naomi’s Grief 306Ruth 2: Glimpses of Hope 308Ruth 3:1–4:17: Solution to the Problem 308Ruth 4:18–22: Appendix 310Conclusion 310

chapter�sixteenSong.of.Songs:.How.to.Enjoy.Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311

Introduction 311Song of Songs 1:1–2:2: First Expressions of Love 312Song of Songs 2:3–3:11: The Desire to Be Together 312Song of Songs 4:1–5:1: More Statements of Affection 313Song of Songs 5:2–6:3: Further Longing for Love 313Song of Songs 6:4–7:9: Final Praises for Her Beauty 313Song of Songs 7:10–8:14: The Desire to Be Together

Permanently 314Conclusion 314

chapter�seventeenEcclesiastes:.How.to.Search.for.Meaning.in.Life . . . . . . . . . . . . 315

Introduction 315Ecclesiastes 1–6: “All Is Vanity” 317Ecclesiastes 7–12: “Death Is Better” 318Conclusion 319

OT Survey Book.indb 12 6/15/07 10:13:35 AM

Contents � x i i i

chapter�eighteenLamentations:.How.to.Mourn.National.Tragedies. . . . . . . . . . . . 320

Introduction 320Lamentations 1: Jerusalem’s Sorrow 321Lamentations 2: Yahweh’s Justifiable Wrath I 322Lamentations 3: The Exile’s Prayer 322Lamentations 4: Yahweh’s Justifiable Wrath II 324Lamentations 5: Israel’s Final Plea 324Conclusion 324

chapter�nineteenEsther:.How.to.Survive.in.Exile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325

Introduction 325Esther 1:1–2:20: Esther’s Rise to the Throne 328Esther 2:21–7:10: Mordecai’s Battles with Haman 329Esther 8–9: Israel’s Deliverance 330Esther 10: Peace and Prosperity 330Conclusion 330

chapter�twentyDaniel:.How.to.Maintain.Distinctive.Faith.in.Exile. . . . . . . . . . . 332

Introduction 332Daniel 1–6: Maintaining Distinctive Faith in Exile 335Daniel 7–12: Visions of the Future 338Conclusion 340

chapter�twenty-oneEzra–Nehemiah:.How.to.Rebuild.a.Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341

Introduction 341Ezra 1–6: Israel’s Return and Temple Construction 344Ezra 7–10: Rebuilding Israel’s Spiritual Life I 344Nehemiah 1–7: Rebuilding Jerusalem’s Walls 347Nehemiah 8–13: Rebuilding Israel’s Spiritual Life II 348Conclusion 348

chapter�twenty-two1.and.2.Chronicles:.How.to.View.the.Past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351

Introduction 351

OT Survey Book.indb 13 6/15/07 10:13:35 AM

1 Chronicles 1–9: Israel’s Ancestors 3521 Chronicles 10–29: David’s Reign and God’s

Promises to David 3522 Chronicles 1–9: Solomon’s Reign 3532 Chronicles 10–36: Division, Fall, and Restoration 353Conclusion 354

xi� � Old Testament S U R V E Y

OT Survey Book.indb 14 6/15/07 10:13:35 AM