2 Old Testament Books: Overview, Themes, and Key Figures

Ezra - Success

Success is marked by a great assembly.

Ezra - Setting

Ezra was living in Babylon when in the seventh year (c. 457 BCE) of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, the king sent him to Jerusalem to teach the laws of God to any who did not know them.

Ezra - Leadership

Ezra led a large body of exiles back to Jerusalem.

Ezra - Discovery

Ezra discovered that Jewish men had been marrying non-Jewish women (Samaritans).

Nehemiah - Overview

An account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, and the re-establishing of the sacred ordinances.

Nehemiah - Motivation

The book tells how Nehemiah, at the court of the king in Susa, is informed that Jerusalem is without walls, and resolves to restore them.

Nehemiah - Position

In the 20th year of Artaxerxes I of Persia, Nehemiah was a cup-bearer to the King in Susa (the Persian capital).

Nehemiah - Action

Nehemiah left his post as cup-bearer to a king in order to rebuild the great city.

Poetic Books - Book of Job Overview

Job. The problem of affliction, showing the malice of Satan, the patience of Job, the vanity of human philosophy, the divine wisdom, and final deliverance of the sufferer.

Book of Job - Understanding 1

The Book of Job helps us to understand that Satan cannot bring financial and physical destruction upon us unless it is by God's permission.

Book of Job - Understanding 2

God has power over what Satan can and cannot do.

Psalms - Overview

A collection of one hundred and fifty spiritual songs, poems and prayers used through the centuries by the church in its devotions.

Psalms - Praise of God

Psalms involve the praise of God—for his power and beneficence, for his creation of the world, and for his past acts of deliverance for Israel.

Psalms - Vision

The psalms envision a world in which everyone and everything will praise God, and God in turn will hear their prayers and respond.

Proverbs - Overview

A collection of moral and religious maxims, and discourses on wisdom, temperance, justice, and many more.

Proverbs - Classification

The Book Of Proverbs, an Old Testament book of 'wisdom' writing found in the third section of the Jewish canon, known as the Ketuvim, or Writings.

Proverbs - Solomon's Wisdom

God has given Solomon the wisdom to rule his people fairly.

Proverbs - Purpose

Proverbs is actually a book of instructions on how to live a life pleasing to God and how to be more peaceful with all of mankind.

Proverbs - Value

It is a wonderful book for people of all ages to study how to live moral, peaceful lives.

Proverbs - Definition

Proverbs are wise sayings that give advice about life.

Proverbs - Universality

Proverbs are culturally specific, yet their meaning has universality; everyone can relate to them in some way and on some level.

Ecclesiastes - Overview

Reflection on the vanity of life, and man's duties and obligations to God.

Ecclesiastes - Placement

Ecclesiastes stands between the Song of Solomon and Lamentations and with them belongs to the Megillot, five scrolls that are read at various festivals of the Jewish religious year.

Ecclesiastes - Author

King Solomon, son of King David, wrote three books in the Old Testament.

Ecclesiastes - Writing Date

He wrote the Proverbs around 970 BC.

Ecclesiastes - Writing Date Continued

He wrote Ecclesiastes around 935 BC.

Ecclesiastes - Chronology

Although Ecclesiastes appears between the Proverbs and the Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes was written after the Song of Solomon.

Song of Solomon - Overview

A religious poem symbolizing the mutual love of Christ and the church.

Song of Solomon - Other Names

The Song of Solomon (also called Song of Songs and Canticle of Canticles) consists of the book whose author is unknown (Solomon's name is a later addition).

Song of Solomon - Structure

It is a collection of love poems spoken alternately by a man and a woman.

Song of Solomon - Story

There is no coherent story in the book.

Major Prophets - Overview

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel.

Isaiah - Overview

The great prophet of the redemption. A book rich in messianic prophecies, mingled with woes pronounced upon sinful nation.

Isaiah - Superscription

The superscription identifies Isaiah as the son of Amoz and his book as 'the vision of Isaiah concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.'

Jeremiah - Overview

The weeping prophet. Lived from the time of Josiah to the captivity.

Jeremiah - Main Theme

The backsliding, bondage, and restoration of the Jews.

Jeremiah - Length

With the single exception of the Book of Isaiah, which contains the works of more than one prophet, the Book of Jeremiah is the longest of the prophetic books of the Old Testament.

Jeremiah - Significance

For this reason, along with others, Jeremiah is often regarded as the greatest of the Hebrew prophets.

Ezekiel - Overview

One of the mystery books, full of striking metaphors vividly portraying the sad condition of God's people, and the pathway to future exaltation and glory.

Ezekiel - Identity

The Book of Ezekiel describes itself as the words of Ezekiel ben-Buzi, a priest living in exile in the city of Babylon between 593 and 571 BC.

Ezekiel - Exile

In 597, following a rebellion against Babylon, Ezekiel was among the large group of Judeans taken into captivity by the Babylonians.

Daniel - Overview

A book of personal biography and apocalyptic visions concerning events in both secular and sacred history.

Daniel - Classification

The Book of Daniel, also called The Prophecy of Daniel, is a book of the Old Testament found in the Ketuvim (Writings), the third section of the Jewish canon, but placed among the Prophets in the Christian canon.

Daniel - Overall Theme

The overall theme of the Book of Daniel is God's sovereignty over history, and the theme of the tales in chapters 1-6 is that God is sovereign over all earthly kings.

Daniel - Fundamental Question

Daniel 1 introduces the fundamental question that runs through the entire book: how God may continue to work his plans when all seems lost.

Minor Prophets - Overview

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

Hosea - Overview

Contemporary with Isaiah and Micah. Central thought: The apostasy of Israel characterized as spiritual adultery. The book is filled with striking metaphors describing the sins of the people.

Hosea - Order

According to the traditional order of most Hebrew Bibles, it is the first of the twelve Minor Prophets.

Hosea - Symbolism

The eventual reconciliation of Hosea and Gomer is treated as a hopeful metaphor for the eventual reconciliation between Yahweh and Israel.

Joel - Personal Info

The book relates nothing about Joel except his name and that of his father.

Joel - Central Theme

The book's central theme is a concept borrowed from pre-exilic prophets that salvation will come to Judah and Jerusalem only when the people turn to Yahweh.

Amos - Overview

The herdsman prophet, a courageous reformer, denouncing selfishness and sin. The book contains a series of five visions.

Amos - Prophecy

He accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel (although he did not specify Assyria as the cause) and, as a prophet of doom, anticipated later Old Testament prophets.

Amos - "The Day of the Lord"

Amos is the first prophet to use the term 'the Day of the Lord.' This phrase becomes important within future prophetic and apocalyptic literature.

Amos - Meaning of "The Day of the Lord"

For the people of Israel, 'the day of the LORD' is the day when God will fight against his and their enemies, and it will be a day of victory for Israel.

Obadiah - Overview

Leading topic: the doom of Edom and the final deliverance of Israel.

Obadiah - Prophetic Vision

The book of Obadiah is based on a prophetic vision concerning the fall of Edom, a mountain dwelling nation whose founding father was Esau.

Obadiah - Message from God

Obadiah describes an encounter with God, who addresses Edom's arrogance and charges them for their violent actions against their brother nation, the House of Jacob (Israel).

Jonah - Overview

The story of 'The Reluctant Missionary' who was taught by bitter experience the lesson of obedience and the depth of divine mercy.

Jonah - Classification

The Book of Jonah is a book of the Nevi'im ('Prophets') in the Hebrew Bible.

Jonah - Story

It tells of a Hebrew prophet named Jonah son of Amittai who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of Nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission.

Micah - Overview

This book gives a dark picture of the moral condition of Israel and Judah, but foretells the establishment of a Messianic kingdom in which righteousness shall prevail.

Micah - Order

The Book of Micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible.

Micah - Message

Micah reproaches unjust leaders, defends the rights of the poor against the rich and powerful, while looking forward to a world at peace centered on Zion under the leadership of a new Davidic monarch.

Nahum - Main Theme

The destruction of Nineveh. Judah is promised deliverance from Assyria.

Nahum - Order and Authorship

The Book of Nahum is the seventh book of the 12 minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible. It is attributed to the prophet Nahum, and was probably written in Jerusalem in the 7th century BC.

Habakkuk - Period and Theme

Written in the Chaldean period. Main theme: The mysteries of providence. How can a just God allow a wicked nation to oppress Israel.

Habakkuk - Order and Authorship

The Book of Habakkuk is the eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the Bible. It is attributed to the prophet Habakkuk, and was probably composed in the late 7th century BC.

Habakkuk - Structure

Of the three chapters in the book, the first two are a dialog between Yahweh and the prophet.

Zephaniah - Overview

This book is somber in tone, filled with threatening images, but ends in a vision of the future glory of Israel.

Zephaniah - Other Name and Order

Book of Zephaniah, also called Sophonias, the ninth of 12 OT books that bear the names of the Minor Prophets, collected in one book.

Zephaniah - Dominant Theme

The dominant theme of the book is the 'day of the Lord,' which the prophet sees approaching as a consequence of the sins of Judah.

Haggai - Overview

A colleague of Zechariah. He reproves the people for slackness in building the second temple, but promises a return of God's glory when the building should be completed.

Haggai - Other Name and Order

The Book of Haggai, also called The Prophecy Of Aggeus, is the 10th of 12 Old Testament books that bear the names of the Minor Prophets.

Haggai - Focus

Haggai's oracles show his concern for the immediate reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Zechariah - Overview

Contemporary with Haggai. He helped to arouse the Jews to rebuild the temple. He had a series of eight visions, and saw the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.

Zechariah - Apocalyptic Vision

Among Zechariah's visions was one that described four apocalyptic horsemen who presaged God's revival of Jerusalem after its desolation during the Babylonian Exile.

Zechariah - Other Visions

Other visions announced the rebuilding of the Temple and the world's recognition of Yahweh, Israel's God.

Malachi - Overview

He ministered between Nehemiah's first and second term as governor of Judah. He called the people to renew their commitment to the Lord and His ways; only then would they begin to receive blessings from Him.

Malachi - Other Name and Order

The Book of Malachi, also called The Prophecy of Malachias, is the last of 12 Old Testament books that bear the names of the Minor Prophets, grouped together as the Twelve in the Jewish canon.

Malachi - Authorship

The author is unknown; Malachi is merely a transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning 'my messenger.'

Law - Books

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

History - Books (Part 1)

Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Esther

History - Books (Part 2)

1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah

Poetry/Wisdom - Books

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

Major Prophets - Books

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel

Minor Prophets - Books

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi