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1
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Genesis. The Book of Origins. The origin of the universe, human race, etc. Largely a record of the early history of the chosen people. |
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2
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Exodus. The bondage, deliverance, and beginnings of the history of Israel on the way to Canaan, under the leadership of Moses. |
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3
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Leviticus. The book of laws concerning morals, cleanliness, food, etc. It teaches access to God through sacrifices. |
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4
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Numbers. The book of the pilgrimages of Israel, the forty years' wandering in the wilderness. |
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5
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Deuteronomy. A repetition of the laws given shortly before Israel entered Canaan. |
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1
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Joshua. A record of the conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua and of the division of the land among the twelve tribes. |
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2
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Judges. The history of the six subjugation’s of Israel and of the various deliverance’s of the land through the fifteen judges. |
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3
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Ruth. A beautiful story of Ruth, an ancestress of David and of Jesus Christ. |
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4&5
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1, 2 Samuel. The history of Samuel, with the beginning and early years of the monarchy in Israel under the reigns of Saul and David. |
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6&7
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1, 2 Kings. The early history of the kingdom of Israel and later of the divided kingdom. The heroic characters of Elijah and Elisha appear. |
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8&9
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1, 2 Chronicles. Largely a record of the reigns of David, Solomon, and the kings of Judah up to the time of the Captivity. |
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10
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Ezra. A record of the return of the Jews from captivity and of the rebuilding of the temple. |
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11
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Nehemiah. An account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and the reestablishing of the sacred ordinances. |
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12
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Esther. The story of Queen Esther's deliverance of the Jews from the plot of Haman, and the establishment of the Feast of Purim. |
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1
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Job. The problem of affliction, showing the malice of Satan, the patience of Job, the vanity of human philosophy, the need for divine wisdom, and the final deliverance of the sufferer. |
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2
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Psalms. A collection of one hundred and fifty spiritual songs, poems, and prayers used through the centuries by Jews and by the church for worship and devotions. |
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3
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Proverbs. A collection of moral and religious maxims and discourses on wisdom, temperance, justice, etc. |
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4
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Ecclesiastes. Reflections on the futility of life and on our duties and obligations to God. |
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5
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Song of Songs. A religious poem symbolizing the mutual love of Christ and the church. |
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1
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Isaiah. The great prophet of redemption. A book rich in messianic prophecies, mingled with woes pronounced on sinful nations. |
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2
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Jeremiah. The weeping prophet. Lived from the time of Josiah to the Captivity. Main theme—the backsliding, bondage, and restoration of the Jews. |
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3
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Lamentations. A series of dirges by Jeremiah, bewailing the afflictions of Israel. |
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4
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Ezekiel. A book of striking metaphors vividly portraying the sad condition of God's people and the way to future exaltation and glory. |
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5
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Daniel. A book of personal biography and apocalyptic visions concerning events in both secular and sacred history. |
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1
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Hosea. A contemporary of 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. |
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2
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Joel. A prophet of Judah. Leading topic—national repentance and its blessings. "The day of the Lord," a time of divine judgments, may be transformed into a season of blessing. |
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3
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Amos, the herdsman prophet, a courageous reformer, denouncing selfishness and sin. The book contains a series of five visions. |
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4
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Obadiah. Leading topic—the doom of Edom and final deliverance of Israel. |
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5
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Jonah. The story of the "reluctant missionary," who was taught by bitter experience the lesson of obedience and the depth of divine mercy. |
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6
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Micah. A dark picture of the moral condition of Israel and Judah, but foretelling the establishment of a messianic kingdom in which righteousness will prevail. |
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7
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Nahum. Main theme—the destruction of Nineveh Judah is promised deliverance from Assyria |
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8
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Habakkuk. Written in the Babylonian, or Chaldean, period. Main theme—the mysteries of providence. How can a just God allow a wicked nation to oppress Israel? |
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9
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Zephaniah. Somber in tone, filled with threatenings, but ends in a vision of the future glory of Israel. |
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10
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Haggai. A colleague of Zechariah. He reproved the people for slackness in building the second temple, but promised a return of God's glory when the building was completed. |
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11
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Zechariah. A contemporary of Haggai, he helped arouse the Jews to rebuild the temple. He had a series of eight visions and saw the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom. |
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12
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Malachi. A graphic picture of the closing period of Old Testament history, showing the necessity of reforms before the coming of the Messiah. |