Introduction to Job
Author While Job is one of the most profound books of the Bible, its anonymous author can be known only through reading between its lines.… Read More »Introduction to Job
Author While Job is one of the most profound books of the Bible, its anonymous author can be known only through reading between its lines.… Read More »Introduction to Job
Author and Title Like many OT books, Esther is an anonymous work. The only hints of its origin are the references it contains to some… Read More »Introduction to Esther
Author and Title Nehemiah is the central figure in the book, and it contains some of his own records, but he is not the author… Read More »Introduction to Nehemiah
Author and Title Ezra 1–6 recounts events long before Ezra’s time, and the book does not state who wrote this section. Ezra is the main figure… Read More »Introduction to Ezra
For an outline for 2 Chronicles, see Outline for 1–2 Chronicles. The beginning of what is today called 2 Chronicles comes midway in the second major… Read More »Introduction to 2 Chronicles
Author and Title The text nowhere directly identifies its author (traditionally designated “the Chronicler”). Jewish tradition assigned the work to Ezra the scribe, who lived… Read More »Introduction to 1–2 Chronicles
Outline The Death of Ahaziah (1:1–18) Elisha and Israel (2:1–10:36) Elijah gives way to Elisha (2:1–25) Elisha and the conquest of Moab (3:1–27) Elisha’s miracles… Read More »Introduction to 2 Kings
Author and Title As the titles of the books indicate, 1–2 Kings describe the period of the monarchy in ancient Israel (970–586 b.c.), excluding most of… Read More »Introduction to 1–2 Kings
Outline Story of King David (1:1–20:26) David and the death of Saul (1:1–27) David becomes king (2:1–5:5) Jerusalem, the city of David (5:6–25) Zion, the… Read More »Introduction to 2 Samuel
Author and Title The Hebrew title “Samuel” refers to Samuel as the key figure in 1–2 Samuel, the one who established the monarchy in Israel… Read More »Introduction to 1–2 Samuel
Author and Title The book is named for its main character, Ruth, a Moabite widow who married the Bethlehemite Boaz. She became an ancestor of… Read More »Introduction to Ruth
Author and Title The name of the book of Judges comes from the title given to the 12 leaders (“judges,” whose temporary leadership was both… Read More »Introduction to Judges