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Chronological > Old Testament
Chronological Old Testament
The Old Testament is a collection of thirty-nine
books. They were written to disclose the Covenant God of Israel as he revealed
himself and how he acts toward his children. From its beginning pages the Old
Testament presents itself to the reader as a book that describes the
relationship of God and his people. It is not known with precision when the Old
Testament was first assembled into one volume. The first section of the Old
Testament often called the Law was canonized (accepted as divinely inspired and
authorized) between 450-300 B.C. The
Prophets, another section of alike books, were received as canon about 200
B.C. The Writings, largely the poetry book,
were accepted sometime in the second century B.C. One must remember that the faith of Israel
existed independently of any inspired books for hundreds of years. This should
give us pause to bear in mind that we can worship the God of the Bible without
having to worship Scripture itself. This does not mean that Scripture is not
important in the daily expression of our Christian life. It does mean that we
should remember that Scripture is God's tool to express how he will act toward
us in our life situations. It is a means to an end, not the end in itself. This
is not to say that Scripture is not important. It is saying that the God of
Scripture is more important than the words of Scripture.
| Creation |
Patriarchal | Exodus |
Covenant | Conquest |
Judges |
| United Kingdom |
Divided Kingdom | Restoration
|
Creation Stage (Genesis
1.1-11.26)
Creation
Fall
Flood
Babel/Nations
- Going Higher and Loosing Communication:
Gen 11.1-9
Patriarchal Stage (Job
1.1-42.17;
Genesis
12.1-50.26)
Abraham: (the Promise of a Son): Genesis
11.27-20.18
- The Journey to Canaan and Egypt (Promise of
Descendents and Land): Gen 11.27-12-20
- Abraham and Lot (Separation and Rescue): Gen
13.1-14.24
- The Promise of God to Abraham: Gen 15.1-21
- Hagar and Ishmael: Gen 16.1-16
- God's Covenant with Abraham (Name changed,
circumcision instituted, promise of a son given again, Abraham and Ishmael
circumcised) Gen 17.1-27
- The Promise of God for a Son (Sarah laughs): Gen
18.1-15
- Abraham, Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah: Gen
18.16-19.38
- Abraham and Abimelech (Abraham lies about Sarah in
Gerar and God protects her): Gen 20.1-18
Isaac (Strife between Older and Younger
Brothers): Genesis 21.1-27.40
- The Birth of Isaac: Gen 21.1-7
- Hagar and Ishmael: Gen 21.8-21
- Abraham Offers Isaac to God: Gen 22.1-19
- Sarah's Death: Gen 23.1-20
- Isaac and Rebekah: Gen 24.1-67
- Abraham Dies: Gen 25.1-10
- Jacob and Esau's Birth: Gen 25.19-34
- Strife over Abraham's Wells: Gen 26.1-33
- God Chooses Jacob: Gen 27.1-40
Jacob: (Exile and God's Protection and
Blessing): Genesis 27.41-37.1
- Jacob Flees to Laban: Gen 27.41-28.9
- Jacob's Dream at Bethel: Gen 28.10-22
- Jacob's Marriage: Gen 29.1-30.24
- Jacob's First Scheme: Gen 30.25-43
- Jacob and Laban: Gen 31.1-55
- Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau, wrestles with God,
meets Esau: Gen 32.1-33.20
- Dinah and the Shechemites: Gen 34.1-31
- Returning to Bethel: Gen 35.1-15
- The Death of Rachel and Isaac: Gen 35.16-29
Joseph (Relationship with Brothers): Genesis
37.2-50.26
- Joseph the Dreamer (sold by his brothers): Gen
37.2-36
- Judah and Tamar: Gen 38.1-30
- The Wife of Potiphar: Gen 39.1-23
- Joseph Interprets Dreams: Gen 40.1-41.57
- The Brother's of Joseph Journey to Egypt: Gen
42.1-47.12
- Joseph Ascends in Egypt: Gen 47.13-31
- Manasseh, Ephraim: Gen 48.1-22
- Jacob Blesses his Sons and Dies: Gen
49.1-50.14
- Joseph Reassures his brothers and dies: Gen
50.15-26
Exodus Stage (Exodus
1.1-19.2)
Exodus from Egypt: 1.1-13.16
- Israel Oppressed and the Birth of Moses: Ex
1.1-2.10
- Moses Leaves Israel: Ex 2.11-25
- Moses meets God: Ex 3.1-4.17
- Moses Returns to Egypt: Ex 4.18-31
- Moses and Pharaoh: Ex 5.1-7.13
- Plagues in Egypt: Ex 7.14-11.10
- The Passover and Redemption: Ex 12.1-13.16
Journey into the Wilderness:
13.17-19.2
- Departure from Egypt: Ex 13.17-15.27
- Water, Manna, and Quail: Ex 15.22-17.7
- Amalekites and Arrival: 18.1-19.2
Covenant Stage (Exodus
19.3-Deuteronomy 34.12)
The Lord-Servant Treaty (Exodus 19.3-Numbers
10.10
This section of the Pentateuch is self-contained at
describes some of the teachings that Israel needed on their way to the promise
land. It covers the period from Israel's arrival at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19.3) to
their departure (Numbers 10.10). The time period is about one year in the life
of Israel.
- Theophany on Sinai: 19.3-20.21 (10 commandments
20.1-17)
- God has no form: 20.22-24.11 (judicial laws:
21.1-23.33)
- Instructions for building Tabernacle and dedicating
priest: 24.12-18-34.28 (laws given: 25.2-31.17
- Tabernacle building: 34.29-40.28 (laws followed
35.1-40.33)
Regulations about Sacrifices: Leviticus 1-10
[Regulations
about Purity: 11-18]
Sacrificial laws and priest dedication: Lev. 1-10 (laws
of sacrifice (1.2-9.24; purity laws 11-18)
- Marching orders: Lev. 19.1-Num. 10.10 (holiness
laws (Lev 19.4-Num 9.14; marching orders: Num. 9.15-10.10)
Journey to the Promised Land (Numbers
10.11-Deuteronomy 34)
Wilderness Journey: 10.11-21.20
- Leaving Sinai and Complaining: Num 10.11-11-35
- God's Punishment of Miriam and Aaron: Num
12.1-16
- Kadesh Rebellion: Num 13.1-14.45
[Regulations:
Num 15.1-36]
- Korah's Revolt: Num 15.37-16.50
- Aaron: Num 17.1-18.32
- Kadesh Rebellion: Num 20.1-21
- Aaron's Death, Complaining, Arrival at Moab:
20.22-21.20
Victory in Moab: Numbers 21.21-Deuteronomy
3.29
- From Sihon to Sihon: Num 21.21-Deut 2.3.29
[Obey
God: Deut 4-11 An Exhortation to Israel to obey God]
[Various Stipulations:
Deut 12-26 Stipulations to keep in the new land]
Moses' Final Words: Deut 27-34
- Moses gives final Instructions: 29.1-20
- Joshua and the twelve tribes: 31.1-33.29
- The Death of Moses: 34.1-12
Conquest Stage (Joshua 1-24)
The Conquest of Canaan: Joshua 1-12
- Joshua becomes Israel's Leader: Joshua 1.1-18
- Rahab hides spies: Joshua 2.1-24
- Crossing into the Promised Land: Joshua
3.1-5.12
- Walls of Jericho fall down: Joshua 5.13-6.27
- Achan's Sin: Joshua 7.1-8.29
- Covenant and Deception: Joshua 8.30-9.27
- War in Canaan: Joshua 10.1-11-23
[List of
conquered kings: 12.1-24]
- God's challenge to Joshua: 13.1-7
[Allocation of
Land: 13.8-22.34]
- Me and my house: 23.1-24.33
Judges Stage (Judges 1-24; Ruth
1-4)
- Israel's forgets God (theological explanation):
Judges 1.1-3.6
The Judges: Judges 3.7-16.31
- Othniel and Ehud: Judges 3.7-30
- Deborah and Barak: Judges 4.1-5.31
- Gideon: Judges 6.1-8.32
- Abimelech: Judges 8.33-9.57
- Jephthah: Judges 10.6-12.7
- Samson: Judges 13.1-16.31
Various Concluding Stories: Judges
17-21
- The grandson of Moses runs an idolatrous cult in
Dan Judges: 17-19
- The rape of a concubine and a war of retribution:
Judges 19-21
Ruth (Ruth 1-4)
- Family lose, Ruth's conversion and arrival in
Bethlehem: Ruth 1.1-22
- Ruth and Boaz meet: Ruth 2.1-23
- Ruth's proposal to Boaz: Ruth 3.1-18
- Kinsman-Redeemer: Ruth 4.1-22
United Kingdom Stage (1 Samuel
1.1-1 Kings 11.43)
Samuel (1 Samuel 1-7)
- The Birth of Samuel (Hannah's Prayer): 1 Sam
1.1-2.11
- The Wicked Sons of Eli: 1 Sam 2.12-2.36
- The Call of Samuel by God: 1 Sam 3.1-4.1a
- The Ark is Lost: 1 Sam 4.1-7.1
- Samuel Rules: 1 Sam 7.2-17
Saul (1 Samuel 8-15)
- Saul Becomes King: 1 Sam 8.1-11.15
- Samuel says Goodbye: 1 Sam 12.1-25
- The Philistines: 1 Sam 13.1-14.52
- God Rejects Saul: 1 Sam 15.1-35
David (1 Samuel 16-1. 1 Kings 2.12)
- David anointed and serves Saul: 1 Sam 16.1-23
- David and Goliath: 1 Sam 17.1-58
- David on the Run (Success and Jealousy): 1 Sam
18.1-27.12
[Psalm 11: Possibly set against 1 Sam 18.8-19.7]
[Psalm 7:
Possibly set against 1 Sam 18.10-24]
[Psalm 59: David's prays for God's
strength as Solomon chases him 1 Sam 19.10-11]
[Psalm 57: When David had
fled from Saul into the cave 1 Sam 21]
[Psalm 142: When David had fled from
Saul into the cave 1 Sam 21]
[Psalm 34: Set against 1 Samuel 21]
[Psalm
56: Set against 1 Samuel 21.1015]
[Psalm 17: Possibly set against 1 Sam
23.25ff.]
- Saul and the spirit of Samuel (the witch at Endor):
1 Kings 28.1-25
- Saul and his sons die: 1 Sam 29.1-31.13
- David, Saul's Killer, Laments: 2 Sam 1.1-27
- David the King of Judah: 2 Sam 2.1-4.12
- David the King of Israel (philistines and dancing
before God: 2 Sam 5.1-6.23
[Psalm 24: Set against 2 Samuel 6 (the
restoration of the ark)]
[Psalm 68: Set against 2 Samuel 6.12-16]
- God's Covenant with David and his Response: 2 Sam
7.1-29
[Psalm 2: Rooted in 2 Samuel 7, the promise to David of a supreme
name]
- David the Warrior: 2 Sam 8.1-10.19
- David and Bathsheba: 2 Sam 11.1-27
- Nathan's Rebuke of David's Sin: 2 Sam
12.1-31
[Psalm 51: David's Repentance of the Bathsheba Affair]
- The Consequences of David's Sin: 2 Sam
13.1-20.26
[Psalm 3: Set against 2 Sam 15.13-17.24]
[Psalm 4: Set against
David's fleeing from Absalom]
[Psalm 5: Set against David's fleeing from
Absalom]
[Psalm 6: Set against David's fleeing from Absalom]
[Psalm 63:
Set against David's fleeing from Absalom]
- David's Rule Ends: 2 Sam 2 Sam 21.1-1 Kings
2.12
Solomon (1 Kings 2.13-11.43)
- Solomon Becomes King: 1 Kings 2.13-46
- Solomon's Wisdom: 1 Kings 3.1-28
[Government
Overview: 1 Kings 4.1-28]
- The Temple for God: 1 Kings 5.1-9.9
- Government Overview: 1 Kings 9.15-28]
- The Queen of Sheba and Great Wealth: 1 Kings
10.1-29
- Solomon Breaks Covenant (marriage to foreign
women): 1 Kings 11.1-43
[Proverbs: A collection of practical bits of Wisdom
by Solomon and others]
[The Song of Songs: May or may not be by Solomon, A
poetic portrayal of the reomatic relationship between a young man and a young
woman]
[Ecclesiastes: Addresses the issue of the meaning of Live: may or may
not be by Solomon]
Divided Kingdom Stage (1 Kings
12.1-2 Kings 25.30)
Northern Kingdom (1st seven kings): 1
Kings12.1-16.34
- Rehoboam, Jeroboam, and the Splitting of the
Kingdom: 1 Kings 12.1-24
- Jeroboam (N): 1 Kings 12.25-14-20
- Three Judean Kings (Jeroboam, Abijah, Asa [S]):
14.21-15.24
- Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab (N): 1 Kings
15.2516.34
Elijah Stories: 1 Kings 17.1-2 Kings
2.12a
- Elijah and Ahab: 17.1-18.46
- God encourages Elijah: 19.1-21
[Israel and Aram
at war: 22.1-40]
- Naboth's vineyard: 21.1-29
- Jehoshaphat: 22.41-50
[Psalm 83: Set against the
reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20)]
- Elijah and Ahaziah: 1 Kings 22.51-2 Kings 1.18
- Elijah goes to heaven: 2 Kings 2.1-12a
Elisha Stories: 2 Kings 2.12b-8.6
- The Company of Prophets: 2 Kings 12b-18
- Water, Mocking, Water. Poison, Loaves: 2 Kings
2.19-4.44
- Naaman Healed: 2 Kings 5.1-27
- Axhead, Blinding, Provision, Healing: 2 Kings
6.1-8.6
More Kings: 2 Kings 8.7-13.35
- Elisha and Hazael: 2 Kings 8.7-15
- Jehoram and Ahaziah (S): 2 Kings 8.16-29
- Jehu and the Death of Jezebel and Ahab (N): 2 Kings
9.1-10.35
- Joash (S): 2 Kings 11.1-12.21
[Joel (Southern
Prophet) A prophesy against Judah: Joel 1.1-3.21]
- Jehoahez and Jehoash (N): 2 Kings 13.1-35
[Jonah (Northern Prophet) Prophecy to
Ninevah]
- God's Call, Jonah's Response: 1.1-17
- From the Fish: Jonah 2.1-10
- God Calls Again: 3.1-10
- Jonah's Resentment: 4.1-11
Northern Kingdom (final years): 2 Kings
14.1-17.41
- Amaziah (S): 2 Kings 14.1-22
[Joel (Southern
Prophet) A prophesy against Judah: Joel 1.1-3.21]
- Jeroboam II (N) 14.23-29
[Amos (Northern
Prophet) A prophesy against Israel: Amos 1.1-9.15]
- Uzziah (Judah): 15.1-7
[Isaiah and Micah
(Southern Prophets) Prophecies against Judah]
- Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah Pekah: (N): 2
Kings 15.8-31
[Hosea (Northern Prophet) A prophesy against Israel (N): Hosea
1.1-14.9]
- Jotham and Ahaz (S): 2 Kings 15.32-16.20
[Isaiah
and Micah (Southern Prophets) Prophecies against Judah]
- Hoshea (fall of northern kingdom):
17.1-41
[Hosea (Northern Prophet) A prophesy against Israel (N): Hosea
1.1-14.9]
Southern Kingdom (final years): 2 Kings
18.1-25.30
- Hezekiah (S): 18.1-20.21
[Psalm 75: Set against
2 Kings 18-19]
[Psalm 76: Set against 2 Kings 18-19]
[Isaiah and Micah
(Southern Prophets) Prophecies against Judah]
- Manasseh: 21.1-18
- Amon (S): 21.19-26
[Nahum and Zephaniah
(Southern Prophets) Prophecies against Judah]
- Josiah, Jehoahaz, Johoiakim, Jehoiachin (S):
22.1-24.18
[Jeremiah (Southern Prophets) Prophecies against Judah]
- Zedekiah (S): 24.18-25.30
[Psalm 74: Set against
the events of 2 Kings 24-25]
[Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Southern Prophets)
Prophecies against Judah]
[Habakkuk (Southern Prophet) The just live because
of the Faithfulness of God]
Captivity (not covered by any one book)
[Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Southern Prophets) Prophecies
in Exile]
[Lamentations: A eulogy of mourning of the fall of Jerusalem in
586 B.C.
Daniel (1-6)
- Daniel and his three friends: 1
- Nebuchadnezzar's dream: 2
- Fiery furnace: 3
- Nebuchadnezzar's insanity: 4
- Handwriting on the wall: 5
- The lions' den: 6
[Obadiah (Exile Prophet)
Edom's mistreatment of Judeans during the Babylonia destruction of
Jerusalem]
Restoration (Ezra;
Nehemiah; Esther)
Ezra
- Zerubbabel Return and Temple Building Begins: Ezra
1.1-4-24
- Prophets Encouragement: 5.1-12
[Haggai and
Zechariah (Restoration Prophets) Prophecies about building the Temple]
- Temple Completed: Ezra 3-6.22
- Ezra Returns: Ezra 7.1-8.22
[List of people:
7.27-8.21]
- Ezra's deals with intermarriage: Ezra 9-10
Nehemiah
- Nehemiah's Return: Nehemiah 1-2
- Rebuilding Walls, Opposition, Plot: 3.1-4.23
- Helping Poor, Plot, Opposition, Walls Completed:
5.1-7.3
[List of returnees; 7.4-73]
- Ezra assembles people, Reforms: Nehemiah
8.1-10.39
[List of names: 11.1-36]
- Nehemiah assembles People, Reforms: Nehemiah
12.27-13.31
[Malachi (Restoration Prophet) Prophecies about robbing
God]
[1 and 2 Chronicles: A retelling spin of the story of 1 & 2 Kings
for the sake of the people of the restoration]
Esther
- The King and the Queen: Esther 1.1-2.23
- Haman's and Mordecai: Esther 3.1-4.17
- Esther's Banquets: 5.1-7.10
- Haman's Plot Foiled, Jews Saved: Esther
8.1-9.10
- Esther, Susa, Feast of Purim: 9.11-10.3
Copyright © 2001 Winn Griffin, D.
Min. All rights reserved. |
