Introduction
If asked by someone for help in their reading of the Old Testament, giving them just the basic storyline, could you do it?Hebrews 5:11-14Of the 39 Old Testament books, only twelve need to be read in order to get the chronological story. The other 27 are valuable for the details.Genesis
Three men: patriarchs (Acts 7:8)Abraham, Isaac, JacobThree promises: Genesis 12:3; 26:4; 28:14; 49:10Land – the land which I will show youFulfilled, Joshua 21:43-45; 23:14Nation – I will make you a great nationFulfilled, Exodus 1:7Special descendant – in you all the families of the earth will be blessedFulfilled, Galatians 3:14-16The balance of the Old Testament is all about the fulfilling of these three promises.Exodus
215 years of bondageReason for Jews being in Egypt in servitude; had become a great nation, a thread to Pharaoh, Exodus 1:14Exodus 12:37 – 600,000 menExodus 3-7 – Moses raised up as delivererExodus 8-11 – Plagues intended to soften Pharaoh’s heart and release the Jews.Exodus 12-13 – Passover institutedExodus 14-40 – Jews escape Egypt, come to Sinai, events at SinaiExodus 19 – Ten CommandmentsExodus 24 – Golden calfJesus our Passover lamb – I Corinthians 5:7Numbers
40 years of wanderingNumbers 1-10 – Preparations for leaving SinaiNumbers 10-12 – Events before KadeshMurmuring against Moses and AaronNumbers 12-20 – Events at KadeshNumbers 12 – Murmuring of Miriam and AaronNumbers 13 – Spies sent to Canaan, evil reportNumbers 14 – Rebellion of people and punishmentNumbers 20-36 – Events prior to entering CanaanDeuteronomy
“Remember” – 24 timesDeuteronomy 1-31 – Retelling of the lawDeuteronomy 32-34 – 120 years of Moses’ life endsJoshua
Seven years to conquer the landJoshua 1-5 – Entering the landJoshua 6-12 – Conquest of the landJoshua 13-21 – Distribution of landJoshua 22-24 – Settling in landJoshua 21:45 – None of God’s promises failedJudges – I Samuel 8
14 judges, 300 yearsJudges 2:11-23 – 300 year cycle of apostasy: sin, oppression, repentance, deliverance, relapseI Samuel 8 – I Kings 11
“Give us a king”120 years, united kingdom: Judah and IsraelSaul, David, and SolomonII Samuel 7:12-17 - David’s desire to build temple; God assures him a descendant of His (Jesus) will fulfill prophecy.I Kings, II Kings – Divided kingdom
Israel – 931-722 B.C.19 kings, all of them evilLasts for 200 years before being taken into Assyrian captivity, from which they never returned.Judah – 931-586 B.C.20 kings, some good, some evilLasts for 130 years after Israel goes into captivity before being taken captive by Babylon for seventy years, then return.II Kings 23-25
Three groups taken into Babylonian captivityEzra and Nehemiah
Three groups return from Babylonian
