Vital Chapters of the Old Testament:
| BOOK AND CHAPTER | CONTENT SUMMARY |
| Genesis 1 | God created the heaven, the earth, plants, animals and man in six days. |
| Genesis 2 | God blessed the seventh day; man created from dust.Woman created from Adam’s rib. They are “naked and not ashamed.” |
| Genesis 3 | The serpent deceived Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit;God curses the serpent (crawl on his belly forever; he would bruise the heel of the seed of woman, the seed would bruise his head), Eve (childbirth) and Adam (toil). Expulsion from Eden. |
| Genesis 4 | Abel kept sheep, Cain tilled the earth.They bring offerings to the Lord of firstborn and of fruit – God respected Abel’s gift, but not Cain’s. Cain becomes angry and kills Abel. God curses Cain. |
| Genesis 5 | Family history of the line of sons from Adam to Noah. Adam lives to 930. |
| Genesis 6 | Wickedness in the earth increased; God is regretful, and decides to destroy the world; Noah finds favor with God, and God commands Noah to build an ark.Covenant established with Noah and his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth. |
| Genesis 7 | Noah, his family, and animals enter ark; flood covers whole earth; all humans and land creatures outside ark destroyed. Water covers the earth for 150 days. |
| Genesis 8 | A wind passes over the earth, and the waters recede. Noah, his family and the animals exit the ark, having landed on Mount Ararat. |
| Genesis 9 | God blesses Noah and family. Be fruitful and multiply again. Noah makes a burnt offering to God. God promises never again to destroy the earth, seals covenant with rainbow.Noah plants a vineyard and gets drunk. Ham sees his father’s nakedness, while Shem and Japheth cover it. Noah curses Canaan, the son of Ham, saying that his descendants will serve the descendants of Shem. Noah dies at 950. |
| Genesis 10 | Family history of Shem, Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah. A full description of the known world. |
| Genesis 11 | People build Tower of Babel. Lord scatters the people and confuses their languages.Family history of Shem’s descendants to Abram. |
| Genesis 12 | Lord calls Abram out of his own country, to Canaan, Bethel and Egypt (because of famine). ‘I will make you a great nation…I will bless those that bless you, and I will curse him who curses you.’Abram builds an altar at the spot and names it Shechem. He also builds an altar at Bethel.Abram lies to Egyptians about Sarai, telling them she is his sister. Abram fears that because she is beautiful, they will kill.Sarai is taken to the Pharoah. The Lord plagues Egypt because of Sarai. When he finds out the truth, the Pharoah rebukes Abram and returns Sarai to Abram. |
| Genesis 13 | Abram moves back to Bethel, where he had built the altar. Lot departs to the plains of Jordan because the land is not big enough for both of them.Lot’s land includes Sodom, where the people were wicked. Abram moves to Canaan. The Lord promises land and many descendants to Abram at Hebron, where Abram builds an altar. |
| Genesis 14 | The four kings of the cities in the region of Sodom and Gomorrah rebel against the five kings of nations ruling over them.Lot taken captive in the battle. Abram takes men to go and rescue Lot.Melchizedek comes to Abram blesses the Lord. |
| Genesis 15 | The Lord appears to Abram and tells him about the future of his descendants – “as numerous as the stars in the sky.”Lord makes covenant with Abram. “Abram believed in the Lord, and it was accounted as righteousness in him.”Abram has a troubling dream of his descendants being strangers in a foreign land for four hundred years, but eventually becoming prosperous in the Promised Land. |
| Genesis 16 | Sarai, Abram’s wife, is barren. Hagar, an Egyptian maidservant, is given to Abram. Hagar conceives and Sarai becomes angry.Hagar flees to wilderness and is instructed by an angel of the Lord to return. Ishmael is born to Hagar and Abram, and the Lord says he will be “…a wild man, with every man’s hand against him, but he will beget a multitude.”Hagar names the well where she sees the Lord Beer-Lahai-Roi (you are the God who sees). |
| Genesis 17 | Abram (father of man) becomes Abraham (father of many nations); Sarai is renamed Sarah.Circumcision is introduced to Abraham’s household as a sign of the covenant. The Lord promises that Abraham will bear a son –Isaac, through Sarah. |
| Genesis 18 | The Lord and two angels appear to Abraham. Abraham invites them to a meal. They say Sarah will have a son. Sarah laughs and the Lord hears, asking why she laughed. Afraid, Sarah denies that she laughed.Abraham argues with the Lord about Sodom – the Lord says he will not destroy Sodom if there are 50, 45, 40, 30, 20 or 10 righteous people found within it. |
| Genesis 19 | Two angels met Lot in Sodom, and are invited in as his guests. The inhabitants demand to ‘know’ the guests. Lot offers them his two virgin daughters instead, but the people of Sodom are persistent, so the angels strike them with blindness.Lot and family leave Sodom, hurried out by the angels. The angels tell him to escape to the mountains.Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed; Lot’s wife is turned to a pillar of salt when looking back to the city. Lot’s daughters get Lot drunk, and then sleep with him to preserve his lineage. |
| Genesis 22 | God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. As Abraham is about to kill Isaac, God intervenes and provides a ram for the sacrifices instead. God reconfirms covenant – through Abraham’s seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. A list of the descendants of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. |
| Genesis 26 | During a famine, the Lord tells Isaac not to go to Egypt, but to remain in Gerar with Abimelech. Covenant reaffirmed to Isaac. Like his father, Isaac pretends that Rebekah is his wife, and is rebuked by Abimelech.The Lord appears to Isaac at Beer-sheba – Isaac builds an altar there. Esau marries two Hittite women, to the displeasure of his parents. |
| Genesis 27 | Isaac is old and can’t see well. He commands Esau to hunt and bring him food, that he may be bless him before he dies.Rebekah tells Jacob to take two goats for food to give to Isaac in Esau’s place. She covers his hands and neck with goat’s hide, so he appears to be an hairy man like Esau.Jacob deceives Isaac into blessing him and not Esau. Rebekah advises Jacob to sojourn with his uncle Laban until Esau’s wrath has subsided. |
| Genesis 28 | With Isaac’s blessing, Jacob goes to Laban to find a wife.Esau marries a daughter of Ishmael. Jacob sleeps in Bethel, with a stone for his pillow. He dreams of a ladder from heaven to earth, with angels descending from it. The Lord promises the land on which Jacob lies to him and to his seed. |
| Genesis 29 | Jacob, journeying to Laban, comes across a stone that is kept over the opening of a well.Rachel, the daughter of Laban, approaches with her flock, and Jacob single-handedly removes the stone from the well for her. Jacob and Laban meet; Jacob agrees to work for seven years for Laban in return for Rachel’s hand in marriage.Laban switches Rachel for Leah, his other daughter at the wedding, claiming that the oldest daughter must be wed first.Laban agrees to give Rachel to Jacob in return for another seven years’ worth of work. Leah bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah to Isaac, the first of the 12 tribes of Israel. |
| Genesis 32 | Jacob prepares to meet Esau. Jacob divides up his servants bearing Esau gifts, so that if he attacks one group, the others will escape. Jacob sends off his servants bearing gifts in successive droves.Jacob wrestles with a ‘man’ who dislocates Jacob’s hip. Jacob doesn’t let the man go until he blesses him. The man changes Jacob’s name to Israel (‘strives with God’). To this day, the children of Israel do not eat the meat around the hip socket, out of remembrance to Jacob. |
| Genesis 35 | The Lord commands Jacob to set up an altar at Bethel, and put aside all foreign gods. God reaffirms covenant to Jacob, and changes his name to Israel.Rachel bears Benjamin and then dies. Isaac dies at the age of 180. |
| Genesis 38 | Judah sleeps with Shuah, bares Er, Onan and Shelah. Er marries Tamar. Er is killed by the Lord due to his evil. Tamar marries Onan who refuses to have children with her.The Lord, displeased, kills Onan also. Tamar is instructed by Jacob to dwell at her father’s house until Judah’s third son, Shelah, reaches maturity. Tamar realizes that Judah will never give his last son to fulfill the obligation to her.When Judah goes up to Timnah to shear his sheep, Tamar disguises herself as a harlot, and sleeps with Judah. Judah gives Tamar a signet, cord and staff to Tamar, as the pledge of his payment. Tamar then disappears. Three months later, she is found to be pregnant, and is condemned to be burnt as a harlot. Tamar is produced, and shows her signet, cord and staff.Jacob admits that he has not been righteous, because he did not give Shelah to Tamar as promised. Tamar has twins. One puts his hand out of the womb. The nurse puts a scarlet thread around this hand, but the other baby pops out first.The baby born first is called Perez, and the baby born second, with the scarlet thread round his wrists, is called Zerah. |
| Genesis 39 | Joseph is taken to Egypt, bought by Potiphar as a slave. God helps him prosper and he is made overseer of Potiphar’s estate.Joseph is tempted by Potiphar’s wife. When he resists her, she falsely accuses him, and he is thrown into prison. As before, Joseph prospers in prison with God’s grace. |
| Genesis 49 | Jacob gathers his twelve sons and blesses them and makes prophesies about their futures. Judah shall be a lion – the scepter shall not depart from him. Jacob dies. |
| Exodus 3-4 | On mount Horeb, God calls Moses from a burning bush to go and ask the Pharaoh of Egypt to let Israel be released from slavery. God will deliver the Israelites into Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses is to say that ‘I AM’ has sent him. God predicts the Pharaoh’s obstinacy.Moses is anxious that he will not be listened to, so God demonstrates signs that he can use: his staff is transformed into a snake and then back to a staff, and his hand is made leprous then restored.Moses is anxious about his eloquence, but God reassures him.God meets Moses and seeks to kill him. Moses’ son is circumcised, and his wife accuses him of being a husband of blood. Moses and Aaron gives signs to the Israelites, who believe. |
| Exodus 12 | The first Passover occurs. The Israelites sacrifice a lamb without blemish and smear its blood over their doors. It will be eaten as if in a hurry, with staff in hand, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, with none of it left to the next day.The firstborn of Egypt die; Pharaoh tells Israel to go. God delivers Israel out of Egypt. They take unleavened bread with them to eat. They had been in Egypt 430 years. |
| Exodus 15 | Israel sings victory song: ‘The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.’ Miriam, Moses’ sister, leads the women in dance and praise.At Marah, bitter water is made sweet. The Lord promises health; Israel comes to Elim. |
| Exodus 19 | Israelites camp at Mount Sinai. Moses meets God on Sinai, carries the message that God will make them a privileged nation.In three days’ time, God will descend on Mount Sinai, which is declared to be holy. The Israelites must be ceremonially pure for this occasion, having abstained from contact with their wives, and with washed clothes.When the day comes, there is thunder and lightning, as the Lord descends on Sinai in fire. Moses and Aaron ascend Sinai, while everyone else must stay on the ground. |
| Exodus 20 | God gives the Ten Commandments to Israel:No others gods, no graven images, no taking the name of the Lord in vain, keep the Sabbath, honor parents, don’t murder, commit adultery, steal, lie or covet. |
| Exodus 21-23 | God gives the Law to Moses.Specifics focus on ethics in regards to slaves, marriage, and civil laws. |
| Leviticus 1 | God gives Moses instruction regarding how to properly offer sacrifices. |
| Leviticus 2 | God tells Moses the description and instructions for grain offerings and first fruits: unleavened with oil, salt and frankincense.Some of grain is burnt for a memorial offering, and the rest given to the priests. For first fruits offerings, the heads of grain are to be roasted. |
| Leviticus 3 | God tells Moses the description and instructions for peace offerings of cattle, sheep and goats.The bit that is burnt is the fact that covers the entrails, the kidneys and the fat on them, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver. Fat or blood is not to be eaten. |
| Leviticus 4 | God tells Moses the description and instructions for sin offerings for the priest (bull), congregation (bull), rulers (goat) and common people (goat).For the bull offerings, everything apart from the fat and kidneys (burnt on the altar as before) is burnt outside the camp.The blood is smeared on the main altar, and on the incense altar in the holy place, and before the veil of the sanctuary. |
| Leviticus 5 | A sin offering is appropriate when one commits a sinful act. A sin offering can be a lamb, turtledoves or flour, depending on what the person offering can afford.A memorial portion is burnt, the rest given to the priests. If something in the tabernacle is sinned against in some way, a guilt offering must be made: reparation is to be paid, and another 20% given to the priest. A ram was sacrificed in addition. |
| Leviticus 16 | God tells Moses the instructions for priestly clothing. On the Day of Atonement, two goats are required – one is sacrificed, the other (the scapegoat, which the priest lays hands on and confesses the sins of the Israelites) is cast into the wilderness.The priest atones for himself with a bull before he atones for the people with a goat. The blood of the bull and goat are sprinkled o and in front of the mercy seat, then the animals are burnt outside the camp. |
| Numbers 6 | People may take a Nazarite vow to separate them for the Lord. No alcoholic drink is permitted, shaving or cutting hair, or coming into contact with anything dead. If anyone dies suddenly by him, he must shave his head and offer a sin offering a week later. |
| Numbers 22-24 | Balak, king of Moab, fears the advancing Israelites, and asks the prophet Balaam to curse them. God warns Balaam that the Israelites are blessed, but when Balak importunes further, God tells him that he may only say the words that God speaks to him.While traveling, an angel from God meets Balaam. The donkey Balaam rides tries to avoid the angel and crushes Balaam’s foot. Balaam beats the donkey, which miraculously speaks and complains. The angel tells Balaam to return to to Balak.Balak and Balaam offer sacrifices. Balaam seeks God’s will. Balaam blesses Israel against Balak’s request. This is repeated in another location.Balaam gives a fourth prophecy – “a star who shall come out of Jacob to destroy all enemies.” |
| Numbers 25 | Israelites sin and worship Moabite gods. Phineas stops a spreading plague by killing an Israelite and a Midianite woman he had taken.24,000 die from the plague. God blesses Phineas with the promise that he would be the descendant of Aaron through which the priesthood passed. |
| Numbers 35 | The Levites are gives 48 cities and suburbs (‘common-lands’) from across the territories of the other tribes. 6 of the 48 cities are to be refuge cities, to which those accused of manslaughter may flee. |
| Deuteronomy 5 | Moses recounts the history and travels of Israel. God speaks to Moses and makes covenant with Israel. The Ten Commandments are repeated in full. Israel responds in fear to God. |
| Deuteronomy 6 | The Shema (Hebrew for ‘hear’): ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.’This command must be in the heart, bound on the hand and forehead (phylacteries), and on the doorpost (mezuzah).Israelites warned not to forget the Lord in times of prosperity, and go after other gods. They must instruct their children in the commands of God. |
| Deuteronomy 7 | Israel is commanded to completely destroy the Canaanites and their culture, and not make covenants with them. The Israelites are a holy people, set apart from others. They will experience prosperity and abundant blessings in return for obedience. |
| Deuteronomy 13 | Moses speaks to Israel: commands regarding false gods, false worship, false prophets (a test from God), false miracles, and false dreams. The penalty for apostasy is stoning, even if the offender is a near relative. Apostate cities will be destroyed. |
| Deuteronomy 18 | Moses speaks to Israel:The Lord is the inheritance of the Levites. From a typical sacrifice, the priests will receive the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. All Levites have equal rights to the offerings.Canaanite occult practices and sacrifices (including the ritual burning of children) are forbidden.The Lord will rise up a prophet like Moses who must be obeyed. False prophets whose word does not come to pass must die. |
| Deuteronomy 32 | Moses teaches God’s song to Israel and encourages Israel. The song goes on to remind Israelites of God’s past faithfulness, Israel’s apostasy, God’s consequent self-withdrawal and chastisement. ‘I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal.’ Moses encourages his people to obey the law.God commands Moses to go up Mount Nebo, view the promised land, and then die. |
| Deuteronomy 33 | Moses blesses children of Israel before his death, names each tribe of Israel. He concludes by telling Israel how God is Israel’s refuge and strength, and that their enemies will be destroyed. |
| Joshua 2 | Joshua sends two spies to Jericho. They go to the house of a harlot called Rahab. The king of Jericho learns spies have come, but Rahab hides them.Rahab tells the spies how the people fear the Israelites, and begs that she and her family may be saved.The spies tell her to hang a scarlet chord to her window and keep her family within – this will keep them safe. The spies return to Joshua. |
| Joshua 20 | Kadesh, Shechem, Kirjatharba, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan are appointed as cities of refuge for those Israelites who accidentally kill other people. |
| Judges 5 | Deborah and Barak sing a song of victory and praise to the Lord about battle with kings of Canaan. The tribes who assisted are acknowledged; of those who did not, questions are asked.Jael is praised, despite abusing the laws of hospitality. The anxiety of Sisera’s mother waiting for him to return from battle is gleefully imagined. Israel rests for 40 years. |
| Ruth 4 | Boaz redeems Naomi’s land left by her deceased husband Elimelech. Boaz marries Ruth, who gives birth to Obed, who gives birth to Jesse, who gives birth to King David. |
| I Samuel 2 | Hannah praises God. Her poem warns the arrogant and proud, and talks of a God who humiliates the strong and exalts the weak.Samuel ministers for Eli. The sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, are corrupt. Eli rebukes them, but in vain, because God wanted to kill them.An unknown man of God pronounces judgment to Eli: his family will be cut off from the office of High Priest, and his sons will both die on the same day. |
| I Samuel 3 | Samuel ministers with Eli in the temple of God.God calls to Samuel three times while he sleeps. Samuel thinks it is Eli. The third time, Eli advises Samuel to reply, ‘Speak Lord, for your servant hears.’ God tells of judgment against the house of Eli. When told of this by Samuel, Eli takes the news as judgment. Samuel is established as a prophet. |
| I Samuel 4 | Israel fights with Philistines, and is defeated, losing 4000 men. The elders decide to take the ark from Shiloh to the scene of the battle. The Philistines fear the ark, and the Lord’s reputation. However, another defeat ensues, with time with 30,000 men, and Hophni and Phinehas die.When told that his sons have died, Eli falls backwards off his chair, breaks his neck and dies. Phinehas’ wife gives birth to a son and calls it Ichabod, meaning ‘the glory has departed from Israel’, and also dies. |
| I Samuel 8 | When Samuel gets old, his sons, Joel and Abijah, judge in his stead, but they are corrupt. The elders of Israel reject them, and request a king. God grants their request, but tells the Israelites to warn of a king’s behavior, taking children, servants and livestock for his own uses. The people persist in their demand, however. |
| I Samuel 13 | Saul’s son, Jonathan, attacks a Philistine garrison. Saul waits for Samuel at Gilgal for seven days, but he does not come, so Saul performs the burnt offering himself. Samuel tells Saul that because of his sin he will no longer be the king of Israel, but it will go to another. |
| I Samuel 15 | God tells Saul utterly to destroy the Amalekites, in revenge for their attack on the Israelites in the wilderness. Saul disobeys by allowing the Kenites to flee and sparing King Agag.God regrets that he made Saul king. Samuel upbraids Saul, telling him God has rejected him as king. As Samuel turns, Saul seizes his robe and tears it – Samuel responds by saying that the kingdom of Israel has likewise been torn from Saul’s hand. Samuel kills Agag to pieces at Gilgal. |
| I Samuel 16 | God sends Samuel to Jesse to anoint a new king. Samuel senses that God, who judged not by appearance, has not elected Jesse’s eldest seven sons. Only the youngest son, David, is missing – he is tending the sheep. Samuel sends for him, sees him, and anoints him.The Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and a distressing spirit comes over him. David is chosen as a harpist to cheer Saul up. |
| I Samuel 17 | The Philistines gather against Israel. The Philistine giant Goliath challenges the Israelites to single combat.David brings gifts from home to his three elder brothers, who are fighting against the Philistines. David asks how a Philistine can defy the army of the living God.David chooses not to wear armor, and goes armed with a staff, a sling and five stones instead. Goliath curses David. David replies that he comes in the name of the Lord of Hosts, not like Goliath with sword, spear and javelin.David defeats Goliath with a stone to the forehead. David cuts off Goliath’s head with his own sword. Israelites pursue the fleeing Philistines. David presents himself to Saul. |
| I Samuel 24 | Saul hunts David in En-gedi. Without knowing, Saul comes to a cave where David and his men are hiding. David restrains himself and his men from killing Saul and secretly cuts off a part of his robe.David reveals himself to Saul, and is honored for his mercy. Saul asks David to swear that he will not cut off Saul’s descendants when he becomes king. |
| I Samuel 26 | David and Abishai the Hittite creep into Saul’s camp, and steal his spear and jug from his tent. David rebukes Abner, Saul’s bodyguard, saying he is worthy of death. David asks for Saul to stop hunting him. |
| I Samuel 28 | Philistines and Israel prepare to fight. Saul, who had banned all occult practices, is afraid; God does not respond to him through dreams or prophecies.Saul disguises himself and visits the witch of Endor. The witch is persuaded to summon up Samuel. Samuel rebukes Saul, tells him the Lord has departed from him, and that he will lose the battle. |
| I Samuel 31 | The Philistines defeat the Israelites at Mount Gilboa. Wishing to avoid death at the hands of the enemy, Saul asks his armor bearer to kill him. The armor bearer refuses, however, so Saul falls on his own sword. The armor bearer does likewise, and Saul’s sons also die. |
| II Samuel 1 | An Amalekite man tells David he killed Saul in battle. David kills the Amalekite, and sings of song of mourning for Saul and Jonathan. |
| II Samuel 2 | David is anointed king of Judah and dwells in Hebron.Abner’s troops fight with David’s troops under Joab and are defeated. Abner kills Asahel, another of David’s nephews. A ceasefire is called. The war between the house of Saul and the house of David continues, but the latter grows stronger, and the former weaker. |
| II Samuel 5 | The elders of Israel all recognize David as king. After six years and six months, he moves from Hebron to Jerusalem, which he takes despite resistance from the Jebusites. David builds a great palace. David has many wives and concubines. |
| II Samuel 7 | Israel ceases war. David desires to build a temple for God. God tells David through the prophet Nathan that David’s son will build a temple. The Davidic covenant is inaugurated: David’s house will be established forever. If iniquity is committed, punishment will ensue, but the mercy of the Lord will not depart forever. David glorifies God. |
| II Samuel 11 | While war was raging, David was at home. He sees a beautiful woman bathing – Bathsheba. David lies with her and she becomes pregnant. To cover his sin, David tries to get Uriah to return home to lie with his wife, but he refuses while his men are fighting. David sends Uriah out in the vanguard of battle, where he dies. Bathsheba becomes David’s wife, but God is displeased with David. |
| II Samuel 12 | Nathan the prophet tells David a parable – a rich man with many flocks takes the sole lamb from a poor man to feed a traveler.Nathan uses the story to point out David’s sin, and says that the sword shall never depart from David’s house. David repents, and is forgiven. Bathsheba’s child dies, but she gives birth to another son, Solomon. |
| II Samuel 22 | David writes a song after God saves him from enemies: “…the Lord is my rock, fortress and deliverer.” David has not departed from God’s statutes. |
| I Kings 1 | David grows old, and Adonijah, the son of David by Haggith, proclaims himself king. Adonijah invites his allies to a banquet.Nathan tells Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, to tell David that Adonijah has made himself king. She does so, and Nathan confirms her words, saying that Adonijah has performed sacrifices and is being called king by the people.David arranges for Solomon to be anointed at Gihon, riding on a mule and accompanied by Zadok, Nathan and other prominent figures. Adonijah fears the news, submits to Solomon, and his life is spared. |
| I Kings 3 | In a dream, Solomon asks for understanding to judge his people and discern good from evil. God blesses Solomon.Two women claim the same son as theirs (the accusation is that one mother had stolen the baby after her one had died). Solomon proposes to cut the child in two, whereupon the real mother gives way, and is thus identified as the real mother. |
| I Kings 6-7 | Solomon builds temple. Temple dimensions, design and method of construction are described.Solomon builds his and his wife’s house, taking thirteen years to do so. |
| I Kings 8 | Solomon calls Israel to Jerusalem, where the ark of covenant brought into the Holy of Holies in the new temple. The cloud of the Lord’s presence enters the temple.The temple dedicated, and there is a huge feast with thousands of offerings made. |
| I Kings 9 | God answers Solomon’s prayer for God to dwell with the Israelites, reaffirming the Davidic covenant. Solomon gives twenty cities in Galilee to Hiram, king of Tyre, in return for a supply of gold and cedar. The remnant Canaanite peoples are used as slave labor. |
| I Kings 10 | The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon. She comes and tests him with hard questions, but he displays his wisdom.The queen remarks on how blessed the Israelites are, and there is a royal exchange of gifts before she departs. The kingdom of Israel expands, becoming very rich and powerful. |
| I Kings 11 | Solomon has many foreign wives and concubines from the nations God had warned about. He also worships false gods, building altars and high places for them. As punishment, God says that he will tear the kingdom from the hands, not of Solomon (on account of his father), but of Solomon’s son. |
| Psalm 1 | A psalm of wisdom in following God’s rule and law.“Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season.” |
| Psalm 2 | A prophetic psalm regarding the future Christ – Jesus.“You are my Son; this day I have begotten thee.”“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” |
| Psalm 16 | A psalm of protection that gives hope for the Israelites in a future savior.“Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” |
| Psalm 22 | Portions from the future crucifixion of Jesus Christ:“My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.They pierced my hands and my feet.They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” |
| Psalm 23 | “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”“Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” |
| Psalm 45 | A royal wedding song depicting God as the true husband of the Bride – Israel the nation. |
| Psalm 51 | A prayer of David for restoration following his sin with Bathsheba and discovery of his sin by Nathan the Prophet. |
| Psalm 89 | A psalm of honesty regarding the confusing nature of God’s promises of protection and justice in the midst of a crooked and evil world. |
| Psalm 110 | A prophetic psalm depicting the future King of the Universe who would come to rule the world – Jesus Christ. |
| Psalm 119 | Longest Psalm in the form of a Hebrew acrostic. Covers the hope that can be found in the study and love of God’s Word. |
| Proverbs 1 | The purpose of the proverbs is for the reader to receive wisdom, justice, judgment and equity. A son is advised against the influence of sinners. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. |
| Proverbs 8 | Wisdom cries at the gates of the city. She declares the righteousness of her own words, and speaks of the proper hatred of evil. Through her, kings and princes reign. She leads in the way of righteousness. The Lord possessed her in the beginning; she was set up from everlasting. |
| Proverbs 31 | The words and prophecy of King Lemuel, from what his mother taught him. Evil behavior and drinking too much wine to be avoided. Kings should administer justice soberly.Second half of the proverb The praise of a virtuous woman and good housewife, in her economy, prudence, watchfulness, and assiduity in labor. |
| Ecclesiastes 2 | What good is laughter and mirth? Solomon writes that all his earthly wealth and glory was vanity and vexation of spirit. |
| Ecclesiastes 12 | Youths should remember their Creator. Keep God’s commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Fear God, for he shall bring every work to judgment. |
| Song of Songs 8 | Instructions to daughters of Jerusalem not to awake the beloved. Many waters cannot quench love. |
| Job 1 | Satan meets with God, and obtains permission to test Job’s faithfulness by making him suffer. A string of servants come to tell Job that his property has been destroyed by fire, his livestock taken away, and his children when a wind collapses the house they were in. Job says that the Lord gives, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. |
| Job 2 | Satan and the Lord discuss Job. The Lord states that Job did not lose his integrity. Satan replies that Job will curse God if he is afflicted in the body. Job is afflicted with boils from tip to toe. Job’s wife tells him to curse God, but Job says he must accept adversity as well as prosperity from the Lord. |
| Job 19 | Job again complains about his friends, and describes how God has attacked and estranged him. Job remembers God, saying “I know that my redeemer lives, and shall stand at last on the earth.” |
| Job 38 | The Lord answers Job from the whirlwind. He speaks disapprovingly of words without knowledge. God asks a series of rhetorical questions about all the things Job can have no knowledge of. |
| Job 42 | Job confesses his presumption and lack of knowledge, and repents. Gid rebukes Job’s friends, and vindicates Job. Job’s losses are restored; he is blessed and received by friends again. |
| I Kings 12 | Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, is made king at Shechem. Jeroboam comes from Egypt and petitions Rehoboam to ease the heavy yoke of his father.Israel splits from Judah, and makes Jeroboam king. |
| I Kings 13 | A nameless ‘man of God’ prophesies the destruction of the altar at Bethel by Josiah. As a sign that man of God’s words are true, the altar splits in two and spews ash. When Jeroboam stretches out his hand to say, ‘Arrest him!’ his hand withers.The man of God prays for Jeroboam, and his hand is restored. An invitation to eat with Jeroboam is declined, because God had commanded to return without eating anything. A lion kills the man of God on his way back. The man of God is buried in Bethel, and the old prophet asks to be buried alongside him. |
| I Kings 14 | Jeroboam’s son, Abijah, becomes sick, so Jeroboam’s wife disguises herself and visits Ahijah the prophet, who, with God’s help, is not fooled by her disguise, and speaks against Jeroboam. In the short term, his son would die, and in the long term, his whole house would be destroyed, and the northern kingdom would be scattered. Jeroboam dies, and is replaced as king by his son Nadab. |
| I Kings 18 | Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Asherah sacrifice on Mount Carmel. Fire consumes Elijah’s sacrifice, despite not being lit and covered in water. The sacrifice of the other prophets does not catch fire, despite their prayers, for which Elijah mocks them.Elijah executes the false prophets. Rain falls in Israel. |
| I Kings 22 | Ahab joins forces with Jehoshapat king of Judah to win Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians. Jehoshapat seeks the advice of God via prophets. A group of four hundred unfaithful prophets say the combined forces of the northern and southern kingdoms will be victorious.Jehoshapat and Ahab go into battle, the latter in disguise. Jehoshapat is rescued from attack, but Ahab is killed, and dogs lick his blood. Ahaziah the son of Ahab then rules the northern kingdom. Jehoshapat becomes king in the fourth year of Ahab’s reign, and reigns twenty-five years. |
| II Kings 2 | Elisha follows Elijah. A chariot of fire carries Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha receives the spirit of Elijah, and divides the water with his mantle.Elisha heals the water of Jericho so it is no longer bad. Bears maul youths who mock Elisha’s baldness. |
| II Kings 5 | Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, gets leprosy. Elisha instructs him to wash in the Jordan seven times, and he does so, despite initial resistance to such humbling instructions. Elisha refuses a reward.Naaman asks pardon for being compelled to worship Syrian gods, and is told to go in peace. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, follows after Naaman and takes a reward from him. Gehazi lies about what he did to Naaman, and is punished with leprosy. |
| II Kings 10 | Jehu executes the remainder of Ahab’s family at Samaria. Jehu gathers all Baal worshippers in Israel and kills them. The golden calves remain at Bethel and Dan, however. Syria captures large parts of Israel’s territory. Jehu reigns 28 years, and is replaced by Jehoahaz. |
| II Kings 17 | Hoshea rules Israel for 9 years, and disobeys God. Assyria imprisons Hoshea after uncovering his conspiracy against them, besieges Samaria, and takes Israel away as captives. The reason for Israel’s demise is its disobedience, and its rejection of repeated warnings. |
| II Kings 19 | Hezekiah consults Isaiah, who speaks words of assurance on behalf of God to Hezekiah. Isaiah prophesies against Sennacherib. An angel kills 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. Sennacherib returns home, and is killed by his sons while worshipping in a pagan temple. |
| II Kings 23 | Josiah discovers and publicly reads book of God’s Law to all Judah. Josiah set religious reform in motion. He also destroys the pagan altar at Bethel, and the high places in Samaria. A Passover is held in Jerusalem. Josiah is killed fighting at the battle of Megiddo. |
| II Kings 25 | Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem. The sons of Zedekiah are killed, and Zedekiah himself blinded and taken prisoner. Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple and the city, taking valuables and people to Babylon. Gedaliah is made the governor of the few who remain. Gedaliah is then assassinated, and the remnant in Judah flees to Egypt. |
| Obadiah | Edom will be made small among the nations. It shall be brought down, though it ascends as high as an eagle.The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, but the house of Esau shall be stubble. The children of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites. Saviors shall come to Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s. |
| Joel 1 | A plague of locusts upon Judah: “Weep, drunkards, for the nation of locusts has laid waste the vine.” There can be no grain or drink offering now. The people are called to repent with wailing, sackcloth and a fast. The brooks have dried up, and the animals suffer in the drought. |
| Joel 2 | The day of the Lord is coming – a day of darkness and gloominess, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains.The Lord is gracious and merciful, and slow to anger. The Lord will be zealous for His land, and pity His people, removing the northern army to a barren and desolate land. “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied. The Lord will pour out His Spirit on all flesh – many shall prophesy and see visions.”“Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. In Jerusalem there shall be the deliverance of the remnant.” |
| Amos 1-2 | Amos is a sheep breeder of Tekoa. The Lord declares through him:The people of Damascus shall go captive to Kir in Assyria. Judgment against Gaza and Tyre. Edom will be punished because of its pitiless anger. Ammon will be punished, because it killed pregnant women in Gilead. The king of the Ammonites will be taken captive. In each instance, the rhetorical formula that introduces judgment isMoab will be destroyed with fire, and its princes slain, because it burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. Judah will be sent fire, because their lies have led them astray. Israel will be punished for its sins against the righteous, poor and humble. |
| Amos 9 | Amos has a vision of the Lord at the temple, supervising the work of destruction. Judgment is totally inescapable. The Lord will “sift the house of Israel.” The tabernacle of David will be repaired and restored. The captives of Israel will be restored, and fruit and wine shall be abundant. |
| Hosea 1 | God commands Hosea to marry a prostitute to illustrate that the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord. Hosea obeys and marries Gomer. Hosea is commanded to call his son Jezreel – referring to the valley where Jehu murdered all the descendants of Ahab. God says he will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu. Hosea also has a daughter, called Lo-Ruhamah (no mercy). There will be no mercy for Israel, and mercy on the house of Judah. A second son is called Lo-Ammi (not my people). |
| Hosea 4 | The land will mourn, and all who dwell there shall waste away. The priests are corrupt and ineffective. The Lord condemns idolatry and harlotry, sometimes conjoined in ritual harlotry. |
| Isaiah 2 | In the last days, the Lord’s house shall be established on Zion, and all nations shall flow unto it. The Lord shall judge the nations, and rebuke many. They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. |
| Isaiah 6 | A vision in the year that king Uzziah died: the Lord on his throne and above it the seraphim. Isaiah fears he is undone because he is a man of unclean lips. One of the seraphim lays a lump of burning coal in his mouth, and tells him his sins are burnt away. Isaiah receives his prophetic commission. |
| Isaiah 7 | The Lord will give a sign: a virgin will conceive, called Immanuel, God with us. |
| Isaiah 9 | The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. ‘You’ will deliver the land, ‘for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ |
| Isaiah 11 | A shoot shall come forth from the rod of Jesse, possessing the seven spirits of God:He will judge the poor with equity, and slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb. The gentiles shall seek him. The Lord will gather together scattered Israel. |
| Isaiah 42 | The Lord’s servant will bring justice to the gentiles, and establish justice on earth. A light to the gentiles. The deaf and the blind come to the servant. The Lord’s people have been robbed, plundered and punished because they have not walked in the ways of the Lord. |
| Isaiah 49 | The servant speaks in his own voice – he has been called from the womb. His mouth has been made like a sharp sword. He will be a light to the gentiles. He will release prisoners, and those in darkness. The Lord will protect Israel from her enemies, who will be humbled and defeated. |
| Isaiah 50 | Israel has brought its misfortunes on itself. The servant is obedient, and has been given a wise tongue. He has faith that the Lord will justify him, however, and that his adversaries will grow old like a garment, and be eaten up by moths. People will be kindled by fire from his hand. |
| Isaiah 52 | Israel will be redeemed for no money. Israel’s oppressors will wail. All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. The Lord’s servant will be both exalted and humiliated. Nations will be cleansed and astonished by him. |
| Isaiah 53 | He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows. He was bruised for our iniquities…and by his stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. The Lord made his soul an offering for sin. |
| Isaiah 55 | The Lord invites those who are thirsty to come and be richly fed. The everlasting covenant is talked about in terms of the sure mercies of David. The wicked will be forgiven if they forsake their ways. The Lord’s thoughts are higher than men’s thoughts. |
| Jeremiah 31 | The northern kingdom will be restored. Rachel is represented rising from her tomb, lamenting, but then being consoled by the thought of future restoration. Ephraim repents, and is reconciled. Peace and prosperity returns. |
| Daniel 1 | Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem. In Babylon, the Hebrew youths Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are groomed for the civil service, and given Babylonian names. Daniel decides that he will not defile himself with the king’s delicacies and wine. Daniel negotiates with a steward, and is allowed to live on vegetables and water. After ten days they appear healthier than those who have eaten the king’s delicacies, so they are allowed to keep to this diet. Daniel and his companions are promoted. |
| Daniel 2 | Nebuchadnezzar is troubled with a dream. Daniel describes Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: an image appeared, having a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, feet of iron and clay. Nebuchadnezzar praises Daniel’s God, and promotes Daniel. |
| Daniel 3 | Nebuchadnezzar makes a golden image, sixty cubits high. Nebuchadnezzar gives a command to worship the statue, or be thrown into a fiery furnace. Daniel’s companions do not worship the statue. They calmly refuse to worship the statue, and are thrown into a furnace which is heated to seven times it normal heat. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego are thrown bound into the furnace. Nebuchadnezzar’s counselors say four men, unbound, are walking in the midst of the fiery furnace, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. The three men leave the furnace unharmed. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the greatness of the Hebrew God who protected the three men. |
| Daniel 4 | Nebuchadnezzar’s decree: how great are God’s signs, and how mighty His wonders! Nebuchadnezzar recounts a dream, and is driven from men and eats grass. His hair grows like eagle’s feathers, and his nails like bird’s claws. Nebuchadnezzar is finally restored to power, and praises God. |
| Daniel 5 | Belshazzar makes a great feast, with the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple at Jerusalem. They drink wine, and praise false gods. A hand writes a message on a wall. Daniel says that Belshazzar has not humbled his heart like Nebuchnezzar. The writing says mene mene tekel upharsin – God has numbered your kingdom, you have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting, and your kingdom is to be given to the Medes and the Persians. Belshazzar honors Daniel, but that night he is slain, and the kingdom falls to Darius the Mede. |
| Daniel 6 | Daniel is made one of three governors. There is a plot hatched by the satraps, who persuade the king to sign a decree saying that anyone petitioning a god or man other than Darius will be thrown into a den of lions. Report reaches Darius that Daniel has prayed to his God. Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den; Darius tells Daniel that his God will protect him. Daniel is found alive the following morning. Those who accused Daniel are thrown to the lions, along with their families, and killed. Darius decrees that all must honor the God of Daniel. Daniel prospers. |
| Daniel 7 | Daniel’s vision in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign: four beasts coming from the sea. The interpretation: the four beasts are four kings. They are conquered by God, and their kingdoms are given to the people of God. The ten horns of the fourth beast represent ten kings, to be succeeded by another, who shall subdue three kings, before being defeated by the Most High. |
| Daniel 8 | Daniel’s vision in the third year of Belshazzar’s reign: by the river Ulai, there is a ram, with two horns, one larger than the other. It pushes in all directions, and cannot be withstood. The vision refers to many days in the future. Daniel responds to the vision with fainting and sickness. |
| Daniel 9 | Daniel fasts and prays, confessing the sins of his people. As he prays Daniel is visited by the angel Gabriel. Gabriel says that in seventy weeks reconciliation will be made for iniquity, everlasting righteousness will be brought in, and the Most Holy anointed.The Messiah will be cut off, but for the sake of others, not for himself. The people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. There will be a flood, and desolations are determined until the end of the war. The coming prince will make a covenant with Israel for the final unit of seven years, completing the seventy weeks prophesied for the Jewish people and Jerusalem. The covenant will be broken in the middle of this final seven-year period. On the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, until the consummation is determined. |
| Daniel 10 | Daniel’s vision in the third year of Cyrus’ reign. On the banks of the Tigris, Daniel sees a glorious man clothed in linen, girded with a golden belt; his face was like lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet were like burnished bronze, and his voice like that of a multitude. Daniel’s companions do not see the vision – but they are terrified nonetheless, and flee. The glorious man says he has faced opposition from the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and was helped by the prince Michael. Daniel feels overwhelmed by weakness, but is reassured and told to be strong. The glorious person says he must fight the prince of Persia and then the prince of Greece. Michael assists him. |
| Daniel 11 | Three kings shall arise in Persia. The fourth shall be richer than them all, and fight against Greece. When he comes to his end, no one will help him. |
| Daniel 12 | Michael shall stand up at a time of trouble. The Jewish people shall be delivered, if their name is found written in the book. The dead will be resurrected, some to everlasting life, some to everlasting contempt. The righteous and wise shall shine like the stars. Daniel is told to shut up his words, and seal the book until the end of time. |
| Ezekiel 34 | Woe to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves, and do not feed the flock. Lord will recall the scattered sheep. David shall be their shepherd. |
| Ezra 1 | Cyrus of Persia commands and helps Judah to return to and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. In his proclamation, Cyrus stresses that he has been given all the kingdoms of the earth by God. Temple items are also returned. The Jews are led by Sheshbazzar, prince of Judah, to Jerusalem. |
| Ezra 2 | Israel returns from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem and Judah, led by Zerubabbel. The returnees are listed – 42,360 in all. Freewill offerings are made to help rebuild the temple. |
| Ezra 3 | On the seventh month the Jerusalem temple altar is rebuilt on its ancient foundation. Sacrifices and festivals begin again. Temple rebuilding begins, accompanied by joyous singing and praising of the Lord. Some weep, others rejoice. |
| Ezra 4 | The enemies of Judah offer to help rebuild the temple, but Zerubabbel refuses their assistance. Resistance to the rebuilding project continues from Cyrus to the reign of Darius.In the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia the Samaritans write a letter saying that if Jerusalem is rebuilt, Persian control of it will cease. Artaxerxes forces the rebuilding project to cease – which it does until the second year of the reign of Darius. |
| Ezra 5 | Haggai and Zechariah exhort the people to start rebuilding the temple. Tattenai, the governor of the river, writes to king Darius, saying rebuilding has started on the joint authority of the Lord and of Cyrus. |
| Ezra 6 | Emperor Darius searches royal records, find Cyrus’ decree, and orders the rebuilding of temple to continue. The temple is completed, dedicated. Passover is celebrated. |
| Ezra 7 | Ezra gains Artaxerxes’s favor and returns from Babylon to Jerusalem. Artaxerxes commands Ezra to offer all the gold and silver found in Babylon for the temple. Ezra is also given the power to impose taxes, and enforce the Mosaic law. |
| Haggai 1 | In the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord comes via Haggai to Zerubbabel (governor of Jerusalem) and Joshua (the high priest). The Lord complains that the people say it is not time for the temple to be finished. The Lord criticizes the procrastination and lack of progress. The people act on God’s words via Haggai. |
| Haggai 2 | The Lord confronts the anxiety that the current temple is far less impressive than Solomon’s. A recent drought is seen as a consequence of the people’s refusal to build the temple. God sees their change of heart and promises a harvest of blessing to come. The Lord speaks to Zerubbabel via Haggai – the gentile nations will be overcome. Zerubbabel will be made the Lord’s signet ring. |
| Zechariah 1 | The word came to Zechariah (himself the son of a prophet) in the second year of Darius. The orders his people to return to Him, and not to follow the example of their fathers. The Lord’s house will be built in Jerusalem, and comfort Zion. Zechariah has a vision of four horns, symbolizing the four nations that scattered God’s people. |
| Zechariah 2 | Zechariah has a vision of a man with a measuring line, going to measure out Jerusalem. The Lord will provide a wall of fire around Jerusalem, and be the glory in her midst. Exiles are exhorted to return from the north. When the Lord dwells in the midst of Jerusalem, many nations shall be drawn unto Him. |
| Zechariah 3 | Joshua the high priest stands before the Lord. Satan also stands before the Lord to oppose Joshua. The Lord rebukes Satan. Joshua’s filthy garments are removed, and he is given clean garments. Joshua is told that if he walks in the Lord’s ways, he will judge His house. |
| Zechariah 4 | Zechariah has a vision of a lampstand, next to which there are two olive trees that supplied the seven lamps with oil through seven pipes. Zerubbabel will accomplish the work of rebuilding the temple through the Lord’s Spirit. The two olive trees represent the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth. |
| Zechariah 5 | Zechariah has a vision of a flying scroll. On it are written curses against the evil of the land. Wickedness is personified as a woman sitting in a basket. An angel thrusts down the woman, and places a lead covering over the top of the basket. Two winged women take the basket to Babylon. |
| Zechariah 6 | Zechariah has a vision of four chariots coming between two mountains of bronze. They go before the Lord. Those who go toward the north country have given rest to the Lord’s Spirit in the north country. Joshua receives a crown of gold and silver. The branch shall build the temple of the Lord. The crown will be a memorial in the temple. |
| Zechariah 7 | The Lord rebukes the practice of fasting for being perfunctory. Justice, mercy and compassion are more important – this is why the people were scattered. |
| Zechariah 8 | The Lord says He is zealous for Zion with great zeal. The Lord will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be a thriving, safe place. More people will return from the east and the west. Encouragement is given to finish the temple. |
| Zechariah 9 | A lowly king riding on a donkey shall come into Jerusalem. He shall speak peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea. The blood of the covenant will set prisoners free from the waterless pit. |
| Zechariah 11 | Creation mourns because of the coming judgment. Zechariah is told to feel a flock of sheep for slaughter, as the Lord with do with his people, particularly those who are rich and complacent. Zechariah’s two staffs are called Beauty and Bonds. Zechariah dismisses three shepherds and breaks the staff called Beauty. Playing the role of a shepherd, Zechariah is paid thirty pieces of silver, which he gives to the potter. Zechariah breaks the staff called Bonds, to symbolize the severance of Judah and Israel. Zechariah is told to take the implements of a foolish shepherd, to indicate that the Lord will rise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off. Woe to the worthless shepherd, who leaves the flock! |
| Zechariah 12 | The spirit of grace and supplication will be poured on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ‘They will look on me whom they pierced.’ All Jerusalem will humbly repent. |
| Zechariah 14 | The day of the Lord is coming, when Jerusalem will be attacked. Half of the city will be taken off in captivity, but the remnant shall not be cut off. The Lord will fight against the nations that attack.All nations shall come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Plague and no rain will be the punishment for those families who do not attend. |
| Esther 9 | The Jews who were to be destroyed defend themselves, killing 75,000 enemies. At Esther’s request, Haman’s ten sons are hung. Jews celebrate victory, and Purim is declared an annual festival for all Jews. |
| Ezra 7 | Artaxerxes commands Ezra to offer all the gold and silver found in Babylon for the temple. Ezra is also given the power to impose taxes, and enforce the Mosaic law. |
| Ezra 8 | Ezra provides a list of all those who accompanied him to Jerusalem. Ezra does not ask for an escort, trusting in the Lord to protect them. Gifts to the temple are made. |
| Ezra 9 | Some Jews marry non-Jews. Ezra grieves, prays to God in front of people, confesses sins, humbles himself, and intercedes for the people’s sins. |
| Ezra 10 | A meeting is held about Jews marrying foreign women. Shechaniah proposes a covenant to put away foreign wives. A period of mourning ensues, and the Jews confess, agreeing to put away their wives. Each case of intermarriage is investigated over a period of three months. A list of the guilty is supplied. |
| Nehemiah 6 | Sanballat and others invite Nehemiah to the plains of Ono, with the intention of killing him. Sanballat spreads a rumor that Nehemiah is planning to rebel against Persia and become king.The wall is completed in 52 days, despite some who were friends with the enemy Tobiah. Tobiah sends threatening letters to Nehemiah and the people. |
| Nehemiah 9 | The Jews gather, separate themselves from foreigners, fast, repent, read the law aloud, and hear a summary of Israel’s history and deliverance from Egypt. A new covenant is made. |
Bibliography
James, King. The Bible, n.d.
Source: Genesis University
