Book of beginnings
Genesis
A collection of wise sayings, most of which written by Solomon
Proverbs
Tells about Israel's conquest of the Promised Land
Joshua
Contains the story of a vision given to King Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel
Tells about Israel's cycle of sin, slavery, sorrow, and salvation
Judges
Tells about the Israelites being counted in the wilderness
Numbers
Poems or songs used as praise and worship to the Lord
Psalms
The story of a woman who married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of David
Ruth
Prophet who acted out many of his prophecies
Ezekiel
The story of a Jewish woman who became queen of Persia
Esther
Tells the story of how the Israelites left Egypt
Exodus
A song about love in marriage
Song of Solomon
Tells the story of the little boy to whom God spoke.
1 Samuel
Book that mourns over Jerusalem and compares her to a widow and a slave.
Lamentations
Book about David's life
2nd Samuel
Repeats and explains the Law
Deuteronomy
The story of a man who lost everything and was tested by God
Job
Tells about the Jews' return to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel.
Eza
Jeremiah
Tells how the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt after the exile
Nehemiah
Gives instructions for the priests in guiding Israel's worship
Leviticus
Says that life is meaningless unless we fear and obey God
Ecclesiastes
Tells about the division of Israel into two kingdoms
A book that contains many messianic prophecies
Isaiah
Begins with genealogies and parallels some of the stories in 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings
1st and 2nd Chronicles