The Torah
The Historical Books
The Wisdom Books
The Prophets
Women of the Old Testament
100
from the Greek meaning "five books" or "five scrolls," this is the word often used by Christians for the first five books of the Old Testament
What is the Pentateuch?
100
this historical book details the experience of the Israelites entering the land of Canaan revealing the ways that God has been faithful to promises
What is the Book of Joshua?
100
this book contains the 150 songs that served as common prayers for the people of Israel and inspire us to voice our own deepest feelings and hopes to God
What is the Book of Psalms?
100
this one prophetic book represents three different periods in Israel's history; it's foretelling of a "suffering servant" elevates this book's role in anticipating both Jesus' birth and death
Who is Isaiah?
100
This mother of Esau and Jacob (whose name later became Israel) was a strong, generous, and decisive woman.
Who is Rebekah?
200
from the Greek word meaning "beginning," this book begins with how God created both the universe and humankind
What is Genesis?
200
this book captures the stories of the twelve heroic, yet flawed individuals that led the Israelites from around 1200 B.C. to 1000 B.C.
What is the Book of Judges?
200
this book is a collection of wise sayings and guidance for living so "that people may know wisdom and discipline…, [and] may receive instruction in wise conduct, in what is right, just, and fair" (1:2-3)
What is the Book of Proverbs?
200
This reluctant prophet believed himself to be "too young" (1:6), but God called him anyway "to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant" (1:10).
Who is Jeremiah?
200
This woman provided safe harbor to Joshua's spies and courageously deceived her king in order to protect the people of Israel.
Who is Rahab?
300
from the Greek word meaning "out on the road," this book tells the story of the Israelites' journey from slavery under the Egyptians to freedom in the Promised Land
What is Exodus?
300
these historical books are named after the pivotal figure who shepherded Israel from the period of judges into its era ruled by Kings Saul, David, and Solomon
What are the Books of Samuel?
300
this book, named after its central figure, speaks to the reality of suffering by innocent people
What is the Book of Job?
300
This prophet's call began with a series of extraordinary visions, and the symbolic actions of his ministry predict both Jerusalem's destruction as well is its redemption.
Who is Ezekiel?
300
This woman, whose name means "leader," served as a judge, a prophet, and a military leader for ancient Israel.
Who is Deborah?
400
this third book of the Pentateuch received its name from ancient Greek translators because much of it deals with concerns of the priests, who are of the tribe of Levi
What is Leviticus?
400
these two historical books trace the tragic collapse of the kingdom of Israel and attempt to shed light on why it happened
What are the Books of Kings?
400
this book was written about 50 years before the coming of Christ to empower the people of God to "love righteousness…, think of the Lord in goodness, and seek God in integrity of heart" (1:1)
What is the Book of Wisdom?
400
This prophet came to understand his faithfulness to an unfaithful spouse as a symbolic reflection of God's faithfulness to an unfaithful Israel.
Who is Hosea?
400
this woman from Moab is the great-grandmother of King David (and so ancestor of Jesus) who committed herself to the Israelite people by an oath to her mother-in-law Naomi
Who is Ruth?
500
this book, which brings the five books of the Torah to a close, means "second law" because it replicates so much of the legal content of the previous books
What is Deuteronomy?
500
these two historical books interpret the more than five hundred years from the death of King Saul to the return from the exile as the ongoing story of God's involvement in human affairs
What are the Books of Chronicles?
500
the Hebrew name of this book and of its author--Qoheleth--means "one who assembles/calls together" or "one who collects," and its honest assessment of the human condition is balanced by a call to rejoice in whatever gifts God may give
What is the Book of Ecclesiastes?
500
The book of this prophet is a collection of poem-like prophetic messages that reveal God as passionate about justice and fairness.
Who is Micah?
500
This queen came to recognize that with great power comes great responsibility and she used her influence with the king of Persia to save the Jewish people.
Who is Esther?