AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT HISTORICAL BOOKS

 STUDY GUIDE

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT HISTORICAL BOOKS

Conquest

• Be familiar with the basic ideas of the two views on the date of Israel’s conquest of Canaan. (pp.
69-74)
• Be familiar with the basic ideas of the nature of Israel’s occupation of Canaan. (pp. 74-80)
• Understand the issues involved with Israel’s destruction of the Canaanites. (pp. 92-94)
Joshua
• Know the primary theological themes of Joshua. (p. 103)
• Know Joshua's major sections (items in bold). (pp. 111-112)
• Be familiar with Canaanite religion and culture. (pp. 121-123)
Judges
• Understand the office or “judge” in Judges. (pp. 125-126)
• Who is the “Angel of the Lord” in Judges? (pp. 130-133)
• Know the issues involved with understanding Jephthah’s vow. (pp. 133-135)
• Know the major sections (items in bold) of Judges. (pp. 140-141)
Ruth
• Know the relationship between Judges and Ruth. (p. 142)
• Know the possible options for the purpose of the book of Ruth (pp. 146-147)
• Know the theological themes of the book of Ruth (pp. 151-154)
1 & 2 Samuel
• Know the general content of 1 & 2 Samuel (p. 160-161)
• What are the major stories in 1 & 2 Samuel? (p. 161)
• Understand “the Spirit of the Lord,” and the “evil spirit from the Lord.” (pp. 175-178)
• Understand the concept of God repenting. (pp. 178-179)
• Understand the nature of Israel’s request for a king. (pp. 181-182)
• Understand the nature of the Davidic Covenant. (pp. 182-184)
• Know the major sections (items in bold) of 1 & 2 Samuel. (pp. 188-191)
1 & 2 Kings
• Know the lessons of 1 & 2 Kings. (p. 192-193)
• Know the basic framework pattern in Kings (bolded material) and its theological significance.
(pp. 200-203)
• Understand the issues involved in the lying spirit from God. (p. 223-224)
• Know the major sections of 1 & 2 Kings (items in bold) (pp. 231-233)
• Be familiar with the kingdoms interacting with Israel in 1 & 2 Kings, as well as their location in
relation to Israel. (pp. 234-248)
• Know the spiritual significance of Jerusalem (261-262)
1 & 2 Chronicles
• Know the general content of 1 & 2 Chronicles. (pp. 263-264)
• Know the purpose of 1 & 2 Chronicles (p. 268)

• Understand the interbiblical interpretation between Chronicles and other written material (pp.
280-284)
• Understand the purpose and function of biblical genealogies (pp. 284-289)
• Know the major sections of 1 & 2 Chronicles (items in bold) (pp. 308-312)
Ezra-Nehemiah
• Know the purpose of Ezra-Nehemiah. (pp. 313-314)
• Be familiar with the Persians (pp. 327-330
• Know the general purpose of Ezra-Nehemiah (p. 330)
• Know who the Samarians were. (pp. 330-331)
• Know the condition of Jerusalem when Nehemiah returned. (pp. 332 – 333]
• Know the major components of Ezra’s reforms (pp. 337-340)
• Know the major components of Nehemiah’s reforms (pp. 341-344)
• Know the major sections of Ezra-Nehemiah (items in bold) (pp. 356-360)
Esther
• Understand common reactions to the book of Esther. (p. 361-362)
• Understand the principles of God’s providence and hiddenness in Esther. (pp. 371-376)
• Know the major sections of Esther. (items in bold) (pp. 380-381)

now the major sections (items in bold) of Joshua. (pp. 111-112)
• Be familiar with Canaanite religion and culture. (pp. 121-123)
Judges
• Understand the office or “judge” in Judges. (pp. 125-126)
• Who is the “Angel of the Lord” in Judges? (pp. 130-133)
• Know the issues involved with understanding Jephthah’s vow. (pp. 133-135)
• Know the major sections (items in bold) of Judges. (pp. 140-141)
Ruth
• Know the relationship between Judges and Ruth. (p. 142)
• Know the possible options for the purpose of the book of Ruth (pp. 146-147)
• Know the theological themes of the book of Ruth (pp. 151-154)
1 & 2 Samuel
• Know the general content of 1 & 2 Samuel (p. 160-161)
• What are the major stories in 1 & 2 Samuel? (p. 161)
• Understand “the Spirit of the Lord,” and the “evil spirit from the Lord.” (pp. 175-178)
• Understand the concept of God repenting. (pp. 178-179)
• Understand the nature of Israel’s request for a king. (pp. 181-182)
• Understand the nature of the Davidic Covenant. (pp. 182-184)
• Know the major sections (items in bold) of 1 & 2 Samuel. (pp. 188-191)
1 & 2 Kings
• Know the lessons of 1 & 2 Kings. (p. 192-193)
• Know the basic framework pattern in Kings (bolded material) and its theological significance.
(pp. 200-203)
• Understand the issues involved in the lying spirit from God. (p. 223-224)
• Know the major sections of 1 & 2 Kings (items in bold) (pp. 231-233)
• Be familiar with the kingdoms interacting with Israel in 1 & 2 Kings, as well as their location in
relation to Israel. (pp. 234-248)
• Know the spiritual significance of Jerusalem (261-262)
1 & 2 Chronicles
• Know the general content of 1 & 2 Chronicles. (pp. 263-264)
• Know the purpose of 1 & 2 Chronicles (p. 268)

• Understand the interbiblical interpretation between Chronicles and other written material (pp.
280-284)
• Understand the purpose and function of biblical genealogies (pp. 284-289)
• Know the major sections of 1 & 2 Chronicles (items in bold) (pp. 308-312)
Ezra-Nehemiah
• Know the purpose of Ezra-Nehemiah. (pp. 313-314)
• Be familiar with the Persians (pp. 327-330
• Know the general purpose of Ezra-Nehemiah (p. 330)
• Know who the Samarians were. (pp. 330-331)
• Know the condition of Jerusalem when Nehemiah returned. (pp. 332 – 333]
• Know the major components of Ezra’s reforms (pp. 337-340)
• Know the major components of Nehemiah’s reforms (pp. 341-344)
• Know the major sections of Ezra-Nehemiah (items in bold) (pp. 356-360)
Esther
• Understand common reactions to the book of Esther. (p. 361-362)
• Understand the principles of God’s providence and hiddenness in Esther. (pp. 371-376)
• Know the major sections of Esther. (items in bold) (pp. 380-381)

  Understand the interbiblical interpretation between Chronicles and other written material (pp.
280-284)
• Understand the purpose and function of biblical genealogies (pp. 284-289)
• Know the major sections of 1 & 2 Chronicles (items in bold) (pp. 308-312)
Ezra-Nehemiah
• Know the purpose of Ezra-Nehemiah. (pp. 313-314)
• Be familiar with the Persians (pp. 327-330
• Know the general purpose of Ezra-Nehemiah (p. 330)
• Know who the Samarians were. (pp. 330-331)
• Know the condition of Jerusalem when Nehemiah returned. (pp. 332 – 333]
• Know the major components of Ezra’s reforms (pp. 337-340)
• Know the major components of Nehemiah’s reforms (pp. 341-344)
• Know the major sections of Ezra-Nehemiah (items in bold) (pp. 356-360)
Esther
• Understand common reactions to the book of Esther. (p. 361-362)
• Understand the principles of God’s providence and hiddenness in Esther. (pp. 371-376)
• Know the major sections of Esther. (items in bold) (pp. 380-381)