The Old Testament is the first section of the two-part Christian Bible. It’s name is derived from the Latin version of the Greek name for the Bible, ta biblia, which means “the books.” The Old Testament contains 39 books, divided into five major sections: the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the historical books (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther), the poetic and wisdom books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations), the major and minor prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).
The Old Testament is the story of God’s interactions with his people, beginning with Creation and continuing through the Exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Law at Sinai, the conquest of the Promised Land under Joshua, the period of the Judges, the establishment of the monarchy under Saul and David, the division of the kingdom under Solomon’s son Rehoboam, and the subsequent Assyrian and Babylonian captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The Old Testament culminates in the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the rise of the Persian Empire.
5 valuable lessons of the Old Testament
1. God is interested in human beings and their well-being
2. God is holy and demands holiness from His people.
3. God is just and will judge His people according to their deeds.
4. God is merciful and will forgive those who repent and turn to Him.
5. God is faithful and will keep His promises to His people
