That portion highlighted above contains the entire historical period of the Old Testament. From this it is quickly seen that the Old Testament of the modern Christian Bible is not arranged chronologically, because all of the remaining books were written by people who lived during this History period. Let's review briefly each segment of this period.

The book of Genesis is a book of beginnings. It covers a vast span of time from the beginning of creation until just a few hundred years before Moses and the giving of the Law. As such, it has created much controversy, because it lays the responsibility and design for all creation solely in the hands of God. The first few chapters of the book have become the "playground" for all sorts of views, controversies, and theories concerning creation, however it should be remarked that hard evidence concerning traces of ancient cultures are difficult to tie to Genesis prior to chapter 12. From the time of Abraham and thereafter, the science of archaeology can play a very important role in correlating the Bible with ancient history.

Genesis is fundamental from a spiritual point of view, because it explains the need for God's Redemptive Plan contained in the remaining books of both Old and New Testaments. We are told that the first man disobeyed God, bringing on himself and all of mankind to follow the punishment of physical and spiritual death. In this respect, Genesis becomes a "statement of the problem" as it records the death of Adam and Eve and all of us who have followed as a result of this fallen nature.

The books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy focus on the person of Moses, who was both Israel's "redeemer" from Egyptian bondage, and the instrument by which God gave mankind His Law. It seems disproportionate that Genesis should cover thousands or possibly millions of years in a few pages while the next four books span only a period of essentially 40 years.

These books describe Israel's Exodus out of Egypt, the giving of the Law with its commandments and ordinances at Sinai, the building of the wilderness Tabernacle, and a forty year wilderness trek levied on Israel when the first generation of Hebrews refused in unbelief to enter their Promised Land. Deuteronomy, i.e. "Second Law", is really a restatement of the original Law at Sinai, but given at the conclusion of the forty years in the wilderness when Israel was standing on the east side of the Jordan River ready to enter the Land.

The final grouping of books from Joshua through Esther span the remaining period of the history of the Old Testament. They describe Israel's occupation of the Land during Old Testament times. This period of time may be divided into four segments.

1. A tribal period lasting about 360 years recorded in the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and the first few chapters of I Samuel.

2. A more or less unified kingdom period for about 120 years under Saul, David, and Solomon, described in the remainder of I & II Samuel along with parts of I Kings, and I & II Chronicles.

3. A long chaotic period when the kingdom became divided into Northern and Southern portions. During this period of almost 350 years, the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrian empire, the southern kingdom of Judah remaining until the end when it was also destroyed by the Babylonians.

4. A post-exilic period that lasted a little less than 100 years following the Babylonian captivity. Those in Ezra and Nehemiah comprised a remnant who returned to the Land following that 70 year captivity, while the majority described in Esther continued to live in Gentile lands.

A more detailed review of this entire period of Old Testament may be studied by going to HISTORY (TOPICAL DETAIL), or if you prefer, jump to similar overviews of the Writings and the Prophets.

REDEMPTIVE PLAN