Proverbs, The Book of

[He. Mashal”proverb” ,pl. “Mishle “Proverbs of”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Proverbs

THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

Background: The first 9chs. are written as though a father, or perhaps a teacher , is giving advise to a son or a student. After this each verse presents a proverb as we know proverbs today-concise, common sense and often witty statements about wise, successful living. Dominant themes include: poverty, justice, pride, self-control, drunkenness, anger, speaking wisely. 31chs


Author:
*Solomon:1 section (1-9) 2(10-22:16) 3[Not directly ascribed to him (22:17-24:34) 4(25-29) 7(31:10-31)] containing at least 800 of his 3,000 (1K4:32)
*Agur, non-Israelite,5 (30)
*Lemuel (scholar thinks his Solomon) 6(31:1-9)

Date and Location: Solomon reigned 970-930BC. The advisers of king Hezekiah (25:1) would have lived some 200yrs. after Solomon. Dates for the anonymous (unknown compiler, but many of it may have been Solomon’s), Agur, and Lemuel are unknown

Purpose:
*To the simple who have not yet made up their mind between way of wisdom and of folly. It seeks to impart to them the wisdom that comes from the fear of the Lord and to show them how to apply that wisdom to life

Comparison:
The Torah
^Outline god’s laws and specify blessings for obedience and punishment for disobedience; Pr. presents righteous behavior as being in the best kind of life

Job
^Both praise wisdom (1:1-9 Jb28:12-28)
>Both show that wise and righteous people are not always rewarded with health and wealth

Psalms
^Both contrast the righteous with the wicked (Ps1, 37)
^Both emphasize fear of the Lord (1:7; 9:10; 16:6 Ps111:10; 112:1; 128)

Ecclesiastes
*Both praises wisdom (1:1-9 Ec9:14-18)
*Both despise fool( Ec10)
*Both emphasizes fear of the Lord (1:7; 9:10; 16:6 Ec12:13)
*Both certain practical institution (27:23-27; part of Ec5, 7)
*Both affirm that all people are sinners (20:9 Ec7:20)



Abbreviations: Prov./ Pro./ Prv./ Pr.(s)


THE WALKTHROUGH


Proverbs in 7 minutes

MV: 1 Proud look, Pr6:17
Bib1Yr: Mt25,26Kingdom of Betrayers

Psalms, The Book of 3

Fragment of the Book of Psalms , from the Qumran caves




THE WALKTHROUGH


Psalms in 9 minutes

                     

MV: The Way of Ascent: 6 hates, 7 abomination, Pr6:16
Bib1Yr: Mt23, 24Teacher’s Enjoyment

Psalms, The Book of 2

see The Truth of The Matter 2

MV: 2Co1:12-14

Bib1Yr: Mt 21,22Last Supper

Psalms, The Book of

[He. Sefer Tehillim “Book of Praise”

Courtesy ofAlexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Psalms

Background: Sacred songs, poems, and prayers which originated in originated in Israel’s worship and her experience of God. Traditionally associated with David but reflect centuries of individual and corporate responses to God. Human emotions of anger, despair, sadness, guilt, doubt, joy, praise and adoration are expressed. Theme included the Law, Jerusalem and its temple, Israel’s history , the natural world, human suffering and God’s justice. 150chs

Author:
*David,73(some authority 74) and 2(Ac4:25,26He4:7) are credited
*Either Asaph, a Levite in charge of worship music in the tabernacle (1Ch15:16, 17) or 1 of his descendants authored at least 12 (50,73-83)
*Korah (Nu16), authored 12 psalms. Psalm88 list Heman the Ezrahite (1Ch6:333) as an authored along with them
*Solomon, wrote Ps72,127, some authority 12
*Moses, authored the oldest Psalm,90
*some scholar, King Hezekiah as author of the unattributed “song of ascents” (120-134)
*Ethan the Ezrahite wrote at least one,Ps89
*32 or less of the psalms are unattributed

Date: Written over a period of about 900yrs, from the time of Moses (90, about 1405) to the time of Israel’s return from Babylon exile (125, 147-150), written c500BC

Purpose:
^Showing characteristic of God
^Taught Israel about God’s work in their history
^Showing Messianic prophecies
^Showing prayers of personal confession and repentance (51)
^Calling on God to punish the wicked(7,35,55,109)over violation of God’s laws than seeking their own vengeance (Dt32:35) Ro12:19
^For the victims of sins by hatred for sinners (10:8,9)
^Praying for their enemies as well
^Even NT pronounced curses on people under circumstances, Ga1:8,9; 2P2:12

Unique Features:
^Most personal, as it focuses on the relationship between God and the believer
^Secondly quoted in the NT, most Messianic OT book. Jesus quoted from it at the beginning and the end of his earthly ministry (69:9-Jn2:17; 31:5-Lk23:46)

Most Notable
^Most beloved and widely quoted (23)
^Longest (119) and shortest (117)
.Most personal confession and repentance (51)
^Ps136 was explain as an allegorical way of stating that human passions could be mortified and stifled by recourse to the rock of Christ

Comparison:
1Sam
*Recount key events in David’s life

Isa
*Christ suffering on the cross (22:6-18; 69:20,21 Is52:13-53:12)
*Restoration of God’s people through the Messiah (14:7; 53:6; Is49:6)
*Christ Eternal reign (18:50; 45:6; 102:26 Is51:6-8; 60:20)
*Christ judging the nations (2:8, 9; 72; 96:13;110:6;Is2:4; 11:4;42:1,4)

Abbreviations: Psa./ Ps(s)

MV: 1Ti4:13

Bib1Yr: Mt19, 20The Test and Other Parables

Job, The Book of 3

why don't you curse God and die, Job 2:9,10

THE WALKTHROUGH

Job in 8 Minutes

MV: Jas1:22

Bib1Yr: Mt17, 18Transfiguration

Job, The Book of 2

The Patience of Job

MV: Rv1:3
Bib1Yr: Mt15,16Pharisees Traditions

Job, The Book of

[He. Iyyob “Persecuted”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Job

Background: The story of Job is found is in the first 2 and the last chapter of the book. Satan is allowed to bring several major tragedies into the life of this good and religious man. The main section of the book is a discussion between Job and 3 friends as to why Job has suffered so much trouble. The questions raised are not only human suffering but about God: is he fair? Is he even good? Traditional, contrite answers are shown to be inadequate. 42chs

Author: Unknown. Some believe Moses but there is no solid evidence.

Date: The early date (2000BC) is suggested by such things as:

*The patriarchal lifestyle seen in this book

*The use of the ancient patriarchal name for God (El Shaddai, “The Almighty, used 31 times)

*The absence of any mention of Israelite history

Location: in Israel for an Israel audience

Purpose:

^To address the question of why innocent people suffer

^To promote faith and trust in God, whose ways are higher than those of mankind (42:1-5 compare Is55:9)

Unique Features:

*unique appeal to all religions

*Job like Zechariah, gives a brief glimpse of confrontations between heavenly beings

*reference to Dinosaurs (“Behemoth” and “Leviathan”, 40:15; 41:1)

Comparison:

Genesis

^Job’s description of earth early history (38:4-11) provides a complimentary parallel Ge1

^Both use the Hebrew expressions for “sons of God” (2Ge6)

^Ancient patriarchal name for God, El Shaddai “The Almighty”, occurs in Ge and Job more than in any other books

Ecclesiastes

^Job explores the meaning of suffering; Ecclesiastes explores the meaning of life

Abbreviations: Job/Jb

MV: Mt7:8

Bib1Yr: Mt13, 14The Parables

Esther, The Book of 3

Michelangelo

scroll of Esther
Purim, a feast commemorating the delivery of Persian Jews from destruction, is celebrated in synagogues every year with the reading of the Scroll of Esther, called the megillah.


This 18th-century megillah, in the Jewish Museum in New York City, New York, is from Persia (Iran).

The Pierpont Morgan Library/Art Resource, NY
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This 18th-century painting by Italian artist Pompeo Batoni depicts King Ahasuerus extending his scepter to Queen Esther, allowing her to approach the throne. According to the Old Testament, Esther sought to prevent a massacre of the Jews and risked execution by approaching her husband unbidden. The painting is part of the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Philadelphia Museum of Art/CORBIS-BETTMANN
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.



THE WALKTHROUGH


Esther in 6 Minutes

        

MV: Truthkeeper (readers, hearers):Jn18:37,38
Bib1Yr: Mt11,12John In Prison

Esther,The Book of 2

Movie2






Movie 3






Superbook

Queen Esther

MV: The Warning, Lk13:8
Bib1Yr: Mt9,10The Scribes

Esther, The Book of

[He. Ecter, Esther, a Syro-Arabian modification of the Persian word
satarah(setareh) from Isthar “star”]Real name, He. Hadas’sah “the myrtle”…Conjecture from a Median word astra “myrtle”. Can also mean hidden in hebrew, where it is said that Esther hid her nationality and lineage as Mordecai had advised. The Book of Esther in Hebrew can be understood as “The Book of Hiddenness,” representing God’s hiddenness in the story.

Courtesy ofAlexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Esther

Background: The setting of this story is the Persian king’s palace in the same period as Ezra-Ne. Esther, a Jew, became a queen and was able to save in the Persian empire from a plot to exterminate. 10 chs

Author: Unknown. The author’s familiarity with minor details of the story and with Persian customs, in addition to his sympathy with the Jewish exiles, suggests that he was a Jew living in Persia at the time the events of the book took place. Mordecai’s journal (9:20) may have been one of his sources.


Date and Location: The familiarity with the details suggests Esther was written soon after the events it records, probably 450BC, and probably in Persia

Purpose:
*Encourage Jews remaining in Babylon and the rest of Persia to remain firm in their faith
*To show those Jews who had returned to Judah that God was at work among his people outside of Judah as well
*To demonstrate, to all believers, God’s providential care for his people



Unique Features:
^Esther and Song of Songs are the only 2 books biblical books that do not mention the name of God
^Esther records the origin of the festival of Purim( 9:16-19) and is the only biblical book to mention this festival

Comparison: See Ruth

Abbreviations: Esth. / Est./ Estr./ Es.

MV: The Sacrifice of Christ, Is38:17
Bib1Yr: Mt7,8The Centurion’s Servant

Nehemiah, The Book of 3

THE WALKTHROUGH


Nehemiah in 6 Minutes

                  

MV: Those Who Do Not Receive, Zec7:12,13
Bib1Yr:Mt5,6Start of Lessons

Nehemiah, The Book of 2

Nehemiah

MV:The Devil can take it,Lk8:12
Bib1yr:Mt3,4Baptism and Temptation

Nehemiah,The Book of

[He. Nechemyah “consolation of Yah”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of

Background: Another leader in establishing the new community, Nehemiah organized the rebuilding of the walls round Jerusalem, so vital to its security (1-7). When this was done Ezra read the law (Torah) to the people and led them in a confession of their disobedience to God and then to a promise to obey him in the future (8-10). Nehemiah also carried through several social reform (11-13)13chs

Author: Ezra using Nehemiah’s memoirs. Nehemiah obviously authored sections directly attributed to him, including 1-7,13, where the first-person pronouns refer to him


Date and Location: See Ezra

Recipients: See Ezra

Purpose: See Ezra

Unique Features:
*Nehemiah is chronologically The final historical book of OT
*Though mostly compiled by Ezra, Nehemiah is the most autobiographical of the Bible’s historical books
*1 of the best examples in scripture of a man committed to a vision and to encourage others to join him in fulfilling that vision
*Artaxerxes’ decree(2:8) marks the official start of the 70 weeks prophesied in Da9:25-27

Comparison: See Ezra

Abbreviations: Neh. /Ne

MV: Dt11:18
Bib1Yr: Mt1,2Genealogy of Jesus

Ezra, The Book of 3

THE WALKTHROUGH

Ezra in 7 minutes

                                     

MV: Ps119:11
Bib1Yr: Zechariah, Malachi

Ezra, The Book of 2

MV: Ps40:8
Bib1Yr: Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai

Ezra, The Book of

[He. Ezra “helper”]

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)The Book of Ezra

Background: Follows 2Ch.. King Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to Israel and rebuild the Jerusalem Temple. In ch3-6, we learn that initially the altar was rebuilt and sacrifices resumed but opposition halted temple rebuilding for many yrs before completed and dedicated. Later,(7-10) Ezra, an expert on the Jewish law, was sent from Babylon to help and guide the newly established community. The main problem was that the Jews were intermarrying with other nations, threatening national identity. 10chs

Author: Ezra, 7:28;8, 9

*First hand knowledge of many events in both books
*Ezra-Ne bears marked similarities to Chr. And there is strong traditional support for Ezra authorizing Chr.
*Most conservative scholars believe an unknown “Chronicler” may have been the final editor of Ezra ,Ne and Chr.

Date and Location: Ezra-Ne events covers 93yrs; compilation was probably completed in 430BC in Jerusalem.

Recipients: Jews return from Babylon; Represent all 12 tribes

Purpose:
^Reassures returning exiles that God would keep his covenant, “hope for Israel”, 10: 2
^Demonstrate the power of Prayer (9,10Ne10) and importance of the Word of God during crisis
^Showing what can happen when just one person (Ezra, Nehemiah respectively) takes a stand for the Lord

Unique Features:
*Stories of ministry partnerships such as Aaron-Moses; Elijah-Elisha; Ezra-Ne tells of 3:Zerubbabel-Jeshua; Haggai-Zechariah; Ezra-Nehemiah
*Ezra, one of the last OT authors and the first of the the Jewish scribes who would preserve the OT canon.
*Ezra is one of two books that have Aramaic ,a sister language of Hebrew. The other is Da.

Comparison:
Ezra-Ne-Ch Ezra’s involvement with all 4 books is suggest by these similarities
^Both contains many lists
^Last 2 verses of 2Ch36:22,23 to first 3 verses of Ezra
^Similar expression “the house of God”
^Levites and temple assistants are prominent

Ezra-Ne-Haggai
*Compairing the new temple with the former Temple of Solomon, 3:12Hg2:3
*Speak of the guidance of the spirit of God, Ne9:20
*speak of God instilling an enthusiasm in the returning exiles, 1:5Hg1:14

Abbreviations: Ezr

MV: You put it in your heart, Ps37:31
Bib1Yr: Micah, Nahum

The Second Chronicles 2

THE WALKTHROUGH

I and II Chronicles in 5 minutes

MV: God place it in your Heart, He10:16
Bib1Yr: Amos, Obadiah, Jonah

The Second Chronicles

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)2Chronicles

Background: Solomon, the builder of the Temple, is the focus of ch1-9. The remaining chapters, is only in the history of Judah, through whom God would continue his purpose. Special attention is also given to kings who promoted religious reform. The end of the book goes beyond 2K as it hints that the period in exile in Babylon is about to end. Persia has taken over the Babylonian empire. 36chs

Author: See 1Ch.


Date and Location: See 1Ch.

Recipients: See 1Ch.

Purpose: See 1Ch. 2Ch. Shows God’s continuing faithfulness to the house of David (7:17,18)

Unique Features: only found in 2Ch. And not in the parallel in 1,2, K
*Miracle at the end of Solomon’s prayer (7:1-3)
*The defection of godly Levites and other northern Israelites to Judah after civil war (11:13-17)
*The temporary humbling of Rehoboam (12:2-8, 12)
*The stoning of Zechariah (24:2-22)
*The conversion of Manasseh (33:10-17)
8Various additional details about Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, Hezekiah and Josiah

Comparison: See 1,2K
Ex
^Bezalel (Ex31:2) and Solomon (1Ch28:6)
^Both Bezalel and Solomon, of the tribe of Judah  
^Both Bezalel and Solomon, were guided by the Spirit in the work (1:1-12; Ex31:3)
^The glory of God appeared at the dedication of both Tabernacle and the temple (7:1 Ex40:34)

Abbreviations: 2Chron. / Chro. / Chr. / Ch

MV: Ez33:5
Bib1Yr: Hosea, Joel

The First Chronicles 3

Tel Dan Stela

One of the most important discoveries of recent years is the Tel Dan stela, uncovered in the city of Dan in the area of the Northern kingdom in 1993.

 “Until the stela’s discovery, the formation of the state of Israel could not be dated later than the mid-ninth century BCE, because Assyrian epigraphs of the 850s and 840s BCE and the roughly contemporary Mesha stela mentioned kings of Israel, some (Ahab, Omri, Jehu, and, later, Joash) by name.” It is too early to really know the full extent of the effect that the Tel Dan stela will have on the historical studies of ancient Israel, but some preliminary conclusions have been reached. 

The best dating of the stela places its origins close to the end of the ninth century BCE. Ben-Hadad II, who was the king of Damascus at that time, most likely had it written in his honor. 

Ben-Hadad II conquered Dan during this time period; however, he lost it again as his kingdom was taken over by Assyria and he was forced to fortify his northern border in defense. The stela was incorporated into a wall in Dan by an Israelite king thirty to forty years after it was made. 

One of the most important questions that the stela answers is the reality of David as an historical figure. There are no other epigraphic remains that mention David or his dynasty, but the Tel Dan stela specifically mentions “the house of David” within its text.(50) 

These discoveries have led scholars great lengths in reconstructing the histories of the divided kingdoms and in corroborating the writings of the Bible as true history.

MV: Word of God, Jas 1:21

Bib1Yr: Da10-12Fall By The Sword

The First Chronicles 2

Courtesy of  Alexander Scourby Bib Audio: 1 Chronicles

MV: 1Co13:10
Bib1Yr: Da8,9The Beasts

The First Chronicles

[He. Dibre Hayyamim]

Background: The Chronicler shows David laid the foundations of Israel’s worship even though he did not build the temple. In the first 9chs.he uses family trees to trace the history of Israel from Adam to the return from exile to show that Judah is the true people of God. 29chs.

Author: Unknown, though traditionally ascribes authorship to Ezra the priest. 1,2 Chron. Were originally one document. The chronicler use court records: The Book of the Kings of Israel (9:1; 2Ch20:34); Kin David’s official records (27:24) and The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel, cited several times in 2 Chr.

Date and Location: Aside from the opening genealogy,1-9, the events of 1,2Chron. – from the death of Saul to the decree of Cyrus-took place 1010-538BC. However, the genealogy of Zerubbabel(3:17-21) takes us beyond 538. The completed book were probably compiled in the in the postexilic period, about 450-430, probably in Jerusalem where the court records were kept.

Recipients: 1,2 Chron was written for the 2^nd and 3^rd groups of Jews returning from the exile in 457 and 445BC.During the time Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi. This Jews needed to be encourage in rebuilding their nation

Purpose:
*To provide a religious history of Israel- from Saul to the return from Babylon(S and K), record the political history of that same period.
*To demonstrate to the postexilic Jews, who were unstable in their faith, that God was still active and would keep his promise.
*To show that God would faithful to the Davidic throne (17:13, 14, 24, 25) and the Persian king (2Ch36:22,23)
*While waiting for the Davidic King they have the Temple-as a sign of God’s continued blessing

Unique Features: Only found in 1chr.and not in the parallel in 2S

*Genealogy of the Tribes, 1-9
*Extensive preparation, 15, 16
*Extensive preparations for building of the Temple, 22-29
*A Psalm of David, ch16
*The fact that Satan encouraged David’s census of Israel, 21:1

Comparison: 1Ch. Provides details about David and his associates not given in 2S

Abbreviations: 1Chron. / Chro. / Chr. / Ch

MV: 1Co15:56, 57

Bib1Yr: Da6, 7Darius

2Kings, The Fourth Book of The Kings 3

from fourquestions.us website

Mesha Stela

Some archaeological discoveries have shed light on the divided kingdom of Israel. 

The Mesha stela is an account by Mesha, a king of Moab in the ninth century BCE, of his deliverance of Moab from the rule of Judah under the king Omri. 


The Prism of Sennacherib is an account of Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah and his defeat of the fortified cities of Hezekiah, the King of Judah. No mention is made of Sennacherib’s attempt to defeat Jerusalem, as it was customary for the Assyrians to leave their defeats out of the official records.

THE WALKTHROUGH

I and II Kings in 7 Minutes (Part 3)

MV: Rescuing From Death, Ps56:13
Bib1Yr: Da 4,5Belteshazzar

2Kings, The Fourth Book of The Kings 2

Elisha

Athaliah

Josiah





MV: Why Do You Want To Know The God of This Bible? Ps6:4
Bib1Yr: Da2,3Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

2Kings, The Fourth Book of The Kings

Courtesy of Alexander Scourby(Bible Audio)2Kings

Background: Elijah’s death and the emergence of his ward the prophet Elisha occupy the early chapters. The remaining sweep of the history covers some 300yrs. and from a religious point of view is all downhill apart from 1 or 2 religious revival promoted by the remaining monarch. The end of the North Kingdom comes a century and half before that of Judah, but in both cases it is understood as inevitable punishment for turning away from God. 25chs.

Author: Unknown. Possibly Jeremiah, recording the final day of the southern kingdom, since he enjoyed a good relationship with Josiah. Some scholars think Jeremiah wrote all of 1,2Kings, though he could not have written the final chapter of the 2Kings, since he was not in exile in Babylon.

Date and Location: See 1K. Chapter 25 was probably recorded in Babylon, within 30yrs after the fall of Jerusalem 586. The Jews were allowed to maintain scribal activities while in captivity

Purpose: See 1K: purpose



Unique Features:
*Records final 2 OT resurrections (4:32-37; 13:20, 21). For the first see 1K17:17-24
*The second and third of 3 occasions when God rolled back the waters of Jordan River (2:8, 14; see Js3)
*Records the second OT miracle involving the rotation of the earth around the sound (20:8-11) see Js10:12-14)
*2K18, 19, Herodotus attributed the destruction of the Assyrian army to mice and Bubonic plague

Comparison:
Isaiah
^Both record the attack of Sennacherib and Hezekiah’s illness (18:13-20:21; Is36-39

Jeremiah
^Both records of the Southern Kingdom’s final days, its fall, and Jehoiachin’s fate in Babylon(24:18-25:30; Jr52) see Chr

Abbreviations: 2Kin. /Kgs. /Ki. / K.

MV: Memorize and understand, 1Co15:2
Bib1Yr: Da 1Daniel