Acknowledgments

Maps

Illustrations

Images

Beginning the Study

Part I: The Law (Torah)

Chapter 1: Genesis: Creation, Corruption, and Covenant

Genesis 1:1–11:9: Creation, Corruption, and Covenant

Genesis 11:10–50:26: God’s Redemptive Plans through Abraham’s Family

Chapter 2: Exodus–Leviticus: Covenant and Community

Exodus 1–4: Israel’s Enslavement and Moses’s Call

Exodus 5–19: Israel’s Exodus

Exodus 20–24: The Heart of God’s Covenant with Israel

Exodus 25–31: Instructions Concerning the Tabernacle and the Priests

Exodus 32–34: Covenant Breaking and Covenant Renewal

Exodus 35–40: Building the Tabernacle

Leviticus 1–7: Sacrifices for Forgiving Sins

Leviticus 8–10: Priests for Covenant Worship

Leviticus 11–15: Clean and Unclean

Leviticus 16: The Comprehensive Sacrifice

Leviticus 17–26: Becoming a Holy People

Leviticus 27: Devotion to Yahweh

Chapter 3: Numbers–Deuteronomy: The Land Promise Delayed

Numbers 1–10: Departure from Sinai

Numbers 11–20: Rejecting the Land Promise

Numbers 21–36: A New People for the Land

Deuteronomy 1–4: The Land and God’s Past Relationship with Israel

Deuteronomy 5–11: Basic Rules for Possessing the Land

Deuteronomy 12–26: Specific Rules for Possessing the Land

Deuteronomy 27–28: Covenant Benefits and Consequences

Deuteronomy 29–33: Accepting the Covenant

Deuteronomy 34: The Death of Moses

Part II: The Former Prophets

Chapter 4: Joshua: God Gives the Land

Joshua 1–12: The Promised Land Conquered

Joshua 13–22: The Promised Land Divided

Joshua 23–24: Renewing the Covenant

Chapter 5: Judges: Chaos in the Promised Land

Judges 1:1–2:5: The Roots of Chaos

Judges 2:6–16:31: Choosing to Live in Chaos

Judges 17–21: The Consequences of Living in Chaos

Chapter 6: 1 and 2 Samuel: A Kingdom in the Promised Land

1 Samuel 1–7: Samuel’s Ministry

1 Samuel 8–15: Saul, the First King

1 Samuel 16–31: The Rise of a New King

2 Samuel 1–10: David Builds a Kingdom

2 Samuel 11–19: David’s Sin and Its Consequences

2 Samuel 20–24: David’s Last Years

Chapter 7: 1 and 2 Kings: Losing the Land

1 Kings 1:1–12:24: The Rise and Fall of Solomon

1 Kings 12:25–15:34: The Rise and Fall of Jeroboam’s Family

1 Kings 16:1–2 Kings 10:36: The Rise and Fall of Omri’s Family

2 Kings 11–17: Israel’s Decline and Fall

2 Kings 18–25: Judah’s Decline and Fall

Part III: The Latter Prophets

Chapter 8: Isaiah: Prophet of Sin and Salvation

Isaiah 1–4: The Wicked City and Glorious Zion

Isaiah 5–12: The Spoiled Vineyard and the Wells of Salvation

Isaiah 13–27: The Wicked Nations and the Resurrected Peoples

Isaiah 28–35: Proud Ephraim and the Rejoicing Remnant

Isaiah 36:1–56:8: Foreign Invaders and Foreign Worshippers

Isaiah 56:9–62:12: Blind Watchmen and the Redeemed in Zion

Isaiah 63:1–66:24: No One to Help and Servants of Yahweh

Chapter 9: Jeremiah: Prophet of Punishment and the New Covenant

Jeremiah 1: An Introduction

Jeremiah 2–29: Rebellion against God

Jeremiah 30–33: Restoration and a New Covenant

Jeremiah 34–51: Punishment of Judah and the Nations

Jeremiah 52: Jerusalem in Ruins

Chapter 10: Ezekiel: Prophet of God’s Presence and Israel’s Restoration

Ezekiel 1–3: The Prophet’s Call and Yahweh’s Universal Presence

Ezekiel 4–24: Messages about Judah

Ezekiel 25–32: Doom for the Nations

Ezekiel 33–48: Visions of Restoration

Chapter 11: The Book of the Twelve: Prophecy in Concert

Hosea: Israel’s Covenant Adultery

Joel: The Urgent Need for Repentance

Amos: Prophet of Justice

Obadiah: Edom’s Animosity against Judah

Jonah: Israel’s Animosity and God’s Love for Assyria

Micah: Failing to Hear and Obey

Nahum: Nineveh and Assyria’s Punishment

Habakkuk: Judgment for Judah and Babylon

Zephaniah: Judgment for All Nations

Haggai: Restoration of the Temple

Zechariah: Restoration of Jerusalem

Malachi: Restoration of the People

Part IV: The Writings

Chapter 12: Psalms: How to Worship the Living God

Psalms 1–41: Worshipping God When Enemies Attack

Psalms 42–72: Worship and the Next Generation

Psalms 73–89: The Consequences of Later Generations Rejecting a Godly Worship Heritage

Psalms 90–106: Worship and Patient Endurance

Psalms 107–150: Worship and Restoration

Chapter 13: Job: How to Struggle with Life’s Tests and Doubts

Job 1–2: The Testing of Job

Job 3–31: Job’s Dialogues with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar

Job 32–37: Elihu’s Monologue

Job 38:1–42:6: God’s Answer

Job 42:7–17: Reconciliation, Healing, and Restoration

Chapter 14: Proverbs: How to Grow in Wisdom

Proverbs 1–9: Choosing Wisdom, Avoiding Foolishness

Proverbs 10:1–22:16: Becoming a Righteous “Child”

Proverbs 22:17–24:34: Sustaining Wisdom and Righteousness

Proverbs 25–29: Becoming a Wise and Righteous Leader

Proverbs 30: The Danger to Wisdom That Pride Creates

Proverbs 31: Choosing a Wise Life Partner

Chapter 15: Ruth: How to Overcome Personal Difficulties

Ruth 1: Naomi’s Grief

Ruth 2: Glimpses of Hope

Ruth 3:1–4:17: The Kinsman Redeemer and the Welcoming Community

Ruth 4:18–22: David’s Ancestors

Chapter 16: Song of Songs: How to Celebrate Love

Song of Songs 1:1–2:2: First Expressions of Love

Song of Songs 2:3–3:11: The Desire to Be Together

Song of Songs 4:1–5:1: More Statements of Affection

Song of Songs 5:2–6:3: Further Longing for Love

Song of Songs 6:4–7:9: Final Praises for Her Beauty

Song of Songs 7:10–8:14: The Desire to Be Together Permanently

Chapter 17: Ecclesiastes: How to Find Meaning in Life

Ecclesiastes 1–6: Revere God and Savor God’s Good Gifts

Ecclesiastes 7:1–12:8: Wisdom Is Better Than Foolishness

Ecclesiastes 12:9–14: Words of Truth

Chapter 18: Lamentations: How to Mourn and Repent

Lamentations 1: Jerusalem’s Lonesome Sorrow

Lamentations 2: God’s Justified Wrath

Lamentations 3: God’s Constant Faithfulness

Lamentations 4: The Holy Stones Lie Scattered

Lamentations 5: Yahweh, Restore Us

Chapter 19: Esther: How to Survive in Exile

Esther 1:1–2:20: Esther Becomes Queen

Esther 2:21–7:10: Mordecai’s Battles with Haman

Esther 8:1–9:32: Deliverance and the Feast of Purim

Esther 10:1–3: Peace and Prosperity

Chapter 20: Daniel: How to Maintain Distinctive Faith in Exile

Daniel 1–6: Maintaining Distinctive Faith in Exile

Daniel 7–12: Visions of Future Pain and Triumph

Chapter 21: Ezra–Nehemiah: How to Rebuild

Ezra 1–6: Return and Early Rebuilding Efforts

Ezra 7–10: Rebuilding Israel’s Spiritual Life

Nehemiah 1–7: Rebuilding Jerusalem

Nehemiah 8–13: Rebuilding Israel’s Covenant with God

Chapter 21: Ezra–Nehemiah: How to Rebuild 471

Ezra 1–6: Return and Early Rebuilding Efforts 476

Ezra 7–10: Rebuilding Israel’s Spiritual Life 478

Nehemiah 1–7: Rebuilding Jerusalem 481

Nehemiah 8–13: Rebuilding Israel’s Covenant with God 484

Chapter 22: Chronicles: How to Understand and Apply God’s Word for Renewal

1 Chronicles 1–9: God’s Reign Over History from Creation to Saul

1 Chronicles 10–29: David’s Reign and God’s Promises to David

2 Chronicles 1–9: Solomon’s Reign

2 Chronicles 10–36: Division, Fall, and Renewal

Name Index

Subject Index

Scripture Index