Survey Books of the Law-Old Testament
Brief Survey of the Old Testament
English Bible Old Testament consists of 39 books.
Books of the Law. The Pentateuch.
Twelve Books of History.
Four Book of Poetry .
Five Major Prophets .
Twelve Minor Prophets
GENESIS.
Genesis means beginning.
It is tht first of the five books of the Law. Written by Moses 1400 B.C. under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
A. Creation. Chapter 1-2.
Creation of the universe.
Creation of the animals.
Creation of man on the 6th day. Ch.1:26 Let us make man in our image.
Formed man from the dust of the ground. Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. Breath of God instilled a part of God into man-a unique creation.
God’s command to man-Ch. 2:17 “of the tree of the Knowledge of good & evil thou shall not eat”
God creates Eve. “It is not good for man to be alone” Ch. 2:18.
B. Sin of disobedience.
Satan appeals to appetite and pride. Ch. 3:4-7.
Promise of salvation. Ch. 3:15.
Removal from the Garden of Eden. Ch. 3:24.
Cain kills Abel.Ch. 4:8. Anger based on pride.
C. Noah and the flood.
God saw that wickedness of man was great in the earth. Ch. 6:5.
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Ch6:8.
The Genesis Flood.
Man’s rebellion- the tower of Babel. Ch. 11.
D. The call of Abraham. Ch. 12.
called fro worshipping idols.
Promised a Son that would be a blessing to all people. Fullfilled in Christ. Galatians 3:8.
E. Isaac the son of promise to Abraham & Sara. Fulfillment of the promise in Ch. 15.
F. Esau sells his birthrite to Jacob for a bowl of lentile soup-despised his birthrite. Ch. 25:33-34.
G: Jacob-named Israel had 12 sons that became the 12 tribes of Israel.
G. Joseph sold to Egypt by jealous brothers.
He obeyes God, becomes ruler of Egypt and saves his family (70 souls) from famine.
He brings them to Egypt where after 400 years they become a nation of over 2 million people.
Joseph’s last statement: God will deliver you and return you to the land he promised to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob and ye shall carry up my bones to be burried in the land of promise. Gen. Ch. 50:24-26.
EXODUS
A. Exodus means going out, referring to Israelites leaving Egypt. Israel’s family was in Egypt for 400 years. 70 became 2 million.
B. After Joseph died, Pharaoh of Egypt made Israelites slaves. Israel cried to God for help. Ex. 2;23-24.
C. God raised the man Moses to take the people out of Egypt.
God appears to Moses at the Burning Bush. God commissioned Moses-Ex. 3:9-10.
Go and tell Pharaoh: Let my people go. Pharoah refused.
D. The ten plagues ended in death of the first born of Egypt including the first born of Pharoah.
E. The Passover lamb saved the first born of Israel. Jesus becomes the Passover lamb for humanity. Key verses:
Ex. 23:20 Behold I send an Angel before thee to keep thee in the wayto bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
F. Pharosh lets the people go. They cross the Red Sea. Pharaoh and his army drowned in the Red Sea. Ch. 14:28.
G. Israel at Mount Sinai.
The 10 commandments. Ex. 20.
The priesthood. Aaron & his sons.of the tribe of Levi make sacrifices for the people for forgiveness of sin.Ex. 28.
The Golden calf. Moses on the mount for 40 days. The people demand that Aaron make them a god since Moses is gone. The people make “burnt offerings & peace offerings to the idol, sat down to eat & drink and rose to play.” Ex. 32:6.4
God’s anger at the people Ex. 32:9-10. They are stiffnecked, let me destroy them.
Moses’s intercession for the people Ex. 32:11-14. God changed His mind.
Building the Tabernacle and establishing the priesthood.
LEVITICUS
Book of the Levites.
Background:
The instructions and admonitions given to Moses and the people of Israel at mount Sinai about one year after the Exodus. They departed Sinai the 20th day, second month, second year.
Written for the Priests, Levites and the people of Israel.
Purpose: Set forth the laws that the priests and the people should follow.
How to come to God. Chapters 1-16.
How to stay in touch with God. Chapters 17-27.
The main teaching: Be ye Holy as I AM Holy. Ch. 19:2.
Teaches the way of coming to God and pleasing God in the Old Testament.
Book of Hebrews is the New Testament book that teaches the better way to come to God.
The priests and the Levites.
The tribe of Levi set apart for religious service. They were not given a part of the land of Canaan.
They were given 48 cities-cities of refuge.
Aaron and his sons were the priestly family. Other priests offered sacrifices for sins of the people.
The type of offerings to be given:
Burnt offering-made on the brazen altar( Altar of burnt offerings). The entire animal burnt except the hide.This was a voluntary offering.
Meal offering-flour, oil and frankincense. A handful was offered as a burnt offering. The rest goes to the priest. Also a voluntary offering.
Peace offering-offering of thanksgiving. Also a voluntary offering. May be male or female clean animal. Only a part of it is burned-the fat in the belly & the tail. This was a sacred meal-the rest of the animal was to be shared with family, friends and the needy.
The Sin offering. this was obligatory for sins of ignorance or error. The poor could bring 2 doves or pigeons-one a sin offering, the other a burn offering. In extreme poverty a meal offering may be substituted. The fat was to be burned. The flesh goes to the priests.
The Trespass offering-Ch. 5-6. Made in case of sin which required restitution. Restitution must precede the sacrifice plus 1/5. Two examples given: withholding the holy things of the Lord and disobeying God’s commandments. The offering must be a lamb of the first year. The fat is burned. The remainder, the Lord’s portion goes to the priest.
The Levites responsibility:
Assisit the priests in their duties.
Care for the Tabernacle.
The Day of Atonement. Ch.16:6-10.
The most important Holy Day. Atonement means to cover or put away. Two sacrifices.
Sin offering for Aaron-burnt offering of a bull and a lamb.
Sin offering for the people-one lamb for burnt offering. Two goats for sin offering-one a scapegoat for sin offering.
Made once a year only.
Jesus-once and forever sacrifice of Himself-Hebrews 9:12.
How does man keep in touch with God-Ch. 18.
Laws of holiness-individual- Ch.19:2
Holiness of the priests-Ch. 21.
Holiness of the offerings-Ch. 22.
The Sabbath year defined-Ch. 25:3-4. Six years thou shalt sow but the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest for the land.
The Year of Jubilee defined-after 7x7 years the 50th year.
You shall not sow or reap. Ch.25:11
Ye shall return every man to his possession. Ch.25:13. Restoration of the sold land.
If thy brother is sold unto thee due to povery he shall be released. Ch. 25:39-41
Blessing of obedience of God. Ch.26:3-4
Penalty for disobedience of God. Ch.26:14-34.
Redeeming persons and redeeming property-Ch.27 the final chapter.
NUMBERS.
Hebrew meaning “In the wilderness.”
Begins at mount Sinai where Exodus leaves off.
Importance of Numbers: Tells how God deals with His people and what God expects of His people.
Division of the book-4 sections
A. Preparation for the wilderness journey.
Numbering of the men of war: 603,550.
Numbering of the Levites: 22,000.
Organizing the 12 tribes of Israel: 3 tribes on the east, 3 on the west, 3 on the north and 3 on the south. The Tabernacle is in the center.
B. Sinai to the plains of Moab-east of the dead sea.
Main feature-murmuring against God and Moses. God gives them manna.
Critical point-Kadesh where 12 spies were sent out.
Report of the 10 spies: We cannot conquer and possess this land.
Report of the 2 spies Joshua and Caleb: Yes we can with God’s help.
God’s judgement: 40 years of wandering in the wilderness till everyone over 20 years old is dead.
C. Moses’s sin:
He struck the rock twice (rather than speaking to it as God instructed him) at Maribu and said “shall we bring you water”
Because of this Moses was not allowed to lead the people into Canaan land.
D. The Balaam incident.
Balak king of Moab sent for Balaam the Syrian prophet to come and curse Israel.
Balaam first says no, then a reluctant yes.
Balaam blesses instead of cursing Israel.
DEUTERONOMY
Means second Law, i.e. repeat of the Law.
In Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus & Numbers various laws were given addressed to the priests. Now repeated, summarized and addressed to the people.
Time of writing-immediately before crossing the Jordan just before the death of Moses, therefore included Moses’s farewell address.
Place of writing-plains od Moab east of Jordan.
Moses’s first address.
Defeat of the Amorite kings and king of Bashan.
Division of land east of Jordan-given to tribes of Reuban, Gad and onehalf of the tribe of Manassah.
Three cities of refuge appointed.
Moses’s second address.
Renewal of the Covenant.
The way open to repentance.
The choice between life and death
Commissioning of Joshua
Moses’s third address-Moses’s farewell address.
Death of Moses.
Location-Mount Nebo-top of Pizga peak-told to go up alone.
God showed him all the land of Canaan.
Moses died because of his sin at Mareba-struck the rock twice rather tha speaking to the rock & giving God the glory.
God buried Moses-unique act of God. God “formed Adam from the dust of the ground” and now returns Moses to the dust of the ground.
God did not want the children of Israel to know the burial site of Moses.