The Old Testament is made up of thirty-nine books, written in many different styles and over a period of many hundreds of years. This page provides a brief introduction to each of the Old Testament books.
The book of Genesis, which means "origins" or "beginnings" tells the story of how God created the universe and everything in it. The early chapters include some of the most familiar stories in the Bible. Moving on from the creation story to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and their fall into sin, Genesis goes on to tell of the great flood and the Tower of Babel.
The remainder of the book is taken up with the story of one family, Abraham and his descendants. This section begins with the call of Abraham and the covenant God made with him, before moving on to tell the stories of Abraham's son Isaac and grandson Jacob, who would become known as Israel. Genesis ends with the story of Joseph, Jacob's favourite son, who was sold into slavery in Egypt but went on to rise to a position of great power in the Egyptian court, where the rest of his family would eventually join him.
Exodus begins several centuries after the end of Genesis, when the descendants of Jacob, the Israelites, had fallen into slavery. The book tells of how Moses was called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and how God brought his judgement onto Egypt when Pharaoh did not let them go. After the Israelites' escape from Egypt, Exodus goes on to tell of the journey through the desert to Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.
Much of the rest of the book of Exodus is taken up with the laws that Moses received from God, as well as instructions on how the Tabernacle, the place where God would dwell amongst the people, should be built. Exodus does, however, also include the story of the golden calf that the Israelites built to worship, God's anger at this and Moses' pleading for the people. It is made clear that this sin caused the people to lose their direct relationship with God, as Moses then had to act as a mediator.
Leviticus contains many directions, rules, laws and guidelines for how the people of God should live, and how the Israelites were to worship him. Having received the law in the book of Exodus, in Leviticus Moses is given further instructions in how the law should be interpreted and how the people should respond to it.
The first half of the book covers instructions on how the people of Israel were to worship God. Instructions are given which relate to offerings, to the priests, to the people and to the altar in the Tabernacle. Rules regarding sacrifices are outlined, as are regulations relating to ceremonial cleanliness among the people. In the second half of the book, the focus moves on to how to live a holy life, which the people are called to do because God himself is holy. Forbidden practices are outlined, punishments described and instructions given regarding festivals which the people were to celebrate.
The book of Numbers begins with the Israelite people camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, having received the Law. The book records the first census of the Israelite nation, instructions regarding purity in the camp and guidance for the forthcoming journey to the Promised Land. As the journey progresses, Numbers records the complaints of the Israelite people about the leadership of Moses, about the lack of food and water and about the hardships they were facing in the desert.
Numbers tells the story of the the spies sent to investigate the land of Canaan, where only two of the twelve were prepared to trust in God and go into the land, and also of Moses' failure to trust in God's promises to provide for the people. The book records that as a punishment for their sins, none of the generation who had failed to obey God would enter into the Promised Land and years of wandering in the wilderness followed. As a new generation grew up, a second census was taken and the book ends with the Israelite people camped on the plains of Moab ready to cross the River Jordan and enter Canaan.
Deuteronomy takes the form of a series of addresses given by Moses to the Israelite people shortly before the entry into the Promised Land. Firstly he reminds the people of what God has done for them, and then recounts the Law to them, stressing that there will be consequences to obedience or disobedience - either blessings or curses will follow.
Moses makes clear to the people that their conduct once they enter Canaan will determine whether they stay there and receive blessings from God or are driven out as punishmen. Having called the people to remain committed to God, Moses passes on the leadership of the people to Joshua, and the book ends with the account of his death on Mount Nebo.
The book of Joshua carries on from where Deuteronomy ends, with Joshua having taken over the leadership of the Israelites from Moses. The book bearing his name tells how Joshua led the people across the River Jordan and into the promised land, and how they gradually took control of the land. Special focus falls on the capture of Jericho, and as the conquest unfolds it is made clear that the victories in battle are God's, and when the people fail to obey him they will not be successful.
Having defeated many local kings, the Isralites divide the land among the tribes, although they do not yet have full control. A special inheritance is given to the tribe of Levi who as the priestly tribe received cities to live in but no land. The book of Joshua ends with the account of Joshua's farewell address and death.
Judges begins by recounting the fact that Israel's occupation of Canaan was incomplete at the time of Joshua's death, and makes clear that other nations had been left in the land to test the Israelite people. The weakness of the people is made clear as they fall into a cycle of sin and idolatry, followed by punishment, a cry for help and the raising up of a judge (a great leader) to rescue them.
The majority of the book is taken up by the accounts of the careers of these judges. Judges goes on to include specific accounts of great sins in the history of Israel as society broke down, and ends by making clear that with no king, all the people would just do whatever seemed right to them.
The book of Ruth is set in the time of the judges, and focuses on a young Moabite women. Ruth had married an Israelite whose family came to Moab in a time of famine, and after his death she travelled to Israel rather than be parted from her mother-in-law Naomi. The story focuses on the idea of the kinsman redeemer - that the nearest relative of a widow's deceased husband should marry her and take care of her.
Ruth found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, a relative of her husband. Although not the nearest relative, Boaz married Ruth when the closest relative gave up his claim. The story ends with a genealogy explaining how King David was descended from Ruth and Boaz.
1 Samuel begins with the account of Samuel, Israel's last judge. The early chapters tell the story of his life alongside the priest Eli and his growth into a prophet, pries and judge. 1 Samuel also tells of Israel's war with the Philistines, the curses that fell on that nation when they captured the Ark of the Covenant, and how Samuel encouraged Israel to turn away from idolatry in order to win the war.
1 Samuel continues with people of Israel demanding a king, and how with God's guidance Samuel anointed Saul in that role. The account of Saul tells how after a good start his reign fell apart as he turned away from God, and how David was anointed to succeed him. The book tells of Saul's attempts to get rid of David, and how David refused chances to kill of Saul in order that things might happen in God's time. 1 Samuel ends with the account of Saul's death in battle.
