OLD TESTAMENT STORY LINE
GENESIS
EXODUS
NUMBERS
JOSHUA
JUDGES
1 SAMUEL
2 SAMUEL
1 KINGS
2 KINGS
EXILE
EZRA
NEHEMIAH
CHRONOLOGY OF OLD TESTAMENT
COLOUR BOOKS
or STILL SHOTS
STORY
LINE
EXILE
RECONSTRU
CTION
ERA
8TH
CENTURY
GENESIS
Jonah
LEVITICUS
EXODUS
Amos
DEUTERONOMY
NUMBERS
Obadiah
JOSHUA
Hosea
RUTH
JUDGES
Isaiah
PSALMS
1 SAMUEL
Micah
PROVERBS
ECCLESIASTES
2 SAMUEL
SONG OF SOLOMON
1 KINGS
7TH
1 & 2 CHRONICLES
2 KINGS
Zephaniah
LAMENTATIONS
ESTHER
EXILE
EZRA
NEHEMIAH
Daniel
Ezekiel
CENTURY
Habakkuk
HAGGAI
Jeremiah
ZECHARIAH
Joel
MALACHI
Nahum
1 KINGS
 Theme: Disruption
 Date Written: 550 B.C.
 Author: Unknown
 Setting: Israel
 * Two Books of Kings were
originally one in the Hebrew Bible.
I Kings...Introduction
The Septuagint may have
divided Samuel, Kings, and
Chronicles into two because the
Greek required a greater
amount of scroll space than did
the Hebrew.
1 Kings – Introduction (Continues...)
 The story of 1 and 2 Kings is basically
one failure. The tiny nation of Israel
had gained dominance in its region
because God had blessed it. But at the
height of their affluence and influence,
the people plunged into poverty and
paralysis as they turn away from God.
Authorship
 Talmudic Traditions says that Kings
was written by the Prophet Jeremiah.
 Both 1 and 2 Kings emphasize God’s
righteous judgment on idolatry and
immorality. The style of these books is
also similar to that found in Jeremiah.
Life Lessons from 1 Kings
 God has given you the stewardship of your life – use
it wisely.
 Obedience to God will bring blessings to you and
others.
 Wisdom is not a guarantee you won’t act foolishly.
 Beware of Worldliness —it can turn your heart from
God.
Life Lessons (Continues...)
 Don’t let your personal desires distort the standards
established in God’s Word.
 Unless you serve God, you become a slave to
whatever takes His place in your life.
 Pray unselfishly for that which help others.
Elijah
 The Prophet Elijah ministers during the reign of
Ahab, an exceptionally wicked northern king.
Ahab’s wife Jezebel introduces Baal worship to
those in the wicked northern kingdom. Elijah
confronts Ahab the prophets of Baal in a
showdown on Mount Carmel, where God
miraculously sends down fire and consumes a
sacrifice well-doused with water by Elijah. Elijah
goes on to kill 450 prophets of Baal who were
present at Mount Carmel.
SURVEY OF THE 1 KINGS
 CHAPTERS 1 TO 11 - Solomon
and a United Kingdom (40 Years)
 CHAPTERS 12 TO 22 – The Kings
and a Divided Kingdom (90 Years)
MIRACLES PERFORMED BY ELIJAH
 Multiplies a widow’s food
 Raises a widow’s son to life
 Calls down God’s fire on an altar and
its sacrifice
 Calls down fire on evil soldiers
 Parts the Jordan River
2 KINGS
 Theme: Dispersion
 Date Written: 550 B.C.
 Author: Unknown
 Setting: Divided kingdoms of Israel
and Judah
Purpose of Kings
 Kings were written selectively, not
exhaustively, from a prophetic
viewpoint to teach that the decline and
collapse of the two kingdoms occurred
because of failure on the part of the
rulers and people to heed the warnings
of God’s messengers.
Elisha
 While Elijah is a type of John the
Baptist (see Matt. 11:14; 17: 10-12;
Luke 1:17). Elisha reminds of Christ.
Elijah generally lives apart from the
people and stresses law, judgment and
repentance. Elisha lives among the
people and emphasizes grace, life and
hope.
Miracles Performed by Elisha
 Parts the Jordan River
 Purifies the water at Jericho
 Multiplies a widow’s oil
 Raises a boy from the dead
 Purifies poisonous stew
 Multiplies prophets food
 Heals Naaman’s leprosy
 Flots ax head
 Blinds Syrian army.
Life lessons from 2 Kings
 God is patient. He gives you many opportunities to heed
His call to repentance and Obedience.
 Even when others around you are disobedient, you are
to be obedient, for you are responsible for your actions.
 An idol is any idea, ability, possession, or person that you
regard more highly than God.
 Pride and arrogance are sure signs you are going down
the wrong path—path that will lead to destruction.
Survey of 2 Kings
 Chapters 1 -17 The Divided Kingdom
(853 – 722 BC). Israel and Judah
722BC Israel Departed to Assyria
 Chapters 18 – 25 The Surviving Kingdom
 (715B.C. – 560 B.C.) Judah
 Judah Deported to Babylon
1 CHRONICLES
 Theme: Israel’s Spiritual History
 Date written: 450 – 425 B.C.
 Author: Ezra
 Setting: Israel after the captivity.
1 Chronicles - Introduction
 The book of 1 and 2 Chronicles were originally one
book in the Hebrew Bible. They were divided at the
time of their translation into Greek, and that division
continues into the English translations.
 First Chronicles covers the same period of Israel’s
history as the book of 2 Samuel but with one
difference. 2 Samuel gives a political history of the
Davidic dynasty, while 1 Chronicles gives the
religious history.
1 Chronicles - Introduction
 The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles cover the same
period of Jewish history described in 2 Samuel
through 2 Kings.
 These books are no mere repetition of the same
material, but rather form a divine editorial on the
history of God’s people.
 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings – Prophetic/political
 1 and 2 Chronicles - Priestly/spiritual perspective
Authorship of Chronicles
 The contents points to priestly authorship because of
the emphasis on the temple, the priesthood, and the
theocratic line of David in the southern kingdom of
Judah. The narrative indicates the chronicles was
at least written by a contemporary of Ezra.
Chronicles is quite similar in style to the Book of
Ezra, and both share a priestly perspective:
genealogies, temple worship, ministry of the
priesthood, and obedience to the law of God.
Chronicles
 The closing verses of 2 Chronicles
(36:22-23) are repeated with minor
changes as the opening verses of Ezra
(1:1-3). Thus Chronicles and Ezra
may have been one consecutive history
as were Luke and Acts.
Life Lessons from 1 Chronicles
 God continues to work out His plans in
History through His People.
 God will be true to His promises in spite of
your checkered past.
 Your past mistakes provide valuable lessons
for your present holiness.
 Realize God has a future for you, just as He
has a future for Israel.
Survey of 1 Chronicles
 Chapters 1:1 to 9:44 - Royal Line of
David (covers Thousands of Years).
Genealogies covers Adam – David.
 Chapters 10:1 to 29:30 – Reign of
David (C. 33 Years). (David’s rule over
the United Kingdom).
2 Chronicles
 Theme: Israel’s spiritual heritage
 Date Written: 450 – 425 B.C.
 Author: Ezra
 Setting: Israel after the exile
2 Chronicles
 The book of 2 Chronicles covers much of the same
period as 1 and 2 Kings. Second Chronicles gives a
divine editorial on the spiritual nature of the Davidic
dynasty from the time of United kingdom of Solomon
to the deportation of the kingdom of Judah; then to
the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia, for the exiles to
return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple after a 70
year exile. Because this is a spiritual chronicle of
David’s lineage, the wicked kings of the northern
kingdom and their history are completely omitted.
2 Chronicles – Introduction (Continues...)
 Chronicles focuses on those kings who
pattern their lives and reigns after the
life and reign of godly King David. It
gives extended treatment to such
zealous reformers as Asa,
Jehoshaphat, Joash, hezekiah, and
Josiah.
2 Chronicles
Reign of Solomon
9:31
1:1 -
Reigns of the kings of Judah
10:1 – 36:23
 Temple Constructed
 Temple is Destroyed.
 Splendor
 Disaster
 C. 40 Years
 C. 393 Years
Survey of 2 Chroniciles
 Chapter 1 – 9
Solomon’s Glory.
 Chapters 10 – 36 Judah’s Decline and
Exile.
Model of Solomon’s Temple
Life lessons from 2 Chronicles
 There is always a consequence to
disobedience.
 You can –and should—learn from failures of
others.
 Yesterdays’ revival must be renewed today.
 In the same way that the temple was the
focal point of worship for Old Testament
saints, Christ is to be your focal point today.
EZRA
 Theme: Restoration
 Date Written: 457 – 444 B.C.
 Author: Ezra
 Setting: Jerusalem
Model of Zerubabbel’s Temple
Model of Herod’s Temple
Herod’s Temple - Illustrated
Eastern Gate
Temple Mount – Dome of the Rock
Temple Mount Aerial View
Ezra - Introduction
 Ezra, the author of 1 and 2 Chronicles, picks
up where he leaves off at the end of 2
Chronicles. He records the accounts of two
returns of a small remnant of Jews from
exile. As a Priest, Ezra continues his goal of
providing a priestly and spiritual perspective
on Judah’s historical events.
Ezra - Introduction (Continues...)
 Ezra relates the story of two returns from
Babylonia—the first led by Zerubbabel to rebuild the
temple (1-6), and the second under the leadership of
Ezra to rebuild the spiritual condition of the people
(7-10).
 **In between the two returns there is a gap of six
decades, during which Esther lives and rules as a
queen in Persia.
Survey of Ezra
 Chapters 1- 6 - The Restoration of the
Temple
 Chapters 7 – 10 - The Reformation of
the People
Life Lessons from Ezra
 God always keeps His promises to His people ... And to
you.
 God is at work behind the scenes to lead and direct your
life.
 Strong spiritual leadership is necessary to give people
spiritual guidance.
 Preparation to teach God’s People is a dedicated
undertaking.
 Teaching God’s Word will always have a positive effect.
Nehemiah
 Theme: Reconstruction
 Date Written: 424 - 400 B.C.
 Author: Nehemiah
 Setting: Jerusalem
Nehemiah - Introduction
 First, Ezra arrives on the scene and
brings about reforms through the
teaching of God’s Word. Now 13 years
later, Nehemiah, a trusted cupbearer of
the king of Persia, arrives in Jerusalem
with a burden to rebuild the wall.
Jerusalem Wall
Jerusalem Wall
Nehemiah Introduction (Continues...)
 Nehemiah was concerned about rebuilding
of the walls around Jerusalem (which were
destroyed by the Babylonians), and the
reinstructing of the Jewish people, who were
becoming pagan through intermarriage with
the Gentile unbelievers who lived all around
them.
Life Lessons from Nehemiah
 At times you may become the answer to your own
prayers.
 Most things you do for God’s purpose will require acts of
faith.
 Don’t underestimate the importance of reading and
understanding God’s Word.
 You must keep a constant vigil against attacks from the
enemy of your soul.
Survey of Nehemiah
 Reconstruction of the Wall (1:1 -
7:73)
 Restoration of the People (8:1 -
13:31)
ESTHER
 Theme: Preservation
 Date: 450 – 431 B. C.
 Author: Unknown
 Setting: The Court of Persia
Esther - Introduction
 The story of Esther’s life fits between chapters
6 and 7 of Ezra, between the first return led by
Zerubabbael and the second return led by
Ezra.
 It provides the only biblical portrait of the vast
majority of Jews who choose to remain in
Persia rather than return to Palestine after the
Exile.
Esther – Introduction (continues...)
 Esther’s Hebrew name was Hadassah, “myrtle”
(2:7), but her Persian name Ester was derived from
the Persian word for “star” (stara). The Greek title
for this book is Esther.
The Feast of Purim
 The first and only non-Mosaic festival
 An annual two-day holiday of rejoicing
 Held in February or March
 Named for the Akkadian word for “lot”
Life lessons from Esther
 Don’t Let less-than-perfect circumstances keep you




from trusting in God.
Don’t think that a difficult life prevents you from great
service to God and His people.
God’s protective hand is always present even though
it is not always visible.
It takes courage to speak up for your beliefs and be
willing to suffer the consequences of doing so.
Each of God’s people—including you– has been
prepared by God for some purpose and strategic
usefulness.
Survey of Esther
 The Threat to the Jews ( 1 to 4)
 The Triumph of the Jews (5 – 10)