Overview of the books of the Bible (Part 2)

In this section of the Overview, you cover the time period from Abraham to David. This period goes from Genesis to 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. You will cover the basic story and see the book and chapter in the Bible containing details. In the “Summary of the Books of the Bible” you will find details of each book of the Bible in turn so that you can see how they relate to the overall story.

Before you start looking at the story, it may help to have a quick look at the basic geography of the Bible lands. Have a look at the map (click on it to enlarge it). You will see that the Bible lands are those known today as the Middle East. They centre on the land of the modern nation of Israel, the point where Africa, Europe and Asia meet. The Bible lands stretch as far as Greece in the west and the Persian Gulf in the east. The whole area has had a turbulent history down the ages, and in our days it is regularly in the news.

Abraham to David

GENESIS

EXODUS

Ex. 1 v 1 to 14	Jacob’s family grew in Egypt until a new Pharaoh, worried by their numbers, placed the Israelites into slavery.
Ex. 3 v 1 to 10	They were in Egypt for over 200 years until a great deliverer came. That deliverer was Moses. Moses called out the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt. They were promised that they would be given a fertile land.
Ex.14 v 21 to 31	They were brought through the Red Sea and they were taken into the wilderness to be tested. The map shows their wanderings in the wilderness. (Click here )
Ex. 16 v 2 to 31	They also received a bread-like substance called “manna” in the wilderness for their food. Like most people who have to eat a very limited diet, they quickly tired of it. Israel cried out for meat and God gave them birds called “quail”.

Ex.19 v 1  Ex. 20 v 1 to 17	After seeing the miracle of the Red Sea parting and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army, they came to Sinai to hear the voice of God. They were driven back in incredible fear as the mountain shook and trumpets sounded and the mountain glowed. In the wilderness, they received the commandments which became known as the Law of Moses.
Ex 21 to 31	It was much more than the Ten Commandments that they received. In fact, they obtained a complete code of laws which directed their worship and life in every way.
Ex. 32 v 1 to 8	We see in this chapter that they soon forgot God. Despite various spectacular miracles, such as the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army, within forty days they made a golden calf and called it their god.

LEVITICUS

Num. 13 v 1 to 33	Just as they approached the land to enter in, they sent out twelve spies to check out the land. Two remained faithful to the cause and said they could take the land, but ten said that the “giants” in the land were too great for them to conquer and that they should not go in.
	Other nations existed in the land. That should not have surprised Israel as it was a fertile and productive land. But the people feared and even attempted to stone the two faithful spies who urged them to go in.
	In effect they said “God parted the Red Sea and killed the Egyptians and fed us in the wilderness, but God can’t save us now!”
Num. 14 v 26 to 38	God was angry at their disbelief, and sent them back into the wilderness for thirty-eight years until those who refused to believe Him had died. The map (click here ) shows their wanderings in the wilderness.
Num. 14 v 39 to 45	Again the people refused to accept God’s command and decided that they would try and conquer the land. But they failed because God had already told them that they were to spend 38 years in the Wilderness.