536 Read the Bible for Yourself 5: How to Read OT History

This is part 5 of the Read the Bible For Yourself.

Now we begin the second main part of this class on reading the Bible for yourself. We'll be breaking the Bible into major sections so I can explain how each works. To start we'll consider the first 17 books of the Bible--the books of Old Testament historical narrative. You'll learn what to look for while reading, the major events covered, the various cultural backgrounds of those periods, God's personal name, and why reading OT history is extremely valuable.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtvJv-NfvBU

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—— Notes ——

Old Testament history includes the following books:

1. Genesis
2. Exodus
3. Leviticus
4. Numbers
5. Deuteronomy
6. Joshua
7. Judges
8. Ruth
9. 1 Samuel
10. 2 Samuel
11. 1 Kings
12. 2 Kings
13. 1 Chronicles
14. 2 Chronicles
15. Ezra
16. Nehemiah
17. Esther

Chronology of major OT events:

1. Creation and Eden
2. Rebellions and Consequences
3. Abraham & Sarah & Descendants
4. Sojourning in Egypt
5. 10 Plagues and Exodus
6. Receiving Torah at Mount Sinai
7. 40 Years of Wandering
8. Entering the Promised Land
9. Judges
10. Samuel (Hinge of History)
11. Kings of the United Kingdom
12. Succession of the Northern Tribes
13. Assyrian Deportation of Israel
14. Babylonian Deportation of Judah
15.  70 Year Exile
16.  Return from Exile

Cultural backgrounds:

• Pre-flood
• Patriarchs
• Egypt
• Tribes (Judges 17:6)
• Monarchy
• Empires

Their History vs. Our History:

• Real Events
• Ancient Historiography
• Biased but Honest
• Genealogies
• Etiologies

The Name of God:

• God’s Name is יְהוָה
• Hebrew Letters: yod hey vav hey (YHVH)
• Pronounced “Yahweh”
• Typically translated “the LORD”
• God’s proper name (Ex 20:2-3)