The collection of books known as the Old Testament consists of 39 volumes. This collection of books is organized into three distinct sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy together make up the first five books of the Bible, which are collectively referred to as the Law. A group of authors who wrote between the time of Moses and the time of Jesus is referred to as the Prophets. The Writings is a collection of writings by authors like Paul, John, and Peter rather than by prophets. The authors were responsible for writing these books.
The 39 books of the Old Testament are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the Apocalypse.
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How Many Books In The Old Testament
The 39 books of the old testament are: 1st book of Moses, 2nd book of Moses, 3rd book of Moses, 4th book of Moses, 5th book of Moses, 6th book of Moses, 7th book of Moses, 8th book of Moses, 9th book of Moses or Deuteronomy or 10 Commandments, 11th book or Leviticus or Laws, 12th book or Numbers or Things numbered, 13th book, or Joshua Judges and Ruth or Historical books, 14th book, or Samuel Kings and Chronicles, or Poetical books and 15th book (the Paralipomenon Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi.
List of The 39 Books in The Old Testament with Their Authors
Torah/Pentateuch (5 books)
Historical Books (12 books)
- Joshua – Joshua
- Judges – Unknown
- Ruth – Unknown
- 1 Samuel – Samuel and others
- 2 Samuel – Samuel and others
- 1 Kings – Jeremiah
- 2 Kings – Jeremiah
- 1 Chronicles – Ezra
- 2 Chronicles – Ezra
- Ezra – Ezra
- Nehemiah – Nehemiah
- Esther – Unknown
Wisdom Books (5 books)
- Job – Unknown, possibly Job, Moses, or Solomon
- Psalms – Multiple authors including David, Solomon, Asaph, and others
- Proverbs – Solomon and others
- Ecclesiastes – Solomon
- Song of Solomon – Solomon
Major Prophets (5 books)
Minor Prophets (12 books)
The Pentateuch
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. “Genesis” is the name of the first book, and “Revelation” is the name of the last book. Each book is broken up into chapters and verses. The names of the books are as follows: “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” “Deuteronomy,” “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth,” “1 Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” “1 Kings,” “2 Kings,” “1 Chronicles,” “2 Chronicles,” “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” “Esther,” “Job,” “Psalm,” “Proverbs,” ” Ecclesiastes,” “Song of Solomon,” “Isaiah,” “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations,” “Ezekiel,” “Daniel,” and “Revelation.”
This is Genesis.
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. Starting with the book of Genesis and concluding with the book of Revelation, the books are ordered in chronological order, beginning with the biblical book of Genesis. The names of the books are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
“Exodus”
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The books are ordered in a particular order, with the book of Revelation being the final book and the book of creation being the first book in the sequence. The names of the books are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
The book of Leviticus
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. “Genesis” is the name of the first book, and “Revelation” is the name of the last book. Each book is broken up into chapters and verses. The names of the books are as follows: 1. Genesis 2:3. The Exodus 3. The book of Leviticus4. It is the fifth. Deuteronomy 6. It is Joshua 7. They are the judges. Theresa 9. The book of 1 Samuel 10. 2 Samuel 11. 1 Kings 12. 2 Kings 13. 14th chapter of 1 Chronicles 15th chapter of 2 Chronicles To Ezra16. Chapter 17 of Nehemiah 16. This is Esther 18. The 19th job. Psalms twenty. This is Proverbs 21. Ecclesiastes 22 The Bible. This is the Song of Solomon 23. This is Isaiah 24. It is Jeremiah 25. This is Ezekiel 26. This is Daniel 27. This is Hosea 28. This is Joel 29. (30) Amos. This is Obadiah 31. This is Jonah 32. This is Micah 33. This is Nahum 35 of Habakkuk. 36 years of Zephaniah. A Haggai 37. Zechariah has 38. 39th Malachi. It is revealed
Amounts of old testament books
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. Following is a list of the books, along with the titles that correspond to them.
The book of Deuteronomy
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Genesis,” and the last book is called “Revelation.” The names of the books are as follows: “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” “Deuteronomy,” “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth,” “1 Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” “1 Kings,” “2 Kings,” “1 Chronicles,” “2 Chronicles,” “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” “Psalms,” “Proverbs,” “Isaiah,” “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations,” “Ecclesiastes,” “Song of Solomon,” “Daniel,” “Hosea,” “Joel,” “Amos,” “Obadiah,” “Jonah,” “Micah,” “Nahum,” “Habakkuk,” “Zephaniah,” “Haggai,” “Zechariah,” “Malachi.”
Textbooks of the Past
A total of 39 books make up what is known as the Old Testament. This collection of books is organized into three distinct sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy together make up the first five books of the Bible, which are collectively referred to as the Law. There are twenty-four books that make up the Prophets.
These books are as follows: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, and Jeremiah are the six books that include the writings. These books are the last six books in the Bible.
It was Joshua.
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Genesis,” and the last book is called “Revelation.” The names of the books are as follows: “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” “Deuteronomy,” “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth,” “1 Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” “1 Kings,” “2 Kings,” “1 Chronicles,” “2 Chronicles,” “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” “Esther,” “Job,” “Psalms,” “Proverbs,” “Ecclesiastes,” “Song of Solomon,” “Isaiah,” “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations,” “Ezekiel,” “Daniel,” and “Revelation.”
The Judges
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. It is important to note that the books are arranged in a particular order, with the first book being the story of creation. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, and other books are included in the 39 books of the Bible.
The Ruth
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The titles of the volumes are derived from the initial letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and they are organized in chronological order. The title of the first book is “Bereshit,” and the title of the novel that comes after it is “Malachi.”
The book of Samuel
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Samuel.” The names of the other 38 books are as follows: 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah.
Two Samuels
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. Genesis is the name of the first book, while Revelation is the author’s name for the final book. The names of the books are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
The Book of Kings
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. Starting with the book of Genesis and concluding with the book of Revelation, the books are ordered in chronological order, beginning with the biblical book of Genesis. The names of the books are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
The two kings
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. These novels are given their names in honor of the authors who penned them. The writers are presented in the order in which they wrote their works.
First Chronicles
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The name of the first book is “Genesis,” and the name of the last book is “Revelation.” The following is a list of the names of the books: 1. Genesis 2:3. The Exodus 3. The book of Leviticus4. It is the fifth. Deuteronomy 6. It is Joshua 7. They are the judges. Theresa9. The book of 1 Samuel 10. 2 Samuel11. 1 Kings12. 2 Kings13. 14th chapter of 1 Chronicles 15th chapter of 2 Chronicles To Ezra16. Chapter 17 of Nehemiah 16. This is Esther 18. The 19th job. Psalms twenty. This is Proverbs 21. Ecclesiastes 22 The Bible. This is the Song of Solomon 23. This is Isaiah 24. It is Jeremiah 25. There are 26 lamentations. This is Ezekiel 27. This is Daniel28. This is Hosea 29. Theresa30. This is Amos31. This is Obadiah 32. This is Jonah33. This is Micah34. A Nahum 35. This is Habakkuk 36. This is Zephaniah 37. The Haggai 38. This is Zechariah 39. It is revealed
Chapters 2 and 3
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The writings, the prophets, and the law are the three categories that make up the volumes in this collection. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy together make up the first five books of the Bible, which are collectively referred to as the Law. There are twenty-four books that make up the Prophets. These books are as follows: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The final twelve books of the Bible are referred to as the Writings. These volumes include Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
- Ezra
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Ezra.” The names of the other 38 books are as follows: 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, 3 Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah.
(Nehemiah 1)
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. From the very first book, which is named “Genesis,” to the very last book, which is called “Revelation,”
One Esther
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Esther.” The names of the other 38 books are as follows: “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” “Deuteronomy,” “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth,” “1 Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” “1 Kings,” “2 Kings,” “1 Chronicles,” “2 Chronicles,” “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” “Esther,” “Job,” “Psalms,” “Proverbs,” ” Ecclesiastes,” “Song of Solomon,” “Isaiah,” “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations,” “Ezekiel,” “Daniel,” and “Revelation.”
Writers of Poetry
It is a collection of poems that makes up the Old Testament. The 39 books in the Old Testament are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
Work
A total of 39 books make up what is known as the Old Testament. The books can be broken down into two distinct categories: the Pentateuch, which consists of the first five books, and the Gospels. In the Pentateuch, the history of the Israelites is recounted, beginning with their origins and ending with the time of Moses. There is a group of authors known as the Prophets who express their predictions regarding the arrival of the Messiah.
Psalms (plural)
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is referred to as “Prophets,” while the seventh and final book is referred to as “The Book of Revelation.”
The Proverbs
A total of 39 books make up what is known as the Old Testament. There are two categories of books that make up the collection: the Law and the Prophets. The first five books of the Bible are known as the Law, and the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel are considered to be the Prophets.
The book of Ecclesiastes
Among the books that make up the Old Testament, the book of Ecclesiastes is considered to be a great source of wisdom. There is a list in the Bible that contains the names of the 39 books that make up the Old Testament.
The Song of Solomon
It is the seventh book in the Hebrew Bible and is a book that belongs to the Old Testament. The Song of Solomon is about Solomon. The first section of the book is devoted to the love that Solomon had for the Shulamite woman, while the second section includes a collection of songs that are about love and nature. The book is divided into two parts. The names of the 39 books that make up the Old Testament are drawn from the first words of the book of Genesis, which read, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.”
Significant Prophets
The Old Testament is a collection of religious scriptures that were written in Hebrew and Aramaic by a variety of authors during the course of approximately the first 1,500 years of human history. A total of 39 books make up the Old Testament. These books are as follows: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and the Book of Revelation.
“Isaiah”
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. It is called “Isaiah” and it is the first book. The phrase “Revelation” refers to the final book.
A. Jeremiah
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Genesis,” and the last book is called “Revelation.” The names of the books are as follows: “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” “Deuteronomy,” “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth,” “1 Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” “1 Kings,” “2 Kings,” “1 Chronicles,” “2 Chronicles,” “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” “Psalms,” “Proverbs,” “Ecclesiastes,” “Song of Solomon,” “Isaiah,” “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations,” “Ezekiel,” “Daniel,” and “Revelation.”
Those who lament
A total of 39 books make up what is known as the Old Testament. This collection of books is organized into three distinct sections: the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy together make up the first five books of the Bible, which are collectively referred to as the Law. There are twenty-four books that make up the Prophets. These books are as follows: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, and Jeremiah are the six books that include the writings. These books are the last six books in the Bible.
It was Ezekiel.
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Genesis” and the last book is called “Revelation.” The names of the books are as follows: “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” “Deuteronomy,” “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth,” “1 Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” “1 Kings,” “2 Kings,” “1 Chronicles,” “2 Chronicles,” “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” “Psalms,” “Proverbs,” ” Ecclesiastes,” “Song of Solomon,” “Isaiah,” “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations,” “Ezekiel,” “Daniel,” “Hosea,” “Joel,” “Amos,” “Obadiah,” “Jonah,” “Micah,” “Nahum,” “Habakkuk,” “Zephaniah,” “Haggai,” “Zechariah,” “Malachi.”
This is Daniel.
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Genesis” and the last book is called “Revelation.” The names of the books are as follows: “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” “Deuteronomy,” “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth,” “1 Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” “1 Kings,” “2 Kings,” “1 Chronicles,” “2 Chronicles,” “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” “Psalms,” “Proverbs,” “Ecclesiastes,” “Song of Solomon,” “Isaiah,” “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations,” “Ezekiel,” “Daniel,” and “Revelation.”
Some of the Prophets
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. The first book is called “Genesis” and the last book is called “Revelation.” The names of the books are as follows: “Genesis,” “Exodus,” “Leviticus,” “Numbers,” “Deuteronomy,” “Joshua,” “Judges,” “Ruth,” “1 Samuel,” “2 Samuel,” “1 Kings,” “2 Kings,” “1 Chronicles,” “2 Chronicles,” “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” “Psalms,” “Proverbs,” “Ecclesiastes,” “Song of Solomon,” “Isaiah,” “Jeremiah,” “Lamentations,” “Ezekiel,” “Daniel,” and “Revelation.”
“Hosea”
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. From the very first book, which is named “Genesis,” to the very last book, which is called “Revelation,”
It’s me,
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. While the first book is referred to as “Genesis,” the final book is referred to as “Revelation.”
I am Amos
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. These novels are given their names in honor of the authors who penned them. These writers are commonly referred to as the prophets.
A. Obadiah
The number of books that make up the Old Testament is 39. “Obadiah” is the name of the first book, while “Revelation” is the name of the final book.
39 Books in The Old Testament
The Old Testament consists of 39 books. These books are divided into five sections: The Law, The Prophets, The Writings, The Psalms, and The Major Prophets.
The Law includes the first 5 books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books describe the history of Israel from God’s creation of Adam and Eve until Moses’ death. They also contain laws for worshiping God and moral codes for Israel to live by.
The Prophets are next in order: Joshua through Malachi (with the exception of Isaiah 56-66). These books tell stories about prophets who foretold future events or spoke messages from God to their people.
Why are there 39 books in the Old Testament
The Writings include Psalms through Song of Solomon (with the exception of Ezra-Nehemiah). These books record stories about kings and other leaders who lived during this time period as well as songs that were written during this era including Psalms which are songs that praise God’s works on earth while also asking him for help with daily life problems like sickness or family troubles; Proverbs which offer advice on how one should live life so they can be happy and successful; Job which tells
The 39 books of the Old Testament are divided into 5 sections:
- The Torah (or Pentateuch): Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
- The Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings
- The Poetic/Wisdom Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
- The Prophets: Isaiah (1-39), Jeremiah (1-45), Lamentations/Ezekiel/Daniel/Hosea/Joel/Amos/Obadiah/Jonah/Micah/Nahum/Habakkuk/Zephaniah/Haggai/Zechariah (1-8)/Malachi
The Old Testament of the Bible is divided into 39 books, with the first five being known as the Pentateuch.
The Pentateuch consists of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
The other 34 books in the Old Testament are organized into three groups: The Historical Books; The Wisdom Books; and The Prophetic Books.
The 39 books of the Bible are divided into two major parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament is made up of 39 books, including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah.
The New Testament contains 27 books: Matthew through Revelation.
The Old Testament of the Bible is a collection of 39 books, which are divided into three sections: the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), the Historical Books (Joshua to Esther), and the Prophetic Books (Isaiah to Malachi).
The Old Testament has been quoted or referenced in every book of the New Testament.
Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible, also called Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, or Tanakh, collection of writings that was first compiled and preserved as the sacred books of the Jewish people. It also constitutes a large portion of the Christian Bible, known as the Old Testament. Except for a few passages in Aramaic, appearing mainly in the apocalyptic Book of Daniel, these scriptures were written originally in Hebrew during the period from 1200 to 100 BCE. The Hebrew Bible probably reached its current form about the 2nd century CE.
A brief treatment of the Hebrew Bible follows. For full treatment, see biblical literature.
General Outline And Major Themes
In its general framework, the Hebrew Bible is the account of God’s dealing with the Jews as his chosen people, who collectively called themselves Israel. After an account of the world’s creation by God and the emergence of human civilization, the first six books narrate not only the history but the genealogy of the people of Israel to the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land under the terms of God’s covenant with Abraham, whom God promised to make the progenitor of a great nation.
Later, Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob (whose given name Israel became the collective name of his descendants and whose sons, according to legend, fathered the 13 Israelite tribes) and Moses (from the Israelite tribe of Levi) renewed this covenant. The following seven books continue their story in the Promised Land, describing the people’s constant apostasy and breaking of the covenant, the establishment and development of the monarchy in order to counter this, and the warnings by the prophets both of impending divine punishment and exile and of Israel’s need to repent. The last 11 books contain poetry, theology, and some additional history.
The Hebrew Bible is the literature of faith, not of scientific observation or historical demonstration. God’s existence as a speculative problem has no interest for the biblical writers. What is problematical for them is the human condition and destiny before God. The great biblical themes are about God, his revealed works of creation, provision, judgment, deliverance, his covenant, and his promises. The Hebrew Bible sees what happens to humankind in the light of God’s nature, righteousness, faithfulness, mercy, and love. The major themes about humankind relate to humanity’s rebellion, estrangement, and perversion; humankind’s redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation are all viewed as the gracious works of God.
The Hebrew Bible’s profoundly monotheistic interpretation of human life and the universe as creations of God provides the basic structure of ideas that gave rise not only to Judaism and Christianity but also to Islam, which emerged from Jewish and Christian tradition and which views Abraham as a patriarch (see also Judaism: The ancient Middle Eastern setting).
Books of The Hebrew Bible
A total of 24 books make up the Hebrew canon, with one book representing each of the scrolls that were used to write these works throughout ancient times. There are three primary components that make up the Hebrew Bible. These sections include the Torah, which is also known as the Pentateuch or the “Five Books of Moses,” the Neviʾim, which are the Prophets, and the Ketuvim, which are the Writings. One of the most common titles for it is the Tanakh, which is a word that is formed by combining the initial letters of the names of each of the three primary divisions. Every one of the three primary categories of texts is further broken into subcategories.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are the chapters that make up the Torah. These chapters feature narratives that are mixed with rules and commands. Neviʾim books are either the Former Prophets, which include stories about important Hebrew people like Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, or the Latter Prophets, which tell Israel to turn back to God and include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the 12 Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nah). The books are named for the prophets they are attributed to or contain stories about them.
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs (attributed to King Solomon), Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles are all included in the final of the three parts, which is called the Ketuvim. This division includes various forms of poetry, including devotional and sensual poetry, as well as theology and drama.
Because of a number of factors, the Hebrew Bible, which is the Bible that Christianity has inherited, contains more than 24 volumes. In the first place, Christians separated sections of the original Hebrew writings into two or more parts. For example, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles were each broken into two parts; Ezra-Nehemiah was split into two separate books; and the Minor Prophets were subdivided into twelve separate books. Additionally, the Septuagint, a Greek-language translation of the Hebrew Bible that appeared between the third and second centuries before the common era, served as the foundation for the Bibles used by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and some Protestant churches.
This featured a few books that are considered noncanonical by Orthodox Judaism and the majority of Protestant churches (for more information, see Apocrypha), versions of Daniel and Esther that were significantly greater in length, and one additional psalm. Furthermore, the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church, which is one of the Oriental Orthodox churches, incorporates into its Old Testament two works that are considered by other Christian churches to be pseudodepigraphical. These works are both noncanonical and are attributed to a biblical figure in a questionable manner. These works are the apocalyptic First Book of Enoch and the Book of Jubilees.
Cultural Importance
In Judaism
After the kingdoms of Israel and Judah had fallen, in 722 BCE and 587/586 BCE, respectively, the Hebrew people outlived defeat, captivity, and the loss of their national independence, largely because they possessed writings that preserved their history and traditions. Many of them did not return to Palestine after their exile. Those who did return did so to rebuild a temple and reconstruct a society that was more nearly a religious community than an independent nation. The religion found expression in the books of the Hebrew Bible: the Law (Torah), history, prophecy, and poetry. The survival of the Jewish religion and its subsequent incalculable influence in the history of Western culture are difficult to explain without acknowledgment of the importance of the biblical writings.
When the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 CE, the historical, priestly sacrificial worship centred on it came to an end and was never resumed. But the religion of the Jewish people had by then gone with them into many lands, where it retained its character and vitality because it still drew its nurture from biblical literature. The Hebrew Bible was with them in their synagogues, where it was read, prayed for, and taught. It preserved their identity as a people, inspired their worship, arranged their calendar, and permeated their family lives; it shaped their ideals, sustained them in persecution, and touched their intellects. Whatever Jewish talent and genius have contributed to Western civilization is due in no small degree to the influence of the Hebrew Bible.
In Christianity
Many Christians refer to the Hebrew Bible as the Old Testament, a prophecy foretelling the advent of Jesus Christ as God’s appointed Messiah. Christian tradition employs the Hebrew Scriptures to legitimize the gospel of Jesus in the New Testament as the natural extension of the Abrahamic covenant. The Hebrew Bible is thus as basic to Christianity as it is to Judaism. Without the Old Testament, the New Testament could not have been written, and there could have been no man like Jesus; Christianity could not have been what it became. This has to do with cultural values, basic human values, as well as religious beliefs. The name Old Testament was devised by a Christian, Melito of Sardis, about 170 CE to distinguish this part of the Bible from the writings that were eventually recognized as the New Testament, recounting the ministry and gospel of Jesus and presenting the history of the early Christian church
Jehoram
Jehoram, also called Joram, Hebrew Yehoram, or Yoram, one of two contemporary Old Testament kings.
Jehoram, the son of Ahab and Jezebel and king (c. 849–c. 842 BC) of Israel, maintained close relations with Judah. Together with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, Jehoram unsuccessfully attempted to subdue a revolt of the Moab against Israel. As had his father, Jehoram later endeavoured to recover Ramoth-gilead from Hazael, king of Damascus. In this matter, he was aided by his nephew Ahaziah, then king of Judah. Wounded during the fighting at Ramoth-gilead, Jehoram retired to Jezreel in Judah. During his convalescence, a revolution took place, and Jehu was anointed king at Ramoth-Gilead. Jehu then put to death all the members of Ahab’s family, including Jehoram, Jezebel, and Ahaziah
Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat and king (c. 849–c. 842 BC) of Judah, married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, and was thus brother-in-law of the Jehoram of Israel. On ascending the throne, Jehoram massacred his kinsmen. He had to face a successful revolt by Edom, a revolt by Libnak, and an invasion of Philistines and Arabs.