COT 022 – OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY LECTURE GUIDE
COURSE OUTLINE &
LECTURE GUIDE FOR
COT 022 –
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
COT 022 – OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY COURSE OUTLINE
Lecture 1 Page
1.1 General Introduction of the Old Testament 1
1.2 General Introduction of the Old Testament 1
1.2 Group Divisions of the Old Testament Books
1.3 Summary Outline of Classified Old Testament Books 2
Lecture 2
2.1 The Pentateuch 5
2.2 The Term 5
2.3 Authorship 6
LECTURE 3
2.3 Highlight of Genesis-- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7
2.3.1 Introduction and Background-- -- -- -- -- 7
2.3.2 The Creation-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 8
2.3.3 The Fall-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 9
Lecture 3
3.1 The Flood 10
3.2 Tower of Babel 11
3.3 The Call of Abraham 11
3.4 The Descent into Egypt 12
Lecture 4 HIGHLIGHT OF EXODUS
4.1 Introduction and Outline 13
4.2 Moses – Birth, Call and Training 14
4.3 The Contest with Pharaoh 14
4.4 The Passover 14
4.5 The Giving of the Law 14
4.6 The Tabernacle 15
Lecture 5 HIGHLIGHT OF LEVITICUS
5.1 Introduction and Outline
5.2 Different Types Of Offerings
5.3 The Priests
5.4 The Great Feasts and Seasons
5.5 Highlight of Numbers
5.6 Highlight of Deuteronomy
Lecture 6 HISTORICAL BOOKS
6.1 The Judges 19
6.2 Introduction to Judges 19
6.3 The Judges of Israel 20
6.4 Israel’s Cycle of Sin and Judgment 21
6.5 Domestic Life of Israel at the Period of Anarchy 23
Lecture 7 THE KINGS
7.1 The foundation of the Monarch 23
7.2 Kings of the United Kingdom 24
7.3 Saul 24
7.4 David 24
7.5 Solomon 25
7.6 The Divided Kingdom 26
Lecture 8 THE PROPHETS (MAJOR AND MINOR)
8.1 Introduction To The Prophets 28
8.2 The Means Of Appointment and Inspiration 29
8.3 Classification Of The Prophets 29
8.4 The Prophets And Their Messages 31
8.5 The True And The False Prophets 32
Lecture 9 HIGHLIGHT OF THE MAJOR PROPHETS
9.1 Isaiah 33
9.2 Jeremiah 35
9.3 Ezekiel 35
9.4 Daniel 36
Lecture10 HIGHLIGHT OF THE MINOR PROPHETS
10.1 Hosea 38
10.2 Joel 39
10.3 Amos 40
Lecture11 HIGHLIGHT OF THE MINOR PROPHETS CONTD
11.1 Obadiah 41
11.2 Jonah 41
11.3 Micah 42
11.4 Nahum 43
11.5 Habakkuk 43
Lecture 12 HIGHLIGHT OF THE MINOR PROPHETS CONTD
12.1 Zephaniah 44
12.2 Haggai 45
12.3 Zechariah 46
12.4 Malachi 47
Lecture13 POETICAL BOOKS
13.1 The Psalms 48
13.2 Introduction to the Psalms 48
13.3 6.1.2 Authorship 48
13.4 6.1.3 Structure of the Book 48
13.5 6.1.4 Classification of the Psalms 49
13.6 6.1.5 Special Considerations 51
Lecture14 The Wisdom Books
14.1 Biblical Concept of Wisdom 52
14.2 Principal Types of Wisdom in the Old Testament
Wisdom Literature 52
14.3 Practical Wisdom 52
14.4 Speculative Wisdom 53
14.5 Highlight of the Wisdom Books 53
14.6 Job 53
14.7 Proverbs 54
14.8 Ecclesiastes 55
Lecture15 APPENDIX
15.1 Comparative History of Old Testament and Inter Testament Periods with Secular History 57
15.2 Summary Authorship, Date, Place Of Writing And
Statistics Of Old Testament Books 59
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COT 022 – OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY LECTURE GUIDE
1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Bible is a book of books, comprising 66 books with two main divisions: – The Old Testament (39) and the New Testament (27). Our area of study is that part of the Bible which we call the Old Testament. This is called a “testament” or “covenant” because it was a settled declaration of the will of God concerning man in a special way and it is from the designed death of the great testator “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev 13:8). The Old Testament was a shadow of the New Testament.
It is called the Old Testament in relation to the New, which does not necessarily cancel and supersede it but crowns and perfects it, by the bringing of that better hope which was typified and foretold in it. For instance the grace reflected in the old covenant is perfected in the New Testament through Christ.
The Old Testament centers around Sinai, while the New centers around Calvary. What the Old Testament commences, the New Testament completes. The New helps to interprete the Old.
1.2 GROUP DIVISIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS
For convenience of study, the Old Testament books may be divided into five well-defined groupings, namely:
i. Classification of Books:
a Law - made up of the five (5) books from Genesis through Deuteronomy
b History – made up of the twelve (12) books from Joshua through Esther
c Poetry and Wisdom – this group consists of five (5) books from Job through Songs of Solomon
Prophets (17 Books)
d Major Prophets – five (5) books from Isaiah through Daniel
e Minor Prophets – twelve (12) books from Hosea through Malachi
ii. Historical Events
Another way to study the Old Testament is through History, which is generally divided into ages or time-periods, as follows:
a. From Creation to the Fall
b. From the Fall to the Flood
c. From the Flood to the Tower of Babel
d. From Babel to Abraham
e. From Abraham to Moses
f. From Moses to Joshua
g. From Joshua to Samuel
h. The United Kingdom
i. The Divided Kingdom
j. The Babylonian Captivity
k. The Restoration from Captivity
l. The 400 Silent Years between the Old and the New.
1.3 SUMMARY OUTLINE OF CLASSIFIED OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS
1. PENTATEUCH - five books in all
i. Genesis: The Book Of Origins.
· The origin of the universe, human race, etc.
· Largely a record of the early history of the Chosen Family: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (the Patriarchs) against the backing of God’s creativity and man’s sin.
ii. Exodus: The bondage, deliverance, and beginning of the history of Israel on the way to Canaan, under the leadership of Moses and the giving of the law in Mount Sinai
iii. Leviticus: The book of laws concerning morals, cleanliness, food, etc. It makes clear the truth of the necessity of holy living.
· Teaches access to God through sacrifices.
iv. Numbers: The book of the pilgrimages of Israel (the forty years wandering in the wilderness). The book spells divine guidance of His people in their onward journey to the Promised Land.
v. Deuteronomy: A repetition of the laws given shortly before Israel entered Canaan.
II. HISTORICAL BOOKS - TWELVE IN NUMBER
(1) Joshua: A record of the conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua, and the division of the land among the twelve tribes.
(2) Judges: The history of the six servitudes of Israel, and the various deliverances of the land through the fifteen judges.
(3) Ruth: A beautiful pastoral story in which Ruth appears as ancestress of David and of Jesus Christ.
(4, 5) I, II Samuel: The history of Samuel, with the beginning and early years of the monarchial period in Israel under the reigns of Saul and David.
(6, 7) I, II Kings: The early history of kingdom of Israel, and later of the divided Kingdom. The heroic characters of Elijah and Elisha appear.
(8, 9) I, II Chronicles: Largely a record of the reigns of David, Solomon, and the kings of Judah up to the time of the captivity.
(10) Ezra: A record of the return of the Jews from captivity, and the rebuilding of the temple.
(11) Nehemiah: An account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, and the re-establishing of the sacred ordinances.
(12) Esther: The story of Queen Esther’s deliverance of the Jews from the plot of Haman, and the establishment of the feast of Purim, etc.
III. POETICAL: FIVE
(1) Job: The problem of affliction; showing the malice of Satan; the patience of Job; the vanity of human philosophy; the divine wisdom and the final deliverance of the righteous.
(2) Psalms: A collection of one hundred and fifty spiritual songs, poems and prayers used through the centuries by the church in its devotion.
(3) Proverbs: A collection of moral and religious maxims, and discourses on wisdom, temperance, justice, etc.
(4) Ecclesiastes: Reflection on the vanity of life, and man’s duties and obligations to God, etc.
(5) Song of Solomon: A religious poem symbolizing the mutual love of Christ and the church.
[PROPHETICAL BOOKS: SEVENTEEN IN NUMBER]
IV. MAJOR PROPHETS: FIVE IN MUMBER
(1) Isaiah: The great prophets of the redemption. A book rich in Messianic prophecies, mingled with woes pronounced upon sinful nations.
(2) Jeremiah: The weeping prophet. Lived from time of Josiah to the captivity. Main theme - The backsliding, bondage, and restoration of the Jews.
(3) Lamentations: A series of dirges by Jeremiah, bewailing the afflictions of Israel.
(4) Ezekiel: One of the mystery books, full of striking metaphors vividly portraying the sad condition of God’s people, and the path-way to future exaltation and glory.
(5) Daniel: A book of personal biography and apocalyptic visions concerning events in both secular and sacred history.
V. MINOR PROPHETS: TWELVE IN NUMBER
(1) Hosea: Contemporary with Isaiah and Micah. Central thought - The apostasy of Israel characterized as spiritual adultery. The book is filled with striking metaphors describing the sins of the people.
(2) Joel: A prophet of Judah. Leading topic – National repentance and its blessing. “The day of the Lord,” a time of divine judgments, may be transformed into a season of blessing.
(3) Amos: The herdsman prophet, a courageous reformer, denouncing selfishness and sin. The book contains a series of five visions.
(4) Obadiah: Leading topic – The doom of Edom and final deliverance of Israel.
(5) Jonah: The story of the “Reluctant Missionary” who was taught by bitter experience the lesson of obedience and the depth of divine mercy.
(6) Micah: The book gives a dark picture of the moral condition of Israel and Judah, but foretells the establishment of a messianic kingdom in which righteousness shall prevail.
(7) Nahum: Main theme – The destruction of Nineveh. Judah is promised deliverance from Assyria.
(8) Habakkuk: Written in the Chaldean period. Main theme – The mysteries of providence. How can a just God allow a wicked nation to oppress Israel?
(9) Zephaniah: This book is somber in tone, filled with threatening, but ends in a vision of the future glory of Israel.
(10) Haggai: A colleague of Zechariah. He reproves the people for slackness in building the second temple; but promises a return of God’s glory when the building should be completed.
(11) Zechariah: Contemporary with Haggai. He helped to arouse the Jews to rebuild the temple. He had a series of eight visions, and saw the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom.
(12) Malachi: Gives a graphic picture of the closing period of Old Testament history. He shows the necessity of reforms before the coming of the Messiah.
Lecture 2
2.0 THE PENTATEUCH
2.1 THE TERM
The term, Pentateuch, meaning “five volumes” or “five scrolls” refers to the first five books of Old Testament – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Another word for the collection - “Torah”, apparently means instruction, teaching or doctrine.
The collection is also called the books of the law
– Joshua 1:8; 8:31
The five books together present a history of humanity from creation THE to the death of Moses, with particular reference to the development of the Hebrew people. The Pentateuch also gives special attention to the activity of God, God’s nature and His purpose for mankind.
The Pentateuch is generally divided into six major sections:
i. The creation of world and its inhabitants – (Gen 1 – 11)
ii. The period from Abraham to Joseph – (Gen 12 – 50)
iii. Moses and the departure of Israelites from Egypt
(Exo. 1 – 18)
iv. God’s revelation at Sinai – (Exodus 19 – Numbers 10)
v. The wilderness wanderings – (Numbers 11 – 36)
vi. The address of Moses – (Deuteronomy 1 – 34)
In Genesis is the record concerning Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, the “Patriarchs” or “Fathers” against the backdrop of God’s creativity and man’s sin. In Exodus is the deliverance of Israel out of Egyptian slavery and the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai; Leviticus, makes clear the truth and necessity of holy living; In Numbers, God guides His people in their onward march to the Promised Land and in Deuteronomy, Moses summarized God’s messages .
2.2 AUTHORSHIP OF THE PENTATEUCH
The authorship was challenged, especially in conservative circles. Some hold the view that some or even many participated in the authorship of the first five Books of the Old Testament. Until modern times, all Christians and Jews believed that Moses was the author of most or even all of the Pentateuch. Certain critics have denied the mosaic authorship of Deuteronomy in particular for three principal reasons:
i. Difference of style from preceding books
ii. They say that the laws of Deuteronomy differ in certain parts from those of the first four books of the Pentateuch.
iii. He did not write the account of his death.
These are answers to these objections:
i. The difference of style is easily explained by the fact that Deuteronomy consists of formal addresses and exhortations orally delivered by Moses and these would naturally be in a style dissimilar to written narratives and technical law.
ii. The difference between the laws in the earlier part of the Pentateuch and Deuteronomy may be explained by the fact that it was necessary for Moses, not only to reiterate the general laws, but also to restate certain laws to fit the changed conditions of settled life scattered over the entire land of Palestine.
iii. With regards to the question raised as to whether Moses wrote the account of his death, it is possible that the Lord may have directed Joshua to add this account to what Moses had written, and it is equally possible that God may have led Moses to write it in advance, since He had already revealed to him the manner and time of his approaching death.
Another point of disagreement with Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch is in relation to Genesis the first book of the Bible, which closes about 300 years before Moses was born.
The age-long Hebrews and Christian position is that Moses, guided by the Spirit of God, wrote Genesis. He could have received his information only by direct revelation from God ( ) or from historical records to which he had access, that have been handed down by his forefathers.
Some passages of the Old Testament of the Bible indicate Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch – Exodus 24:4; Deut 31:9,24-26; Josh 1:7-8. In further support of the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch is its unity throughout – unity of theme, unbroken continuity of thought, balanced treatment of the parts and progressive narratives. The Mosaic authorship is supported throughout the Old Testament and is also expressly stated in the New Testament in Matt 5:17; Acts 28:23; John 1:45
There are two schools of thought on the authorship of the Pentateuch. The first is the traditional source while the second is the organizational source.
The first source is based on the popular tradition that Moses wrote on the books that comprise the Pentateuch. The second source differs greatly from the first; according to the protagonists of this view the authorship of the Pentateuch is to be deduced from the language, the style employed and the arrangement of the text. According to this source, Moses wrote part of the Pentateuch while other authors wrote the rest.