Old Testament
People and Themes
Genesis
Key People:
Adam and Eve – original human beings
Noah – builder of the ark
Abraham and Sarah – the parents of a nation called God’s chosen people
Isaac and Rebekah – the original members of a new nation
Jacob – father of the twelve tribes of Israel
Joseph – the preserver of his people and the nation of Egypt
Key Themes:
Origins of the universe, the beginning of humans, the Fall into sin, redemption, judgment and nations. Most of the central teachings of Christianity have their roots in Genesis:
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, Sin, redemption, Covenant, Promise, Satan, Angels, Natural revelation, Special revelation.
Exodus
Key People:
Moses – Deliverer of Israel from Egypt and author of the Pentateuch
Miriam – Older sister of Moses and prophetess
Pharoah’s daughter – rescued the baby Moses from the water and adopted him.
Jethro – father-in-law to Moses
Aaron – brother of Moses and first High Priest
Pharoah – unnamed Egyptian leader at the time of the Exodus
Joshua – assistant to Moses and leader who led the Israel into the PromiseLand
Key Themes:
Beginning of the covenant promises to Abraham, rapid growth of Jacob’s descendants, the giving of the Law. The characteristics and nature of God are revealed in His sovereignty, majesty, holiness, goodness, grace and mercy. The Passover is a picture of redemption through Christ.
Leviticus
Key People:
Moses – leader of Israel and God’s chosen one to explain His law to Israel
Aaron – Moses’ brother
Nadab – son of Aaron who died because of disobedience to the Lord’s commands
Abihu – son of Aaron who suffered the same fate as his brother
Eleazar – son of Aaron who succeeded him as High Priest of Israel
Ithamar – son of Aaron who also became a priest
Key Themes:
The holy character of God and the will of God for Israel. God urges Israel to walk in holiness. His presence in the tabernacle is another major theme. Sacrifices and offerings were introduced: Burnt offering, Grain offering, peace offering, Sin offering, and Trespass offering.
Numbers
Key People:
Moses – leader of Israel
Aaron – Moses’ brother
Miriam – sister to Moses and Aaron; stricken with leprosy because of jealousy
Joshua – Moses’ successor as leader of Israel
Caleb – one of the men sent to scout Canaan
Eleazar – son of Aaron, High Priest
Korah – Levite who assisted in the tabernacle; killed because of rebellion to the Lord
Balaam – prophet and sorcerer who half-heartedly obeyed God. Attempted to lead Israel
Into idol worship
Key Themes:
God would speak to Israel through Moses and Israel’s response was one of obedience or disobedience. The response is divided into three parts, obedience, disobedience and renewed obedience. The judgment of God and the faithfulness of God are key themes as well.
Deuteronomy
Key People:
Moses – leader of Israel. Not allowed to enter Promised Land
Joshua – Moses’ successor; guided Israel into Promised Land
Key Themes:
Moses called the second generation of Israel to trust the Lord and be obedient. Most important, He called Israel to take the land God had promised to their forefathers. This book is quoted more than any other in the New Testament. Obedience and the pursuit of holiness is always based on the character of God.
Joshua
Key People:
Joshua – led Israel into the Promised Land
Rahab – Prostitute from Jericho; saved from death because of her obedience to God.
Ancestor of David and Jesus
Achan – disobeyed God by stealing plunder of Jericho
Phinehas – priest and son of Eleazar; acted as intermediary to prevent civil war
Eleazar – son of Aaron, helped Joshua lead Israel.
Key Themes:
God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promise of giving the land to Abraham’s descendants is a key theme. Israel failed to press their conquest to every part of the land. God wanted His people to possess the land so as to keep His promise and to set the stage for later developments in His kingdom plan.
Judges
Key People:
Othniel – first judge in Israel; brought forty years of peace to Israel
Ehud – second judge of Israel. Eighty years of peace during his reign
Deborah – prophet and Israel’s only female judge
Gideon – Israel’s fifth judge; destroyed the Midianite army
Abimelech – Gideon’s evil son who declared himself king over Israel
Jephthah – judge of Israel and warrior who conquered the Ammonites
Samson – dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth; sent to deliver judgment to the
Philistines
Delilah – Samson’s lover who betrayed him to the Philistines for money
Key Themes:
Major theme is God’s power and covenant mercy in graciously delivering the Israelites from the consequences of their failures as a result of compromise and sin.
Ruth
Key People:
Ruth – Naomi’s daughter-in-law; later married to Boaz; direct ancestor to Jesus
Naomi – widow of Elimelech and mother-in-law Orpah and Ruth
Boaz – prosperous farmer who married Ruth, the Moabite; direct ancestor of Jesus
Key Themes:
Seven major themes appear in Ruth: God has a redemptive plan beyond the Jews, women also share in the salvation provided by God, a picture of the virtuous women appears through Ruth, God’s sovereign and providential care is extended to the least of people, Ruth is listed in the genealogy of Christ, Boaz, as a type of Christ, becomes a kinsman-redeemer, and King David’s lineage flows from the line of Boaz back to the time of Judah.
First and Second Samuel
Key People:
Eli – High priest and Israel’s judge for forty years
Hannah – mother of Samuel
Samuel – priest, prophet and greatest judge of Israel
Saul – first king of Israel appointed by God
Jonathan – son of Saul; befriended David and protected him against Saul
David – greatest king of Israel; direct ancestor to Jesus Christ
Joab – military commander of David’s army
Bathsheba – committed adultery with David; mother of Solomon
Nathan – prophet and advisor to King David
Absalom – son of David; attempted to overthrow the throne of Israel
Key Themes:
Four major themes: Introduction of the Davidic Covenant which is a reference to the Messiah, the sovereignty of God over people, the work of the Holy Spirit in empowering men for specific tasks, and the personal and national effects of sin.
First Kings
Key People:
David – King of Israel appoints son Solomon to be the next King
Solomon – son of Bathsheba and David. Builder of the temple, wisest man ever born.
Rehoboam – son of Solomon. His evil actions led to the division of Israel into 2
kingdoms.
Jeroboam – evil king of the northern 10 tribes of Israel.
Elijah – prophet of Israel, fought against prophets of Baal.
Ahab – 8th and most evil king of Israel, committed more evil than any other kings.
Jezebel – married Ahab and became Queen of Israel Eaten by dogs.
Key Themes:
God’s judgment of apostate nations, fulfilled prophecies of God and God’s faithfulness
to keep his covenant with David.
Second Kings
Key People:
Elijah – prophet of Israel; carried into heaven by chariot of fire.
Elisha – prophet appointed to be Elijah’s successor.
The woman from Shunam – woman who hosted Elijah in her home; Elijah brought her
son back to life.
Naaman – mighty Syrian warrior who suffered from leprosy; healed by Elijah.
Jezebel – evil Queen of Israel.
Jehu – anointed King of Israel, used by God to punish Ahab’s family.
Joash – King of Judah; saved from death as a child; ultimately assassinated by his own
officials.
Hezekiah – 13th king of Judah who remained faithful to God.
Sennacherib – king of Syria who threatened Judah.
Isaiah – prophet who ministered to the ranks of 5 kings of Judah.
Manasseh – son of Hezekiah, 14th king of Judah.
Josiah – 16th king of Judah. Great grandson of Hezekiah; faithful to God.
Jehoiakim – 18th king of Judah.
Zedekiah – 20th king of Judah. Captured by the Babylonians as punishment for evil
ways.
Nebuchadnezzar – king of Babylon; allowed by God to conquer Jerusalem.
Key Themes:
(same as in First Kings)
First and Second Chronicles
Key People:
David - king of Israel; man after God’s own heart.
David’s mighty men – special group of warriors pledged to fight for King David.
Nathan – prophet and advisor to David. Relayed God’s will for Solomon to build the
temple.
Solomon – King of Israel and builder of the temple.
Queen of Sheba – visited Jerusalem to test Solomon about his success.
Rehoboam – evil son of Solomon who became king.
Asa – King of Judah; tried to accomplish God’s purposes through corrupt means.
Jehoshaphat – succeeded his father, Asa, as king of Judah.
Jehoram – wicked son of Jehoshaphat; became king of Judah; promoted idol worship.
Uzziah – succeeded his father, Amaziah, as king of Judah.
Ahaz – succeeded his father, Jotham, as king of Judah. Led the people in Baal worship
and idolatry.
Hezekiah – succeeded his father, Ahaz, as king of Judah; obeyed God and restored the
temple.
Manasseh – succeeded his father, Hezekiah, as king of Judah; did evil but repented at the
end of his reign.
Josiah – succeeded his father, Amon, as king of Judah; followed the Lord and discovered
the Book of the Law while restoring the temple.
Key Themes:
These 2 books assured returning Jews that in spite of their problem past and present plight, God will be true to His covenant promises. Another major theme is that obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings judgment.
Ezra
Key People:
Ezra – scribe and teacher of God’s word who began religious reform among the people;
Led the second group of exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem..
Cyrus – Persian King who conquered Babylon; allowed Jews to return to their homeland.
Zerubbabel – led the first group of Israelites from Babylon to Jerusalem; completed the
building of the temple.
Haggai – prophet who encouraged Zerubbabel to continue the rebuilding of the temple.
Zechariah – (same as Haggai)
Darius I – Persian King who supported the rebuilding of the temple.
Artaxerxes – Persian King who allowed Ezra to return to Jerusalem.
Key Themes:
Primary message of the book is that God orchestrated the captivity and would continue to work in a pagan king and his successors to give Judah hope for the future.
Nehemiah
Key People:
Nehemiah - Influential cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. Led the third group of exiles to
Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls.
Ezra – worked with Nehemiah as Israel’s priest and scribe.
Sanballat – Governor of Samaria who tried to discourage the people from rebuilding the
wall.
Tobiah – Ammonite official who mocked the rebuilding of the wall.
Key Themes:
Careful attention to the reading of God’s word in order to perform God’s will.
Obedience of individuals in spite of discouraging words. God’s people will always have enemies that try to discourage them from doing God’s will.
Esther
Key People:
Esther – Queen of Persia who saved the Jews from Haman’s evil plot.
Mordecai – Adopted and raised Esther. Later replaced Haman as second in command
under King Xerxes.
King Xerxes I – King of Persia; married Esther and made her queen.
Haman – second in command under King Xerxes; plotted to kill the Jews.
Key Theme:
Although God’s enemies, inspired by Satan, tried to thwart His will, God’s covenant promises are never thwarted.
Job
Key People:
Job – servant of God; tested by God but did not sin by blaming God.
Eliphaz the Temanite - a friend of Job; believed Job was suffering because of his sin.
Bildad the Shuhite - another friend of Job; believed Job had not repented of his sin and
therefore suffered.
Zophar the Naamathite - third friend of Job; believed Job deserved to suffer for his sin.
Elihu the Buzite – stood up against Job’s 3 friends; believed God was using suffering to
mold Job’s character.
Key Theme:
Even though a saint suffers, God proves that saving faith cannot be destroyed no matter how much trouble a saint suffers. Also, a major theme concerns proving the character of God to man.
Psalms
Key People:
David – King of Israel.
Key Theme:
The basic theme of Psalms is living real life in the real world where two dimensions operate simultaneously: temporal reality and transcendent reality.
Proverbs
Key People:
Solomon – King of Israel, granted wisdom from God.
Agur – son of Jakeh , an unknown sage.
Lemuel – king whose mother’s teachings are included (Proverbs 31)
Key Theme:
Man’s relationship to God, man’s relationship to himself, man’s relationship to others, wisdom and folly.
Ecclesiastes
Key People:
Solomon – King of Israel
Key Theme:
A balance must be given to enjoyment of life with that of divine judgment. This book shows that if one perceives a day of existence as a gift from God and accepts whatever God gives, that person will have an abundant life.
Song of Solomon
Key People:
Solomon – the bridegroom called “beloved by his wife”.
The Shulamite Woman – the new bride of King Solomon.
The daughters of Jerusalem – unidentified virgins who encouraged the Shulamite
Woman.
Key Theme:
Solomon’s ancient love song exalts the purity of marital affection and romance. It
portrays God’s plan for marriage including the beauty and sanctity of sexual intimacy between husband and wife.
Isaiah
Key People:
Isaiah – prophet who ministered through the reigns of 4 kings of Judah.
Shear-Jashub – Isaiah’s son; name means “a remnant shall return”.
Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz – Isaiah’s son; name means “hasting to the spoil, hurrying to the
prey”.
Key Theme:
The condemning of empty ritualism and idolatry. Another major theme was the prophetic announcement of the Messiah.
Jeremiah
Key People:
Jeremiah – priest and prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah.
King Josiah – 16th king of the southern kingdom of Judah.
King Jehoahaz – evil son of Josiah and 17th king of the southern kingdom of Judah.
King Jehoiakim – evil son of Josiah and 18th king of the southern kingdom of Judah.
King Jehoiachin – evil son of Jehoiakim and 19th king
King Zedekiah – evil uncle of Jehoiachin and 20th king
Baruch – served as Jeremiah’s scribe
Ebed-Melech – Ethiopian palace official who helped Jeremiah
King Nebuchadnezzar – greatest king of Babylon; led the people of Judah to captivity.
Rechabites – obedient descendants of Jonadab; contrasted to the disobedient people of
Israel.
Key Themes:
Judgment upon Judah with restoration in the future Messianic kingdom. A secondary theme is God’s willingness to spare and bless the nation only if the people repent. Other themes include God’s longing for Israel to be tender to Him, suffering as in Jeremiah’s trials, the vital role that God’s word can play in life, the place of faith, and prayer for the coordination of God’s will with God’s action.
Lamentations
Key People:
Jeremiah – prophet of Judah
People of Jerusalem – people judged by God because of their great sins.
Key Theme:
The key theme is on God’s judgment in response to Judah’s sin.
Ezekial
Key People:
Ezekial– prophet to the people of Israel in Babylonian captivity.
Israel’s leaders – led the people of Israel into idolatry.
Ezekial’s wife – unnamed woman whose death symbolized the future destruction of
Israel’s beloved temple.
Nebuchadezzar – King of Babylon used by God to conquer Judah.
Key Theme:
God’s holiness and sovereignty that is closely related to His purpose of glorious triumph so that all may “know that I am the Lord”. Another theme is God’s angel carrying out His program behind the scenes. A third theme is the necessity of God’s wrath to deal with sin.
Daniel
Key People:
Daniel – Israelite captive who became a royal advisor.
Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon; went temporarily insane for not acknowledging
God’s sovereignty.
Shadrach – exiled Jew placed in charge of the province of Babylon; saved from the fiery
furnace.
Meshach - (same as above)
Abed-Nego – (same as above)
Belshazzar – successor of Nebuchadnezzar as King of Babylon; used Daniel as an
interpreter.
Darius – Persian successor of Belshazzar; his advisor tricked him into sending Daniel
into the lion’s den.
Key Theme:
The prominent theme of Daniel is God’s sovereign control over the affairs of all rulers and nations and their final replacement with the True King. A second theme is the display of God’s power through miracles.
Hosea
Key People:
Hosea – prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel; his marriage reflected God’s