Old Testament

Begin with Books, the foundation of any exploration of scripture. The Old Testament is composed of thirty-nine books, traditionally divided into categories that reflect their unique purposes and styles. The Pentateuch, or the Torah, includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Here, you encounter the origins of the cosmos, the birth of humanity, and the forging of a covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham. Genesis unveils the mysteries of creation and the earliest stories of faith, while Exodus tells of liberation from bondage and the revelation of divine law atop Mount Sinai. Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy lay out instructions for worship, community life, and the journey toward the Promised Land.

From there, you move into the Historical Books—Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and the sweeping accounts of Israel’s monarchy in Samuel and Kings. These narratives are filled with triumph and tragedy, with heroes who rise and fall, and with lessons about obedience, leadership, and the consequences of turning away from the covenant. The books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah recount the return from exile and the rebuilding of a community determined to renew its faith.

The Poetic and Wisdom Books—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon—offer voices of lament, praise, reflection, and love. Their words are among the most quoted and cherished in the entire Bible. Psalms gives language to the deepest cries of the heart, while Proverbs offers timeless counsel for daily life. Job explores the problem of suffering with unflinching honesty, and Ecclesiastes asks what endures amid the fleeting pursuits of the world.

Finally, the Prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve Minor Prophets—thunder with visions of judgment, hope, and restoration. These voices challenge nations and individuals alike to return to justice, to care for the vulnerable, and to trust in a coming deliverance.

In our Characters section, you will meet the men and women whose stories fill the pages of the Old Testament. Here stands Abraham, who left everything familiar to follow a promise; Moses, the reluctant leader who confronted Pharaoh and led a people to freedom; and David, the shepherd who became a king and the poet behind many psalms. You will also find Ruth’s quiet loyalty, Esther’s courageous intervention, and the resolute faith of Daniel in a foreign empire. Every character adds a new layer of humanity and wonder to the unfolding narrative.

Top 10’s is your entry point to some of the most intriguing and memorable aspects of the Old Testament. Discover the Top 10 Miracles, where seas part, manna falls from heaven, and the sun stands still in the sky. Explore the Top 10 Battles, where armies clash and faith becomes the deciding factor. Learn about the Top 10 Verses that have shaped devotion and reflection for thousands of years, and consider the Top 10 Prophecies that pointed toward futures yet unseen. Each list is a fresh lens to appreciate the power and beauty of these ancient accounts.

Galleries offer a visual journey through sacred history. Here, you can immerse yourself in illustrations, paintings, and archaeological photographs that bring the Old Testament to life. Imagine standing at the edge of the Red Sea as walls of water rise, or seeing Solomon’s Temple in its splendor. Explore artifacts—clay tablets, ancient seals, fragments of scrolls—that provide glimpses into the daily life and worship of Israel. Each gallery is curated to enrich your understanding and spark your imagination.

Trivia invites you to uncover lesser-known stories and surprising insights hidden within the text. Did you know that the longest verse in the Bible appears in Esther? Or that the shortest psalm contains some of the most powerful declarations of faith? Trivia explores cultural practices, literary structures, and historical details that deepen your appreciation of scripture.

Timelines help you situate events within a broader historical context. Follow the arc from the call of Abraham to the conquest of Canaan, from the rise of kings to the exile in Babylon, and finally to the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem. Chronology helps make sense of how each book connects to the others, revealing the larger story of covenant and redemption that stretches across centuries.

Maps are indispensable for exploring the Old Testament’s geography. In this section, you will find detailed depictions of journeys and battles, settlements and territories. Trace Abraham’s path from Ur to Canaan, chart the Exodus route through the wilderness, and see the boundaries of the twelve tribes. Maps bring clarity to places whose names may be unfamiliar, and they help you understand the significance of land in Israel’s faith and identity.

Genealogies present the lineages that anchor the Old Testament in family and history. From Adam to Noah to Abraham, these records establish connections across generations. They remind us that faith is not an abstract idea but a living heritage passed from one life to another. Exploring genealogies can shed light on prophecies, inheritance, and the fulfillment of promises.

Laws and Commandments is a section dedicated to the foundational principles that shaped Israel’s community and relationship with God. Here, you can study the Ten Commandments, the laws of holiness in Leviticus, and the ethical demands of justice, mercy, and love. These instructions provided a blueprint for worship, social order, and personal conduct. Their echoes still influence legal and moral thought today.

Themes and Symbols uncovers the recurring ideas that give the Old Testament its depth and resonance. Covenant is one of the most important themes: God’s unbreakable promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants. Sacrifice points to the cost of reconciliation and the seriousness of sin. Exile and return highlight the human longing for restoration. Prophecy bridges the gap between the present and a hoped-for future. Symbols like light, water, bread, and the tabernacle are woven into the stories, each revealing layers of meaning.

FAQs gathers thoughtful responses to the questions people often ask when encountering the Old Testament. Who wrote these books? How were they preserved and transmitted? Why do some traditions count the books differently? How does archaeology support or challenge the text? This section aims to equip you with knowledge that enriches faith and study alike.

The Old Testament is more than an anthology of ancient writings. It is a living conversation that has shaped the world’s literature, art, and moral imagination. Within its pages, empires rise and fall, prophets cry out in the wilderness, and ordinary men and women wrestle with the same questions we ask today: What does it mean to be faithful? What does justice look like? Where is hope to be found when all seems lost? These writings have been read in desert tents and cathedral choirs, whispered in private prayer and proclaimed to gathered congregations. They have challenged tyrants, inspired reformers, and offered consolation to the brokenhearted. The Old Testament is as much a record of humanity’s longing as it is a testament to divine purpose.

This website is designed to make the Old Testament accessible to everyone—from scholars to seekers, from lifelong believers to the simply curious. Each section—Books, Characters, Top 10’s, Galleries, Trivia, Timelines, Maps, Genealogies, Laws, Themes, and FAQs—provides a doorway into the story. You can start anywhere your interest leads you, knowing that every part is connected to the whole. Perhaps you will begin by reading about Moses and the Exodus, or by exploring the poetry of the Psalms. You might be drawn to the fierce courage of prophets who spoke truth to power or to the quiet faithfulness of figures like Ruth and Hannah. Wherever you begin, you will find that the Old Testament is not a static monument but a living well of wisdom and inspiration.

In a time when ancient texts can feel distant, the Old Testament remains a vital source of guidance, challenge, and wonder. It is the record of people who dared to believe that their lives were part of a story much greater than themselves. It is the unfolding of promises that would echo into the New Testament and beyond. It is a witness to the enduring faithfulness of God and the resilience of the human spirit. We invite you to explore these pages with curiosity and openness. Let the stories surprise you, the poetry move you, the laws challenge you, and the promises encourage you. May your journey through the Old Testament deepen your understanding of the world, yourself, and the One who still calls people to walk in faith.

Your adventure begins here. Welcome to the story that shaped civilization. Welcome to the Old Testament.