THE HISTORICAL BOOKS

THE BOOK OF RUTH–A BRIEF OUTLINE

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THE BOOK OF RUTH

Introduction:

“This lovely story should be read in connection with the first half of Judges, as it presents a picture of life in Israel at that time.

Typically, the book may be taken as a fore view of the church (Ruth), as the Gentile bride of Christ, the Bethlehemite who is able to redeem.” — Scofield.

This beautiful pastoral story is considered a literary gem by critics. One of two books in the Bible in which woman is the principal character, —Ruth and Esther. Ruth, a Moabite, married a Hebrew husband; Esther, a Jewess, married a Gentile king.

Author: Unknown, possibly Samuel.

Period: The time of the Judges

Subject: How a Young Moabitish Woman’s Life Was Enriched.

1) By a beautiful Constancy, and Wise Choice, Ruth 1:16.

2) By a humble Industry, Ruth 2:2-3.

3) By accepting Counsel from an Older Friend, Ruth 3:1-5.

4) By the kinsman redeemer, Ruth 4:1-9,

5) By a Providential Alliance, Ruth 4:10-11.

6) By Exaltation to a Royal Line, Ruth 4:13-17.

Main Purpose: To show how a Gentile Woman became one of the Ancestors of Christ.

Historical Analysis:

1) The Sojourn in Moab, Ruth 1:1-5.

2) The Sad Return Home, Ruth 1:6-22.

3) Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, Ruth 2.

4) Her Marriage to Boaz, Ruth 4:13.

5) The Birth of her son, the grandfather of David, Ruth 4:13-16.

6) The Genealogy of David, Ruth 4:18-22.

THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH–A BRIEF OUTLINE

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THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH

Introduction:

Fourteen years after the return of Ezra to Jerusalem, Nehemiah led up a company (B.C. 444) and restored the walls and the civil authority. Of those events this book is the record. — Scofield.

In the Hebrew manuscripts the books of Ezra and Nehemiah appeared as one book.

Author or Compiler: uncertain. A large portion of the book is regarded by many students as an autobiography of Nehemiah.

Key Text: Nehemiah 6:3, “And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”

Leading Topics:

—The Rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem;

—The rehearsal of certain Divine Laws;

—The restoration of Ancient Ordinances.

A Brief Summary of the Book:

PART 1: A Typical Study.

Theme: The Rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem considered as a Type of the Up Building of the Divine Kingdom in the Earth.

1) The walls broken down, may typify the defenses of God’s kingdom weakened, Nehemiah 1:3, “And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”

2) The preliminary season of fasting and prayer, Nehemiah 1:4-11, may typify the state of mind which should precede all great spiritual enterprises.

3) Nehemiah’s sacrifice of a fine position for the good of the cause, Nehemiah 2:5, may typify the sacrificial service always needed when a great work is to be accomplished.

4) The night inspection of the city, Nehemiah 2:15-16, may typify the necessity of facing the facts before beginning constructive work.

5) The seeking of co-operation, Nehemiah 2:17-18, may typify an essential element in all successful work.

6) The enlistment of all classes, Nehemiah 3:1 may typify the importance of thorough organization.

The Same Methods May Be Used In Overcoming Hindrances To Spiritual Work.

1) Ridicule, Nehemiah 2:19, is overcome by confidence in God, Nehemiah 2:20.

2) Wrath and contempt, Nehemiah 4:3, are overcome by prayer and hard work, Nehemiah 4:4-6.

3) Conspiracy, Nehemiah 4:7-8, is overcome by watchfulness and prayer, Nehemiah 4:9.

4) Discouragement of friends, Nehemiah 4:10, 12, overcome by steadfast courage, Nehemiah 4:13-14.

5) Selfish greed, Nehemiah 5:1-5, overcome by rebuke and self-sacrificing example, Nehemiah 5:6-17.

6) Work completed, enemies confounded by persistent endeavor, Nehemiah 6:1-15.

PART 2: Closing Events.

1) The rehearsal and exposition of the Divine Law, Nehemiah 8.

2) The confession of the Priests and Levites, and the signing of the covenant, Nehemiah 9:1–10:39.

3) The call for people to dwell in Jerusalem, Nehemiah 11.

4) The dedication of the walls, Nehemiah 12.

5) Social and religious reforms, Nehemiah 13.

THE BOOK OF EZRA–A BRIEF OUTLINE

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THE BOOK OF EZRA
Introduction:

Ezra, the first of the post-captivity books (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi), records the return to Palestine under Zerubbabel, by decree of Cyrus, of a Jewish remnant who laid the temple foundations (B.C. 536). Later (B.C. 458) Ezra followed, and restored the law and ritual. But the mass of the nation, and most of the princes, remained by preference in Babylonia and Assyria, where they were prospering. The post-captivity books deal with that feeble remnant which alone had a heart for God. — Scofield.

Writer: Unknown. It is generally conceded that Ezra was not the author of the entire book, but may have been the compiler of those portions which he did not write. He was a Jewish exile in Babylon of priestly descent, Ezra 7:1-6.

Main Subjects: The return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple and the inauguration of social and religious reforms.

Spiritual Message: The power of the Word of God in human life; referred to as the “Word of the Lord,” Ezra 1:1; 9:4; “Law of Moses,” Ezra 3:2; 6:18; 7:6; “Commandments,” Ezra 6:14; 10:3, 5; “Law of the Lord,” Ezra 7:10,14.

A Brief Summary of the Book:

PART 1: The Return of the First Colony of Jews under the Leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra 1:1–6:22.

1) Authorized by King Cyrus, Ezra 1:1-4.

2) The names of the returning remnant of the people, the priests, the Levites, the descendants of Solomon’s servants, and their substance and gifts, Ezra 2.

PART 2: Their Building Enterprises.

1) The altar rebuilt and worship established, Ezra 3:1-6.

2) The foundation of the temple laid, Ezra 3:8-13.

3) The people of the land desire to join in the work, Ezra 4:1-2.

4) When their offer was rejected they became violent opposers, causing the suspension of the work, Ezra 4:4-24.

5) After a long delay the work was resumed by an edict of King Darius, Ezra 5:1-6:2.

6) The temple finished and dedicated and ancient rites observed, Ezra 6:15-22.

PART 3: The Return of the Second Colony under Ezra, authorized by the king, Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:1-10:44.

1) The list of Ezra’s company of returning exiles, and their arrival at Jerusalem, Ezra 8.

2) The correction of social evils by Ezra, Ezra 9:1–10:44.

The Literary and Religious Work of Ezra:

He is the reputed author of several Psalms, notably the 119th. According to ancient tradition he wrote First and Second Chronicles, but this cannot be proven. He was associated with Nehemiah in initiating a revival of the study of the Scriptures, Nehemiah 8. He was reputed to be the organizer of the Jewish synagogue, and to have assembled most of the books of the Old Testament.

THE BOOK OF ESTHER–A BRIEF OUTLINE

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THE BOOK OF ESTHER
Introduction:

The significance of the Book of Esther is that it testifies to the secret watch care of Jehovah over dispersed Israel. The name of God does not once occur, but in no other book of the Bible is His providence more conspicuous. A mere remnant returned to Jerusalem. The mass of the nation preferred the easy and lucrative life under the Persian rule. But God did not forsake them. What He here does for Judah, He is surely doing for all the covenant people. — Scofield.

Author: unknown

Canonicity: The right of the book to a place in the Scripture Canon has been greatly disputed. The name of God does not appear in it, while a heathen king is referred to over one hundred and fifty times. There is no allusion to prayer or spiritual service of any kind, with the possible exception of fasting.

Leading Topic: The deliverance of the Jews by Queen Esther.

Key Verse: Esther 4:14, “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

A Brief Summary of the Book: The main events of the history center around three feasts:

I. The Feast of King Ahasuerus, and events connected with it.

A. On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, Queen Vashti, being ordered to appear before the assembled princes, refuses, Esther 1:1-12.

B. The angry king decides to accept the advice of his wise men, and dethrones the queen, Esther 1:13-22.

C. After a kingdom-wide search for a new queen, Esther, the Jewess is chosen, Esther 2:1-17.

II. The Feast of Esther, preliminary events, and its final outcome.

A. Mordecai, the Jew, the queens’s foster father, saves the king’s life, Esther 2:7, 21-23.

B. The promotion of Haman and the failure of Mordecai to do him honor so enrages Haman that he decides to destroy all the Jews, Esther 3:1-15.

C. The mourning of the Jews on the discovery of Haman’s plot, Esther 4:1-4.

D. The heroic determination of Esther to appear before the king with a plan in her mind to foil the plot, Esther 4:5-17.

E. Esther’s gracious reception by the king, and her invitation to himself and Haman to attend her feast, Esther 5:1-8.

F. Haman erects a gallows upon which to hang Mordecai, Esther 5:9-14.

G. During a sleepless night the king examines the court records and discovers that Mordecai has received no reward for saving his life, Esther 6:1-3.

H. Haman’s selfish vanity results in his own humiliation and great honor for Mordecai, Esther 6:4-11.

I. Esther’s feast and Haman’s plot revealed. He is hanged upon the gallows he built for Mordecai, Esther 7.

III. The Feast of Purim

A. Preliminary Events.

1. The vengeance of the Jews against their enemies authorized by the king, Esther 8:1.

2. Vengeance executed, Esther 9:1.

B. The Feast Instituted, Esther 9:20-31.

C. The Exaltation of Mordecai, Esther 10.

THE BOOK OF II SAMUEL–A BRIEF OUTLINE

Art Davison THE HISTORICAL BOOKS 0 Comment
THE BOOK OF II SAMUEL
Introduction:

“As First Samuel marks the failure of man in Eli, Saul, and even Samuel, so Second Samuel marks the restoration of order through the enthroning of God’s king, David. This book also records the establishment of Israel’s political centre in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6-12), and her religious centre in Zion (2 Samuel 5:7; 6:1-17). When all was thus ordered, Jehovah established the great Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:8-17) out of which all kingdom truth is henceforth developed. David, in his ‘last words’ (2 Samuel 23:1-7), describes the millennial kingdom yet to be.” — Scofield.

Author: Unknown; “This book, in many copies of the Hebrew Bible, is carried on without any new title put unto it; the reason of it is, because, by some, this, with the preceding, has been reckoned but one book: hence the Jews say, Samuel wrote his book, not his books;” —-John Gill’s Expositor

Main Subject: The reign of David.

First Period:

The Early Years of the Reign: During this period the king, although engaged in military campaigns common to the age, yet he manifested a spiritual mind.

1) Preliminary Events.

a. The execution of the Amalekite who slew King Saul, 2 Samuel 1:2-16.

b. David’s lamentation for Saul and Jonathan, 2 Samuel 1:17-27.

2) David Anointed King over Judah, 2 Samuel 2:4.

3) The Battle between the followers of David and the servants of Ishbosheth, 2 Samuel 2:8-32.

4) Facts which Indicate the Kings’ Godliness:

a. His seeking the divine direction, 2 Samuel 2:1.

b. His punishment of those who sought to curry favor by assassinating his rival, 2 Samuel 4:5-12.

c. His discernment, after having been exalted to be king over all Israel, in perceiving that his promotion had come from God, 2 Samuel 5:1-12.

d. His humility in attributing his military success to divine power, 2 Samuel 5:20.

e. His enthusiasm for the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 6:1-5.

f. His desire to build a temple for Jehovah and the dedication of great treasures for its erection, 2 Samuel 7:1-8:18.

g. His kindness to the son of Jonathan, 2 Samuel 9.

The Middle Period

1) The King’s great Military Successes, 2 Samuel 10.

2) His Fall and Punishment

a. Tempted while at ease, 2 Samuel11:1-2.

b. His pollution of a humble home and murder of Uriah, 2 Samuel 11.

c. Divine judgments overtake him:

1. In the denunciation by Nathan, the prophet, 2 Samuel 12:1-14.

2. In the death of the babe, 2 Samuel 12:15-19.

3. In the corruption of his son Ammon, 2 Samuel 13:1-20.

4. In his son Absalom’s rebellion, 2 Samuel 15:1–18:33.

Final Period: David’s Last Years, 2 Samuel 20:1–24:25.

Choice Selections:

1) David’s generosity to Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 9.

2) Nathan’s Parable, 2 Samuel 12:1-6.

3) David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving, 2 Samuel 22:1.