List of Old Testament Books with Authors, Dates, and Subjects
The Old Testament is the first part of the Christian Bible, and it is a foundational text for Judaism. It contains 39 books, which are divided into four categories: the Pentateuch, the historical books, the wisdom books, and the prophetic books.
Here is a list of the Old Testament books, along with their authors, dates of composition, and main subjects:
Pentateuch
- Book: Genesis
- Author: Moses
- Date of composition: 1450-1410 B.C.
- Subject: The creation of the world, the early history of humanity, and the establishment of the covenant between God and the Israelites.
- Book: Exodus
- Author: Moses
- Date of composition: 1450-1410 B.C.
- Subject: The Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land.
- Book: Leviticus
- Author: Moses
- Date of composition: 1445-1444 B.C.
- Subject: Laws and regulations governing the religious and social life of the Israelites.
- Book: Numbers
- Author: Moses
- Date of composition: 1450-1410 B.C.
- Subject: The Israelites' journey through the wilderness and their preparations to enter the Promised Land.
- Book: Deuteronomy
- Author: Moses
- Date of composition: 1407-1406 B.C.
- Subject: Moses' farewell speeches to the Israelites, in which he reviews God's laws and encourages them to remain faithful to God.
Historical Books
- Book: Joshua
- Author: Joshua and possibly Phinehas
- Date of composition: 1450-1410 B.C.
- Subject: The Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land.
- Book: Judges
- Author: Probably Samuel
- Date of composition: 1050-975 B.C.
- Subject: The story of the Israelites' struggle to maintain their independence in the Promised Land.
- Book: Ruth
- Author: Unknown
- Date of composition: 1050-975 B.C.
- Subject: A love story between a Moabite woman and an Israelite man.
- Book: 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel
- Author: Unknown
- Date of composition: 1000-950 B.C.
- Subject: The stories of the prophets Samuel, David, and Solomon.
- Book: 1 Kings and 2 Kings
- Author: Unknown
- Date of composition: 900-550 B.C.
- Subject: The history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah from the death of Solomon to the Babylonian exile.
- Book: 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles
- Author: Ezra
- Date of composition: 450 B.C.
- Subject: An alternative history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, with a focus on the religious and spiritual aspects of their history.
- Book: Ezra and Nehemiah
- Author: Ezra and Nehemiah
- Date of composition: 450-430 B.C.
- Subject: The story of the Israelites' return from exile in Babylon and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
- Book: Esther
- Author: Unknown
- Date of composition: 450-350 B.C.
- Subject: The story of a Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia and saves her people from genocide.
Wisdom Books
- Book: Job
- Author: Unknown
- Date of composition: 500-300 B.C.
- Subject: A poetic dialogue about the problem of evil and suffering.
- Book: Psalms
- Author: David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, and Ethan
- Date of composition: 1000-500 B.C.
- Subject: A collection of poems and songs expressing the full range of human emotions, from joy to sorrow to praise.
- Book: Proverbs
- Author: Solomon, Agur, and Lemuel
- Date of composition: 900-500 B.C.
- Subject: A collection of wise sayings and advice on how to live a good life
Old Testament Books
|
|||
| Book | Author* | Approx. Date | Subject |
| The Pentateuch | |||
| Genesis | Moses | 4004 BC | Beginning of the Chosen Family |
| Exodus | Moses | 1635 BC | The Covenant with the Chosen Nation |
| Leviticus | Moses | 1490 BC | Moral, Civil, and Ceremonial Laws |
| Numbers | Moses | 1490 BC | Journey to the Promised Land |
| Deuteronomy | Moses | 1451 BC | Laws of the Hebrew Nation |
| The Historical Books | |||
| Joshua | Joshua | 1451 BC | The Conquest of Canaan |
| Judges | Samuel | 1425 BC | The 15 Judges |
| Ruth | Samuel | 1322 BC | David's Messianic Family Begins |
| 1 Samuel | Nathan | 1171 BC | The Hebrew Monarchy |
| 2 Samuel | Nathan | 1171 BC | The Reign of King David |
| 1 Kings | Jeremiah | 1015 BC | The Divided Kingdom |
| 2 Kings | Jeremiah | 1015 BC | History of the Divided Kingdom |
| 1 Chronicles | Ezra | 1056 BC | The Reign of King David |
| 2 Chronicles | Ezra | 1056 BC | History of the Southern Kingdom |
| Ezra | Ezra | 536 BC | The Return from Captivity |
| Nehemiah | Nehemiah | 446 BC | The Rebuilding of Jerusalem |
| Esther | Mordecai | 521 BC | The Jews In Exile |
| The Poetical Books | |||
| Job | Unknown | 1520 BC | Providence and Suffering |
| Psalms | David | 1056 BC | Devotion to God |
| Proverbs | Solomon | 1000 BC | Wisdom in Life |
| Ecclesiastes | Solomon | 977 BC | Happiness in Life |
| Song of Songs | Solomon | 1014 BC | The Glories of Marriage and Love |
| The Greater Prophets | |||
| Isaiah | Isaiah | 760 BC | The Messianic Kingdom |
| Jeremiah | Jeremiah | 629 BC | The Doom of Judah |
| Lamentations | Jeremiah | 588 BC | A Dirge Over the Loss of Jerusalem |
| Ezekiel | Ezekiel | 595 BC | The Final Restoration of Israel |
| Daniel | Daniel | 607 BC | The Triumph of the Messiah |
| The Minor Prophets | |||
| Hosea | Hosea | 785 BC | The Apostasy of Israel |
| Joel | Joel | 800 BC | The Kingdom of Judah |
| Amos | Amos | 787 BC | The Kingdom of David |
| Obadiah | Obadiah | 587 BC | The Destruction of Edom |
| Jonah | Jonah | 862 BC | The Mercy on Nineveh |
| Micah | Micah | 750 BC | Bethlehem's King |
| Nahum | Nahum | 713 BC | The Destruction of Assyria |
| Habakkuk | Habakkuk | 626 BC | The Judgement of the Babylonians |
| Zephaniah | Zephaniah | 630 BC | The Day of the Lord |
| Haggai | Haggai | 520 BC | Rebuilding of the Temple |
| Zechariah | Zechariah | 520 BC | Christ's 1st and 2nd Coming |
| Malachi | Malachi | 397 BC | Final Message to Rebellious Israel |
* Mentioned by Name or Traditionally Accepted
Old Testament Books
Old Testament Books in English
Order
Old Testament Books in Hebrew
Order
Old Testament Books -
Hebrew Meanings
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Table of Contents
Main Menu
- Ancient Assyrian Social Structure
- Ancient Babylonia
- Ancient Canaan During the Time of Joshua
- Ancient History Timeline
- Ancient Oil Lamps
- Antonia Fortress
- Archaeology of Ancient Assyria
- Assyria and Bible Prophecy
- Augustus Caesar
- Background Bible Study
- Bible
- Biblical Geography
- Fallen Empires - Archaeological Discoveries and the Bible
- First Century Jerusalem
- Glossary of Latin Words
- Herod Agrippa I
- Herod Antipas
- Herod the Great
- Herod's Temple
- High Priest's in New Testament Times
- Jewish Literature in New Testament Times
- Library collection
- Map of David's Kingdom
- Map of the Divided Kingdom - Israel and Judah
- Map of the Ministry of Jesus
- Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
- Messianic Prophecy
- Nero Caesar Emperor
- Online Bible Maps
- Paul's First Missionary Journey
- Paul's Second Missionary Journey
- Paul's Third Missionary Journey
- Pontius Pilate
- Questions About the Ancient World
- Tabernacle of Ancient Israel
- Tax Collectors in New Testament Times
- The Babylonian Captivity
- The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser
- The Books of the New Testament
- The Court of the Gentiles
- The Court of the Women in the Temple
- The Destruction of Israel
- The Fall of Judah with Map
- The History Of Rome
- The Incredible Bible
- The Jewish Calendar in Ancient Hebrew History
- The Life of Jesus in Chronological Order
- The Life of Jesus in Harmony
- The Names of God
- The New Testament
- The Old Testament
- The Passion of the Christ
- The Pharisees
- The Sacred Year of Israel in New Testament Times
- The Samaritans
- The Scribes
Ancient Questions
- How did the ancient Greeks and Romans practice medicine and treat illnesses?
- What were the major contributions of ancient Babylon to mathematics and astronomy?
- How did the ancient Persians create and administer their vast empire?
- What were the cultural and artistic achievements of ancient India, particularly during the Gupta Empire?
- How did ancient civilizations like the Incas and Aztecs build their remarkable cities and structures?
- What were the major trade routes and trading practices of the ancient world?
- What was the role of slavery in ancient societies like Rome and Greece?
- How did the ancient Mayans develop their sophisticated calendar system?
- What were the key events and significance of the Battle of Thermopylae in ancient Greece?
- What was life like for women in ancient Rome?
Bible Study Questions
- What does biblical archaeologist said about hieroglyphics?
- Where is the Negev where Abram went to in Genesis?
- What is the name of Ramallah in the Bible?
- How do we approach and study the historical and cultural context of biblical passages?
- What is the significance of the Psalms in personal and corporate worship?
- How do we discern and apply biblical principles to contemporary ethical issues?
- What is the biblical perspective on the nature of God's love and mercy?
- How do we interpret and understand apocalyptic literature in the Bible?
- What are the different covenants in the Bible and their significance?
- How do we grow in spiritual maturity and develop a deeper understanding of the Word?
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Discover the captivating stories of forgotten empires, delve into the customs and cultures of our ancestors, and witness the remarkable findings unearthed by dedicated archaeologists.
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