The Torah's Five Books are divided into five sections.

01. Genesis is also known as Bereshit (be-ray-sheet, which means "at the beginning").

The world is seen as tohu vavohu (without shape and void) on the first day (yom) of creation, and the
Spirit of Elohim is seen hovering over the seas. Then comes Elohim's first direct quotation: yehi or (let
there be light! ), with the additional note that Elohim then recognized that the light was tov (good) and
divided it from the darkness (choshek). The Divine Narrator concludes the first day by saying that Elohim
named the light yom (day) and the darkness lialah (night). Jacob and his family descend to Egypt at the
end of the narrative. It contains the circumcision commandment.

02. Exodus or Shemot (sh-mote, meaning names).

The Shemot tells the account of Egyptian slavery, the Exodus from Egypt, and Moses' journey to Mount
Sinai. The Covenant that was created between God and Israel at Sinai is recounted in the second part of
the book, which also contains commandments for the orderly conduct of Israel's existence. Exodus
finishes with the creation of the Tabernacle (Mishkan), a movable Temple that held the Holy Ark with
the Tablets of the Law.

03. Leviticus, or Vayikra (va-yikra, meaning He called).

Moses is summoned to the Tent of Meeting, and the regulations of the korbanot, the animal and food
offerings brought into the Sanctuary, are conveyed to him. The rising offering (olah), the five types of
food offerings (minchah), the peace offering (shelamim), the several sorts of sin offerings, and the guilt
offering (asham) delivered by someone who has plundered Sanctuary property are all examples.

Leviticus lays out religious, legal, and moral norms, emphasizing God's desire to coexist with mankind.
The text argues that this is feasible if the sanctuary ceremonies are faithfully performed and the people
avoid sin and impurity. The rituals, particularly the sin and guilt offerings, give a way to obtain power.

04. Numbers of Bamidbar (ba-midbar, meaning in the desert).

God outlines the special tasks of the Kohath family of priests while Moses takes a census of the
Israelites. The Book of Numbers gets its name from the story of two censuses of the Hebrew people, one
near the start and the other near the finish of their desert trip (chaps. 1 and 26). It continues the
account of the Israelites' trip began in Exodus by describing their adventures over a thirty-eight-year
period, from the conclusion of their camping at Sinai to their arrival at the Promised Land’s boundary.
Several legal ordinances are scattered throughout the text, making it a mix of law and history.

05. Deuteronomy, or Devarim (d vareem, meaning words).

Moses begins his repetition of the Torah to the assembled children of Israel on the first of Shevat (thirty-
seven days before his death), reviewing the events and laws that occurred during their forty-year
journey from Egypt to Sinai to the Promised Land, rebuking the people for their failings and iniquities,
and enjoining them to keep the Torah and observe its commandments given to them as an eternal
heritage, into which they shall cross aft. Moses wrote thirteen complete copies of the Torah after his
departure, giving one to each of the twelve tribes and placing one in the Holy Ark.

Historical

Joshua's message is one of great confidence in God, which gave him the bravery and fortitude to lead
the Hebrew people into the Promised Land. The first half of his book details their conflicts and
challenges in reaching and settling the area. The second part of Joshua details the territory allotted to
the various Judah tribes by God.

The book of Judges covers 325 years and demonstrates that God's judgment against transgressions will
be carried out, but that He will forgive and reconcile those who repent. Several blasphemous and
terrible nations have occupied Canaan, worshipping various false gods and idols. The Israelites once
again fell prey to the influence of such traditions, allowing them to permeate and corrupt them.

Ruth's theme affirms that even in bad times, individuals will feel God's love and protection if they live to
serve God rather than themselves. Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi, as well as her marriage to Boaz,
highlights the value of connections and loyalty.

1 Samuel marks the beginning of the shift from priests and judges to kings. God authorized a new type
of leadership when Israel's leaders disobeyed God's Law. Saul was anointed as Israel's first God-
appointed king. David was crowned as King when Saul overstepped his duty, and 2 Samuel contains an
account of his rule.

The lives of those who live for God and those who live against Him are compared in the two books of
Kings. The stories of Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Ahab, and the villainous Jezebel are told in these volumes.

The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles cover Israel's history, Solomon's reign, the construction of the temple,
Israel's division, and Judah's exile to Babylonian servitude.

The Old Testament history part is completed by Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Ezra and Nehemiah were
originally thought to be one book. Things appear bleak after being taken into Babylon as slaves, but as
the book of Ezra begins, favor is granted.
Cyrus, the Persian monarch, said that the Lord had placed it on his heart to free some of the Hebrew
captives and allow them to return to Judah. Others immediately followed suit Ezra and Nehemiah
recount God's people's return, restoration, and rebirth, restoring their loyalty to God.

Despite the fact that the Bible places Esther after Nehemiah, the events in Esther are thought to have
taken place roughly 30 years before those in Nehemiah. Intrigue, romance, and a display of God's
almighty sovereignty are all part of the plot. As the Persian King Xerxes searched for a queen, Esther's
beauty drew his notice and he fell in love with her. The monarch picked her as his new queen without
knowing she was Jewish. Esther was told of an assassination plot by Mordecai (Esther's cousin), and she
rescued the king. As a result of Esther and Mordecai's bravery, the monarch granted favor to the Jewish
people, rescuing the country.

The historical writings depict the ups and downs of sin, restoration, miracles, rejection, and judgment on
a roller-coaster ride. Throughout the years, the Jewish people have taught us many principles that are
still relevant today. God chose the Jewish people to be a testimony and to spread the gospel to the
world. God chose the Jewish people to be a light and a source of redemption for all other nations on the
planet. These texts demonstrated Christian compassion for adversaries, forgiveness, and God's kindness
and mercy before the Messiah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, was revealed and Christianity was initiated.

Despite the Jewish people's spiritual deterioration, the option of repentance and restoration to God is
and has always been open. Many of them battled to stay loyal and faithful, and their perseverance and
commitment serve as a shining example.

WISDOM

Job

Job is a novel on human suffering and how we should respond to it.

Palms

Psalms is a collection of songs that were sung to God in worship. King David is credited with 73 of the
150 psalms.

"Songs of Ascents" is the title given to Psalms 120 through 134. As pilgrims ascended up the stairs of the
temple in Jerusalem, these words were sung or chanted.

Proverbs

Proverbs is a collection of brief, wise sayings followed with a study in wisdom.

Ecclesiastes

This book is an essay about the purpose of life and what Solomon thought were the genuinely significant
topics of life, written by Solomon.

Solomon's Song is a song written by Solomon.

Song of Solomon is akin to an early marital handbook, graphically depicting a husband and wife's
intimate love.

PROPHETIC BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENTS

Isaiah - Isaiah, sometimes known as Isaias, is a significant prophetic book in the Old Testament. Isaiah is
identified as Amoz's son in the superscription, and his book is referred to as "Isaiah's vision."

Jeremiah - The Book of Jeremiah, also known as The Prophecy of Jeremias, is one of the most important
prophetic books in the Old Testament. Jeremiah was a prophet of Judah who lived through four of his
country's most difficult decades.

In the aftermath of the Babylonians' destruction of Jerusalem in 587 BCE, the book of Lamentations
recounts Jerusalem's shame, anguish, and despair. The book of Lamentations, attributed to the prophet
Jeremiah, was most likely written for public celebrations commemorating the destruction of Jerusalem
and its Temple.

The Book of Baruch is an ancient book allegedly written by Baruch, the secretary and companion of the
Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. There are still copies of the Greek original, as well as translations from
Greek into Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, and other languages.

Ezekiel - The Book of Ezekiel, often known as The Prophecy of Ezekiel, is one of the most important
prophetic books in the Old Testament. According to the Torah, Ezekiel got his prophetic summons in the
fifth year of the first deportation to Babylonia (592 BC) and was active until roughly 570 BC. For the most
of this time, exile was the norm.

Daniel - Daniel's Book, commonly known as Daniel's Prophecy, is an Old Testament book found in the
Jewish canon's Ketuvim (Writings) section, but categorized among the Prophets in Christianity.
Hosea - Hosea, sometimes known as Osee, is the first of 12 Old Testament books that include the names
of the Minor Prophets, which the Jewish canon regards to be one book, The Twelve. According to the
superscription, Hosea began his prophetic career during the reign of Jeroboam II (c. 786–746 BC).

Joel - The book of Joel is the second of the Old Testament's twelve Minor Prophets' writings. In the
Jewish canon, Joel is split into four chapters, however in Christian readings; chapters 2 and 3 are united.

The Book of Amos is the third of twelve Old Testament texts that include the names of the Minor
Prophets, which the Jewish canon groups together in one book called The Twelve.

Obadiah - The Book of Obadiah, also known as Abdias, is the fourth of twelve Old Testament texts that
contain the names of the Minor Prophets and are regarded as a single book in the Jewish canon known
as The Twelve. Obadiah is the shortest of all the Old Testament books, with only one chapter and 21
lines, and claims to be a record of "Obadiah's vision." Little is known about the prophet other than his
name, which means "servant of Yahweh."

The Book of Jonah, sometimes known as Jonas, is the fifth of twelve Old Testament texts that include
the names of the Minor Prophets and are collectively known as The Twelve in the Jewish canon. Jonah,
unlike other Old Testament prophetic passages, is mostly a story. Unlike other Old Testament prophetic
writings, Jonah is primarily a story about a man rather than a collection of oracles from the prophet.

Micah - The Book of Micah is the sixth of the twelve Old Testament texts that include the names of the
Minor Prophets in the Jewish canon. According to the superscription, this Judaean prophet lived in the
late eighth century BC.

The book of Nahum is the seventh of the Old Testament's twelve Minor Prophets' works (grouped
together as The Twelve in the Jewish canon). The title of the book refers to it as a "oracle regarding
Nineveh" that was inspired by "Nahum of Elkosh's vision."

Habakkuk - The Book of Habakkuk, also known as The Prophecy of Habacuc, is the eighth of 12 Old
Testament works by the Minor Prophets. The text exhibits liturgical elements, implying either that
Habakkuk was a cult prophet or that those who shaped the book were cult authorities.

The Book of Zephaniah, also known as Sophonias, is the ninth of 12 Old Testament texts bearing the
names of the Minor Prophets, combined in one book, The Twelve, in the Jewish canon. Many of the
sayings in the book are rightly attributed to Zephaniah, who lived approximately 640–630 BC. The actual
compilation and development of the sayings is the responsibility of a future editor.

The Book of Haggai, commonly known as The Prophecy of Aggeus, is the tenth of the Old Testament's
twelve Minor Prophets' works. During the Babylonian Exile, Haggai (about 6th century BC) supported the
Jewish people in mobilizing for the restoration of the Temple of Jerusalem (516 BC) and foresaw the
glorious future of the messianic time.

The Book of Zechariah, sometimes spelled Zacharias, is the eleventh of twelve Old Testament texts
containing the names of the Minor Prophets, which are collected in one book, The Twelve, in the Jewish
canon. Only chapters 1–8 include Zechariah's prophecies; chapters 9–14 must be attributed to at least
two other unknown authors.

Malachi - The Book of Malachi, also known as The Prophecy of Malachias, is the last of twelve books in
the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) that include the names of the Minor Prophets and are collectively
known as the Twelve in the Jewish canon. The genesis of Malachi is uncertain because it is just a
translation of a Hebrew word that meaning "my messenger."