New Testament History

Legacy International
Bible College
Changing Lives Through the Word of God
OLD TESTAMENT
HISTORY
Legacy International Bible College

P.O. Box 895
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Liberty, SC 29657
Email: globalem2017@gmail.com
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OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Legacy International Bible College

Changing Lives Through the Word of God
All rights are reserved. These materials, in part or in the whole, are not to
be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the
Copyright holder.
Copyright © 1979 by
Grace and Truth Evangelistic Association
Copyright assigned (1996) to
Source of Light Ministries International,
Madison, GA.
AUTHOR Dr. Bill Shade

EDITOR Dr. Gerald L. Stover
PROGRAMMER Marcela Aranda
CONTENTS
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PART I
GLOSSARY 3
INTRODUCTION TO OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY 3
THE CREATION 7
FROM THE FALL OF MAN TO THE FLOOD 11
PART II
GLOSSARY 21
THE FLOOD 21
THE NATIONS ARE DIVIDED 27
ABRAHAM, THE FRIEND OF GOD 32
PART III
GLOSSARY 44
HEIRS OF THE SAME PROMISE 44
THE PATRIARCHS IN EGYPT 49
REDEMPTION FROM EGYPT 56
PART IV
GLOSSARY 68
FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN 68
THE LAND CONQUERED AND DIVIDED 73
ISRAEL'S PERIOD OF CONFUSION 79
PART V
GLOSSARY 89
FROM SAMUEL TO DAVID 89
THE GOLDEN AGE OF DAVID AND SOLOMON 96
THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL 105
THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH 114
PART VI
GLOSSARY 128
THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHETS 128
WORLD EMPIRES AND THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY 139
A REMNANT RETURNS 147
ISRAEL SCATTERED AND PEELED 154
PLAN YOUR WEEK: We highly recommend that the student schedule study time on a routine, daily basis, as
though he were actually attending classes. A systematic schedule is the only way to ensure completing all the
materials on time as required. The biggest problem with taking correspondence work is the possibility of
waiting until the “last minute” to complete the work.
PRAY over your study of the Word. Human ability is not enough; the energies of the human mind are not
sufficient in themselves. The Christian student requires the ministry of the Holy Spirit in order to understand the
sense of the Word, and whereby proper application can be made to one's personal life. Pray that God will
translate your studies into life and activity for Christ.
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BE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT: You will not learn it all at once. You will learn truth by truth, lesson by
lesson. Do not be discouraged if a portion of the study seems to be more difficult than another. Be patient and
stick to it. You will master the lesson in due time, and as you progress in the Word, you will be happy that you
persisted in your program of study. Study pays rich dividends in terms of knowledge, personal experience, and
usefulness to God.
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART I

FROM CREATION TO THE FLOOD
OBJECTIVES OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART I
The completion of Old Testament History: Part I you should enable you to:
* Outline the entire Bible into five divisions.

* Name the five divisions of the Old Testament.
* List the three steps of Creation.
* Express reasons why the account of Adam and Eve must be considered as being literally true.
* Explain the difference between the lines of Cain and Seth.
GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART I

1. Archaeology: A study of excavated materials belonging to a former era; a science which deduces a
knowledge of past times from the study of their existing remains (Agnes Allen, The Story of Archaeology,
New York, Philosophical Library, 1958). In this course we are primarily concerned with Biblical
archaeology.
2. Cataclysmic: A violent, sudden change.
3. Cherubim: A high order of angels associated with the throne of God, thought by many to be guardians of the
holiness of God.
4. Cosmogony: The creation or origination of the universe.
5. Pentateuch: "Five" - the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
6. Uniformitarianism: The theory that the processes of nature (this material universe) now at work in the earth
have consistently functioned throughout time, and are presently adequate to explain the origin and
development of all things.
REQUIRED SCRIPTURE READINGS

The following Scripture passages should be read by the student in preparation for the Old Testament History:
Part I.
Section II - Genesis 1-2; Job 38
Section III - Genesis 3-5
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART I

I. INTRODUCTION TO OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY
Some years ago, I was visiting in the home of a man and his wife, both of whom were artists. He was a furniture
designer, and she painted and worked in mosaics. The mosaics fascinated me. A scattered pile of chips, all
different in color, size, and shape. What interest did they hold? What message did they convey? What a
fascinating difference when seen in their proper place and in relation to the whole work of art. Unity and form
marked the finished product as a work of art, the achievement of a master craftsman.
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I could not help but see the similarity of this to a study of the Bible where every part is uniquely related to the
whole. To grasp the beauty of any part, the whole design must be in mind. Although the Bible is a composite of
sixty-six books, in reality it is one book, having one author who is God. All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16).
Perhaps the clearest and easiest outline of the entire Bible is one that views the Redeemer as the heart of the
Biblical message. With Jesus Christ given central place, Dr. C. I. Scofield suggests the following outline:
1. Preparation - The Old Testament
2. Manifestation - The Four Gospels
3. Propagation - The Book of Acts
4. Explanation - The Epistles
5. Consummation - The Book of Revelation
Read Dr. Scofield's "Panoramic View of the Bible" (Scofield Reference Bible 1917 Edition, pp. v,vi; The New
Scofield Reference Bible, 1967 Edition, pp. ix, x). A glance at the outline will show that the entire Old
Testament is written to prepare the reader for the manifestation of the gospel of Christ and its subsequent
propagation, explanation, and consummation. Any attempt to interpret the New Testament apart from a
knowledge of Old Testament history would be comparable to studying physics without knowing the
multiplication tables.
(1) The Bible can be outlined in five divisions. Each division is a logical progression in the message of
redemption in the Bible. The entire Old Testament is a preparation for the coming Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Fill in the rest of the outline in the chart below. Preparation The Old Testament
(a) M__________________________ __________________________
(b) P__________________________ __________________________
(c) E__________________________ __________________________
(d) C__________________________ __________________________
(2) Which section of the Bible records the manifestation of Christ the Redeemer?_________________________
(3) The Book of Acts propagates the redemption through Christ, and the _________ give the explanation.
(4) The _____________________ of redemption through Christ is revealed in the Book of the Revelation.
A. The Plan of the Old Testament Books
The Old Testament was divided by the Jews into three divisions: the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms
(Luke 24:44). Most modern students now make five divisions:
The Pentateuch: From the Greek penta (five) and teuchos (tool, implement); a later Greek term applied
to the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These give the
early history of the human race and the nation Israel.
The Historical Books: These are the books of history relating to Israel after they entered the land of
Canaan. The books are Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and
2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
The Poetical Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.
The Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
The Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
(5) The Jews divided the Old Testament into three divisions. Name them.
(a) __________________ (b) ______________________ (c)________________________.
(6) Name the books of the Pentateuch. (a)___________________ (b)______________________
(c)_____________________ (d)_____________________ (e)_______________________
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(7) The section from Joshua to Esther is called __________________________.
(8) The section from Job to Song of Solomon is called the __________________.
(9) The Major Prophets are the Books of (a) ______________________,(b) _______________________,
(c) ________________________,(d) _______________________, and (e) _____________________.
(10) The last twelve books are called the _________________________________.
(11) List the five divisions of the Old Testament below (do not include the books).
(a) ________________________, (b) ________________________,(c) _______________________,
(d) ___________________________, (e) ____________________________.
B. The Purpose of Old Testament History
The purpose of sacred history is different than that of secular history. Secular history records the exploits of
man and satisfies those who are interested in, or merely curious about, the past. Sacred history has a far higher
purpose. It is never given just to satisfy the curious nor to glorify man.
Sacred history alone tells the truth about man's faults and failures. The real purpose of all sacred writing is
stated for us in Romans 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that
we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Paul adds in 1 Corinthians 10:11, Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [object lessons]: and
they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [age] are come. Any study of Old
Testament history which does not lead to our growth in grace and knowledge of the Word of God has failed its
real purpose. History–especially inspired history–is His-Story.
(12) What is the real purpose of all sacred writing?_________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(13) A study of Old Testament history should lead to our growth in (a) __________ and
(b) __________________ of the Word of God.
(14) Bible history is sometimes called _________________________.
C. The Procedure for Our Study
Our procedure will be to study the events of Old Testament history as recorded in the Bible and to draw from
them their spiritual and moral lessons. Extra-Biblical information (Biblical events and customs not recorded in
the Bible itself) will be included to help clarify the period under consideration. Each section will generally
adhere to the following outline:
1. Statement of the period covered in the section and a list of Scriptures to be read.
2. Brief summary of the events of the period.
3. Supporting evidence from extra-Biblical sources, such as archaeology and secular history.
4. The spiritual and moral lessons taught in the section.
5. Questions on the section with reviews.
D. Approach to the Biblical Record
The inspiration and revelation, which the Bible claims, insures it against historical or scientific error in its
original manuscripts. Errors have been made in copying these manuscripts, but most of them are easily
recognized by comparisons and have been corrected.
See the Scofield Reference Bible (1917 Edition), page 1213. The writers of Scripture invariably affirm, where
the subject is mentioned by them at all, that the words of their writings are Divinely taught. This, of necessity,
refers to the original documents–not to translations and versions. The labors of competent scholars have brought
our English versions to a degree of perfection so remarkable that we may confidently rest upon them as
authoritative. See also The New Scofield Reference Bible (1967 Edition), page 1234.
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We make no attempt to apologize for the miraculous, and no effort to rationalize or give superficial explanation
for such events as the crossing of the Red Sea, Jonah and the great fish, or Joshua's long day. True reverence
respects the silence of God. It is enough to know that God did these things–it is irrelevant how He did them! We
will mention the critical theories of men only to show their absurdity and to refute them.
(15) Inspiration of the Bible by God insures it against error in _____.
a. our King James Version
b. all the copies of manuscripts available to us
c. the original manuscripts only
(16) Should we attempt to explain how God performed His miracles recorded in the Bible? (Yes or No) ______
E. Conclusion
It has been said that the best preparation for understanding the prophecies of the Book of The Revelation is a
thorough mastery of the Book of Genesis. Its importance to us is that it again demonstrates the necessity of
knowing the Old Testament in order to understand the New Testament. There is only one way to know it. We
must give ourselves to a prayerful, careful study of its pages and apply its teachings to our lives as the Holy
Spirit applies its truth to our hearts.
(17) In order to understand the Book of The Revelation one should master the Book of ______________.
Review Questions: The review questions should be answered with care. They are supplied for the purpose of
testing your understanding of the section just studied. Restudy the section if your score is under 90%. If your
score is 90% or above, restudy all that you did not understand.
Each answer is worth 5 points.
Match the two columns:
(1) _____ Old Testament a. manifestation
(2) _____ Gospels b. explanation
(3) _____ Acts c. preparation
(4) _____ Epistles d. consummation
(5) _____ Revelation e. propagation
True or False:
(6) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. ___________
(7) It is relevant to explain how God performed the miracles in the Old Testament.___________
(8) Inspiration insures the Bible against error in our English Versions. ___________
(9) To understand the Book of The Revelation it is important to understand the Book of Genesis. _______
(10) Bible history is His-Story. ___________
General Information:
(11) What is the purpose of sacred history according to Romans 15:4? _________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
(12) It is necessary to know the Old Testament in order to understand the ______________________________.
(13) Are you prepared to spend the time needed to read and study this section and to read the Scripture that
pertains to it? __________
Match the book with its section in the Old Testament:
(14) _____ Joel a. Pentateuch
(15) _____ Genesis b. historical books
(16) _____ Psalms c. poetical books
(17) _____ Daniel d. major prophets
(18) _____ Ruth e. minor prophets
(19) _____ Malachi
(20) _____ Proverbs (Check your answers on page 18)
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II. THE CREATION (GENESIS 1-2; JOB 38)
Earth, the beautiful, rose up,
Broad-bosomed, she that is that steadfast base
Of all things. And fair Earth first bore
The starry Heaven, equal to herself.
To cover her on all sides and to be
A home forever for the blessed gods.
These words, taken from the Greek poet, Hesiod, give us a glimpse of the fantasy that prevails whenever man
endeavors, apart from Divine revelation, to explain the beginning of things. The Greeks thought that impersonal
forces brought out of chaos the original earth, and that the earth somehow "bore" the heavens and the rest of
creation. How refreshing it is to turn from such wild dreams to the majestic and sober Word of God, which
reads, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1).
The Scripture for this section is found in Genesis 1-2, Job 38, and should be read before proceeding in your
study of the section.
(1) I have read Genesis 1-2. (date) ___________________
(2) I have read Job 38. (date) _______________________
It is not within the scope of these lessons to deal with the scientific problems which surround the Genesis
cosmogony. We believe that the whole creation account is (and was intended by God to be) a matter of faith in
what God has spoken: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that
things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:3).
If it be remembered that it is not the findings of science that trouble some, but the interpretation of these
findings, the whole matter will take on an entirely different light. The geologist of today is dedicated to the
doctrine of uniformitarianism. This places a straitjacket on his reasoning. It is a theory that finds no place for
the intervention of God nor the possibility of sudden cataclysmic changes. It insists that all geological
phenomena must have been produced by the same natural forces which are at work producing changes in our
world today. Furthermore, these forces must have produced the same rate of change that they do now. The
result is a faulty interpretation based on an unprovable theory which is accepted purely "by faith." When
properly understood, the "assured results" of scientific findings become somehow much less assuring. We
prefer, since we must take either uniformitarianism or the Bible by faith, to choose the latter. We will accept as
true, then, the inspired words of Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:13).
(3) We accept the Creation account of Genesis by _____________.

(4) The findings of science are not what trouble some; it is the ____________________ of these findings.
(5) The geologist today is dedicated to the doctrine of __________________________________.
(6) This doctrine or theory does not allow for sudden _______________________.
(7) Which theory must be accepted by faith by its adherents since it cannot be proved absolutely true? ________
a. uniformitarianism b. creation c. Both
A. The Account of Creation
In the first two chapters of Genesis, we have the inspired account of the creation of all material things. This
exempts that host of angelic spirit creatures which may have been brought into being at a much earlier time. The
fact that Satan's active opposition to the purpose of God is exposed so early in the record would lead us to the
conclusion that sin had long since invaded the dominion of the Most High. Satan and an innumerable host had
already rebelled and fallen (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:12-19).
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Note Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:3-4. Many believe that it was this event which led to the chaotic condition of
the earth described in Genesis 1:2. See also the note in the Scofield Reference Bible (1917 Edition), page 3.
Others believe that Genesis 1:2 describes merely a stage in the progress of creation. There is insufficient
evidence to be dogmatic about either view. The fact is that at this time, as Milton says,
First there was chaos, the vast immeasurable abyss,
Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild.
The only bright spot about the whole picture was that the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters
(Genesis 1:2). Where the Spirit of God moves, chaos must soon give place to order (1 Corinthians 14:33).
(8) Where do we find the Creation account? (Give reference by chapters.) _________________
(9) Since this speaks of the material creation, the _______________ probably were not included.
(10) Were angels created before or after man? __________________________
(11) Some believe that the sin of Satan and his consequential fall caused the ____________________________
_________________________________________________ in Genesis 1:2.
(12) Others believe that Genesis 1:2 merely describes a stage in the ___________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
(13) Where the Spirit of God moves, chaos must soon give place to ____________.
B. The Acts of Creation
Now notice that there are three steps to the bringing forth of God's design out of this state of confusion. There is
first light, then order, then life. Study the chart on the following page.
Note: There is a separation here (see chart). The waters are separated from the waters. Then light is divided
(separated) from darkness. This is a beautiful foreshadowing of the doctrine of separation found everywhere
throughout the Word. What communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1;
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5).
It is worthy of notice that God called each of the things listed under "descriptions" on the chart "good" (Genesis
1:4,10,12,18,21,25,31).
CREATION CHART
______________________________________________________________________________
Acts Description Scripture
______________________________________________________________________________
1. Light The light shone out of darkness. Genesis 1: 3-5
2. Order a. The firmament (or expanse) divides the Genesis 1:6-19

the water above and below.
b. The dry land separated from the waters.
c. The heavens oriented and day is
separated from night.
3. Life a. Fishes and fowls Genesis 1: 20-31

b. Land animals
c. Man
_____________________________________________________________________________
(14) What are the three steps of creation? (a) __________________ (b)____________________
(c) ________________________
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(15) The doctrine of separation taught throughout the Scriptures is foreshadowed in which act of creation?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
C. God's Rest, the Sabbath
At the end of God's creative work, which lasted over a period of six days, God rested. "The rest of God is not
physical repose after weariness or fatigue, nor is it absolute inactivity" (Commentary on Genesis, Candlish, Vol.
I). It is rest in a finished work, and the whole significance of the Sabbath is found in this key. God's creative
work was finished, and it was very good.
Nothing could be added to it. No mention is made of the Sabbath again until it is invested with the character of
a sign between God and Israel and included in the Mosaic Law (Exodus 16:23-30; 20:8-11).
The true significance of the Sabbath is given to us very clearly in Hebrews 4:1-10. It was commemorative of
God's finished work of creation, and typically spoke of God's finished work of redemption. All who rest in the
finished work of Christ for redemption observe the true significance of the Sabbath (cessation). Christ's work is
perfect (Ecclesiastes 3:14); nothing can be added to it. In the light of the Hebrews passage, “We therefore have
ceased from our own works as God did from his.”
Like all the rest of the Old Testament ritualistic system, the Sabbath found its fulfillment and was done away
with in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:7-12). The Holy Spirit expressly tells us that those who still observe it as a ritual
(keeping the seventh day), have returned to weak and beggarly elements (Galatians 4:9-10), and are in bondage
(Galatians 5:1; Colossians 2:14-17).
(16) The key to understanding the ________________ lies in the fact that God's rest was rest in a finished work.
(17) After the Creation, when does the Bible next mention the Sabbath? ________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(18) God's finished work of creation is a type or foreshadow of God's finished work of ______________.
(19) The Sabbath found its fulfillment and was done away with in ______________.
D. Man - God's Crowning Work

The crown of God's material creation is man. He is not only the highest of the animal creation but the "link"
between the material and the spiritual realms. Man is not simply animated matter. God tells us, and we accept it
by faith, that man is a trichotomy (consisting of three parts, elements, or classes), in that he is body, soul, and
spirit.
It would seem perhaps, at first glance, that the Jehovah's Witness teaching that man is only body and breath
which equal "soul" could be sustained from Genesis 2:7. But lest there be any doubt, God gives us a very clear
statement in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Genesis 1 "man comes forth in his high spiritual or heavenly nature, as allied to God and capable of
intercourse with God. In the second chapter he appears as of the earth, earthy” (Commentary on Genesis,
Candlish, Vol. I).
The second section of Genesis 1-2 actually begins with Genesis 2:4. Verses 1-3 of chapter 2 rightfully belong
with the preceding section. (The chapter and verse divisions have been supplied for the sake of convenience and
are not part of the inspired Word of God.) This further account (Genesis 2:4-25) is supplementary to the first
and not at all (as some have imagined) contradictory to it.
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The Garden of Eden cannot be located with any certainty, but it is believed to have been somewhere in the
vicinity of the present Tigris and Euphrates River basin. The section on a help-meet for man concludes the
Creation narrative (cf. Malachi 2:14-15; Matthew 19:3-9; Ephesians 5:25-33).
(20) What are the three parts of man? (a)_______________________ (b) _____________________
(c) ________________________
(21) What is the crowning touch of God's creation? ____________________________________
(22) Genesis chapter 2 is supplementary to the first account of the creation of man in Genesis 1.
(True or False) ___________
(23) It has been proven that the Garden of Eden was located near the Tigris and Euphrates river basin.
(True or False) __________
E. Spiritual Lessons from the Creation Narrative
It would be impossible to exhaust so marvelous a passage as Genesis 1-2, even as it is impossible to exhaust the
meaning of any part of God's Word. It is this fact that gives the Bible its continued interest and its perennial
freshness. We will point out a few of the truths to stimulate your thinking.
In few places of the Old Testament do we have as complete a picture of man's redemption as is given us in
shadow here. The chaotic condition described in Genesis 1:2 is certainly a vivid picture of the mind and heart of
man apart from God. Man, in his empty, dark, and wasted condition, is alienated from the life of God and
hopelessly lost (read Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:18). But even in this dark and dismal picture, there is one bright
spot: The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2). There may yet come light into the
darkened intellect of man to enlighten his understanding. Order may yet replace the confusion of his wasted life.
What a marvelous change then takes place. God says, Let there be light: and there was light (Genesis 1:3).
Where did this light come from? Not from the stars, nor moon, nor sun–these did not function until later. No–
rather from the One who is the light of the world, even Jesus Christ (John 8:12). As He will be the light of the
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:23), so was He, in the beginning, the light shining out of darkness over the
chaotic world. Millenniums later John wrote of Him, In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the
light shineth in darkness (John 1:4-5).
It is to be seen that when Christ gives light (Ephesians 5:14), darkened man begins to see, For God, who
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6; see vss. 3-6). In this light, man sees himself a lost
sinner, and for the first time is given to know that the substitute, Christ Jesus, has taken his place and has born
his punishment. He understands the significance of the gospel: Christ died for our sins, and believing, he is
saved (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9-10, 13).
Then there follows order out of chaos (Psalms 40:2; Luke 8:35), a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 5:11-
12), and fruitfulness (John 15:5; Galatians 5:22-23), ending in blessed and inseparable communion with Christ
(Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:38-39). All this is pictured in shadow in the majestic story of Creation. Have you
experienced these blessings?
(1) Modern geology is based on the doctrine of ______________________________.

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(2) Not the findings of science, but the ______________________ of these findings trouble some people.
(3) We must take the Genesis account of Creation by _________________________.
(4) List the three steps of Creation. (a) ________________ (b) ________________ (c) _______________
(5) God's rest showed that _______.
a. He was physically exhausted b. He had finished His work c. He was keeping the Law of Moses
(6) The true significance of the Sabbath is _______.
a. resting in a completed and perfect work of redemption accomplished by Christ
b. given primarily to rest us physically
c. to show our obedience to the Law of God when we keep the seventh day
(7) Man is ______.
a. spirit, soul, and body b. body and spirit which together equal the soul
(8) Where did light come from before God created the sun, moon, and stars? ____________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(Check your answer on page 19)
III. FROM THE FALL OF MAN TO THE FLOOD (GENESIS 3-5)

HELPS FOR STUDY
I have read Genesis 3-5. (date) ___________________
Those who wish to study further should follow the concordance references for the following words: Adam,
Cain, Enoch, Abel, seed, and fall. A number of additional passages will also be referred to in this section. Using
a concordance, we learn the following facts about Adam:
He was created (Genesis 1:26; "man" = Hebrew Adam) He was blessed (Genesis 1:28)
He was placed in Eden (Genesis 2:15) He named his wife Eve (Genesis 3:20)
He fell (Genesis 3:6) He hid from God (Genesis 3:8)
He was punished (Genesis 3:17-19) He died (Genesis 5:5)
He is called the first Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) He is called the son of God (Luke 3:38)
In Adam all die (1 Corinthians 15:22)
Look up the references for Enoch in a concordance and jot down as reminders several things about him:
(a) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(b) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(c) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(d) _______________________________________________________________________________________
A. The Deception . . .The Fall
The closing verse of Genesis 2 presents a picture of perfect harmony and absolute innocency; the opening verse
of chapter 3 introduces us immediately to the agent of Satan's first attack on man–the serpent. Satan approached
our first parents as an angel (or messenger) of light (or knowledge). This ancient stratagem works just as well
after all the ages which have intervened (see 2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Satan, with pretended concern for Eve (because of the unjust treatment which he implied she was receiving in
not being permitted to enjoy the knowledge of good and evil), asks piously, "Is it true that God has forbidden
you the enjoyment of certain trees in this garden?"
This affected solicitude turned into a direct denial and contradiction of the Word of God in verse 4, Ye shall not
surely (or of a certainty) die. In other words, Satan implied that here was something that was worth having, and
furthermore, there was a chance that they could get away with the contemplated crime of taking it without
suffering the punishment.
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This same lie is effective today. It is the thought that he might get away with it that makes man risk many a
misdeed, only to learn that what he sows, he must also reap (Galatians 6:7-8).
(1) Who was the angel of light, or serpent, in Genesis 3? _________
(2) The story of the Fall teaches us, among other things, that what we sow, we must __________.
B. The Deliverance . . . Redemption Provided
Redemption is set forth beautifully in this passage (Genesis 3:21). No sooner did man sin–no sooner did the
sheep go its own way (Isaiah 53:5-6)–than the Good Shepherd sought to bring him back to Himself. The lesson
of sacrifice was taught, as we noted in the previous instruction, by the coats of skin. Then God gave the promise
of ultimate victory over the serpent through the woman's seed (Genesis 3:15).
(3) Who provided redemption in Genesis 3? __________________
(4) What indicates that a sacrifice or shedding of blood was necessary? ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(5) What verse gives the first promise of a Redeemer? ____________________
C. The Fall . . . A Historical Fact
It is of the utmost importance that we do not allow ourselves to be tricked by the velvet-tongued “messengers of
light” of our own day–those who insist that this whole account is simply a mythical way of expressing the idea
that man, in some way or other, became a sinner. To them Adam is something of a symbol, or a mythological
character, instead of a real historical person. We must reject this concept in preference of the plain sense of
Scripture. First, because we have no reason for doing otherwise, and secondly, we have many reasons for
accepting the Word. Listed below are several of these reasons:
1. Because the Holy Spirit declares man's condition to be a result of his relation to Adam. (See John 3:6-7;
Romans 5:12-19. Read Dr. Scofield's note in the Scofield Reference Bible, 191 Edition, p. 1197, note 3.)
2. Because Adam is called repeatedly the head of the old creation, just as Christ is the Head of the new
creation (1 Corinthians. 15:21-22; 45-50).
3. Because the genealogy of Christ Himself is reckoned from Adam (Luke 3:38).
4. Because the New Testament testifies not only to the fact of the Fall, but to the exact manner of the Fall
as recorded in Genesis 3 (1 Timothy 2:13-14).
5. Because as early a writer as Job (who may have written before Moses) testifies to the historicity of
Adam and the Fall (Job 31:33).
The New England Primer summarized it well in the words, "In Adam's fall, we sinned all."
(6) The genealogy of Christ Himself is reckoned from Adam, and therefore considered to be evidence that
the story of _________ is historical fact.
D. Cain and Abel
As Genesis 4 opens, we find man outside the garden because, as a fallen race, he was no longer acceptable
(Genesis 3:22-24). The cherubim, a high order of angelic creatures which functioned as guardians of the
holiness of God, were placed at the gate of the garden to make sure nothing of an unclean nature approached
Him. We recommend reading William Jennings' work on Satan for a full study of the subject.
With the birth of Cain, Eve rejoiced, saying, I have gotten a man from the Lord, or, as the margin reads, “a man,
even the Lord.” Apparently Eve thought that Cain would fulfill the promise of Genesis 3:15. But sin is not
purged so quickly. Many a weary century has passed before it could be said by the angelic messengers,
Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).
12
In due time, each son of Adam (now grown men) brought a sacrifice to God for his sins. It is usually intimated
that Cain brought his sacrifice only because Abel had already made an offering. It is also said that Cain was not
sincere in his offering and, therefore, it was not accepted. The facts completely contradict this. It is Abel who
also brought his sacrifice, implying that he did so after Cain's example. But the difference was that Abel offered
in faith (Hebrews 11:4), and therefore offered blood (Hebrews 9:22). Although God could not accept the willful
offering of Cain's own works, God showed grace in extending Cain the opportunity to bring the proper offering.
Verse 7 may be paraphrased, "If you can do perfectly what is right, I will accept you, but if not, then sin is
present and must be purged. The sin offering is available, even at the door.” See The New Scofield Reference
Bible (Revised Edition, 1967), p. 11, note 1.
Cain, because of pride, refused to accept God's gracious offer, and being unable to vent his fury on God
Himself, whom he now hated (Romans 8:7), he turned on Abel and murdered him. The first man on earth to die
was murdered! In this act, Cain set the pattern for the godless crowd that has ever since persecuted the true
children of God (1 John 3:11-13). Notice Cain's sense of impunity. He asks, Am I my brother's keeper? as if to
say, "You love him so much, why don't you take care of him?" Notice the similarity here to the words of those
sons of Cain in Matthew 27:43.
(7) How did Eve think that God fulfilled the promise of Genesis 3:15? _________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(8) What was the difference in the offerings of Cain and Abel? _______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(9) Why did God accept Abel's offering? ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(10) What did Cain do after refusing God's gracious provision? ______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
(11) What was Cain's answer to the question, Where is Abel thy brother? _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
1. The line of Cain
God continued to show forbearance. In considering Cain's plea, God spared his life and even set a mark on him
to protect him (Genesis 4:15). However, Cain was separated from the rest of the human family and was
condemned to become a vagabond and a wanderer. Cain's wife was obviously a sister, which suggests that there
were other children which the inspired writer chose to pass over in silence.
Cain (a type of every man living without God) entered the land of Nod (exile) and began to do what his
descendants have been trying to do ever since. He tried to forget all about God and eternal things, and attempted
to find happiness in the world. He (1) built a city, (2) established a civilization, (3) laid the foundation of arts
(Genesis 4:21) and crafts (Genesis 4:22), and (4) generally lived in a grandiose manner. His civilization can
boast of progress in the things of earth. However, its "heart" attitude can be seen in the first recorded piece of
poetry (Genesis 4:23-24). Lamech's speech is translated by Pfeiffer thus:
I kill a man for wounding me
A young man for bruising me.
Thus, the first polygamist (Genesis 4:19) also boasts of the crime of murder, and then says in effect, “If God
protected Cain, who killed a wholly innocent man, I deserve double protection.” Thus, God's gracious
forbearance is made an excuse for gross iniquity. It is plain that Cain's line continued in unbridled lust and
bloody violence until the days of Noah (read Psalm 73; note vss. 6-12).
(12) In spite of Cain's sins, how did God show His grace to him? _____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
13
(13) After entering into exile, what did Cain try to forget? ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(14) Name the first polygamist who also boasted about murder. ______________
2. The godly line of Seth
In Genesis 4:25 we have a new beginning. Abel, the man of faith, had perished, and now God raises up another
to take his place. Seth's name means "appointed," and he is chosen by God to be the father of the godly remnant
of his day. The name Enos (Genesis 4:26) signifies "mortal" and inadequacy, and as a result they began to call
upon the name of the Lord. The margin suggests that they "called themselves by the name of Yahweh."
In contrast to the grandiose line of Cain, we read of a very humble and plain people who were rich in faith.
Enoch walked so closely with God that he was translated without seeing death (Hebrews 11:5). A comparison
of the two lines will show that about the same time that Lamech (of Cain's line) was uttering his brazen defiance
of judgment for so serious a crime as murder, Enoch was prophesying:
Behold, the Lord cometh
With ten thousands of His saints,
To execute judgment upon all,
And to convince all that are ungodly among them
Of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed,
And of all their hard speeches which ungodly
Sinners have spoken against Him. (Jude 1:14-15)
The names of these old-world saints were often prophetic in themselves. Methuselah is thought to mean "man
of the dart," or, in other words, "man of judgment." It is significant that not only was Methuselah the oldest of
the antediluvians, but he outlived his son and died the very year of the Flood. His name and his age mark him as
a sign from God of coming judgment–for though it tarry, . . . it will surely come!
(15) The name "Seth" means _______________________________.

(16) The prophecy of Enoch is found in ___________________ (give the reference).
(17) The name _________________________ means "man of judgment."
E. Archaeological Facts
In his book, An Outline of Old Testament History, Charles F. Pfeiffer tells us, in reference to the long lives of
these early men, that "Early Sumerian rulers are reputed to have reigned from 21,600 to 72,000 years each.
Egypt, Persia, and India have comparable traditions. There appears to be an almost universal tradition of
exceptional longevity for individuals living in the earliest ages of history." But it takes the Bible to deliver this
"tradition" from the fantastic and unreal and give to us the facts of history. There is no problem here–the
testimony of Divine revelation is sufficient for the believer.
F. Spiritual Truths
Many lessons can be learned from a careful and prayerful study of this section. What a picture of the two groups
of men today–the saved and the lost. Cain–the man who lived without God–went into the land of Nod. The
word means "exile" and pictures the true condition of every unsaved person exiled from God because of sin.
What a wonderful thing to hear God say, But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh
by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13).
Have you been made nigh through faith in Christ? Why not trust Him to save you and bring you into His arms
right now?
14
(18) The line of ____________________ pictures the condition of the unsaved person.
(19) How can an unsaved person be brought nigh to God? ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Satan, in his temptation of Eve, implied that _______.

a. she was beautiful b. they might get away with eating forbidden fruit c. Adam had been unfair
(2) After Adam sinned, he immediately ________.
a. hid from God b. repented and offered a sacrifice c. began looking for God
(3) Give one good reason why the account of Adam and Eve must be considered literally true.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(4) When Cain was born, who did Eve think he might be? ___________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(5) Give two reasons why Abel's sacrifice pleased God.
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(6) Cain was really angry with (a) ________________, though he murdered (b)_____________.
(7) Cain was driven out and journeyed to the land of Nod where he built a city and a flourishing
civilization. Name some of the things for which this civilization was noted. __________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(8) Seth took Abel's place and established a godly line. How would you describe his civilization?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(9) Although the antediluvians enjoyed exceptional longevity, how old was the oldest man in the Bible? ______
(Check your answers on page 19)
Pre-Test
PREPARE YOURSELF! Turn to page 3, and carefully review the objectives. Then review each section of the
course, and give special attention to those areas of study that you do not completely understand. It is a good
practice to rewrite every incorrect question in this course. With this done, study the reviews again. Try to take
the Pre-test without looking in the notes. For the Pre-test, you may look in the notes if you cannot remember an
answer. When you are finished with the Pre-test, check your answers with the answer key in the back of the
syllabus.
Each answer is worth 1.9 points.
Vocabulary identification: Match the words in the right column with portions of definitions in the left column.
(1) _____ guardians of the holiness of God a. cosmogony
(2) _____ processes of nature b. cherubim
(3) _____ origin of universe c. archaeology
(4) _____ material remains d. uniformitarianism
(5) _____ violent change e. cataclysm
15
Associate the words in left column with outline points in right column.
(6) _____ propagation a. the Book of the Revelation
(7) _____ explanation b. the Epistles
(8) _____ consummation c. the Old Testament
(9) _____ manifestation d. the Book of the Acts
(10) _____ preparation e. the Four Gospels
(11) Explain why:

(a) The Epistles are associated with the word Explanation. __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(b) The Book of the Acts is associated with the word Propagation. ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(c) The Gospels are associated with the word Manifestation. _________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(12) Name the books of the Pentateuch. (a) _____________________ (b) ______________________
(c) ________________________ (d) _____________________ (e) ______________________
(13) The Jews divided the Old Testament into three parts. Name them.
(a) _____________________ (b) ______________________ (c) _____________________
Matching:
(14) _____ minor prophets a. Joshua-Esther
(15) _____ historical books b. Hosea-Malach
(16) _____ poetical books c. Isaiah-Daniel
(17) _____ major prophets d. Genesis-Deuteronomy
(18) _____ Pentateuch e. Job-Song of Solomon
True or False:
(19) The Scripture is a composition of sixty-seven books with one author. ___________
(20) The study of Old Testament history should cause the believer to grow in the grace and knowledge of
God. ___________
(21) Sacred history tells the truth about man's faults and failures. ___________
(22) The inspiration of the Scriptures insures them against historical and scientific errors. ______
(23) In order to understand the Book of the Revelation we should understand the Book of Genesis. _____
(24) Give one reason for accepting the account of Adam as historical fact. ______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(25) Name the three steps involved in the outworking of God's design in Creation.
(a) _____________________ (b) ______________________ (c) _____________________
16
(26) The Spirit of God performed certain ministries relative to Creation in Genesis 1:2. Explain the ministry of
the Holy Spirit to the trusting sinner which is foreshadowed by His work in Genesis 1:2.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(27) What was foreshadowed by the institution of the Sabbath? _______________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
(28) What are the three elements of man? (a) ______________ (b) ______________ (c) ______________
Cite one major verse of Scripture that proves man's threefold nature. (d) __________________
(29) List one characteristic of the line of Seth that was not true of the line of Cain.
______________________________________________________________________________________
(30) What were the reactions of our first parents when they sinned against God?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
(31) What was the reaction of God toward our first parents when they sinned?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
(32) What method of Satan employed in the Garden of Eden is also used in our world today?
______________________________________________________________________________________
(33) Cite the basic difference in the sacrifices offered to God by Cain and his brother Abel.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(34) List one specific characteristic for each of the following persons.
(a) Satan ______________________________________________________________________________
(b) Cain _______________________________________________________________________________
(c) Abel _______________________________________________________________________________
(d) Lamech ____________________________________________________________________________
(e) Enoch ______________________________________________________________________________
(35) What do we learn from Genesis 3-4 as to the basis of God's redemption for man kind?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
PREPARE FOR THE TEST

Turn to page 3 again, and carefully review the objectives. Then review the sections over “Old Testament
History: Part I.” and give special attention to those areas of study that you do not completely understand.
Review the answers to the pre-test. When you believe you know the material well, you are ready to take the test.
Find the test in the Test Booklet titled, “Old Testament History: Part I.” You may NOT use your notes or
the Bible when taking the test. Do not mail the test, yet. Save the test until you finish the test over Old
Testament History: Parts II & III.” The tests may be mailed individually, in groups, or altogether when you
finish the Unit. Please mail the tests in the way that is cheapest and most convenient for you.
17
ANSWER KEY: OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY – PART I
I. INTRODUCTION TO OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY

(1) (a) Manifestation - The Four Gospels (b) Propagation - The Book of Acts
(c) Explanation - The Epistles (d) Consummation - The Book of Revelation
(2) the Four Gospels
(3) Epistles
(4) Consummation
(5) (a) Law (b) Prophets (c) Psalms
(6) (a) Genesis (b) Exodus (c) Leviticus (d) Numbers (e) Deuteronomy
(7) Historical Books
(8) Poetical Books
(9) (a) Isaiah (b) Jeremiah (c) Lamentations (d) Ezekiel (e) Daniel
(10) Minor Prophets
(11) (a) The Pentateuch (or Law) (b) The Historical Books (c) The Poetical Books
(d) The Major Prophets (e) The Minor Prophets
(12) for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope
(13) (a) grace (b) knowledge
(14) His-Story
(15) c
(16) no
(17) Genesis
REVIEW
(1) c
(2) a
(3) e
(4) b
(5) d
(6) true
(7) false
(8) false
(9) true
(10) true
(11) for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope
(12) New Testament
(13) student’s own answer
(14) e
(15) a
(16) c
(17) d
(18) b
(19) e
(20) c
II. THE CREATION (Genesis 1-2; Job 38)
(1) date indicated by student
(3) faith
(4) interpretation
18
(5) uniformitarianism
(6) cataclysmic change
(7) c
(8) Genesis 1-2
(9) angels
(10) before
(11) chaotic condition of the earth
(12) progress of creation
(13) order
(14) (a) light (b) order (c) life
(15) separating light from darkness (or) separating the waters from the waters
(16) Sabbath
(17) in the Mosaic Law
(18) redemption
(19) Christ
(20) (a) body (b) soul (c) spirit
(21) man
(22) true
(23) false
REVIEW
(1) uniformitarianism
(2) interpretation
(3) faith
(5) b
(6) a
(7) a
(8) from Christ
III. FROM THE FALL OF MAN TO THE FLOOD (Genesis 3-5)
(1) Satan
(2) reap
(3) God
(4) the coats made of animals' skins
(5) Genesis 3:15
(6) Adam
(7) by the birth of Cain
(8) Cain offered fruit of his own works; Abel offered blood sacrifice by faith
(9) it was offered in faith
(10) murdered his brother Abel
(11) Am I my brother's keeper?
(12) He spared his life and set a mark on him to protect him
(13) he tried to forget all about God and eternal things
(14) Lamech
(15) appointed
(16) Jude 1: 14-15
(17) Methuselah
(18) Cain
(19) by the blood of Christ; through faith in Christ
REVIEW
(1) b
19
(2) a
(3) any one of the five reasons listed on page 14 of the text
(4) the redeemer; the seed promised in Genesis 3:15
(5) (a) it was a blood sacrifice (b) it was offered in faith
(6) (a) God (b) Abel
(7) arts, crafts, grandiose way of life
(8) humble, plain, and people of faith
(9) 969 years old
PRE-TEST
(1) b
(2) d
(3) a
(4) c
(5) e
(6) d
(7) b
(8) a
(9) e
(10) c
(11) (a) they explain the gospel of Christ (b) in this book Christ is preached and His gospel is propagated
(c) they record the manifestation of Christ the Redeemer
(12) (a) Genesis (b) Exodus (c) Leviticus (d) Numbers (e) Deuteronomy
(13) (a) Law (b) Prophets (c) Psalms
(14) b
(15) a
(16) e
(17) c
(18) d
(19) false
(20) true
(21) true
(22) true
(23) true
(24) any one of the five reasons listed on page 20 of the text
(26) in Genesis 1:2, the Holy Spirit moved, turning chaos into order even as He turns the chaos of the sinner's
life into order when that sinner trusts Christ as Savior
(27) as God rested from His creative work, so all those who trust in the finished work of Christ can know rest
(28) (a) body (b) soul (c) spirit (d) 1 Thessalonians 5:23
(29) humble, plain, rich in faith, or godly
(30) they hid from God
(31) He sought to bring them back to Himself
(32) deception, lying, disguising himself as an angel of light
(33) Abel's sacrifice was offered in faith, while Cain's offering was of good works
(34) (a) liar, deceiver, approaches as an angel of light
(b) offered good works, proud, sought happiness in the things of the world, murderer
(c) offering of faith, righteous (d) polygamist, murderer
(e) walked closely with God, was translated (or) did not see death
(35) it would be on the basis of faith in the blood sacrifice of a coming Redeemer (Genesis 3:15)
20
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART II
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM
OBJECTIVES OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART II
* Give the most acceptable view of Genesis 6:2.
* State the cause of the Flood.
* Indicate the divisions of the nations on a map.
* Explain when and how idolatry began.
* Define covenant and describe the nature of the Abrahamic Covenant.
* Point out the three aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant.
* List the five crises in the life of Abraham.
GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART II

1. Covenant: A treaty, an agreement between two parties.
2. Cubit: A measurement of length used in Biblical times; from the finger tip to the elbow, about 18 inches.
3. Idolatry: Worship of images or idols.
4. Longevity: A long life; more than 100 years. Men in early Biblical times often lived 400 to 600 years.
5. Mythology: Fables and stories of gods and heroes of antiquity.
6. Promiscuity: Mixed, confused. Persons of different sexes, different conditions, or diverse nationalities
living together. Not restricted to one sexual partner.
7. Ratify: Confirm what is said or done.
8. Sluice: A channel for water, with a gate to regulate the flow.
9. Unconditional: Absolute, without restriction. An unconditional covenant would be absolute and could be
made by one person in favor of another.
10. Ziggurat: An ancient Babylonian temple tower consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure built in successive
stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top.
Part II.
Section I - Genesis 6-9
Section II - Genesis 10-11; the Book of Job
Section III - Genesis 11:1-23:20
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART II

I. THE FLOOD
The Scripture for this section is found in Genesis 6 through 9. Companion Scripture may be read in Matthew
24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:4-6; Jude 1:6-7; Psalm 104:1-9. Notice that we seem to be
covering only a few chapters in each part. This is because the history of the ancient period is greatly condensed
in the sacred record. Later we will cover whole books in a single part.
(1) I have read Genesis 6 to 9. (date) _________________________

21
A. The Days of Noah
As chapter 6 opens, we are plunged immediately into a passage which has produced much controversy. A
careful study of the language of these verses should lead us almost inevitably to the conclusion that there was
something strange and inhuman taking place here. The greatest reason for difficulty is that what the passage
suggests seems too incomprehensible to our minds. Some commentators seem to fear to express themselves at
all for fear they will be thought extremists.
(2) In Genesis 6-9 we have narrated to us the story of __________________________________
(3) The major difficulty of the passage is that it appears to be ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
1. The controversy about the sons of God
Notice the language, the sons of God saw the daughters of men . . . and they took them wives (Genesis 6:2). The
title, the sons of God (literally B'ney ha Elohim) is never used in the Old Testament except in reference to
angels. Dr. Scofield is the one who errs here. See his note on page 13 of the Scofield Reference Bible (1917
Edition). The verse he cites does not employ the title in question at all. As for the angels being sexless, this is an
assumption. The fact that the angels of God (who are always masculine when referred to) do not marry is no
argument against the possibility of such promiscuous relations among the fallen spirits.
I don't understand how angels ate food in Genesis 18:8, or why they were attacked by the wicked men of Sodom
in Genesis 19:4-5, but the record stands and we must accept it as it is. Passages where the title B'ney ha Elohim
is found are Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; and Daniel 3:25. In the last passage it refers to Jesus Christ.
(4) The title B'ney ha Elohim is used in the Old Testament to refer only to _________________.
(5) The fact that the angels of God do not marry does not necessarily mean they are sexless, and therefore
incapable of promiscuous relations. (True or False)____________
(6) Note the passages (after you read them) where the title B'ney ha Elohim is found.
(a) _______________________ (c) ________________________
(b) _______________________ (d) ________________________
There are other reasons for accepting this view. First, it explains why the offspring of these unions were
giants . . . mighty men . . . men of renown (Genesis 6:4). Actually, the word translated giants is not the usual
word for giant in the Old Testament, which is rapha. The word here is nephilim, which actually means "fallen
ones." This would lead us to Jude 1:6, which says, And the angels which kept not their first estate (i.e., fell from
their original state), but left their own habitation. They cohabited with the daughters of men. A number of
commentators take this view. H. A. Ironside leans to this view, while William Kelly, C. E. Stuart, William
Scott, and C. Theodore Schwarze definitely hold to it. J. N. Darby says, "I have little doubt that this is purposely
obscure, but the language here, in itself, tends to the thought that B'ney Elohim were not of the race of Ha-
Adam."
This view also helps us to understand where many of the stories of mythology originated. C. Theodore
Schwarze, Professor Emeritus, New York University and Fellow, American Association for the Advancement
of Science, has written, "Mythology is not pure fabrication. As has been said, 'mythology is history badly
garbled.’ In every form of ancient mythology, there is some truth. . .. Mythology affords an interesting
verification of the fact of unholy alliances between fallen angels and women" (The Program of Satan, Good
News Publishers). So often is this repeated in the ancient mythologies that Edith Hamilton in her book on the
mythologies says, "Zeus (was) a dangerous lover for mortal maidens."
If it be admitted that these fantastic and obviously over-done stories nevertheless had their inception in fact, we
need look no further than Genesis 6 to find God's narration of the matter. Maclear says, "From these mixed
marriages sprang men remarkable for strength and power, for violence and arrogant wickedness, through whom
22
both races speedily became hopelessly corrupt" (G. F. Maclear, Old Testament History, Eerdman Publishers).
We need be careful, however, not to go beyond the sacred narrative. The condition was wicked and unnatural in
the extreme, and Jude indicated an extreme penalty was executed upon the offenders (Jude 1:6).
(7) Name two reasons why we can accept the position of such promiscuous relations among the fallen spirits.
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(8) The word nephilim means (a) _________________________; this would lead us to the passage in
(b) __________________________, where we conclude that they (c) __________________________
with the daughters of men.
2. The line of Seth
In the meantime, there can be no doubt that there was a breakdown in the godly line of Seth. It would appear
that in each generation the Lord preserved one or two from Seth's family who were true to Him. Among these
were Enos, Enoch, Methuselah, and now Noah. As far as the rest of Seth's posterity, they went the way of all
flesh, making ungodly alliances with the descendants of Cain and intermarrying with them. The lesson of
Scripture is always that the result of such folly will be the corrupting of the good rather than the improvement of
the bad (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; see Genesis 6:12, all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth).
(9) We know that God kept some of Seth's family faithful to Him, such as (a) _________________,
(b) _________________, and (c) __________________________.
(10) The Scripture teaches us that the result of following ways of the flesh is
(a) __________________________________________________ rather than
(b) __________________________________________________________.
B. The Ark
1. God's provision
Genesis 6:3 is a very revealing verse. The God who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance withdrew His Spirit who alone can enlighten man and bring him to salvation. The action
was taken because man had hardened himself past the possibility of repentance, and any further attempt would
only have served to heighten his guilt and increase his punishment. We may be sure that, even in judgment, God
always acts in mercy. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). As always, there was God's
remnant, according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5-6). They were few in number, yet God was mindful
of them and watched over them for good. What encouragement there is for us in the simple statement, and God
remembered Noah (Genesis 8:1). Noah began preparing for judgment by building the prescribed ark. Every
hammer-blow was a warning to those around that judgment was coming. But after 120 years of building and
preaching, not one soul repented. There is a tremendous lesson here, much needed today. God wants witnesses,
and it is the testimony to the truth that He counts vital - not success!
(11) Genesis 6:3 teaches us that God is not willing that (a) ______________________________, but that
all (b) _____________________________________________________________.
(12) The ministry of Noah proves that God is primarily interested in ____________.
a. constructing arks b. giving testimony to His truth c. having success in that men repent
(13) How long did it take Noah to construct the ark? __________________________
(14) With all the information you have concerning the days of Noah, and God's provision for Noah and his
family, how would you proceed to use this in witnessing to a lost soul concerning the Lord Jesus Christ?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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2. The description of the ark
The ark was rectangular like a box, not round-bowed like a sailing ship. It was made to float, not to navigate.
The dimensions were 300 cubits in length, by 50 cubits in breadth, by 30 cubits deep. Since it is impossible to
know just how long Noah's cubit was (it was the distance from a man's elbow to the tip of his fingers, which
varies from about 18-21 inches), it cannot be said for sure just how large the ark was. Figuring on the minimum
(18-inch) cubit, the size was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet deep. It had 101,250 square feet of floor
space and a total of 1,518,750 cubic feet of air space–a formidable structure by anyone's standards. The ark had
three stories or floors, each divided into cells or compartment stalls. A favorite objection of unbelievers is that
Noah could not have stored adequate food supplies for all the animals and his own family for a year. I'm not an
authority; I never managed a zoo, but it satisfies me to know that the same One who fed 5,000 men, besides
women and children, on five barley biscuits and two small sardine-size fish was in charge of food for the ark.
Some authorities suggest that many of the animals hibernated.
(15) The ark was ________.
a. like present-day ships b. rectangular like a box c. square d. round-bowed like a sailing ship
(16) The ark was designed to _______.
a. Navigate b. Submerge c. be towed d. float
(17) Give the dimensions of the ark in feet and the number of stories.
(a) length ______________________ (c) depth _______________________
(b) width ______________________ (d) stories ______________________
(18) How would you answer the objections of the unbelievers that Noah would not have been able to store
sufficient food for all the animals and his family?______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
C. The Worldwide Flood
The Flood came suddenly and covered the entire earth. Marlowe (The Book of Beginnings, pp. 30,32) translates
Genesis 7:11-12 and 8:2-3, “In the six hundredth year of the life of Noah, in the second month, in the
seventeenth day of the month, on this very day were all of the fountains of the great abyss torn open with a great
cleaving, and the sluices of the skies were opened, pouring forth cataracts. And a body of dense, heavy torrents
rushed down upon the earth forty days and forty nights. . .. And the fountains of the abyss and the sluices of the
skies were shut, and the torrents from the heavens were restrained. And rolling to and fro, the waters turned
back from the earth.” Where all the water came from and where it went we cannot say with absolute certainty.
Once again, God tells us enough so that faith can lay hold of it, and only enough so that faith must be exercised.
Unbelief, whether ancient or modern, has always paraded its neo-intellectualism and rejected the testimony of
the Bible as to a universal flood. A case in point is Bernard Ramm, whose extraordinary intellectual abilities
have discovered that the Flood was universal only "from the vantage point of the observer" who, as Ramm puts
it, "reported it." When the Bible says that the waters prevailed, "fifteen cubits upward," Ramm profoundly
remarks, "The ark had a draft of about 15 cubits, and so the writer inferred that the water rose that high above
the mountains because the ark did not ground on any of them" (The Christian View of Science and Scripture,
pp. 241-242; our italics). This demonstrates what Ramm believes about inspiration.
Plainly, the writer of Scripture meant to leave us with the impression that the Flood was worldwide. Since the
writer got his information from God, rather than, as Ramm suggests, "by inference," we believe God's
description is inspired and therefore, authoritative.
The ark settled on the mountain of Ararat exactly five months after the beginning of the Flood. The door was
not opened, however, for another five months. In the meantime, a raven was sent out, and stayed, being satisfied
to feed on the dead refuse that floated on the waters. But the dove could not digest such matter and returned to
the ark until an olive branch showed that the earth was renewed. The spiritual lesson is that of the believer's two
24
natures: the old can be satisfied with the stinking refuse of this present world system, but the new nature,
created in the likeness of Him who made it, can only find satisfaction in the things of the new creation
(Colossians 3:1-4).
(19) According to Genesis 7:11, the Flood came suddenly and two things happened: (a)____________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(20) For how long did it rain upon the earth? ______________________________
(21) Some have supposed that the Flood was only universal from the point of view of (a) __________________
and that the writer (b) __________________ that the water rose that high above the mountains because the
ark did not settle on any of them.
(22) We know that the writer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tells us that the Flood was__________.
(23) Five months afterwards, the ark rested upon __________________________.
(24) One spiritual lesson in this passage is that the raven represents the (a) _______________ which feeds
upon the refuse of this present world system while the dove represents the (b) __________________.
(25) The Flood came just as God had promised. How would you reply to the suggestion that might come from
an unsaved person who is inclined to be argumentative, that in sending the Flood God was most unjust?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
D. After the Flood
God established His Covenant with Noah and every living creature that was with him for perpetual generations
(Genesis 9:12). The sign of the Covenant was the rainbow. Note that while the rainbow appears to us
occasionally, it is always round about the throne of God as a continuous reminder of God's oath never to
destroy the earth again by water (Revelation 4:3).
Somehow, we wish that verses 20 through 29 of chapter 9 had never been written. Up until now our impression
of Noah is unmarred. Now we see him lying drunken and naked. What a fool alcohol makes out of a man
(Proverbs 23:29-35)! But God never glosses over the mistakes or sins of His servants. He portrays them just as
they are–sinners, justified only by His grace. It is well to remember that if you are the best of saints, you are still
just a sinner saved by grace. "The best of men are only men at their best." This is another indication of the
inspiration of the Scriptures. The records of man glorify their heroes. The Bible glorifies God alone (Isaiah
42:8).
(26) After the Flood, God made a (a) _________________________ with Noah. As a sign He put the
(b)__________________ in the sky.
There is something here that we might be prone to overlook. Scientists at the Smithsonian Institute suggest that
there is a strong possibility that a canopy of water vapor at one time surrounded the earth. If this is so, it would
explain several things. First, since the water vapor would have filtered the radioactive rays, which cause
fermentation, it would explain why fermentation had never taken place before. Secondly, those scientists that
hold the water vapor theory tell us that a great deal of the sun's radiation (which causes aging) would also have
been filtered out. This would explain something of the scientific basis for the unusual longevity of the
antediluvians and of the immediate shortening of life after the Flood. It would also help to answer the question
as to where the water for the Flood may have come from, and why it had never rained on the earth before the
Flood (Genesis 2:5-6; Hebrews 11:7). Finally, it suggests why the antediluvians hardened themselves in
unbelief against the message of Noah. How simply many of the so-called problems of Scripture might be
answered if we had all of the facts.
25
(27) Scientists at the Smithsonian Institute suggest the theory that ______.
a. a heavenly halo covered the earth
b. a canopy of water vapor surrounded the earth
c. a wide belt of radiation enveloped the globe
(28) Name four problems that this theory helps to solve.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(d) ___________________________________________________________________________________
In Psalm 104:5-9 (especially verse 8) we have an explanation, of what happened to the water. The American
Standard Version translates verse eight, "The mountains rose, the valleys sank down." The scientific aspects of
this problem are fully considered and resolved by Dr. Henry M. Morris in his book, The Twilight of Evolution,
Baker Book House, Grand Rapids (1963), p. 70.
Noah became drunken and lay down uncovered, and his youngest son, Ham, (and apparently Ham's son,
Canaan) saw his shame, and rather than covering him, wickedly reveled in Noah's condition and told his
brothers. Because of Ham's impious deed, Ham's son, Canaan, is cursed by Noah, and the curse was not idle
talk. We will refer to this incident later when we discuss the division of the nations. We will indicate on a map,
and show as far as is possible, the distribution of the nations of the earth from this point. This is vital and
interesting information and will be of utmost importance later on in our study of prophecy.
(29) Which of the sons of Noah saw the shame of his father? ______________________
(30) Because of the impious deed, Noah cursed (a) __________, the son of (b) ______________.
(31) In terms of Ham's actions, Noah's failure (his drunkenness) certainly set the stage for sin to follow. What
lesson can a father learn from the conduct of Noah? (a)_________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
How important is the conduct of the father in his home so far as the children are concerned?
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Matching:
(1) _____ the Flood a. line of Seth
(2) _____ angels b. Genesis 6-9
(3) _____ nephilim c. B'ney ha Elohim
(4) _____ rapha d. giant
(5) _____ Enos e. the fallen one
True or False:
(6) The fact that the angels of God do not marry does not necessarily mean they are sexless, and therefore
incapable of promiscuous relations. ___________
(7) God preserved in each generation one or two members of Seth's family that were true to Him. ______
(8) God desires witnesses and considers the success of the witness to be more important than the testimony to
the truth. ___________
(9) The ark was bowed and rounded like a sailboat and was made to navigate. _________
Fill in the blanks:
(10) For how long did it rain upon the earth during the Flood? ___________________
(11) Noah preached and constructed the ark for a period of _______________ years.
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(12) Five months after the Flood, the ark rested upon _________________________.
(13) The old nature is represented by the (a) ____________ that Noah sent out and the (b) _________________
represents the new nature.
(14) Some have supposed that the Flood was ________________________ only from the viewpoint of the
observer that reported it.
(15) The rainbow was a (a) __________ of the (b) ____________________________.
(16) According to some scientists it is very probable that ____________________________________________
__________________________________ at one time surrounded the earth.
(17) Such a theory would explain what so-called problems of Scripture?
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(d) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(18) Who wickedly reveled in Noah's nakedness? _____________________________
(19) Noah cursed his grandson, named __________________________.
(20) This curse was not of any great consequence. (True or False) ____________
II. THE NATIONS ARE DIVIDED
These are days of racial strife. It is generally recognized today that Paul was perfectly correct when he said,
(God) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth (Acts 17:26). And yet
there are vast differences in men. When all this began and how it progressed is the subject of this section.
Scripture to be read for this section is Genesis 10-11 and also the Book of Job. Job was written about this time
and provides excellent insight into the development of culture and religion among this ancient people. Notice
particularly the reference to knowledge of the earth and its minerals and the rudimentary sciences.
(1) I have read Genesis 10-11. (date) ________________________
A. From the Cradle of the Race
After the Flood, men began once again to multiply on the earth. They were generally divided now into three
lines, according to their descent from the three sons of Noah. Latham in his book, Man and His Migrations,
basing his studies especially on linguistic considerations and showing no leanings toward a reverence for the
Bible, nevertheless traces all the races of men to one origin. Gibson in his book, The Ages Before Moses, shows
how hard unbelieving scholars have tried to disprove the statements of Scripture, only to find that most often
their own findings substantiate the Book. Haeckel, for instance, traces the origin of man right back to the
Euphrates River Valley and then, hating to admit the fact that his own findings only show what the Bible taught
all along, postulates a "sunken continent" south of this area and says that man came originally from there. Such
is the temperament of unbelief, but the Bible stands!
(2) The unbelieving scholars have always tried to prove as true the statements of the Bible.
(True or False) ____________
In a previous study, we examined the division of the earth by language at the Tower of Babel. God divided them
according to His original plan revealed to Eber. Lacey (God and the Nations, Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.) says, "It
is evidently the teaching of Scripture that racial distinctions and national barriers proceed from God, who
divides and departmentalizes the human race, rather than communizing it. The idea of one community of men,
one family of human beings, is foreign to the Bible and contrary to the ways of God, either in providence or in
redemption . . . when men with complete faith in God follow the path of His will, federation is not necessarily
to human good. Individual dealing with God will itself produce a fellowship which is as superior to an arranged
federation as a living human body is to a mechanical robot."
27
The map on page 40 shows the distribution of the human family after the rebellion of the Tower of Babel and
should be studied carefully. Generally, the Japhetic peoples moved north of the Mediterranean, from whence
they scattered both east and west. The Shemites populated the central belt eastward from the sea, and the
Hamitic races scattered mostly south and westward. The names on the map are those found in Genesis 10, as a
comparison will show. This map will be of real value later in our study of prophecy.
(3) After the Flood, civilization centered in _______.
a. Eastern Europe b. the Far East c. the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
(4) From the sons of Noah proceed the human races. Name the three sons.
(a) _________________ (b) _________________ (c) _________________
(5) Identify the following:
(a) _________________________ inhabited the central belt eastward from the sea.
(b) The Japhetic peoples moved north of the ________________________ and then scattered east and west.
(c) The __________________________________________ scattered mostly south and eastward.
28
(6) Study the map below and then fill in the missing names from the map: (a) ________________________
(b) ________________________ (c) ________________________ (d) ________________________
B. The Sons of Noah

As our last section ended, we saw Noah, drunken and naked, mocked by his youngest son, Ham (Genesis 9:20-
27). As an outgrowth of Ham's sin, Noah pronounced a curse upon Ham's youngest son, Canaan. He also
uttered a prophecy which is of vital importance to us as we study the subsequent history of Noah's sons. Read
his prophecy and its curse (Genesis 9:25-27). Commentators, it seems, have an almost universal urge to get
Ham personally under this curse and thus explain the plight of the Negro races. (The Negro race came through
Cush. The word used by the Greeks and Romans for Cush was Ethiopia. See Young’s Analytical Concordance
29
of the Bible.) This has always seemed to me unwarranted liberty with the words of Scripture. Candlish, who is a
recognized authority, says, "The curse is here restricted to (Ham's) seed in the line of Canaan. There is no
warrant for . . . reading Ham the father of Canaan instead of simply Canaan. . ." (Candlish on Genesis, Vol. 1,
p. 162). So it cannot be argued that the Ethiopian's skin is a result of a curse placed on Ham. Actually, if this
were so, all the sons of Ham would have been negroid, which they are not!
It was Canaan and his seed only upon whom the curse fell. Now reading Genesis 10:15-19, we discover the
identity of Canaan's posterity. They were the Canaanite nations who were present in the land of Canaan at the
time of Israel's exodus from Egypt. They founded the Hittite empire of which the cities of Tyre and Sidon were
important parts. It was the Sidonians who later founded the empire of Carthage in North Africa. It seemed for
many centuries that Noah's prophetic curse would remain unfilled. But, although "the mills of God grind slowly,
they grind exceeding fine."
The Canaanites in Palestine were destroyed or enslaved at the time of Israel's invasion of the land. They thus
became servants . . . unto his brethren; in this instance Shem. Tyre was destroyed by Alexander the Great in
332 B.C., and Carthage was defeated by the Romans in the third Punic War (145 B.C.). The result was a
complete fulfillment of Noah's prophecy and curse as it referred to Canaan.
(7) The curse of Noah fell upon __________.
a. Shem b. Ham c. Japheth d. Canaan
(8) Some argue that the negroid race is the result of ________________________________________________
__________________________________.
(9) The negroid race proceeds from _________________.
(10) How did the Canaanites become enslaved? ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
The remainder of Noah's words were directed to Japheth and Shem. God would "enlarge" Japheth. Certainly,
we can trace the fulfillment of this as we look at the map. The greatest nations of both the East and the West are
all Japhetic in origin.
The words, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, are a little difficult to interpret. It is doubtful as to whether
the "he" refers to God or to Japheth. In either case, however, we see a fulfillment. In the former case, it was
through Shem that God chose a nation (Israel) to walk with Him, and for years God dwelt in the Shekinah cloud
of glory in the tabernacle (tent) of Shem. In the latter case, it would refer to the fact that the Gentile nations
have occupied the land (tent) of Palestine for so many centuries. Jesus said, Jerusalem shall be trodden down of
the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:24). Perhaps the prophecy actually intended to
cover both of these occurrences, and hence its rather indefinite wording.
C. The History of Nimrod and Job
A surprising amount of space is given to one of the sons of Cush in the sacred narrative. This son was Nimrod,
the mighty hunter before the Lord. Because of a lack of acquaintanceship with ancient history, or the difficult
reading of the King James text at this point, many readers simply skim over this section and count it of minor
importance. Quite the contrary, this is one of the most important and enlightening sections in this entire history.
Cush is known in the ancient records as "The Black One" and is the father of the negroid race. He was also
known as an apostate and a grossly wicked, howbeit, powerful man. His son, Nimrod, exceeded his famous
father both in power and in wickedness. Nimrod gathered a band of young hunters about him and trained them
in the use of weapons and warfare. He then subdued the peoples about him who were unfamiliar with war. He
built the cities of Babel and Erich and Accad and Calneh in the Tigris and Euphrates River valleys. It was
evidently after the dispersion at the Tower of Babel that he journeyed to Assyria and built Nineveh and
Rehoboth, Calah, and Resen. Verse 11 of Genesis 10 should read, "Out of the land he went forth, being made
strong (the word Ashur) and builded Nineveh," etc. (after Hislop, The Two Babylons, Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.,
30
Neptune, N.J., p. 24). In other words, strengthening himself after the judgment of the Tower, Nimrod extended
his kingdom into Assyria.
(11) The son of Cush was ____________________.
(12) He exceeded his father in (a) _________________ and (b)__________________________.
Now Nimrod had a queen wife in the land of Babel whose name was Semiramis. After Nimrod's death,
Semiramis exalted her departed husband to the point of making him a god. Sometime after, she gave birth to a
child which she claimed came by way of a mysterious union with her departed husband, Nimrod. Nimrod
already being considered a god, the child was therefore thought to be Divine and a reincarnation of Nimrod
himself. Semiramis had images made of herself and the child, and these were dutifully worshiped by her
followers. Thus began the first idolatry in the world, the worship of the image of the mother and god-child. Just
how successful Semiramis was may be seen in the fact that her religion spread to every civilized nation of the
then-known world, and although the names given to the mother and child differed, the symbols and signs and
even the feast days remained essentially the same.
(13) The wife of Nimrod, (a) ___________________ made of him a(b) ____________________.
(14) Semiramis began idol worship when she made her followers worship ______________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
The worship became a part of the sun worship of the ancient East and is survived in the signs of the Zodiac even
today. In Egypt, the worship caught on under the names of Isis and Osiris. In Greece, the mother was Dionysus
and the child, Iacchus. In Rome, it was Venus and Cupid, and in Bible time, it was Ashtoreth and Baal (see
concordance, also 1 Kings 11:5, 33; and "Queen of Heaven," Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19, 25). The most modern
form of this Babylonian idolatry, as proved conclusively by Dr. Alexander Hislop in The Two Babylons, is the
unwarranted and unscriptural apostate worship of the mother and child image by Rome under the name of Mary
and Jesus. This is simply baptized paganism, and is condemned all through Scripture.
(15) This type of worship prevails today. Who worships an image of a mother and child today?
________________________________
(16) Granting that many people do not bow down before gods of wood and stone, is it possible for men to
become idolaters in a very real sense by devoting themselves to other persons or pursuits? ________
At the same time, Job was a man in the land of Uz who was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and
eschewed evil. Not only are there tremendous spiritual lessons in Job, but the book also gives us a glimpse at the
advanced civilizations of that ancient time (Job 1:3-4; 7:6; 10:10; 12:23; 14:4-5; 21:11-12; 22:24-25; 28:1-3,18-
19; 29:3,6,25) and of the enlightenment of a man of God. Job was familiar with a great amount of knowledge
concerning God, which was not written down but was apparently transmitted from father to son. He and his
friends seemed to have a good idea of the holiness of God and His absolute righteousness (Job 8:3; 26:6). Job
also revealed his knowledge of God's hatred of idolatry and of the fact that, in his day, the sun and moon and
stars were being worshiped (Job 31: 26-28; Romans 1:21-25). Job also spoke of the Resurrection (Job 14:14;
19:25-26). But a key question in Job is asked in chapter 9 and verse 2, How should man be just with God?
Centuries later, God answered that question by sending forth His Son to be the propitiation for our sins, and
thus to declare God's righteousness, that He might remain absolutely just and still justify a guilty repentant
sinner. Every demand of God's justice was met by Christ, and God can freely forgive any who believe on Him
(Romans 3:25-26; John 3:14-18).
Even in Job's time there was idolatry. And as we have seen, that idolatry compassed the globe. Out of the gross
paganism of Mesopotamia, God called a man to follow Him, even Abraham.
(17) The Book of Job not only contains great spiritual lessons but also gives us a glimpse of the
_________________________________________________________________________________.
31
(18) Name five things found in the Book of Job that indicate how advanced civilization was then.
We will give one example.
(a) They already used a weaver’s shuttle. Job 7:6___________________________________
(b) _______________________________________________________________________
(c) _______________________________________________________________________
(d) _______________________________________________________________________
(e) _______________________________________________________________________
(f) ________________________________________________________________________
On the map (p. 29) find the letter corresponding with the places and people listed below and insert the letter in
the appropriate blank.
(1) _____ Ham (2) _____ Japheth (3) _____ Shem (4) _____ Mediterranean Sea
(5) _____ Canaan (6) _____ Cush (7) _____ Caspian Sea (8) _____ Black Sea
(9) _____ Persian Gulf (10) _____ Red Sea
Matching:
(11) _____ Cush a. vigorous hunter
(12) _____ Job b. the black one
(13) _____ Catholics c. image of a mother and child
(14) _____ Semiramis d. man who feared God
(15) _____ Nimrod e. Mary and Jesus
Fill in the blanks:
(16) The curse fell upon (a) __________________ and his (b) ___________________.
17) The curse and prophecy of Noah is found in (reference) ____________________.
(18) When Israel Invaded the land, the (a) __________________________ became “servants of their
brethren”, that is, of (b) ____________________.
(19) The Book of Job lets us discover the advanced state of __________________________________________
___________________________________________.
(20) Name three characteristics of the cultural advance of the epoch.
(a) _______________________________________________________________________
(b) _______________________________________________________________________
(c) _______________________________________________________________________
(21) God planned that men should _______.
a. federate into one nation with a world government
b. separate into individual nations and retain their national identity
Ill. ABRAHAM, THE FRIEND OF GOD
A. Ur of the Chaldees
Perhaps as many as six thousand years passed between the founding of the great cities of Nimrod's day and the
discovery by J. E. Taylor in 1854, beneath a huge mount of bitumen, of the ruins of the ancient city of Ur–the
city of Abraham. Ur was located at the southern extremity of the Euphrates River where it joins the Tigris to
flow into the Persian Gulf (see the map on page 28). Early Sumerian kings founded the city, but it was later
occupied by the Chaldeans. No one knows exactly where the Sumerians came from or who they were, but it is
possible that they took their name from the goddess "Semiramis," wife of Nimrod, whom they worshiped under
32
the title Ishtar. Sir Leonard Woolley conducted excavations of Ur in 1922 and, among other things, he was able
to uncover the long-buried royal cemeteries where the nobility of Abraham's day were buried. These graves
yielded "jewelry and art treasures of unbelievable beauty, particularly gorgeous head attire, personal jewels, and
a golden tumbler and cup of Queen Shubad" (Unger’s Bible Dictionary, p. 1126).
(1) Ur was the city of _____________________________________.

(2) Ur was situated in ___________________________________________________________.
The findings indicated two things. First, Abraham lived in a city of tremendously advanced culture. The Paris
Museum displays a marble bathtub, tapped for cold or hot running water, taken from Ur. Secondly, Abraham
lived in a city wholly given over to idolatry. "Woolley gives us a description of the worship of the city god of
Ur, the moon god, Nannar, and his consort, Ningal" (ibid.). According to recent findings, the ritual and worship
centered around the ziggurat, or temple site. The original Tower of Babel is believed to have been a ziggurat
(see Figure 1, p. 34).
(3) What have the archaeological findings indicated? (a) ____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
33
It was in this environment that God revealed Himself to the patriarch Abram (name means "exalted father"), and
also, out of which He called Abram. The name Abram was later changed to Abraham (Genesis 17:4-5). Abram
journeyed to a less populous place to escape the pollution of his homeland. Joshua, in his closing message to
Israel, said, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood (river) in old
time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods (Joshua 24:2).
As we meet Abram in Genesis chapter 11, he is seen leaving with his family (including his father, Terah, and
brother, Nahor, and nephew, Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, Haran) and going into the city of Haran, located
at the northern headwaters of the Euphrates River. Haran is often referred to after this as the "city of Nahor"
because of the fact that Abram’s brother made his home there. Hardly had the days of mourning passed for the
departed Terah in Haran, when Abram, breaking loose from all family ties, set out for the land of which God
had told him long before (into the land of Canaan they came).
Figure 1
A ZIGGURAT
(4) The father of Abraham was (a) _______________; his brothers were (b) ___________ and (c) __________.
(5) After the death of Terah, Abraham breaks family ties and sets out for Canaan with his nephew, __________,
who was the son of Haran.
The Scripture for this lesson is found in Genesis 11:1-23:20. It is of utmost importance that you discipline
yourself to read this section carefully. As we go along we will cover more and more Scripture in a single lesson,
and it is imperative that you now begin the habit of reading the assigned portions. The material in the lesson is
intended to help you understand the Scripture portion and to point out the more important events, but you will
miss the real blessing of this study if you fail to take time to read the Word of God itself.
(6) I have read Genesis 11:1-23:20. (date) ____________________

(7) Consider the following statement: Partial obedience to the Lord leads to partial blessing. Abram was
partially obedient when he stopped at Haran. God did not appear to him until he was in the Land. What
lesson can we learn from Abram’s partial obedience to the Lord?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
B. Unto Thee Will I Give This Land
The life of Abraham is intimately tied to what is known as the Abrahamic Covenant. A covenant is an
agreement between two parties about certain matters. It usually contains conditions and promises. One party
promises to do a certain thing on the condition that the other party fulfill his promise, too. However, there are
what are known as unconditional covenants, where one party swears that he will do a certain thing regardless of
what the other party does.
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(8) A covenant is ___________________________________________________________________________.
(9) An unconditional covenant is ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
As we study the Scripture, it will be seen that God promised to make a covenant with Abram on the condition
that Abram leave his kindred and home and go into the land of which God told him. This Abram did, by faith,
not even knowing where he was going, but trusting the One who had called him to lead him aright (Hebrews
11:8-10). Having obeyed God in going, God made with Abraham an unconditional covenant in which He
promised Abraham certain definite things. However, God continued to test the obedience and faith of His
servant, and in each test, Abram proved his implicit trust in God. There were faltering times when Abram forgot
to trust, or attempted fleshly expediences to get what God had promised to give, but in each of the five major
crises of Abram's life, he proved true to God. A glance at these five crises and the subsequent promises God
made will give us a good grasp of the life of Abraham.
(10) The covenant with Abraham was _______.
a. conditional b. unconditional
1. Crisis one-leaving his family and friends
The first crisis which Abraham faced was leaving his family and friends and going out of a rich and cultured
environment to become a pilgrim and a stranger on the earth. Owens describes it vividly in these words, "The
sun had not glided down half the semicircle when the civic and religious leaders of the city learned that their
prominent and prosperous fellow citizen, Abram, of the generation of Terah, was sacrificing his immovable
property at attractive prices and gathering his cattle and camels, purchasing stout sackcloth-of-hair tents, and
making ready to leave and to trek westward where he might avoid the heavily laden paganistic atmosphere of
the Euphrates valley.
"Movable belongings were carefully made into bales or packed in boxes, and securely strapped on diminutive
donkeys and groaning camels. It was early in the morning when the tinkle of the bells of Abram's camels
announced to early risers the departure of the caravan for the western land, commonly known as Canaan . . .
Abram and Lot gathered all, and going westward followed the curve of the 'Fertile Crescent' until they reached
Damascus, the 'pearl of the East.' Here, amid gurgling fountains, fruitful vines, and laden orchards, Abram
tarried for a time, while getting his bearings and learning more about the nearby land to which he journeyed.
Eliezer–a man of the western mind–was employed as a 'smoother of the way' among the Canaanites, and as
steward of Abram's ever-increasing caravan. From the vast fertile stretches of the Damascus plain, the camels,
with their inimitable swinging motion, moved along the foothills of Jebel esh Sheikh–Mount Hermon–past the
beautiful sea of Shinnereth and entered Canaan, where in the very heart of the land, Abram, in sacred devotion,
erected an altar at Shechem, and while worshipping, heard these striking words: Unto thy seed will I give this
land . . .” (Owens, Abraham to the Middle East Crisis, Erdmann). In this way, God made known to Abram the
land which he should after receive for an inheritance. Notice that this reiteration of the original covenant,
recorded in Genesis 12:1-3, is made upon the simple and irrevocable oath of God–I will.
(11) The original covenant with Abraham is found in (reference)_________________________.
2. Crisis two-conflict between Abram and Lot
The second crisis came shortly thereafter over a debate which arose between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle
and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. Showing forth the spirit of grace which God had exercised in calling him out
of Ur, Abram sweetly allows Lot to choose the best of the land. It was at this crisis in Lot's experience that the
course of that young man's life was completely changed. Placing his sights on earthly things and choosing for
the here-and-now, Lot wandered further and further from God and finally died in shame. However, notice that
God definitely declared that Lot was a saved man (2 Peter 2:7-8). Lot is a vivid example of many Christians
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who waste their lives on the temporal, fleeting things of earth and then lose everything in the end. Remember
that it was this one decision that set the course for Lot's whole career. Some decisions cannot be undone.
(12) Why did Lot separate from Abram? _________________________________________________________
(13) How did Abram prove himself to be a generous man? __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(14) Lot is a vivid example of many Christians who ________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Here again it was at a time of earthly loss that God came to renew with Abram His eternal promises. Along with
an enlarged description of what God intended to give Abram, God also promised him a numberless posterity. It
must be noted that although at this time Abram had neither land nor children, yet he accounted God's promise as
good as accomplished. No wonder we are exhorted to emulate his faith!
3. Crisis three-Abram's war with Chedorlaomer
The third crisis came in chapter 14 as a result of Abram’s war with Chedorlaomer. It is interesting to note that
the critics used to say that this whole tale was an impossibility. Robert Dick Wilson, unquestionably one of the
most brilliant authorities on the Old Testament that ever lived, disputed the critics at this point (as well as many
others) in his A Scientific Investigation of the Old Testament.
After proving the trustworthiness of the Scriptural record, he says, "Not one item of evidence in the way of
time, place, logic, psychology, language, or customs, has been produced against the trustworthiness of the
document" (i.e., the record of Genesis 14). After staging a surprise attack, Abram was successful in putting the
combined armies of these kings to route and in rescuing his nephew Lot. On his return, laden down with
prisoners and the spoils of war, he met the King of Sodom. It is here that Abram faced a decision concerning all
his newly-acquired and rightfully-possessed wealth of war. In giving it up completely, he showed once again
that he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). When God
met him He reminded Abram that He was all that Abram needed. I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great
reward.
(15) In chapter (a) _____________ of Genesis, Abram fights against
(b)____________________________________________ and frees (c) ________________.
Now God not only reiterates the Covenant, but here He ratifies it with the blood sacrifice. Just as in the last
encounter when God defined His intentions as regarded the boundaries of the Land, here God promises again
(1) an heir, (2) the Land, and adds a prophecy concerning the Egyptian bondage. Notice how this prophecy was
literally fulfilled to the minutest detail. Notice too that Abram's resort to a fleshly expedient to "help God fulfill
His promise" follows in chapter 16. How often we fail after some great blessing or mountaintop experience.
Pride is almost always the root, but, as in the case of Ishmael, trouble may be the fruit. In this case it was
trouble that still continues after 4000 years.
(16) What were the two promises of God? (a) __________________(b)________________________________
(17) In giving up the spoils of war, Abraham showed that he looked for ________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(18) In refusing the spoils of war, Abram practiced a sound spiritual principle. What was this principle, and in
what way can we apply its truth to the work of the local church or the servant of God in today's world?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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4. Crisis four-a test of faith
The fourth crisis was purely a test of Abram's faith. He was now ninety-nine years old and childless (except for
Ishmael, whom God rejected, Genesis 17:18-21), and God now tests him by changing his name from Abram
(exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). Again, Abram responds in faith and appropriates his new
name at once. But the promise now seems so impossible that Abraham laughs, not in scorn, but in joyful
incredulity. God nevertheless assures him that a son shall be born and Abraham must name him "laughter" (that
is the meaning of Isaac). Accordingly, God fulfills His Word and Isaac is born. Notice that circumcision is here
enjoined as a sign and seal of the Covenant, but that it has nothing to do with Abraham's position before God
(see Romans 4:9-12), which was a result of his faith alone.
(19) In this fourth crisis, God changed the name of (a) __________, which means "exalted father," to
Abraham, which means (b)"_________________________________________.”
(20) This time God promises him (a) ____________________ whom he ought to name (b) ___________
which means (c) ____________________________.
(21) What is the sign and seal of this Covenant? ___________________________
5. Crisis five-the sacrifice of Isaac
The final crisis came by way of God's testing Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Never was Abraham's faith more
sorely tested, and never was it as strong. Each test required that Abraham give up something naturally most dear
to him. First his home and kindred, then his nephew, Lot, then the well-earned spoils of victory, and then
Ishmael, his son after the flesh. Now it was Isaac–but behind this test there was a promise. God had promised
that, in Isaac shall thy seed be called and since it was obvious that God could not raise seed out of Isaac if he
were dead, so tremendous was Abraham's faith that he concluded that God would raise Isaac from the dead. For
proof of this, read Genesis 22:5 and Hebrews 11:17-19. The mountains of Moriah are those upon which
Jerusalem was later built, and the hill upon which Abraham built his altar that day may well have been the hill
called Calvary. Notice how this would fulfill his prophecy (Genesis 22:8,14), God will provide himself a
lamb . . . In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Two thousand years later, when God took His only begotten
Son up this hill, He did not spare Him, but made Him the sacrificial Lamb of God.
At the successful conclusion of this final test, God took an oath to perform all that He had promised Abraham,
and because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee . . .
(Hebrews 6:13-14).
(22) Each test required that Abraham give up ________________________________________.
(23) Upon which mountain of the group of Mount Moriah is it believed that Abraham could have offered
Isaac? ________________________________________________________________________________
(24) When was the prophecy of the provision of a lamb fulfilled? _____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
C. Conclusion
And so the Friend of God was given the Land for an everlasting possession. The fact that the fulfillment of this
Promise is still future may be seen by the elaborate procedure which Abraham went through in chapter 23 to
obtain even enough land to bury his dead. But God will yet fulfill His ancient promise, for He is God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, which is to say that He is the God of the living (Matthew
22:32). He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. We will study the specifics of the Abrahamic Covenant
in our course on prophecy. They will define for us the future boundaries of the nation of Israel. In the meantime,
look at the threefold covenant (1) the Land, (2) the Seed, and (3) the Blessing, and see if you can find out how
God has fulfilled it to Abraham's posterity down through the ages. Many wonder at Abraham's great faith as it
37
was expressed in the final test concerning the offering up of Isaac. The reason for it may be found in Romans
5:1-5. Many testings had worked in Abraham the grace of patience; the ability to wait upon God for His time
and answer. Many trials of patience had given experience–the confidence that God will work for us that which
is for our best and His glory. Many experiences had taught him to hope, for God had never disappointed him.
Therefore, he could glory in tribulation–can you?
(25) Tell the three aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant. (a) ______________________
(b) ______________________ (c) ______________________
(26) Explain why Abraham could rejoice and remain faithful during the final crisis of his life.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Ur was the city of origin of _______.
a. Abram b. Eliezer c. Chedorlaomer
(2) The findings and excavations have demonstrated that Ur was _______.
a. a city of regular cultural advance
b. a city completely given over to idolatry
c. a very small city
(3) What is a covenant? ______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(4) The three aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant were:
(a) ____________________________________
(b) ____________________________________
(c) ____________________________________
(5) Name the five crises of Abraham.
(a) _____________________________________________________________
(b) _____________________________________________________________
(c) _____________________________________________________________
(d) _____________________________________________________________
(e) _____________________________________________________________
Pre-test
PREPARE YOURSELF! Turn to page 21, and carefully review the objectives. Then review each section of
the course, and give special attention to those areas of study that you do not completely understand. It is a good
syllabus.
Fill in the blanks:
(1) Idolatry began with Nimrod's wife, named ____________________, and her son.
(2) An agreement between two parties is (a/an) _____________________________.
38
(3) The Abrahamic Covenant is __________________________________________ (This meant that
God would fulfill the Covenant regardless of whether or not Abraham obeyed.)
(4) The Abrahamic Covenant had three aspects. Name them.
(a) ______________________________________
(b) ______________________________________
(c) ______________________________________
(5) Name the five crises in the life of Abraham.
(a) ______________________________________________________________
(b) ______________________________________________________________
(c) ______________________________________________________________
(d) ______________________________________________________________
(e) _____________________________________________________________
Matching:
(6) _____ Shemites a. spread mostly to the south and east
(7) _____ descendants of Ham b. inhabited the central belt east of the sea
(8) _____ Japhetic population c. went north of the Mediterranean and then east and west
True or False:
(9) The title sons of God in Genesis 6:2–literally B'ney ha Elohim–is used in the Old Testament to refer only to
angels. ____________
(10) The fact that the angels of God do not marry does not necessarily mean they are sexless, and
therefore incapable of promiscuous relations. ____________
(11) The Flood was not universal. ____________
(12) The cause of the Flood was that all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. __________
Matching:
(13) _____ Rapha a. sign of the Covenant
(14) _____ Canaan b. negroid race
(15) _____ rainbow c. man who feared God
(16) _____ nephilim d. vigorous hunter
(17) _____ Cush e. the fallen one
(18) _____ Job f. Mount Ararat
(19) _____ Nimrod g. curse of Noah
(20) _____ ark h. giant
History: Part II.” and give special attention to those areas of study that you do not completely understand.
Find the test in the Test Booklet titled, “Old Testament History: Part II.” You may NOT use your notes or
Testament History: Parts III.” The tests may be mailed individually, in groups, or altogether when you finish
the Unit. Please mail the tests in the way that is cheapest and most convenient for you.
39
ANSWER KEY: OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY – PART II
I. THE FLOOD
(2) the Flood
(3) incomprehensible to our minds
(4) angels
(5) true
(6) (a) Job 1:6 (b) Job 2:1 (c) Job 38:7 (d) Daniel 3:25
(7) (a) it would explain why there are giants (b) it would explain the origin of many mythological narratives
(8) (a) fallen one (b) Jude 1:6 (c) cohabited
(9) (a) Enos (b) Enoch (c) Methuselah
(10) (a) corruption of the good (b) improvement of the bad
(11) (a) any should perish (b) should come to repentance
(12) b
(13) 120 years
(14) have your supervisor check your answer
(15) b
(16) d
(17) (a) 450 (b) 75 (c) 45 (d) 3
(18) God could have multiplied the food as He did when the 5,000 were fed (or) many animals could have
hibernated
(19) (a) the fountains of the great deep were broken up (b) the windows of Heaven were opened
(20) 40 days and 40 nights
(21) (a) the observer (b) inferred
(22) universal
(23) Mount Ararat
(24) (a) old nature (b) new nature
(26) (a) covenant (b) rainbow
(27) b
(28) (a) it explains why there was no fermentation before the Flood
(b) it explains the longevity of the antediluvians
(c) it explains why it never rained on the earth before the Flood
(d) it explains why the antediluvians hardened themselves in unbelief against the message of Noah
(29) Ham
(30) (a) Canaan (b) Ham
(31) (a) have supervisor check your answer (b) have supervisor check your answer
REVIEW
(1) b
(2) c
(3) e
(4) d
(5) a
(6) true
(7) true
(8) false
(9) false
40
(10) 40 days and 40 nights
(11) 120
(12) Mount Ararat
(13) (a) raven (b) dove
(14) universal
(15) (a) sign (b) covenant
(16) a canopy of water vapor
(17) (a) why there was no fermentation before the Flood
(b) the longevity of the antediluvians
(c) why it never rained before the Flood
(d) why the antediluvians hardened themselves in unbelief against the message of Noah
(18) Ham
(19) Canaan
(20) false
II. THE NATIONS ARE DIVIDED

(2) false
(3) c
(4) (a) Ham (b) Shem (c) Japheth
(5) (a) Shemites (b) Mediterranean (c) Hametic peoples
(6) (a) Japheth (b) Shem (c) Ham (d) Tubal
(7) d
(8) the curse Noah pronounced
(9) Cush
(10) with the exodus of Israel from Egypt, Israel invaded Canaan and either destroyed or enslaved them
(11) Nimrod
(12) (a) power (b) wickedness
(13) (a) Semiramis (b) god
(14) the image of herself and her child
(15) Roman Catholics
(16) yes
(17) civilizations of ancient times
(18) (a) they already used a weaver's shuttle; Job 7:6
(b) they made cheeses; Job 10:10
(c) they measured and divided time; Job 14: 4-5
(d) they made musical instruments; Job 21: 12
(e) they had financial prosperity; Job 22: 24-25
(f) they exploited mines; Job 28: 1-3
REVIEW
(1) C
(2) G
(3) B
(4) H
(5) J
(6) A
(7) I
(8) E
(9) F
41
(10) D
(11) b
(12) d
(13) e
(14) c
(15) a
(16) (a) Canaan (b) descendants
(17) Genesis 9:25-27
(18) (a) Canaanites (b) Shem
(19) ancient civilizations
(20) (a) used weaver’s shuttles (b) made cheeses (c) measured time
(d) made musical instruments (e) exploited mines
(21) b
III. ABRAHAM, THE FRIEND OF GOD

(1) Abraham
(2) the southern part of the Euphrates River valley
(3) (a) Abraham lived in a city of tremendously advanced culture
(b) the city was wholly given over to idolatry
(4) (a) Terah (b) Nahor (c) Haran
(5) Lot
(7) have supervisor check your answer
(8) an agreement between two parties about certain matters
(9) an agreement between two parties where one party swears to do certain things regardless of what the
other party does
(10) b
(11) Genesis 12:1-3
(12) because of disputes over pasture land
(13) by allowing Lot to choose the best land
(14) waste their lives on the temporal things of earth and then lose everything in the end
(15) (a) 14 (b) Chedorlaomer (c) Lot
(16) (a) an heir (b) the land
(17) a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10)
(19) (a) Abram (b) father of a multitude
(20) (a) a son (b) Isaac (c) laughter
(21) circumcision
(22) something most dear to him
(23) Mount Calvary
(24) two thousand years later when Christ was the sacrificial Lamb of God
(25) (a) the land (b) the seed (c) the blessing
(26) the many trials of his life had given him the grace of patience to wait upon God for His time and answer
REVIEW
(1) a
(2) b
(3) an agreement between two parties about certain matters
42
(5) (a) leaving his family and friends
(b) his conflict with Lot
(c) his war with Chedorlaomer
(d) God tests Abraham’s faith by changing his name from Abram to Abraham
(e) the sacrifice of Isaac
PRE-TEST
(1) Semiramis
(2) covenant
(3) unconditional
(5) (a) leaving his family and friends
(b) his conflict with Lot
(c) his war with Chedorlaomer
(d) God tests Abraham’s faith by changing his name from Abram to Abraham
(e) the sacrifice of Isaac
(6) b
(7) a
(8) c
(9) true
(10) true
(11) false
(12) true
(13) h
(14) g
(15) a
(16) e
(17) b
(18) c
(19) d
(20) f
43
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY PART III
FROM ISAAC & JACOB TO THE EXODUS
OBJECTIVES OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART III
The completion of Old Testament History: Part III you should enable you to:
* Name the heirs of the Abrahamic promises.
* Summarize the life of Joseph in Egypt and the spiritual lesson to be applied to our lives from his experience.
* Enumerate the details of the redemption of Israel and their spiritual lessons for us.
* Name the ten plagues and the Egyptian gods (false gods) toward whose worship the plagues were directed.
GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART III

1. Accouterments: Soldier’s equipment.
2. Birthright: Quality or right of the first child, or the firstborn son, to certain privileges. He usually received a
double portion of the estate, headship of the family, and assumed the place of religious leader of the family.
3. Hagiographical: Saintly manner.
4. Pantheism: A system of belief that identifies the universe with God. The popular idea is "everything is God,"
or, God is nature, and nature is God.
5. Pharaoh: A title of the ancient kings of Egypt.
6. Redemption: To sever from bondage or the possession of another, usually by the payment of the price. It is
applied to persons and property. In the New Testament, the word is used of purchasing the slave in the
marketplace, purchasing the slave out of the marketplace, and also of setting the slave free. From the
viewpoint of atonement for sin, the price of redemption is always the substitutionary sacrifice. In the Old
Testament, the blood of the bull, goat, or lamb, for example, which sacrifice also served as a type of the
Lamb of God who was destined in the purposes of God to come and give Himself for the sins of the world
(John 1:29).
7. Supplant: Plot to take place of.
8. Sheik: The chief who governed a territory or province.
Part III.
Section I - Genesis 24- 36
Section II - Genesis 37- 50; Psalm 105; Psalm 41:9; John 6:67-71; 13:18-30
Section III - Exodus 1:1-15:21; Psalm 105; Psalm 135; Acts 7
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY PART III

I. HEIRS OF THE SAME PROMISE
In Part II, we reviewed the life of Abraham. From this time on, Bible history centers upon Abraham's posterity,
the Hebrew nation, and deals with other nations and people only as they touch Israel. The Scripture for this
lesson is found in Genesis 24-50.
I have read Genesis 24-50. (date) ________________
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A. The History of Isaac
1. Isaac gets a bride
Almost as soon as Sarah was gone, Abraham grew concerned about a partner for his son, Isaac, in whom were
vested all of the special promises made to him in the Abrahamic Covenant. How tragic it would be if Isaac were
to marry into the races of those about him with the result that the race which God had so graciously and so
recently separated unto Himself would be assimilated! Therefore, Abraham sent an unnamed servant (perhaps
Eliezer, we don't know) back to the city of Nahor, to take a bride for his son, Isaac. The whole story is fraught
with typical significance. The unnamed servant is a beautiful type of the Holy Spirit who speaks not of Himself
but of the Son (John 16:13-14). Rebekah, the willing and perfect bride (she was a virgin, Genesis 24:16; cf.
Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-8), is a type of the true Church, the Body of Christ. Other parallels and
spiritual lessons may be learned by reading Dr. C. I. Scofield's note 2, on page 34 of the Scofield Reference
Bible (1917 Edition).
I cannot help digressing here to take a quick glance at this maiden's brother, Laban. Notice in verse 30, of
chapter 24, what Laban saw that made him welcome Abraham's servant. In this brief introduction to Laban, we
are prepared for what comes later when he greedily swindles Jacob at every turn.
(1) It would have been tragic if Isaac would have married someone from the races which surrounded him
because of the prejudice that they felt against the inferior nations. (True or False) ____________
(2) Probably the servant that Abraham sent in search of a wife for Isaac was ________________.
(3) This story is full of types. Identify the following:
(a) The servant is a type of ________________________.
(b) Rebecca, the bride, is a type of _______________________.
(c) Isaac is a type of ____________________________.
(4) The Holy Spirit speaks of ______.
a. the world b. the Father c. Himself d. the Son
(5) From what city did Rebekah come? _________________________________
(6) The brother of Rebekah was named _______________________________.
2. The life of Isaac and his wells

Isaac is not as illustrious as his father or, for that matter, his youngest son. The main events in his life seem to
be always associated with wells, noting both the scarcity and the great value of water, and spiritually speaking
of the Water of Life, the only source of satisfaction for the believer.
Isaac meets Rebecca coming by the way of the well, Lahai-roi. It was the well beside which Hagar had wept,
long ago, as she fled from Sarah, and where God had seen her trouble. The word means “thou God seest me .”
For the believer, this is a comforting thought.
Later on, Isaac, yielding to the same temptations that had troubled Abraham, went out of the Land into the
country of the Philistines. He also carried his father's weakness for lying about his wife. Never expect your
children to rise any higher spiritually than you do. Isaac had left the Land even after God had told him to stay
and graciously confirmed to him the covenant which He made with Abraham (Genesis 26:2-5). But he found no
peace, as noted by the names of his wells, Esek (contention) and Sitnah (hatred). Even at Rehoboth
(enlargement), he found no rest, proving that out of the will of God, the believer can find nothing that will
satisfy him, even if "enlargement" comes. At last, he returned to the land and dwelt at Beersheba, and as soon as
he did, God spoke to him again and fellowship was restored. The life of Isaac is full of rich spiritual lessons of
which we have indicated but a few. A prayerful study of this section would be very enriching.
(7) The events in the life of Isaac are always related or associated with ____________________.
45
(8) Isaac met Rebekah while returning from the well of ____________________.
(9) Isaac, just like his father, ______.
a. lied about his wife b. abandoned his wife c. took another wife
(10) Rehoboth means _______________________.
B. Esau and Jacob
1. The birthright
After twenty years of married life, Isaac entreated God, and Rebekah bare twins to the wealthy sheik. But
before the children were ever born, intimation was given as to the struggle that would ever after characterize
their relationship. Esau, "the red one", was born first, but Jacob won his name by catching his brother's heel. He
was thus named the "supplanter," or "heel-catcher." Not many years had passed until Jacob again "caught Esau's
heel." Watching his opportunity, he persuaded his brother to "sell" his birthright for a mess of pottage, or lentils.
Esau, hungry and tired from the hunt, recklessly abandoned what many a son would have given his life for–his
birthright.
This birthright simply signifies what belonged to Esau by right of birth as the eldest son. Three things were
implied. First, he was given a double portion of his father's goods at the latter's decease; secondly, he was given
the "headship" over the family (cf. Colossians 1:18 where Christ is head of the new creation by right of being
the firstborn from the dead), and finally, he inherited the place of religious leader, which in Esau's case would
have confirmed him as heir to the promises made in the Abrahamic Covenant. But Esau was not a man of faith.
God had not fulfilled these promises to Abraham, or in fact to Isaac either. So what good were they to him? He
could not eat them, or see them, or spend them. In Esau's estimation they were worthless. Esau is the model
materialist. He believed a bird in the hand to be worth two in the bush, even if God had promised the "two in the
bush." Thus Esau despised his birthright and at once became an illustration of, and a warning to, every son of
Adam who has since despised his right by birth to eternal life through faith, and has gladly exchanged it for the
sinful pleasures of this world.
(11) Esau means ________________________________________.

(12) What does the name Jacob mean? ______________________
(13) Jacob persuaded Esau to sell his birthright for _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
(14) The birthright implies three things:
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
A few years passed and the time came for the aged Isaac to bestow the blessing upon the head of the one whose
birthright it was to receive it. What had been counted as nothing a few years before suddenly became of great
value to Esau. There is no word from him that he swore by an oath to give his right to Jacob. Most gladly would
Esau have received what was no longer his, having forgotten all about his oath to Jacob. We cannot approve of
the method Jacob and his mother used to attain their end, and you will note that they both paid dearly for their
little scheme: Rebekah, in that she found it necessary to send Jacob away for a few days and never saw him
again; Jacob, in that as he had supplanted, so he was dealt with by his scheming uncle, Laban. But the fact was
that the blessing was Jacob's and God allowed the thing to work and fulfilled His own elective purposes. He had
said to Rebekah, and the elder shall serve the younger, and so it was to be. Esau, for his part, found that what
had been done was not now amendable (Hebrews 12:16-17). Repentance, in these verses, means to "turn around
and go the other way," or in Esau's case, to "change what had been done." But there was no way. It is tragic
indeed that many must discover, even today, that some wrongs can never be righted and some decisions can
never be remade (Revelation 22:10-11).
46
(15) Can believers obtain things, even good things (position, prestige, power, opportunities for ministry,
material advantages) in the wrong way? __________ (Search your own heart and ponder the question
whether or not you have indulged at any time in such action.)
(16) Up to a certain point, we approve of the method that Jacob and Rebekah used in order to accomplish their
objective. (True or False) ____________
(17) God permitted the blessing that Jacob received to work and accomplish His purposes according to His
election. (True or False) ____________
(18) Esau learned that it was too late to rectify that which he had done. (True or False) ________
2. Jacob's flight to Laban
Jacob, however, was made to flee from the wrath of Esau. So, upon the excuse that Rebekah could not bear
another marriage like Esau's (Genesis 26:34-35) (which had indeed been a grief to both her and Isaac), Jacob
was sent to the city of Nahor (Haran) to seek out employment with Rebekah's brother (Jacob's uncle), Laban.
Never again was Rebekah to set eyes on her beloved son as her reward for her treachery.
On his way to Haran, Jacob laid down his head on a stone at Bethel. But his troubled brain would not rest, and
then God appeared in the night and confirmed to the “supplanter” the covenant made with Abraham. Jacob thus
became “heir of the same promise.” How little he understood of his great spiritual heritage may be seen by his
subsequent behavior. He went forth as much a schemer as before, but he was to meet his match in Laban.
(19) Where did God confirm to Jacob the covenant that He had made with Abraham? _____________________
(20) Jacob was on his way to _________________________.
3. The years in Haran
Laban took Jacob into his employ on a seven-year contract for his youngest daughter, Rachel. At the end of the
time, he was supplanted and given Leah, Rachel's sister, instead. Seven more years he labored for Rachel, his
beloved. Then, on Laban's suggestion, Jacob contracted with him for a like period in which he was to build his
own herds and cattle, beginning with the few speckled and spotted among Laban's herds. For these he was
responsible to “feed all the flock.” In other words, the labor of keeping and feeding both Laban's cattle and his
own fell on Jacob. Here Jacob's scheming begins again. The story of the “strakes and rods” placed in the
watering places and in the gutters has puzzled some. The explanation is simple. Jacob, in his scheming to outdo
Laban, used the superstitious arts or beliefs of his day to accomplish his ends. Actually, God was working for
him, but Jacob looked upon his success as his own.
Jealousy and strife are the schemer's meat, whether at home in Canaan or here in Haran. There is no peace for
Jacob in his home or in his employment. Ten times the jealous Laban reverses Jacob's wages and takes the best
and the most for himself. But strangely, Jacob still prevails.
(21) How many years did Jacob work for Rachel? ________________
(22) How many times did Laban change the salary of Jacob? ________________
(23) Who was Leah? _________________________________________________
4. Jacob's return to Bethel
Finally, after six more years of bitter labor, Jacob decides to return to Canaan. God visits him, identifying
Himself as the God of Bethel and intimating that His blessing, and not Jacob's scheming, was the reason for the
strange way in which Jacob had prospered against all odds. Waiting for a convenient season when Laban is
away “shearing sheep,” Jacob sneaks away with his wives and eleven sons and all his possessions, leaving as he
had lived–an underhanded schemer.
47
Of the story of Laban's pursuit and the teraphim which Rachel stole, but one thing should be noted: the
possession of the teraphim, which, of course, were idols, was vested in the head. Rachel's theft of the teraphim
aimed at nothing less than making her husband possessor of all Laban had! We do not wonder, then, at Laban's
excitement to retrieve them.
(24) What was Rachel's intention when she robbed her father's idols? __________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(25) God identified himself to Jacob as the God of _________________________.
(26) Some believe it is possible to do evil that good may result. Could Rachel have reasoned this way
(referring to the theft of the teraphim)? ________________
As they near the land, Jacob's guilt at his treatment of Esau, as well as his remorse over the sad, bitter years that
have gone by in Haran, mingled with fear (for guilt always makes us afraid), comes to the crisis at Peniel
(Genesis 32:24-32). Jacob is left alone and for the first time he seems to be fresh out of schemes. Weary and
bitter for the spiritually-barren years at Haran, fearful for the news that Esau is marching toward him with 400
men, Jacob comes at last to the end of himself. He is helpless, and here he pleads for God's help for the first
time in his self-sufficient life. The wrestling is not Jacob's attempting to force his will upon God. It is Jacob's
pleading for, and insisting on, help he knows that he does not deserve. And when every last bit of pride is
crushed, and he is helplessly crippled and weakened, God says, "Jacob, now you have really prevailed, for real
victory is not found except in total surrender to me. You are no longer Jacob, the supplanter, but you are now
Israel, meaning “Prince with God." There is no more important lesson in all of life for you and me to learn. Paul
described the experience in Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me. This is the secret of victorious Christian living, the difference between the "schemer" and the
"Prince with God." At Peniel, Jacob died, and there arose out of death–Israel. The reason so many believers are
still living on the low plain of fleshly expediency and carnal scheming is that they have never come to the place
of Peniel–the place of death. When we come to the place where we are willing to die to self and sin, then, and
only then, can Christ begin to live and bear fruit through us. Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die,
it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24).
(27) Jacob invoked the help of God for the first time in his life at_________________________.
(28) God changed the name of Jacob to (a) ___________________ which mean
(b) _________________________________________.
(29) Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much
fruit. Spiritually this means _____.
a. that the wheat germinates in the ground
b. that when we are willing to die to ourselves and to sin, then and only then, is Christ able to begin to live
and bring forth fruit through us
c. that if the grain of wheat die, it brings forth much fruit
C. Conclusion
In Genesis 34, Jacob reaps some of the fruit of his evil years at Haran. His sons show the same aptitude for
lying and defrauding as their father demonstrated. What a grief it is to the parent who at long last has yielded to
God, only to find that his children learned too much from him while he was yet playing in sin. Chapter 38 gives
another example. We sometimes wonder why God puts these accounts in the Book. Sometimes they are there
for warnings.
(30) Name some of the fruits that Jacob reaped from his evil years in Haran according to Genesis 34 and 38.
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
(c) ________________________________________________
(31) Why does God put examples like Genesis 34 and 38 in the Bible? _________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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Matching:
(1) _____ Esau a. brother of Rebecca
(2) _____ Jacob b. enlargement
(3) _____ Rehoboth c. supplanter
(4) _____ Israel d. prince of God
(5) _____ Laban e. the red one
(6) Rebecca is a picture or type of _______________________________________.
(7) The servant whose name is not known is a beautiful type of ______________________________________.
(8) What does the birthright imply?
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(9) God confirmed the covenant made with Abraham to Jacob in ______.
a. Nahor b. Bethel c. the Nile
True or False:
(10) Jacob invoked the help of Jehovah in Bethel. ____________
(11) In the land of the Philistines, when Isaac lied about his wife, he revealed the same weakness as his father._
(12) The birthright was given to the son whom the father loved the most. ____________
(13) One can justify the means by which Rebecca and Jacob got the birthright because the end justifies the
means. ____________
(14) Christ can begin to live and bear fruit through the believer only after the believer has died to self and sin. _
II. THE PATRIARCHS IN EGYPT
In the last lesson, we reviewed the life of Isaac and Jacob up until the death of Isaac. The Scripture for this
lesson is found in Genesis 37-50 and Psalm 105. To avoid the necessity of simply reciting facts in this lesson,
we urge that you give this portion a thorough reading before proceeding. Look for spiritual lessons and insights
into the cultural habits of the period as you read. I have read Genesis 37-50 and Psalm 105. (date) __________
A. Joseph, His Father's Favorite Son
The Scripture is very clear that Joseph was the favorite son of his father, Jacob. He was the oldest son of Rachel
and no doubt that was the chief reason for the favoritism (Genesis 29:17-18; 42:38; 44:27-29). Jacob insisted on
showing partiality toward Joseph by making him a coat (“probably a tunic . . . worn by youths of the richer
class," Smith's Bible Dictionary) of many colors. This is thought by some to indicate that Jacob may have
intended to make his young son the heir of his household. This naturally enraged his brothers and filled them
with envy.
Besides this, Joseph seems to have had a pure (if at times, proud) and spotless character. He further angered his
brothers by reporting to his father their very impure and disreputable careers. Thus, he became a double thorn in
their sides.
(1) How did Jacob show partiality to Joseph? _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(2) Who was Joseph's mother? _________________________________________________________________
But the last straw was when Joseph revealed his dreams to his brothers. There were two, the significance of
which is stated by Joseph himself: And for that the dream was doubled . . . it is because the thing is established
49
by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass (Genesis 41:32). Both of the dreams suggested clearly that Joseph
was to be made preeminent over his brethren, and the second seemed to make him preeminent over his parents
as well. Jacob rebuked him for the second, but nonetheless he observed the saying.
In Psalm 105:16-24, the Psalmist rejoices over God's working through Joseph, but in verse 19 he says, until the
time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him. The obvious truth is this, that during the thirteen years
that ensued between the prophetic dreams, and the time when Joseph finally came to the place of prominence
promised by the dreams, the greatest trial was not the irons and the fetters, but the temptation to forget God's
early promises and assume that they would never be fulfilled. This Joseph never did, and it is wonderful to
watch him in every vicissitude, act in accordance with that which God had promised to make him. At the last,
his word came (i.e., to fulfillment). What a challenge to us to walk in the light of the exalted position which we
have in Christ, although our real sonship is not yet manifest (Ephesians 2:4-7; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 John 3:1-2;
Romans 8:19).
(3) Joseph had a ________character.
a. Evil b. regular c. pure and undefiled d. choleric
(4) God fulfilled his word to Joseph after _________________ years.
(5) The greatest test for Joseph was the temptation to _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
(6) We believers ought to walk in the ___________________________________________________________
________________________________ which we have in Christ.
B. Joseph, a Type of Him Who was to Come
"While it is nowhere asserted that Joseph was a type of Christ, the analogies are too numerous to be accidental"
(Scofield Reference Bible, 1917 Edition, p. 53). It is also significant that in keeping with what Dr. Scofield has
said, when Joseph was exalted by Pharaoh, he was given the name Zaphnath-paaneah, which was thought for
years to mean "a revealer of secrets." But Unger's Bible Dictionary tells us the name refers to Joseph as the
sustainer of life, with reference to his Divine call as a savior during famine. The title came, naturally, from
Joseph's providing bread for the nations, as in due time the One whom he prefigured would provide of Himself
the Bread of Life for hungering souls. Joseph's life can be divided into ten separate stages, and we will review it
in this light, noting also how his whole career prefigures that of Christ.
1. Joseph misunderstood (Genesis 37:2-11)
In this section, we have the matters already touched upon above mentioned as provocations to Joseph's brothers.
Note, there were three, (1) Jacob's favoritism toward Joseph, (2) Joseph's spotless character and his rebuke of
their tainted characters, and (3) Joseph's revelations concerning himself. Now note that these are the very things
that provided provocation against Christ for the men of His day (also sons of Jacob). It should be noted: (1) He
was misunderstood because of His relation to the Father (Matthew 3:16-17; 12:22-24; John 8:27-29,38-44); (2)
He was misunderstood because of His spotless character and rebukes toward sin (John 5:31-40; 7:14-25; 8:46),
and (3) He was misunderstood because of His revelations concerning Himself (John 8:53-58; Matthew 26:62-
68). We suggest you look for these things the next time you study the Gospel accounts. You could make a long
list of Scriptures for each category.
(7) Joseph is a prototype of ________________.
(8) For years, it was thought that the name Zaphnath-paaneah meant
(a) ___________________________________________, but, according to Unger's Bible
Dictionary, now we know that it means (b) _______________________________________.
(9) Joseph was misunderstood for three reasons:
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ____________________________________________________________________________________
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(10) The children of Jacob also reacted against Christ for three reasons:
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Joseph mistreated (Genesis 37:12-27; 39:1-4)
In this section, we have the sordid tale of Joseph's persecution by his own brothers. Although they did not
actually put him to death, they did, for all practical purposes as far as they were concerned, put an end to his
life. Notice their own testimony years later (Genesis 42:13, 21-23). Now notice that this prefigures Christ's
career exactly (John 1:11-13; Isaiah 50:6; 53; Zechariah 13:6; Matthew 26:47; 27:50; Acts 2:22-36; 1 Peter
2:21-25; and many others). It was His own "brethren" according to the flesh who mistreated Him and put Him
out of the way. Joseph's experience was a type of all this.
(11) Like Joseph, Christ was ________________ by his own brothers in the flesh.
(12) I have read the Biblical references of this section. (date) _________________
3. Joseph maligned (Genesis 39:5-23)
It is strikingly true that Joseph's troubles came very often as a result of his own spotless character. Of course,
the literal Joseph was not sinless, but he was of the very highest moral character. However, since the Holy Spirit
is using Joseph's life to paint a picture of the One who was to come, and who is sinless, he is presented to us in a
hagiographical manner; that is, without any mention of his weakness or sins. Thus, he gives us a perfect picture
of the One whom he prefigured.
In this section his very purity is made the occasion for accusations that were wholly false, but Joseph is made to
suffer for them (cf. 1 John 3:11-13; Matthew 12:7; 26:59-61).
(13) I have compared the Scripture references mentioned. (date) __________________________
(14) The problems of Joseph were because of _______.
a. his debts b. the jealousy of his brothers c. his irreproachable character
(15) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false:
(a) Joseph was without sin. ____________
(b) He was a sinner but of a very high moral standard. ____________
(c) His weaknesses are not mentioned. ____________
(d) He is a type of Christ. ____________
(16) Is there a price to be paid at times for one's testimony in school, the office, the
shop, or in the business world? ____________
4. Joseph mistaken (i.e., in one he trusted, Genesis 40:1-23)
Next, Joseph is disappointed by one who had every reason to love and help him. Again, he is made to experience
that which Christ Himself suffered when He said, Yea, mine own familiar friend . . . hath lifted up his heel
against me (Psalms 41:9; John 6:67-71; 13:18-30).
(17) I have read the Scripture references mentioned above. (date) _________________________
(18) According to Genesis 40:1-23, Joseph was (a) ___________________ by someone who had much
reason to (b) _______________________ him and (c) _____________________ him.
(19) Psalm 41:9, which says, Yea, mine own familiar friend, . . . hath lifted up his heel against
me refers to _________ . (See John 6:67-71)
a. the rejection of the Father b. the soldiers who crucified Him
c. the treason of Judas d. Jesus' brothers who did not love Him
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5. Joseph magnified (Genesis 41:14-49)
But like the One who was to come, after all his suffering, Joseph reached great prominence until there was not
one in the Kingdom as mighty as he except Pharaoh himself (1 Corinthians 15:25-28). Likewise, Jesus Christ,
after He had suffered for our sin, was exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 7:56; Philippians 2:5-11;
Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 10:10-14).
6. Joseph multiplied (Genesis 41:50-52)
Not until he is magnified does Joseph see of the travail of his soul and rejoice in bringing forth sons. So, it is
again with Christ (Isaiah 53:10; John 12:24; Hebrews 2:10). During this age, He is giving birth to many sons as
the result of His suffering and exaltation (John 1:13; 1 John 3:1-2).
(20) In steps five and six in the life of Joseph we see that he was (a) ______________________ and
(b) ____________________ respectively.
(21) Give the Biblical references that show that Christ was also:
(a) magnified ___________________________________________________________________________
(b) multiplied __________________________________________________________________________
7. Joseph ministering (Genesis 41:53-57)
Here also, Joseph is seen as a beautiful type of the Savior as he provides bread for hungry souls (Isaiah 55:1-2;
Matthew 14:15-21; John 6:26-35,48-58). Note: the picture is that we appropriate by faith ("eat") that which
gives us eternal life (Christ) just as we would eat that which is the staff of physical life–bread.
(22) The ministry of Joseph is the ________________ step of his life.

(23) What was the ministry of Joseph in providing for others, and how was this a type of Christ?____________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
8. Joseph merciful (Genesis 42-44)
Although his brethren had wickedly mistreated him and put him out of the way, Joseph graciously forgave
them, and although he dealt with them in a disciplinary way to bring them to repentance, he spared their lives
and supplied their needs. Joseph's own analysis of the matter is very revealing, But as for you, ye thought evil
against me; but God meant it unto good . . . (and notice the purpose) to save much people alive (Genesis 50:20).
Now, applying what we learned in God's Plan of the Ages, we will “rightly divide the word of truth.” The
interpretation must relate, therefore, to the nation of Israel, Christ's "brethren" after the flesh. They hated Him
and put Him to death, "thinking evil against Him," but God meant it for good. Read carefully the following
verses: Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:11-12; 5:30-31; 7:51-52; 13:38-49; Romans 11:1-12, 28-29.
The teaching of these verses is plain, that although the Jewish nation meant evil against Christ by putting Him
to death, God meant it for their own good and the good of the world unto salvation. And although it is the
Gentiles that are benefiting during this age, God is showing mercy toward Israel in that He will not destroy
them, but through many disciplines bring them to repentance.
(24) The eighth step in the life of Joseph was __________________.
(25) Genesis 50:20 teaches that although others work evil against us God is able to change it into blessing.
(True or False) ____________
(26) What is the teaching of Genesis 50:20 with respect to Christ? ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
52
9. Joseph made known (Genesis 45:1-46:28)
After seeing their sorrow over what they had done (and notice, as soon as they are under pressure, they
recognize that it is because of their cruelty to Joseph, Genesis 42:21), Joseph reveals his identity to them. What
an explosive moment that must have been. All of the extremes of fear, love, longing, guilt, bitterness, are mixed
together. Joseph is thus the perfect type of Him who will someday reveal Himself to His brethren (Zechariah
13:6) who are blind to His true identity (Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17; Romans 11:25-27; 1 Corinthians 2:8).
(27) In the ninth step of his life Joseph is a type of _____.

a. the one who shall come and shall reveal himself to his brothers
b. one who knows how to hide his identity
c. one who suffers great emotions
10. Joseph mourned (Genesis 46:29-30)
After the initial shock, the sons of Jacob return to their own people and proclaim that Joseph, whom they
wickedly sold, is alive and has forgiven them and invited them to come down to him. The mourning of old
Jacob is strongly suggestive of the day when, Israel shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall
mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son (Zechariah 12:10). In our later study of prophecy, we shall see
how this fulfills the prophetic feasts of Leviticus 23 and how the Day of Atonement is fulfilled in the mourning
over Messiah and national repentance for the wrongs done Him, and the Feast of Tabernacles, fulfilled as Israel
dwells with Him (of whom Joseph is only the shadow and a type) forever.
(28) According to Zechariah 12:10, the mourning of Jacob represents the day when Israel shall
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
C. Archaeological Notes of Interest
Critics of the Bible have claimed that many of the Bible books are actually forgeries, written by some man, or
group of men, at a much later date than the book purports to have been written and to which the name of the
Biblical author is affixed. Beginning as they do with this presupposition, every possible line of argument is
marshalled to disprove the genuine historical authorship of the book by the man whose name it bears. Evidence
for such a position is, however, often very thin, and when the critics have done their worst, little impression is
made upon the man who is familiar with the facts. Actually, archaeological discoveries over the past hundred
years have done much to disprove many of the theories of the early critics. Recent knowledge of Bible times has
revealed insights into the manners and culture of ancient peoples that were not known before. Then when we
see references to minute details which fit exactly into the cultural patterns of the time and people about whom
the Biblical writers wrote, it gives strong reason to accept the whole Bible as authentic and accurate in every
detail.
(29) The critics of the Bible have declared that many books of the Bible are false. (True or False) _______
(30) Upon comparing the details of the Bible times with the archaeological discoveries we can only conclude
that the Bible is authentic. (True or False) ____________
1. Joseph gets a shave
A case in point is the mention, in Genesis 41:14, that Joseph shaved himself before appearing in the presence of
Pharaoh. Discoveries in the land of Egypt have disclosed that while the Hebrew people considered the beard as
an ornament and regarded any insult to it as the last outrage which enmity could inflict, "the Egyptians . . . for
the most part, shaved the hair of the face and head, and compelled their slaves to do the like. The Egyptians
53
only left the hair of their head and beard grow, in mourning, being at all other times shaved. . .. Love of
cleanliness seems to have been the motive for this custom, and the priests carried this so far that they shaved the
whole body every three days" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 440). It seems doubtful that anyone not acquainted
with the customs of Egypt and writing at a time later than the time of Moses and with Hebrew background (for
remember they glorified in their beards) would have known these things.
(31) A case in point is when Joseph in Genesis 41:14 does what? __________________________
2. Joseph's wife
Joseph's wife is said to have been Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On. On is the ancient name for
Heliopolis and was located ten miles northeast of the modern city of Cairo. It was the center of the worship of
the sun god, Re. "Two magnificent red Cyrene granite obelisks set up by the great Thutmose III, 1490-1450
B.C. in front of the temple of Re (or Ra) in Heliopolis now adorn the Thames embankment in London and
Central Park in New York" (ibid., p. 810). Re was considered the greatest of the ancient gods. Joseph married
the daughter of the high priest of Re. (The more accurate date for Thutmose III is 1483-1450 B.C.)
(32) The wife of Joseph was (a) ________________, the daughter of (b) __________________________.
(33) What was the greatest god of the Egyptians? _________________________
The sun was only one of the many "gods" worshiped by the Egyptians. The Egyptians were pantheists; that is,
they equated God with His creation (Romans 1:21-23) and hence worshiped almost everything. Some of their
special deities were the Nile, the crocodile, the sacred bull, and the royal beetle, called the Egyptian Scarab. In
Exodus 12:12 God says, Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. We shall see then
that the plagues are significant, as mentioned in the last lesson, because they are actually God engaged in a
contest with the gods. A list of each plague and the god involved will be included in the next section.
(34) The Egyptians in their worship were ______.
a. monotheists b. polytheists c. Pantheists
3. Joseph's cup
In Genesis 44:5, Joseph refers to his cup as a cup of divination. It is quite plain that Joseph did not actually use
it for such, but was using a well-known practice among the Egyptians to completely deceive his brothers.
(35) The cup of Joseph is called a cup of ____________________, although it is quite plain that Joseph did not
actually use it for such a purpose.
Perhaps the most startling find that archaeologists have ever made was the excavation of the tomb of
Tutankhamen, King of Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty, and ruling about 1361-1352 B.C. The tomb was
entered only after 70,000 tons of sand and gravel had been carted away, and it was the only tomb ever opened in
which everything was found intact as left. The annex to the tomb had been broken into, but the tomb proper was
untouched.
Its importance to us is that "immediately in front of the doorway of the antechamber was an exquisite wishing
cup of semi-transparent calcite with lotus flower handles" (ibid.). The Egyptians used these cups by pouring
water into them, and then looking into them for representation of future events. Melted wax was also poured
into the water to help determine the will of the gods. Hence, archaeology has again added its testimony to the
accuracy and inerrancy of the Scriptures.
(36) The archaeological discoveries of a cup of divination in the tomb of (a) ________________
Proves the (b) ________________________ of the Scriptures.
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4. Spiritual lessons
As we read through the story, it seems quite often as if nothing else could possibly go wrong that had not
already gone wrong for God's people. The thought is expressed by Jacob in Genesis 42:36, all these things are
against me. But contrary to what seemed to be the case, we find as we come to the end of the story that all
things were indeed working in his behalf to bring him good. The history of Jacob and Joseph ought to make us
bold to lay hold on the promise of Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
(37) The story of Jacob and Joseph ought to give us confidence in the promise of God given to us in Romans
____________________.
(38) Memorize and then write from memory Romans 8:28. __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(39) (a) Believing in God's intervention in the life of Joseph, and knowing that Romans 8:28 promises His
intervention in our lives, how would you apply this great truth to the life and needs of one who might come
to you in great confusion about the inexplicable events of his life? ________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(b) Cite an illustration of an occasion in your own life when you took refuge in the fact that God was at work in
your life ordering all events for your good. ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Write, in order, the ten steps or periods of the life of Joseph.
(1) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(2) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(3) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(4) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(5) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(6) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(7) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(8) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(9) _______________________________________________________________________________________
(10) ______________________________________________________________________________________
Matching:
(11) _____ Zaphnath-paaneah a. the wife of Joseph
(12) _____ Joseph b. the sustainer or savior of life
(13) _____ Asenath c. a prototype of Christ
(14) _____ Egyptians d. high priest of Re
(15) _____ Potipherah e. pantheists
55
(16) What was the greatest temptation in the life of Joseph? _________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(17) Christ was rejected by the sons of Jacob for three reasons:
a. ____________________________________________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________________________________________
c. ____________________________________________________________________________________
(18) Who lifted up his heel against Christ? _______________________________________________________
(19) What does Genesis 50:20 teach us? _________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(20) Write Romans 8:28 from memory. _________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(Check your answers on Page 65)
Ill. REDEMPTION FROM EGYPT
A. The History of Israel in Egypt
In Genesis 15, God gave Abraham a prophetic vision in which He announced, Thy seed shall be a stranger in a
land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that
nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance (Genesis
15:13-14). The reason which God gave for this was, For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. In other
words God was allowing the sin and iniquity of the Canaanites to run its course, and then when the time came
for judgment, God would bring the nation He had prepared out of Egyptian bondage and use them to judge the
wickedness of Canaan. Thus, God's double purpose of judging the iniquity of the Canaanites when they had
sinned away their day of grace, and of making Israel a great nation, giving them the Land of Canaan for an
inheritance, would both be accomplished, and just at the proper time for each. How wonderful are the ways of
God. Truly, he shall judge among the nations. The Scripture for this lesson is found in Exodus 1:1-15:21; Psalm
105; 135; Acts 7.
(1) I have read the Biblical passages from this section. (date) ________________
Joseph began his prime ministership during the powerful Twelfth Dynasty in Egypt (approximately 1900-1750
B.C.). Exodus 12:40-41 tells us that Israel was in Egypt 430 years which would mean that Israel was settled in
Egypt in the year 1871 B.C. (See articles on Egypt, Exodus, and Joseph in Unger's Bible Dictionary.) The
Hyksos (foreign) kings began to reign in Egypt (1730-1570 B.C.). These kings were probably Hittites and
Semitics and were known as "Shepherd Kings." They were hated fiercely by the native Egyptians who finally
expelled them under Ahmose I, a native Egyptian ruler, and the first king of the Eighteenth Dynasty. It was the
Hyksos kings that made Egypt a great military empire introducing horses and chariots as accouterments of
warfare.
(2) Genesis 15:13-14 is a prophecy that God gave to Abraham concerning______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(3) The Hyksos kings that made Egypt a military empire were known as the ____________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
(4) It was the Hyksos that introduced (a) ________________________________ and
(b) _____________________________ with two wheels.
The Eighteenth Dynasty began about 1570 B.C. and in due time, There arose up a new king over Egypt
(Thutmose I, ca. 1526-1512 B.C.), which knew not Joseph (Exodus 1:8). It is natural that this king should fear
that the Hebrews, who were shepherds and Semites, might unite with invading forces, if the Hyksos kings
56
should try to regain the Egyptian throne. He therefore did all in his power to enslave these Hebrews and limit
their numbers. But as has always been the case, "this expedient did not produce the effects the monarch desired.
The more they were afflicted, the more this strange people grew and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty"
(Maclear, Old Testament History). God continued to honor His promise to Abraham, I will bless thee, and make
thy name great (Genesis 12:1-3).
Although many believe that Thutmose III was the Pharaoh of the oppression, it seems more in keeping with the
facts to suppose that the oppression actually began with Thutmose I (1526-1512 B.C.). Moses was 80 years old
when he was sent back to Egypt to deliver his people from bondage, and the Exodus took place in 1446-1445
B.C. so that a simple deduction would lead to the year 1526 as the time the oppression began.
History records that Thutmose III (1483-1450) was the great empire builder of the Egyptians. It was during this
dynasty that Tutankhamen, ruled for a short time (1361-1352 B.C.), whose tomb we mentioned in the last
lesson. An excellent idea of the culture of that time will be gained by reading the description found in The Dead
Sea Scrolls by Unger. Amenhotep II (1450-1425 B.C.) was the Pharaoh of the plagues and the Exodus.
(5) The Slavery of Israel in Egypt began under the reign of ______.
a. Tutankhamon b. Thutmose III c. Thutmose I d. Amenhotep
B. History of Moses
The circumstances surrounding Moses’ birth are clearly set forth in the Scripture for this lesson. It is quite
evident that the hand of Providence was superintending the whole affair. After Moses’ adoption by the daughter
of Pharaoh, he was trained for the highest office of the land and given every advantage that his time and
position could afford. Stephen says of him, And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was
mighty in words and in deeds (Acts 7:22). He was taught all that was known of "the science of that day in
arithmetic, writing, astronomy, medicine, and sacred symbolism" (Maclear). As regards his mighty "words and
deeds" we are told very little, but some have supposed him to have been commander of all the armies of Egypt
as he was almost certainly a member of the royal court whose opinions were held in highest esteem.
But some lessons were not taught in the curriculum of the Egyptian universities. The hard lessons of humility,
meekness, and dependence upon God could only be learned at the back side of the desert, where Moses fled
after his first abortive attempt at becoming Israel's deliverer. It was here, too, that he learned to live in the waste
howling wilderness, which would afterwards be his home as he led Israel for forty years through this same area.
(6) Name four subjects that Moses learned in Egypt.
(a) __________________________________ (b) _____________________________
(c) __________________________________ (d) _____________________________
(7) What lessons did God teach Moses in the desert? (a) ___________________________
(b) _________________________________ (c) ___________________________
(8) How long did Moses spend in the desert? _____________________________
(9) Are the above qualities of life considered necessary for one to serve God in the power of the Spirit today?
________
The call of Moses could consume a volume, and I trust you will read it slowly and thoughtfully. Any excuse
you may give God for not serving Him is certainly answered here. How wonderfully God works. The burning
bush not consumed is a picture of Israel, in the fire of oppression, yet not consumed. Moses’ interest to turn
aside to see this great sight was the beginning of his commission. God will not call us until we possess an
interest in the sin-oppressed multitudes of the world.
The New Scofield Reference Bible (1967 Edition), pages 74-75, outlines the objections of Moses and the
answers of God and you may follow that outline. Notice particularly the change which forty years in the desert
has made in Moses. He no longer supposed that his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand
57
would deliver them (Acts 7:25). He says, rather, "Who am I?" Here on the mount, Moses passed through the
same experience that Jacob met at Peniel. He had come to the end of himself and now it must be God's power
alone by which he will live. Not I, but Christ liveth in me (Galatians 2:20).
How wonderfully circumstances are moved to accomplish God's purpose. Moses is promised that Aaron will
accompany him into Egypt. It is probable that Moses and Aaron had not seen each other since the time of
Moses’ flight into Midian. Perhaps both wondered if the other was still alive. Then God graciously promises
Moses the assistance of Aaron and, at the same time, moves Aaron to go into the wilderness seeking for Moses.
What a happy reunion that was as Aaron told Moses of the condition of things in Egypt and Moses revealed to
Aaron his call and commission by God. Their reception by the elders of Israel is beautiful. And the people
believed . . . then they bowed their heads and worshipped (Exodus 4:31).
(10) The burning bush is a picture of ______.

a. God revealing himself to the plants b. Israel in affliction or oppression but not consumed
c. both of the above answers d. none of them
(11) Give the two objections of Moses and the answer of God according to the outline in The New
Scofield Reference Bible. Objection God's response
(a) _________________________; ________________________________
(b) _________________________; ________________________________
(12) Moses is not the only one called of God who offered excuses or objections to the call. Perhaps you have at
some time sensed the call, the urging of God to do this or that for Him, but there were those inward
objections to His leading. What are some of the excuses which you offered to God in the strength of the
flesh (hopefully they were later laid aside that you might do the will of the Lord)? Would you list some of
these objections? (A good spiritual exercise) _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
C. The Ten Plagues
As God had forewarned Moses, Pharaoh refused to allow Israel to go free. The compromises he offered we will
see later, but one important point about the plagues is often missed: "The ten plagues . . . have attained added
significance with the discovery that every one of them seemed particularly aimed at some phase of the religion
of the Egyptians. The deities of the Nile, the goddesses of the frog, the fly, and the cattle, the gods of medicine,
the elements, the sun, the fertility of the fields, and finally the goddess of birth, all suffered tremendous loss of
prestige in the minds of the extremely polytheistic Egyptians because of the plagues of Jehovah" (Henry M.
Morris, The Bible and Modern Science, Moody Press, Chicago, p. 92). Each of the plagues was aimed at
proving that Jehovah was indeed the God of Heaven and earth and that the gods of Egypt were mere idols
(Psalms 96:5). Jehovah says of these plagues, Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment (Exodus
12:12). The chart on the following page will help the student identify the plague with the particular Egyptian
deity involved.
Of course, there are many deep spiritual truths embodied in the plagues and especially the last plague, which we
cannot possibly uncover in this lesson. As regards the Passover, the lesson is, Christ, the Passover Lamb, is
slain for us and when we, by faith, accept His shed blood as the total remedy for our sins, the wrath of God will
pass over without harming us (see John 3:18; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:9;
Hebrews 9:22-28).
(13) How many plagues were there? __________________________
(14) What was the purpose of the plagues? _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
58
(15) According to Exodus 12:12, Jehovah would execute his judgments against all the
______________________________________________________________________________________.
(16) Who is the Passover Lamb for us? __________________________________
(17) How can the anger of God pass over us without hurting us? ______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
No. Nature of Plague Egyptian god Description

1 Water turned to Osiris "On the monuments he is called the god Nile, the life-giving father of
blood all that exists.” Blood, the symbol of death totally humiliated the
Exodus 7:14-25 first of the Egyptian deities.
2 Plague of Frogs Hekt, goddess Small Nile frog called Dofda. This goddess not only becomes an
Exodus 8:1-15 of the frog annoyance, but a putrefying stench over all of Egypt.
3 Plague of Lice All the gods Lice were considered the depth of defilement and since cleanliness
Exodus 8:16-19 was scrupulously practiced by Egyptians, and to enter a temple with
lice would be an abomination, all worship had to cease.
4 Plague of Flies Baal-zebub This god was worshipped under the image of the fly. His name
Exodus 8:20-32 signifies the "lord of the restless (Goshen exempt) ones" or "the
restless one." He is correctly identified with Satan in the New
Testament (see Matthew 12:24, also Job 1:7 and 1 Peter 5:8).
5 Cattle Murrain Mendes, sacred A loathsome disease that kills the cattle of the field and even those
Exodus 9:1-7 goat, and Apis, animals worshipped as living symbols of (Joshua 24:14; Exodus 32;
(Goshen exempt) these gods Ezekiel 20:5-10).
sacred calf
6 Boils and Blisters The priesthood The sprinkling of ashes was employed by the priests of pagan
Exodus 9:8-12 of the gods Egypt (as with pagan Roman Catholicism) as a sign of blessing.
(Goshen exempt) God turned their blessing into a curse of boils which not even the
magicians of the Egyptian cults could avoid.
7 Hail and Fire Isis and Osiris "The gods of fire and water were unable to protect Egypt even at a
Exodus 9:13-35 season when storms and rain were unknown (Angus Bible Handbook).
(Goshen exempt) "
8 Locusts Serapis “West winds might bring these enemies, but an East wind the
Exodus 10:1-20 Egyptians never fears.” (ibid). Now both the wind and their
(Goshen exempt) god failed them.
9 Darkness Re Re was the “chief of the gods” and was worshipped as “the sun
Exodus 10:21-29 god.” Pharaoh himself was considered the offspring of Re.
(Goshen exempt) Thus the mightiest of the gods was conquered.
10 Death of the All the gods The intention of this plague is stated clearly in Exodus 4:23.
firstborn Exodus Israel, Jehovah’s “firstborn,” had been persecuted, now
(Exodus 12:12) Jehovah, the Conqueror, of the gods of Egypt will slay the
11:1-12:29 (Those firstborn of all Egypt. All the gods together couldn’t protect
under the blood anyone in Egypt or in Goshen. Only the blood of the lamb
exempted) sufficed.
D. The Exodus
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Although Israel was a nation in bondage, and although they did not gain their freedom by an armed uprising,
but by the direct intervention of God, they nevertheless carried away from Egypt the spoils of a victorious army
(Exodus 12:35-36). The words translated "borrowed" and "lent" should be "asked" and "gave." There was no
intimation or expectation of these being returned. Egypt would gladly have paid them to leave.
Notice that a mixed multitude went up also with them (Exodus 12:38). Just as the tares among the wheat
(unsaved among professing Christians) so this mixed multitude caused heartbreak and trouble and were a
constant source of discontent.
Exodus 12:37 outlines the first step of Israel’s journey that was to consume the next forty years of their history.
Rameses or Raamses is a northeastern Egyptian city in the land of Goshen, first mentioned in Genesis 47:11.
Archaeology has fixed Raamses as the modern city of Tanis (Unger's Bible Dictionary). From there they
journeyed southeasterly to Succoth and then to Etham on the edge of the wilderness (Exodus 13:20). Southward
through the long stretch of desert they trekked until at last God brought them to Baal-zephon by the sea.
Surrounded by mountains on either side, the sea before them and the wilderness behind them, Pharaoh sent six
hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt in pursuit. Egypt had become a military power, and had
learned the use of the horse and chariot during the reign of the Hyksos kings. Now the full might of her military
strength, the army which Moses may well have once commanded, drew near in hot pursuit. At the last desperate
moment, God opened the sea and the Israelites went through which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned
(Hebrews 11:29).
That this was not the supposed "Reed Sea," a marshy stretch of land between the present Lake Timsah and the
Bitter Lake, (as is claimed by some expositors) may be seen by several facts. First, the area was not simply
"marshy" and then dried up by a strong wind. The waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on
their left. Secondly, the host of all Pharaoh's chariots and horses were not drowned in a "marsh," but in a body
of water. Finally, the traditional route is in perfect harmony with Israel's later trip south and also with the
topography of the area (i.e., mountains on both sides). A map of their journeys will be included in the next
section.
(18) According to Exodus 12:36, how were the Israelites able to "spoil" the Egyptians?
______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(19) According to Exodus 12:38 a __________________________________ went with Israel.
(20) Indicate the route the Israelites followed in the Exodus from Egypt.
(a) ___________________________ (b) ____________________________
(c) ____________________________ (d) ____________________________
(21) How many of Egypt's chosen chariots followed them? __________
(22) Give three reasons that confirm that the Red Sea was opened by the power of God.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
E. Spiritual Lessons
In the whole story of the Exodus, we have a clear picture of redemption. Redemption means to deliver out of
bondage, to buy back, to rescue. What God did for Israel as a nation, He has done for us as individuals who are
saved (Galatians 3:3; Hebrews 9:12; I Peter 1:18).
The two aspects of redemption are also seen. At Calvary, Christ redeems us by paying the ransom price for all
our sins (Revelation 5:9; 1 John 2:2). At conversion, the Holy Spirit powerfully delivers us from the bondage
and habit of sin and gives us a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 2:14).
60
Israel was thus redeemed by the Passover blood, and powerfully delivered at the crossing of the Red Sea. Egypt,
which is in Scripture a type of this present world system (1 John 2:15-16), was left behind.
(23) In the Exodus we see a clear picture of ___________________.
(24) Write the two aspects of redemption.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
F. The Compromises
The compromises offered by Pharaoh are another tremendous spiritual lesson in this section. In each one,
Pharaoh tried to retain something of a hold on Israel so as to eventually bring them back under bondage. Moses
wisely declined all such compromises. There was to be a complete break. As Richie remarks, "Satan has no
objection to any man adopting a religion that keeps him as a decent worldling . . . worldly religion embraces
everything, and condemns nothing but wholeheartedness for Christ." If you still hold on to anything in this
world, eventually Satan will draw you back into bondage. The true Christian should be able to sing,
He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.
(25) What two spiritual lessons do we glean for our life from the compromises suggested by Pharaoh?
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(26) I have studied carefully the chart on the plagues. (date) _________________
(1) What prophecy did God give to Abraham in Genesis 15:13-14? ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(2) Slavery of Israel in Egypt began under the reign of _______________________.
(3) Enumerate the lessons that Moses learned in the desert.
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(4) The purpose of the plagues was _____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(5) The Pharaoh of the plagues was ______________________________________ who reigned approximately
from 1450 to 1425 B.C.
Matching:
(6) ______ water to blood a. all the gods
(7) ______ frogs b. Serapis
(8) ______ lice c. Osiris
(9) ______ flies d. Hekt
(10) _____ cattle murrain e. Mendes
(11) _____ boils f. Isis and Osiris
(12) _____ hail and fire g. priesthood of the gods
(13) _____ locusts h. Baal-zebub
(14) _____ darkness i. Re
(15) _____ death of firstborn
61
(16) What route did the Israelites use when leaving Egypt?
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(d) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(17) The Exodus is a clear picture of ______________________________________.
(18) What spiritual lesson does the Passover have for us? ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(19) The two aspects of redemption are (a) __________________________________ and
(b) _________________________________________________________.
(20) The compromises of Pharaoh teaches what two lessons?
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
Pre-Test
syllabus.
(1) One of the heirs of the promise made to Abraham, who met his wife upon returning from a well, was
________________________________.
(2) The sons of Isaac were: (a) ______________ whose name means (b) __________________ and
(c) _____________ which means (d) _____________________.
(3) What does the birthright confer upon the one possessing it?
(a) _______________________________________________________________________________
(b) _______________________________________________________________________________
(c) _______________________________________________________________________________
(4) To Jacob, another heir of the promise, God confirmed the covenant with Abraham at _____________.
Write in order the ten steps or periods of the life of Joseph in relation to Christ:
(5) __________________________________________________________________________________
(6) __________________________________________________________________________________
(7) __________________________________________________________________________________
(8) __________________________________________________________________________________
(9) __________________________________________________________________________________
(10) _________________________________________________________________________________
(11) _________________________________________________________________________________
(12) _________________________________________________________________________________
(13) _________________________________________________________________________________
(14) _________________________________________________________________________________
(15) What was God's purpose of the plagues? ________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
62
Matching:
(16) _____ all the gods a. water to blood
(17) _____ Serapis b. frogs
(18) _____ Osiris c. lice
(19) _____ Hekt d. flies
(20) _____ Mendes e. cattle murrain
(21) _____ Isis and Osiris f. boils
(22) _____ priesthood of the gods g. hail and fire
(23) _____ Baal-zebub h. locusts
(24) _____ Re I. darkness
j. death of firstborn
(25) A clear picture of redemption is ______________________________________.

History: Part III.” and give special attention to those areas of study that you do not completely understand.
Find the test in the Test Booklet titled, “Old Testament History: Part III.” You may NOT use your notes or
the Bible when taking the test. The tests may be mailed individually, in groups, or altogether when you finish
the Unit. Please mail the tests in the way that is cheapest and most convenient for you.
63
ANSWER KEY: OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY – PART III
I. HEIRS OF THE SAME PROMISE
(1) false
(2) Eliezer
(3) (a) the Holy Spirit (b) the Church (c) Christ
(4) d
(5) Nahor
(6) Laban
(7) wells
(8) Lahai-roi
(9) a
(10) enlargement
(11) the red one
(12) supplanter
(13) a mess of pottage, or lentils
(14) (a) given a double portion of his father’s goods (b) given headship over family
(c) inherited the place of religious leader
(15) yes
(16) false
(17) true
(18) true
(19) Bethel
(20) Haran
(21) fourteen
(22) ten
(23) the older daughter of Laban
(24) to make Jacob possessor of all that Laban had
(25) Bethel
(26) yes
(27) Peniel
(28) (a) Israel (b) prince with God
(29) b
(30) (your own answer–you may have included these:) (a) the sin of Dinah
(b) the sin of Simeon and Levi (c) the shame of Judah
(31) for our warning
REVIEW
(1) e
(2) c
(3) b
(4) d
(5) a
(6) the Church
(7) the Holy Spirit
(8) (a) the eldest son was given a double portion of his father’s goods
(b) given headship over family (c) inherited the place religious leader
(9) b
(10) false
64
(11) true
(12) false
(13) false
(14) true
II. THE PATRIARCHS IN EGYPT
(1) by making him a coat of many colors
(2) Rachel
(3) c
(4) thirteen
(5) forget God's early promises and assume that they would never be fulfilled
(6) light of the exalted position
(7) Christ
(8) (a) a revealer of secrets (b) sustainer of life
(9) (a) because of Jacob’s favoritism toward Joseph
(b) Joseph's spotless character and his rebuke of their tainted characters
(c) Joseph's revelations concerning himself
(10) (a) because of His relation to the Father (b) His spotless character and rebukes toward sin
(c) His revelations concerning Himself
(11) mistreated
(14) c
(15) (a) false (b) true (c) true (d) true
(16) yes
(18) (a) disappointed (b) love (c) help
(19) c
(20) (a) magnified (b) multiplied
(21) (a) Acts 7:56; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 10:10-14 (b) John 1:13; 1 John 3:1-2
(22) seventh
(23) he provided bread for hungry souls; Christ is the Bread of Life which we eat by faith
(24) mercy
(25) true
(26) although the Jewish nation meant evil against Christ, God used it for their own good
(27) a
(28) cry for the Messiah when there will be national repentance for their evil against Him
(29) true
(30) true
(31) shaves
(32) (a) Asenath (b) Potipherah, priest of On
(33) Re (or) Ra
(34) c
(35) divination
(36) (a) King Tutankhamen (b) accuracy
(37) 8:28
(38) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called
according to his purpose.
(39) (a) have supervisor check your answer (b) have supervisor check your answer
REVIEW
(1) misunderstood
65
(2) mistreated
(3) maligned
(4) mistaken
(5) magnified
(6) multiplied
(7) ministering
(8) merciful
(9) made known
(10) mourned
(11) b
(12) c
(13) a
(14) e
(15) d
(16) to forget God's early promises and assume they would never be fulfilled
(17) (a) because of His relation to the Father (b) His spotless character and rebukes toward sin
(c) His revelations concerning Himself
(18) Judas
(19) that although the Jewish nation meant evil against Christ, God used it for His own good
(20) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called
according to his purpose.
III. REDEMPTION FROM EGYPT
(2) the slavery of Israel in a foreign land
(3) Shepherd Kings
(4) (a) horses (b) chariots
(5) c
(6) any four of the following: (a) science (b) arithmetic (c) writing
(d) astronomy (e) medicine (f) sacred symbolism
(7) (a) humility (b) meekness (c) dependence upon God
(8) 40 years
(9) yes
(10) b
(11) (a) unbelief of the people; signs of the rod, the land, the river
(b) lack of eloquence; appointment of Aaron as spokesman
(12) no need to show supervisor your answer
(13) ten
(14) to prove that in truth Jehovah was God of Heaven and earth and that the gods of the Egyptians were only idols
(15) gods of Egypt
(16) Christ
(17) when by faith we apply the blood shed by Christ as a remedy for our sins
(18) they asked and were given
(19) mixed multitude
(20) (a) Raamses (b) Succoth (c) Etham (d) Baal-Zephon
(21) 600
(22) (a) the waters were walls on the right and left (b) the Egyptians drowned
(c) the traditional route is in perfect harmony with the topography of the land
(23) redemption
(24) (a) at Calvary Christ redeemed us by paying the ransom price of all our sins
(b) at our conversion the Holy Spirit delivers us from the bondage and the habit of sin and gives us a new life
66
(25) (a) total separation (there needs to be a complete break from the world)
(b) if you hold on to anything in this world, eventually Satan will draw you back into bondage
REVIEW
(1) that Israel would be in slavery in a foreign land
(2) Thutmose I
(3) (a) humility (b) meekness (c) dependence upon God
(5) Amenhotep II
(6) c
(7) d
(8) a
(9) h
(10) e
(11) g
(12) f
(13) b
(14) i
(15) a
(16) (a) Raamses (b) Succoth (c) Etham (d) Baal-Zephon
(17) redemption
(18) Christ the Passover Lamb is slain for us–He is the remedy for our sins
(19) (a) at Calvary Christ redeemed us by paying the ransom price for all our sins
(b) at our conversion the Holy Spirit delivers us from the bondage and the habit of sin and gives us a new life
(20) (a) total separation (there needs to be a complete break from the world)
(b) if you hold on to anything in this world, eventually Satan will draw you back into bondage
PRE-TEST
(1) Isaac
(2) (a) Esau (b) the red one (c) Jacob (d) supplanter
(3) (a) given a double portion of his father’s goods (b) given headship over family
(c) inherited the place of religious leader
(4) Bethel
(5) misunderstood
(6) mistreated
(7) maligned
(8) mistaken
(9) magnified
(10) multiplied
(11) ministering
(12) merciful
(13) made known
(14) mourned
(16) c, j
(17) h
(18) a
(19) b
(20) e
(21) g
(22) f
(23) d
(24) i
(25) the Exodus
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OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART IV
FROM THE EXODUS TO THE JUDGES
OBJECTIVES OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART IV
The completion of Old Testament History: Part IV you should enable you to:
* List the basic principles of all Bible study.
* Complete tracing the Exodus journey on the map started in Part III.
* Explain how the Promised Land was conquered and divided.
* Apply the spiritual lessons learned from the Period of the Judges.
* Name the three important events that occurred in the Sinai.
GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART IV

1. Manna: A miracle food that God provided to feed the Israelites while in the desert.
2. Principle: A base, a foundation upon which something rests. In this part we are considering principles in
Bible study.
3. Sojourn: A traveling in strange lands without a fixed goal.
4. Tabernacle: Among the Israelites it was the tent which housed the Ark of the Covenant.
5. Terephim: Homemade idols, usually in human form.
6. Type: A term which means "similarity." A symbol, object, act, or institution representing a spiritual truth.
7. Unbelief A lack of faith, or refusal to believe something.
Part IV.
Section I - Exodus 15-19; Numbers 11-36; Deuteronomy 31-34
(optional: Exodus 20-31; Deuteronomy–entire Book)
Section II - Joshua 1-24
Section III - Judges; Ruth; I Samuel 1-7
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART IV

I. FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN
In Part III, we saw how Israel was redeemed out of Egypt by the blood of the Passover lamb and by the power
of God at the Red Sea. Part IV will cover the next forty years of Israel's history. Their journeys during this
period may be traced on the map on page 86. The Scripture for this Part is found in Exodus 15-19; 32; Numbers
11-36; Deuteronomy 31-34. These passages are the essential historical portions. If time permits, the student
should read Exodus 20-31 and all of Deuteronomy.
(1) I have read the Scripture for this section. (date) _____________
The principles of all true Bible study should be observed here. In every passage of Scripture, there are two
things which must be observed:
1. The primary, historical interpretation

2. The many spiritual applications
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Remember, as you read, that these events were literal happenings in the history of Israel–this is "the primary
interpretation." Then look for the lessons that may be learned from the events that can apply to your own life–
these are the many spiritual applications. We will suggest some of the applications and spiritual truths taught by
these events as we go along.
(2) What are the two basic principles of all Bible study?
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
A. From the Sea to Sinai
Exodus 15 opens with a song. But only three days later there is the murmuring of rebellion heard in the camp.
You will notice that this is the set pattern. It usually began with the mixed-multitude, and then spread quickly to
the children of Israel. Murmuring or complaining is a sin because it forgets the past goodness of God, despises
the present faithfulness of God, and denies the future promises of God. Israel's needs were met in spite of the
murmuring, but she always missed the blessing of joyfully trusting Him who never fails.
Marah (see map, p. 9) has its spiritual lessons. Israel was marching in the will of God, demonstrating the fact
that there are bitter experiences to be faced even in the center of God's will. But the tree, symbolizing the Cross,
made even the bitter experiences sweet. Scofield says, "The 'tree' is the cross (Galatians 3:13), which became
sweet to Christ as the expression of the Father's will (John 18:11)" (Scofield Reference Bible, 1917 Edition, p.
89). Our bitter experiences also become sweet when we take them as coming from the loving hand of the One
who chastens us only for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. After Marah there is Elim–
blessing and rest.
(3) What did Israel do after three days? ______________________

(4) Why is murmuring or complaining sin? _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(5) What is the meaning of the names of these two places?
(a) Marah: ______________________________________________________________________________
(b) Elim: _______________________________________________________________________________
Hunger now produces more murmuring (read the passage and note what Moses says about murmuring). God, in
answer, gives this thankless and complaining people quail in the evening and the following day, manna. There
is no satisfactory explanation for the manna except that it was simply a miraculous provision which God made
to feed his people. It lasted from this time on for the next forty years (Exodus 16:35). The manna is a type of
Christ, the Bread from Heaven, and many wonderful lessons may be learned by prayerfully studying the
references given on page 91 of the Scofield Reference Bible (1917 Edition).
The giving of the quail and water are incidents which are repeated later during Israel's journey in the wilderness.
The quail became a curse to Israel at Kibrothhattaavah (see the verse on the map, p. 9) and the water from the
rock became the occasion of Moses' sin that shut him out of the Land of Promise (Numbers 20:10-12; see map,
p. 9). The spiritual lesson here is found in 1 Corinthians 10:4 (see also Isaiah 55:1-3; John 4:10; 6:35; 7: 37-39;
Revelation 22:17).
(6) God sent quail and manna because of _______.

a. the good conduct of the people b. the murmuring and hunger of the people c. the hunger of the people.
(7) Of whom is the manna a type? _________________________
(8) The manna fell continuously for ________________ years.
69
Israel encountered her first armed opposition at Rephidim when she was attacked from the rear by Amalek
(Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Amalek thus becomes a spiritual picture of our fleshly nature, always ready to attack
from behind in an unguarded moment (Romans 7:18; Galatians 5:17-24; James 1:13-15; 4:1). We must be
continually at war with this enemy and never call a truce until we are at last set free from its presence at Christ's
coming.
When Moses went into Egypt, like many men since who have unswervingly answered the call of God, he
experienced domestic problems. He therefore obeyed God and left his rebellious wife and children in Midian
(Exodus 4:25-26). In Exodus 18, his wife rejoins him. Notice here the reference again to Jehovah's victory over
the gods of Egypt, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them (Exodus 18:11). This confession
comes from Jethro, a heathen priest. Moses also receives counsel from Jethro concerning the efficient handling
of public relations, but apparently this “departmentalization" never worked. In Numbers 11:14-17, Jehovah
entirely ignored this worldly-wise organization, substituting His own order.
(9) Amalek is a spiritual picture of _____________________________________________, always ready to

attack from behind in an unguarded moment.
(10) In which part of the desert had Moses previously lived? __________________
This brings Israel to the mountains of Sinai, deep in the Sinai Peninsula. Here they received the Law, and the
remainder of the Book of Exodus is largely given over to this theme. First, the three parts of the Law are
delivered, and then the Tabernacle is erected. Thirdly, this is the place where Aaron set up the golden calf, so
reminiscent of the gods of Egypt which Jehovah had defeated. Notice they worshiped Jehovah, who had
forbidden all idolatry, via the golden calf, a feast to the Lord (Exodus 32:5). But such is idolatry! Rome still
professes to worship Jesus Christ via a crucifix and the image of Mary in plain defiance of God's command
(Exodus 20:4-5). The usual immorality which always accompanies idolatry was not wanting (Exodus 32:6,25).
The whole orgy ended in tragedy and death, and, but for the advocacy of Moses, all Israel would have been
destroyed (Exodus 32:9- 14). Moses' love for this rebellious people should be a continual challenge to us who
so quickly lose patience with our fellow believers. We need to consider him who, like Christ, endured such
contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we give up in the little trials we are called upon to face.
(11) Name three important events that occurred in the Sinai.

(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(12) Idolatry is always accompanied by __________________________________.
B. From Sinai to Kadesh-barnea
The Book of Leviticus is concerned entirely with the tribe of Levi (from which the name, Leviticus comes) and
the family of Aaron, the Tabernacle sacrifices, and the priesthood. All of this is full of deep spiritual
significance and is a rewarding study for those who are prepared to spend the hours of prayerful study necessary
to master it. It is not, however, properly a part of the historical survey and we must therefore pass it by until
later. Portions of Leviticus will be covered, however, in the course on prophecy.
Numbers 1-10 inclusive outlines the families of Israel and the order of the host and various other regulations. In
Numbers 10:11-12, Israel leaves the encampment at Sinai to go into the wilderness of Paran. Chapter 13 brings
Israel at last to Kadesh-barnea. The very name Kadesh-barnea strikes a minor cord in the heart of the child of
God. It is the name of infamy worse even than Pearl Harbor, Yalta, or Panmunjom. It was meant to be the
golden gate to the Promised Land, but it became, instead, the Waterloo of defeat to the millions of Israel. It has,
ever since, been the symbol of opportunities missed, dreams dashed, and hopes banished. Spiritually it stands
70
for the failure of the believer to enter into the land of victory and blessing, doomed to wander on in spiritual
defeat, totally lacking the joy of salvation (Romans 8:6; Galatians 6:7-8). It also stands for that place of no
return, where the sinner, who knows the way of salvation, turns his back and wanders away forever to eternal
doom (Hebrews 3:7-4:2). Even Calvary with all its horror became a place of victory and joy because there
Christ defeated Satan and all his hosts through His death. There He has set free the millions, who, through the
years, have come in repentance and faith to the Cross, but Kadesh-barnea stands forever as the place of defeat
and death.
(13) Upon leaving the Sinai the people of Israel passed through the desert of (a) _______________________
and finally arrived at (b) ___________________________.
(14) Which book speaks entirely of the tribe of Levi, of the family of Aaron, of the Tabernacle, of the sacrifices,
and of the priesthood? ____________________
(15) Spiritually Kadesh-barnea stands for the failure of (a) ______________________________ for the
believer and (b)____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________ for the unbeliever. It stands as a place of
(c) _______________________ and (d) _____________________.
Note that the spies were not God's idea (Deuteronomy 1:22). They were permitted by God and, in His
permissive will, directions were given concerning the sending of the spies, but they indicated the unbelief of the
people. Why should they send spies to “see if the land be good” when God had said it was a good land . . .
flowing with milk and honey? Why send spies to see if they could take a land which God had said I give unto the
children of Israel? Their unbelief was the cause of their defeat and you will notice now that all those twenty
years of age and over had nothing to look forward to for the next thirty-eight years but–death! Only when the
last one died (except Caleb and Joshua), did Israel go in and possess the land.
(16) The idea of sending spies came from ________.

a. the people b. Moses c. God d. Jethro
(17) The sending of spies indicates the ___________________ of the people.
(18) Of the entire nation of Israel which left Egypt, the only two adults God allowed to enter the Promised Land
were (a)_____________ and (b)_____________.
C. From Kadesh-barnea to the Death of Moses

The next thirty-eight years of Israel's history are covered by the next six chapters of Numbers (15-20). The
events are noted on the map on page 9 and in the text, so we will not relate them here.
In Numbers 21, Israel stopped wandering and began marching. Aaron's death signaled the end of the weary
years of wandering, and a time of victory begins, interrupted only by the tragic incident of the serpents
(Numbers 21:3-9; John 3:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Grace is shown forth as Balaam, the hireling prophet, finds
himself unable to curse the children of God (see the Scofield note #2, p. 198–this is very important here).
Midian is later judged (Numbers 31) and Balaam killed (vs. 8).
Deuteronomy includes the last sermons of Moses and the Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 27-30). It also
includes the choice of Joshua to lead Israel, and the narrative of Moses' death. If it be wondered why Joshua was
chosen, and why he was such a great leader, Exodus 33:7-11 may provide the best explanation. God must work
in us, before He can work through us!
(19) Which book covers the thirty-eight remaining years of the history of Israel in the desert? __________
(20) The years of sojourneying ended with _______________________________.
(21) Who succeeded Moses after his death? ______________________________
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(22) Why was Joshua a great leader? ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
D. Archaeological Data
On February 15-16, 1940, before Justice Benjamin Shallech in Part 29, First District, of the Municipal Court of
the City of New York, Dr. Harry Rimmer, then President of the Research Science Bureau, which organization
offered $1,000 for proof of any scientific error in the Bible, was put on trial as the defendant in a suit. This
particular suit was brought against him by one William Floyd for default of the payment of the said $1,000 after
"proof" of scientific error in the Scriptures. The court listened to testimony for two days, while the prosecution
raised fifty-three points against the Bible (of which they needed to prove only one to win the case). At the end,
the case was dismissed for want of any such proof (That Lawsuit against the Bible, Harry Rimmer).
The importance here, however, is that much of the case was built around the record of the quail in Numbers
11:31-33. It was claimed by the prosecution that this narrative taught that "there were 2,992 square miles of
quail, 44 inches high, surrounding the camp, and that 2,000,000 children of Israel had to go out there and pick
up 85 quail a second and after 36 hours of this hard work, each of the children of Israel had to drag 2,000,085
quail home with him as his share. They said the whole story was so preposterous that no one but a
fundamentalist would believe it.” (The Bible Defeats Atheism, James E. Bennett, Lawyer). As Lawyer Bennett
remarks, "the Free Thinkers were certainly thinking freely." The note in the Scofield Reference Bible (1917
Edition, p. 182) says, "the correct rendering is, 'about two cubits above the face of the earth,' that is, within
reach of the people that they might slay them for food. The statement is not that the quail were piled up from the
earth two cubits deep. The level of their flight was two cubits above the earth." This explanation satisfied the
judges and won a court trial against atheism, which leads us to observe this: that no man knows enough to
question the Word of God.
(23) What is the explanation of the account of the quail in Numbers 11:31-33?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(1) The two basic principles of all Bible study are:
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(2) Three days after having crossed the Red Sea, Israel sinned against God by______________________.
(3) Manna is a type of __________________________.
(4) The important events at Sinai were:
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(5) Kadesh-barnea ought to have been the golden gate to ___________________________________________.
(6) At the end of the thirty-eight years of sojourning, only (a) ___________________ and
(b) __________________________ entered the Promised Land.
(7) Who succeeded Moses? _________________________
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On the map below indicate the following by inserting the appropriate number.
(8) the crossing of the Red Sea (9) Marah (10) Elim
(11) Mount Sinai (12) the Desert of Paran (13) Kadesh-barnea
(14) the Mediterranean Sea (15) the Desert of Shur (16) Midian
(17) the wanderings

II. THE LAND CONQUERED AND DIVIDED
In the last section, we left Israel on the plains of Shittim on the east side of the Jordan River opposite the city of
Jericho. The land on the east side of Jordan had now been subdued through the defeat of Sihon, the King of the
Amorites, and Og, King of Bashan. Balaam, the hireling prophet, "who taught Israel to sin" was destroyed with
the Midianites with whom he had gone to dwell after his futile attempt to curse Israel. His wicked heart led him
to throw such a stumbling block before Israel, that even the people of God came near to destruction. Baal-peor
was the annual feast of the Moabite god, Chemosh, and was accompanied by the most immoral and licentious
rites imaginable. It was these that Israel became involved in, to her own destruction (Numbers 25:1-18).
73
At Nebo, Moses died and was buried by the hand of God. Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had
gotten permission to dwell on this side Jordan eastward, on the condition that they march with the rest of Israel
and assist in the conquest of the land west of Jordan.
Then came the command, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this
people, unto the land which I do give them (Joshua 1:2). The Scripture for this section is Joshua 1-24.
(1) I have read Joshua 1-24. (date) _________________________
(2) Which kings did Israel conquer on the east side of the Jordan?
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
(3) Baal-peor was _________________________________________________.
(4) Moses died at _________________________________________________.
A. Joshua Takes Command
And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the
congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out,
and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd. And
the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand
upon him (Numbers 27:15-18). Unger says of Joshua, "It is difficult to form an estimate of Joshua's character,
because the man is overshadowed by the very greatness of the events in which he is placed. And yet this is not a
dishonor to him, but a glory; a lesser man would have been seen and heard more. His life, though recorded with
fullness of detail, shows no stain" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 611).
In the last section, we noted that Joshua's successes seem to have been the result of his waiting upon God
(Exodus 33:11). He served Moses faithfully as his "minister" (as the British would say, "his man"), and is thus
rewarded with the place of authority. He that hast been faithful over a few things, I will make . . . ruler over
many things.
Joshua had doubtless depended heavily upon Moses for direction. Only with Moses did God speak mouth to
mouth (Numbers 12:6-8). Now, above all else, he needed courage and the assurance that God was indeed with
him. In Joshua chapter 1, count the times he is exhorted to be courageous and assured of God's help. Joshua
showed himself a man of vigorous and courageous action from the beginning of his command. His very first act
was to give the people "three days provision" for the march, and exhort them to courage.
(5) God chose Joshua to be the successor of Moses. (True or False) _______________
(6) It appears that the great success of Joshua is accounted for by his great intelligence. (True or False) _______
(7) Joshua depended much on Moses. (True or False) _______________
(8) In Joshua 1, how many times was Joshua exhorted to be valiant and how many times did God assure
him of his help? _______________________________
(9) What type of man did Joshua prove himself to be? ______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
B. The Three Campaigns (see map, p. 75)
The Land was conquered chiefly by three swift campaigns carried out by Joshua under the direction of Jehovah.
You will notice that Joshua used the blitzkrieg methods applied so successfully by the German army in World
War II. His practice was to march all night to hide his movements from enemy reconnaissance, and then–
suddenly appearing as if from nowhere in the early hours of the morning–he would win a striking victory.
(10) With how many campaigns did Joshua conquer the land? _____________________
(11) What tactic did Joshua use in his campaigns? _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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1. The Land cut in two (follow line 1 on the map)
After the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, which made the hearts of the inhabitants of the Land to melt (and it
took some time for the shock of the whole event to wear off), Joshua used the time gained to sanctify the people
(Joshua 5:1-10; cf. Exodus 4:24-26). Jericho was taken in one short week, once again through the intervention
of God (we will have more to say about this later), and then Ai, a few days later. From Ai, Joshua marched the
people north to Shechem, where Joseph's bones were deposited as requested (Genesis 50:24-25), and here, on
Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, the people reaffirmed their obedience to the Law of Moses.
From Shechem they moved southwestward to Gilgal and made camp. This was the end of the first campaign,
and it had effectively cut the Land in two in the middle. It was here at Gilgal that the Gibeonites (a confederacy
of city-states) made their unscrupulous league with the Israelites, who were completely fooled by their trickery.
It is worthy of note that while some prefer "sight" to "faith," it was the "sight" of the victuals that tricked the
Israelites. Had they gone by faith, asking counsel of the Lord, the mistake would never have occurred.
(12) In his first campaign Joshua conquered the cities of (a) _____________ and (b) _________.
(13) Name the two mountains at Shechem where the people reaffirmed their obedience to the Law of
Moses. (a) _________________________ b) _______________________________
(14) Where was the first campaign finalized? ______________________________
(15) Who made an alliance with the Israelites in Gilgal? _____________________
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2. The South conquered (follow line 2 on the map)
No sooner had news of Gibeon's league with Israel reached the ears of Adoni-zedec, King of Jerusalem, than he
acted at once to form an alliance with the southern kings and come against Gibeon, at least eliminating this
source of potential trouble. The location of some of these cities is unknown, but you will get a general picture
by looking at the map.
How faithfully Joshua kept his word, even though it was obtained through trickery. With one of his famous
"night marches" Joshua came unto them suddenly at Gibeon. The battle turned into a rout and the kings of the
South fled down the valley of Ajalon apparently sometime in the afternoon. Now with the fervor of a warrior
and the faith of a child, Joshua asked of God the most daring request ever made of the Almighty--and he was
not refused, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still,
and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book
of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there
was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought
for Israel (Joshua 10:12-14). Not only did God lengthen the day, but slew more of Israel's enemies with hail
stones than Israel slew with their swords. Because of this tremendous miracle, the retreating armies of the South
were destroyed and the whole southern confederacy was broken. Follow the progress of the army in the text and
on the map.
(16) In the second campaign the Land was divided in two. (True or False) _______________
(17) Against whom did Joshua fight in the second campaign? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(18) What was the most daring request made by Joshua? ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. The northern powers broken (follow line 3 on the map)
The northern confederacy was the strongest of all. It consisted of six nations of widely different people who
were well-equipped for war. This time, the infantry of Israel met the horses and chariots of the Hittites and
people even as the sand that is upon the seashore. Had Israel been forced to face this formidable array of force
at the beginning, no doubt their courage would have melted away, but now, hardened and disciplined by years
of fighting, they made a forced march (probably at night again), and attacked the hosts of the North suddenly at
the waters of Merom. The result was just as miraculous as before, although the supernatural was not as much in
evidence. Israel defeated this combined and well-armed host, and chased them to Zidon on the west, and to the
valley of Mizpeh on the east. "In six years, Joshua was master of the whole land from Mount Halak, at the
ascent of Mount Seir on the south, to Baalgod, under Mount Hermon, on the north. His conquests were six
nations, with thirty-one kings, including the Anakim, the old terror of Israel (Joshua 11:1- 12:24, Unger's Bible
Dictionary, p. 610).
(19) In his third campaign Joshua fought against the ___________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________.
(20) The supernatural in the victory against this formidable army was just as evident as before.
(True or False) _______________
(21) How many nations did Joshua conquer and in what length of time? __________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
C. Dividing the Land
The division of the Land was accomplished with a twofold device. First, certain individuals were permitted to
inherit that which they could subdue and conquer (Joshua 14:6-13). Secondly, and most unusually, the Land
was divided by the casting of the sacred lot before the Tabernacle, now permanently located at Shiloh. The
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Land was surveyed by a party of twenty-one men (Joshua 18:4-6) and then parceled off by lot to the seven
remaining tribes.
The Levites received no inheritance as a tribe, but were given forty-eight cities and their suburbs (Joshua 21:41)
from the inheritance of all the tribes. Levi's portion was to be the sacrifices of the children of Israel.
Finally, there were the cities of refuge (read Numbers 35), where one who had accidentally killed a person
could flee for judgment and protection. There were three of these on each side of the Jordan, six in all, located
so that the man slayer could flee to one near at hand. The small insert map (p. 89) shows the division of the
Land by tribes and the cities of refuge.
(22) How was the Land divided? (a) ____________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(23) The tribe of Levi received double inheritance. (True or False) _______________
(24) What was the function of the cities of refuge? _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
D. Archaeological Data
There are a number of things in this lesson which comparative history and archaeological findings have helped
to clarify.
1. The destruction of the Canaanites
The brutal annihilation of the people of Canaan by the Israelites has been the cause of much criticism even by
certain preachers who regard it as completely unwarranted and wicked. They reason that a God of love could
not possibly have ordered such a thing. As a result, they threw a question mark on the inspiration of the Word of
God and judge themselves as being of higher morality than Jehovah. Here archaeology has been of tremendous
assistance. Those who are children of faith have always said, "God must have had a reason." Now, through the
findings of the archaeologist, we know the reason.
The whole religious system of the Canaanites was idolatrous. But, worse, they seemed to have had a remarkable
affinity for the gods of sex and reproduction. Prostitution and homosexuality were elevated to religious rites,
and immorality and disease were rampant. Unger says, "Fertility cults nowhere controlled people more
completely than in Canaan. When Israel entered Palestine, the Canaanites were in the last stages of degradation
as the result of centuries of worshiping degrading deities. The only safe recourse for the virile Bedouin from the
wilderness was complete separation, and annihilation of the Canaanites and their religion. Orgiastic nature
worship, fertility cults in the form of serpent symbols, unbounded license, and moral abandon could only be met
with a severe code of ethics" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 512). We now know that what God commanded, far
from being the capricious desires of a cruel tyrant, was a necessary act of mercy toward the whole human race.
This terrible cancer would have surely annihilated mankind if it had continued unchecked.
(25) Why did God order the total destruction of the Canaanites? ______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Jericho
The city of Joshua's time had been constructed about 1500 B.C. It was about 1400 B.C. that Joshua invaded
Palestine and immediately before him lay this formidable fortress and the doorway to Canaanite territory. The
walls of Jericho were doubled. The inner wall was about twelve feet thick and thirty feet high. Then there was
about twelve feet of space between it and the outer wall which was six feet thick and of the same height. The
city was crowded, and in the space between the two walls living quarters were constructed for the poorer class.
It was in one of these homes that Rahab, the harlot, lived, and where she received the spies. Actually, the city of
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Joshua's time is little more than a mound today, which is being excavated by archaeologists, who can tell a great
deal about the original city by the foundations and locations of the stones. "The walls of City D (the city of
Joshua's time) display evidence of violent destruction. The outer wall had tumbled forward, down the slope of
the mound, and the inner wall with houses built upon it had covered the intervening space. Ashes, charred
timbers, reddened masses of stone, and brick show that a fire accompanied the fall of the city. The natural
conclusion is that this destruction of Jericho's walls is that depicted so graphically in Joshua 6. This conclusion
is strengthened by the fact that after this complete destruction, Jericho lay in ruins and was not reconstructed
until the time of City E, which belongs to the time of Ahab (B.C. 860), 1 Kings 16:34" (ibid., p. 573).
(26) What conclusion can be drawn from making a study of the foundations and the locality of the stones of
Jericho at the time of Joshua? _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Joshua's long day
Perhaps the most tremendous miracle of all the Bible, involving the forces of nature and the universe, is the
"long day" of Joshua 10:12-14. It has been the derision of skeptics for centuries. In fact, little can be said about
it by way of proving it–faith takes it as fact. But there are several notes of interest. First, a day longer than any
other is found recorded in many of the ancient archives of the world's civilizations. These are often attributed to
local gods and the cause of much fantastic speculation, but since mythology, as we have seen, is actually
"history, badly garbled," it lends extra-Biblical verification to this Old Testament occurrence. Secondly,
astronomers have noticed a discontinuity in the stars which suggest a day may be missing from time. But
finally, and most convincing of all, the purpose for Joshua's "long day" was the continuance of light until Israel's
enemies were slain. In the summer months, the daylight of an average day would be about fourteen hours long.
Hence the about a whole day, of Joshua 10:13, probably refers to about the period of light which a day usually
had, or fourteen hours. But such a "part of a day" event leaves one wondering why the God of perfection did not
finish the matter and set the universe back a complete day. The answer is–He did! In 2 Kings 20:1-11, He set
the universe rolling backward ten more hours which, when added to Joshua's fourteen, makes, of course,
twenty-four. The phenomenon of Hezekiah's sundial was seen on every sundial on his side of the world, as is
evidenced by the embassage from Babylon to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land (2 Chronicles
32:31). Certainly, we serve a God of wonderful perfection.
(27) How long was the "long day" of Joshua? __________________
There are many spiritual lessons to be learned from this period and we will point out some of them in the next
section.
(1) Moses died in the mountain of ________.
a. Hermon b. Tabor c. Gerizim d. Nebo
(2) Whom did God choose to succeed Moses? ______________________________
(3) What exhortation did Joshua receive from God? ________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(4) In his first campaign, what cities did Joshua conquer?
(a) _____________________________ (b) _____________________________
(5) Where did the people of Israel reaffirm their obedience to the Law of Moses?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(6) What happened in Gilgal? _________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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(7) In the second campaign Joshua fought against ____________________________
(8) What was the most daring petition of Joshua? __________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(9) In the third campaign Joshua fought against _____________________________
(10) For whom were the cities of refuge established? _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(11) Explain the blitzkreig method used by Joshua in conquering the land. ______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(12) The twofold manner in which the land was divided was:
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
III. ISRAEL'S PERIOD OF CONFUSION
In the last section, we discussed the conquest and division of the land of Canaan. This is not to say that every
single Canaanite city was conquered and destroyed. It was not (see Joshua 15:63; 16:10; 17:12-13; and Joshua's
rebuke of Ephraim, 17:14-18 and Judges 1-2). Because of Israel's failure to finish the job and rid the entire land
of the Canaanite scourge, God was forced to allow the remaining unconquered peoples to become a snare and a
pitfall to Israel. Through social intercourse with these idolaters, and later through intermarriage with them,
Israel was drawn away from the truth of God into heathen darkness only one generation after the death of
Joshua and his contemporaries. Because of this defection on Israel's part, there came in her history a long night
of spiritual darkness and shame known as the Period of the Judges.
The Scripture to be read for this lesson is Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel 1-7 inclusive. This can be read in about
one and one-half hours and the student should be sure to read it, preferably at one sitting to capture the sweep of
events.
(1) Through what kind of relationship were the Israelites separated from the truth of God into pagan obscurity?
_________________
(2) The Israelites obeyed completely the commandment to destroy all the Canaanite cities. (True or False)_____
(3) The defection of Israel caused the period of (a) _________________________________________________
known as (b) ___________________________________________________________________________.
(4) I have read the Scripture for this section. (date) ________________________
A. The Period of Judges at a Glance
The Judges were, "raised up to deliver Israel in the declension and disunion which followed the death of Joshua.
Through these men, Jehovah continued his personal government of Israel. The key verse to the condition of
Israel is 17:6. Two facts stand out–the utter failure of Israel; and the persistent grace of Jehovah" (Scofield
Reference Bible, p. 287).
It should be noted that while Judges as a book ends with the judgeship of Samson, the Period of the Judges
ended with Samuel's anointing of Saul as king. The chart shown on pages 28-29 will help you to "see" the
whole period at a glance.
(5) The judges were ________.
a. kings b. military leaders c. liberators
(6) The Period of the Judges ended with ____________________________________________.
(7) How many judges did Israel have? __________________________________
(8) The book of (a) _______________ also took place during the Period of the Judges. It contained the linage of
King (b) ___________________________.
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(9) What was the name of the only woman judge that Israel had? _____________
(10) Which judge attacked his enemies by surprise armed only with trumpets, lamps, and pitchers? __________
B. Spiritual Lessons from the Preceding Period
The whole story of Israel as a nation parallels the Christian experience of many believers. We saw how that
from Egypt, God redeemed them by the blood of the Passover lamb, and by power at the Red Sea. What a
picture of our salvation! Not only protected from the penalty of sin (pictured by the death-angel) by the blood of
Christ, we are also delivered from the power of indwelling sin by the indwelling presence of Christ. After such
an experience Moses and Israel sang, and so might we sing who have been delivered from so great a death and
are even now being delivered from the lusts of our own evil nature from within and the attacks of Satan from
without. It is not without significance either that after our final deliverance we sing the song of Moses the
servant of God, and the song of the Lamb (Revelation 15:3).
For the next two years, Israel marched through the wilderness learning that there was nothing in all that whole
journey that could satisfy their hunger or quench their thirst except the manna from Heaven (a picture of Christ,
the Bread of Life) and the water from the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:3-4). So the first lesson we learn as believers
is that the spiritual life demands spiritual food. The husks of this world's pleasures and pursuits, that once eased
our hunger pains for short intervals, only leave us crying out for the true Bread of Heaven (John 6:35).
Poor I was, and sought for riches,
Something that would satisfy;
But the dust I gathered round me
Only mocked my soul's sad cry.
Well of water, ever springing,
Bread of life, so rich and free,
Untold wealth that never faileth,
My Redeemer is to me.
Hallelujah! I have found Him–
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings;
Thro' His blood I now am saved.
At Kadesh-barnea, God sought to lead them into real conquest and victory. But fear and unbelief shut them out
and sent them wandering in the wilderness for the next thirty-eight years. Notice that word "wandering." It
suggests aimlessness and implies that nothing at all was being accomplished. So, it is with ourselves. God
would bring us to real spiritual victories over the strongholds of the Evil One, but so often we draw back in fear
and unbelief, too terrified of the enemy's strength and too little realizing the great power of the Captain of our
Salvation.
With many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. . .. Now all these
things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:5,11; read
this whole section). And so the great majority of believers today, simply flounder on through life going nowhere
and never accomplishing anything for God. God's grace will carry them to Heaven, but their own wretched
unbelief will keep them from any reward (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 9:24-27). What kind of Christian are you?
The crossing of the Jordan, long thought to be a picture of the believer's death, is actually a vivid picture of his
total consecration to God for the life of warfare and victory. The twelve stones in Jordan are a picture of the
crucifixion and death of the believer's self-life, and the twelve stones taken up from Jordan are a picture of his
resurrection in newness of life. The truth of these experiences is set forth clearly in Paul's Epistle to the Romans
(6:1-11; 12:1-2). After this there was warfare and victory (Ephesians 6:10-18; Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians
15:57).
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The history of Israel is full of types or symbols. Fill in the spaces with the meanings of the following types or
symbols.
(11) the Paschal Lamb _______________________________________________________________________

(12) the manna _____________________________________________________________________________
(13) the water of the rock _____________________________________________________________________
(14) Kadesh-barnea _________________________________________________________________________
(15) the crossing of the Jordan _________________________________________________________________
(16) twelve stones in the Jordan ________________________________________________________________
(17) the twelve stones taken out of the Jordan _____________________________________________________
(18) As believers we know that the spiritual life demands s_______________ f______________ which comes
from the Word of God
C. Spiritual Lessons from the Present Section
Israel did not, as we have seen, fully obey God's commandment to conquer the Land. Chapters 1 and 2 are given
over wholly to this theme. The result was tragedy and defeat. Israel, who had been so clearly opposed to any
form of idolatry during the days of Joshua that they even threatened the eastern tribes with war for what they
considered an idolatrous altar (Joshua 22), was now in such a darkened condition that they again turned to
idolatrous representations of Jehovah (Judges 17:2-13). Even Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the grandson of
Moses (see Exodus 2:22; Judges 18:30; "Manasseh" here is Moses; see R.S.V.) was so carried away that he led
in this idolatry. It is heart-breaking to read these chapters, but they are the result of incomplete obedience.
Spiritually they should remind us that, unless we deal the death blow of crucifixion to the flesh in all its
manifestations (Galatians 5:19-24) and separate ourselves from the godless worldly crowd (Ephesians 5:1-12)
and from religious apostates (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 18:4), we, too, will fall and
carry our children with us (cf. 2 Chronicles 17:1-5; 18:1-3; 19:1-2; 21:1,6).
(19) All the disgrace and obscurity of Israel in this epic was a result of their ____________________________.
(20) To which famous man was Jonathan, the Levite, related? _________________
(21) Galatians 5:19-24 teaches us ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(22) Ephesians 5:1-12 teaches us _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(23) 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Timothy 4:1 teach us ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
D. Ruth and 1 Samuel
All was not dark, however. Even in a time such as this, Jehovah had a godly remnant true to Him. And so we
have the beautiful love story of Ruth (a type of the Church), who was redeemed by Boaz (a type of Christ, our
Redeemer), who was a blood relative of Naomi (a picture of Israel). The Book of Ruth has been named by Dr.
M. R. DeHaan, "The Romance of Redemption" and so it is.
In evil days it is so difficult to find a true heart, that when one is found, it is often misunderstood. Poor Hannah
was mistaken for a drunkard by Eli, who was so unaccustomed to seeing any emotion displayed in the worship
of Jehovah that he rebuked her for her prayers and tears. Samuel's life is like a cool breeze on a hot day in
comparison to the sorry examples set by most of the judges. The one lesson most evident in the Period of the
Judges is that God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base
things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to
nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). Whatever was
accomplished was wholly of God, not of His weak and vacillating servants. The period ended with the choice of
Saul as Israel's first king (1 Samuel 8-12).
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(24) Ruth is a type of (a) _________________________; Boaz is a type of (b) ___________________;
and Naomi is a type of (c) _____________________________.
(25) What Biblical reference gives a summary of the spiritual lesson that is most evident in the Period of
the Judges? ________________________________
(26) With what act did the Period of the Judges terminate? __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(27) What other title does Dr. DeHaan give to the Book of Ruth? _____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
E. Archaeological Data
The teraphim were small household images made in human or half-human form. Albright thinks that the
teraphim referred to vile, lewd images. This was often the case as with the images of Astarte and many Hindu
images today. Some of these Hindu deities are so sensual that even a glance arouses the animal impulses of the
devotee. The gods and goddesses depicted are often engaged in sex acts of both a heterosexual and homosexual
nature. Those not so represented are depicted in suggestive positions and are most often naked or scantily
clothed.
1. Micah's teraphim
This, however, was not always the case. Sometimes they were simply figures of a woman or man, clothed in the
usual robes of that day. Micah was worshiping a teraphim dedicated to Jehovah (see Exodus 20:4-5). Like
Aaron, he was serving Jehovah via the exact means Jehovah had forbidden him to use. He had changed the
glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man (Romans 1:23). Roman Catholicism
insists on perpetrating this same kind of idolatry to this day. Just as the teraphim of Micah and Gideon seemed
to have such a hold on them, so the small household images of Mary and Jesus, or of some "saint," or the
crucifix holds tremendous power over the darkened minds of Roman Catholics all over the world. In countries
like Haiti, I have seen these images of Mary and Jesus standing on idol shelves beside voodoo dolls and demon
images. They belong, of course, to the same source. Such an appeal do these seem to have that more and more
one can see these things in the homes and even in the gardens or yards of non- Catholics. They are preparing the
world for the last form of idolatry described in Revelation 13:11-18; 14:9-12.
(28) The teraphim were ____________________________________
(29) Micah used to worship ______.
a. Moses b. God c. the virgin d. the teraphim
2. The Levite's concubine (Judges 19)
This is a story from which we naturally shrink in horror. It is included in the narrative to illustrate just how far
Israel had gone from God. Now they practiced the very sins of the Sodomites and their end was nearly as
terrible. Lange says that the language in the original suggests that they were "of the higher class"; i.e., they were
the sophisticates of the place who rambled about the streets after dark performing their filthy deeds. As in
ancient Rome, when men of the governing class practiced such abominations, they began at dark and ended at
dawn (Ephesians 5:11-12; 1 Peter 4:3-5).
Offering the two women rather than exposing the man to abuse was an expedience of oriental culture, since the
man was considered a guest and the host was responsible for his safety above everything else. Shakespeare
makes much of this ancient tradition and the importance of keeping it as he propounds the results of
transgressing it in Macbeth.
The sending of her dismembered body throughout the tribes of Israel was a call to action. It was saying, "Look
what might happen to you." It can be understood by comparing 1 Samuel 11:7. The self-righteous action of the
other tribes almost annihilated Benjamin. Judgment was indeed necessary, but repentance toward God (that
such a thing could happen at all) was even more necessary, and this was not forthcoming. The result was more
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sinful confusion in trying to undo the damage done. This confusion continued during the reign of the first king,
as we shall see in the next part.
(30) Why is the narration of the concubine of the Levite recorded in the Scripture? _______________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(1) The land of Canaan ______.
a. was not conquered by Israel b. was conquered except for certain cities
c. was conquered completely by Israel
(2) What is the period of the spiritual obscurity and shame of Israel called? _____________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(3) How many judges did Israel have? _____________________________________
(4) In the Period of the Judges we have the story of the Moabite, (a) _____________ Who was in the lineage of
(b) ________________ _____________.
What is the meaning of the following:
(5) Manna _________________________________________________________________________________
(6) The water of the rock _____________________________________________________________________
(7) The crossing of the Jordan _________________________________________________________________
(8) The spiritual obscurity of Israel in this period was the result of ____________________________________
________________________________.
(9) The Period of the Judges ended with ________________________________________________________.
(10) The teraphim are _______________________________________________________________________.
Pre-test
syllabus.
Matching:
(1) _____ manna a. the Gideonites
(2) _____ Joshua b. judge
(3) _____ Gilgal c. partial obedience
(4) _____ kings of the North d. succeeded Moses
(5) _____ Jericho and Ai e. homemade images
(6) _____ the kings of the South f. type of Christ
(7) _____ liberator g. second campaign
(8) _____ teraphim h. third campaign
(9) _____ spiritual obscurity i. first campaign
(10) The two basic principles of all Bible study are:
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
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Locate these places on the map (p. 85).
(11) the Mediterranean Sea (12) Marah (13) the crossing of the Red Sea
(14) Mount Sinai (15) Kadesh-barnea (16) the wanderings
(17) List the three important events that occurred at Mount Sinai.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(18) List one spiritual lesson you learned from the Period of the Judges. ________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(19) The practice of marching troops all night to hide their movements from the enemy and attacking suddenly
in the early morning is known as the ____________ method of warfare.
(20) The place where Moses died was _____________________________________.
(21) In what two ways was the Land divided?
(a) _______________________________________________________________________
(b) _______________________________________________________________________
History: Part IV.” and give special attention to those areas of study that you do not completely understand.
Find the test in the Test Booklet titled, “Old Testament History: Part IV.” You may NOT use your notes or
Testament History: Parts IV, V, and VI.” The tests may be mailed individually, in groups, or altogether
when you finish the Unit. Please mail the tests in the way that is cheapest and most convenient for you.
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ANSWER KEY: OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY – PART IV
I. FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN

(2) (a) the primary, historical interpretation (b) the many spiritual applications
(3) they murmured
(4) it forgets the goodness of God in the past, His faithfulness in the present, and His promises for the future
(5) (a) bitterness (b) blessing and rest
(6) b
(7) Christ
(8) 40
(9) our carnal or fleshly nature
(10) Midian
(11) (a) receiving of the Law (b) the erection of the Tabernacle (c) Aaron making the golden calf
(12) immorality
(13) (a) Paran (b) Kadesh-barnea
(14) Leviticus
(15) (a) the believer to enter into the land of victory and blessing
(b) the place where he turns his back on salvation (or) eternal condemnation
(c) failure (d) death
(16) a
(17) unbelief
(18) (a) Joshua (b) Caleb
(19) Numbers
(20) the death of Aaron
(21) Joshua
(22) he stayed close to God and permitted God to work in him
(23) the quail were not piled up from the earth two cubits deep, but the level of their flight was two cubits
above the earth
REVIEW
(2) murmuring
(3) Christ
(4) (a) receiving the Law (b) the erection of the Tabernacle (c) Aaron making the golden calf
(5) the Promised Land
(6) (a) Joshua (b) Caleb
(7) Joshua
(8) through (17) See map page 75
II. THE LAND CONQUERED AND DIVIDED

(2) (a) Sihon – Amorites (b) Og - Bashan
(3) a pagan feast
(4) Mount Nebo
(5) true
(6) false
(7) true
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(8) three times
(9) a man of vigorous and courageous action
(10) three
(11) advance at night and attack early in the morning
(12) (a) Jericho (b) Ai
(13) (a) Ebal (b) Gerizim
(14) Gilgal
(15) the Gibeonites
(16) false
(17) the kings of the South
(18) Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon
(19) kings of the North or the northern confederacy
(20) false
(21) six nations in six years
(22) (a) certain individuals inherited that which they could conquer (b) by casting lots
(23) false
(24) to give safety to those who accidentally killed a person
(25) as an act of mercy to humanity because of their idolatrous religious system
(26) the destruction of the walls of Jericho is the same picture presented to us in Joshua 6
(27) 14 hours
REVIEW
(1) d
(2) Joshua
(3) strengthen yourself and be of good courage
(4) (a) Jericho (b) Ai
(5) Mount Ebal and Gerizim
(6) the Israelites made an alliance with the Gibeonites and they finished the first campaign
(7) the kings of the South
(8) Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon
(9) the kings of the North
(10) for those who had killed someone accidentally
(11) advance at night and attack early in the morning
(12) (a) certain individuals inherited that which they could conquer (b) by casting lots
III. ISRAEL'S PERIOD OF CONFUSION

(1) marriage
(2) false
(3) (a) spiritual darkness and shame (b) the Period of the Judges
(5) c
(6) the anointing of Saul as king
(7) 13
(8) (a) Ruth (b) David
(9) Deborah
(10) Gideon
(11) washed in the blood of Christ
(12) Christ-the Bread of Life
(13) Christ-the Water of Eternal Life
(14) the place of unbelief
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(l5) total consecration
(16) crucifixion of "self"
(17) resurrection to new life
(18) spiritual food
(19) disobedience or incomplete obedience
(20) Moses
(21) to crucify the flesh with its manifestations
(22) separation from the impious world
(23) that we need to separate from religions apostates and worldliness
(24) (a) the Church (b) Christ (c) Israel
(25) 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
(26) the election of Saul as king
(27) the Romance of Redemption
(28) homemade idols
(29) d
(30) to show us how far Israel departed from God
REVIEW
(1) b
(2) the Period of the Judges
(3) 13
(4) (a) Ruth (b) King David
(5) Christ-the Bread of Life
(6) Christ-the Water of Eternal Life
(7) total consecration
(8) disobedience
(9) the election of Saul as king
(10) homemade idols
PRE-TEST
(1) f
(2) d
(3) a
(4) h
(5) i
(6) g
(7) b
(8) e
(9) c
(11) through (16) See map page 85
(17) (a) receiving the Law
(b) the erection of the Tabernacle
(c) Aaron making the golden calf
(18) student’s own answer
(19) blitzkreig
(20) Mount Nebo
(21) (a) certain individuals inherited that which they could conquer
(b) by casting lots
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OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART V
FROM SAMUEL TO THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM
OBJECTIVES OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART V
* Identify the first King of Israel and tell why he failed.
* Identify the second King of Israel and tell why he was chosen.
* Name the two characteristics of the Davidic Covenant.
* Summarize the Golden Age of the history of Israel, of David, and of Solomon.
* Summarize the events surrounding the division of the Kingdom.
* Name the outstanding persons connected with Israel and Judah.
* Apply the teachings of this period to our Christian life.
GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART V

1. Abdicate: To give up formally the sovereignty over a people. To renounce or surrender certain rights or
privileges.
2. Adultery: Violation of conjugal faith. Sexual intercourse between two parties, one of whom is married.
3. Alliance: An action of alignment between two or more nations, governments, or persons.
4. Assyriogists: Study of the civilization of ancient Assyria.
5. Berlin Wall: Historic wall between East and West Berlin, Germany, after WWII.
6. Dynasty: A series of kings or rulers in a determined country who are from one family line.
7. Equanimity: Calmness, composure.
8. Exile: A forced removal from one's native country; a voluntary absence of a person from the country in
which he lives.
9. Grace: The free and unmerited love and favor of God toward the sinner, manifested especially in God's
plan of redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ.
10. Interregnum: An interval between two successive reigns.
11. Paradox: Something strange or opposite to the common opinion of men. A figure of thought that consists of
employing expressions or phrases that involve contradictions.
Part I.
Section I - 1 Samuel 8-2 Samuel 6
Section II - 2 Samuel 7-1 Kings 11; 1 Chronicles 17-2 Chronicles 9
Section III - 1 Kings 12-2 Kings 17
Section IV - 2 Chronicles 11-36
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART V

I. FROM SAMUEL TO DAVID
Israel, so highly honored as to be entrusted with the Divine Law, and so richly blessed as to enjoy the Divine
Presence, had, during the period of the Judges, slipped into a rustic and poverty-stricken condition. They lived
for the most part in small villages or isolated huts, worked with the most primitive tools, and were totally
unorganized except for occasional tribal sheiks and the village elders. They were clannish in the extreme, as
will be seen again and again in their refusal to follow anyone of a tribe other than their own and the immediate
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loyalty they showed toward anyone of their own tribe who came to power. As our last lesson closed, any unity
they possessed was due to the ministration of the aging Samuel, now soon to be called from them. It seemed
that this precipitated the moment of truth in which the nation saw its desperate condition and endeavored to
remedy it. How they attempted to remedy it, and the results, we will see in this section. The Scripture to be read
is 1 Samuel 8 - 2 Samuel 6 inclusive.
(1) After the period of the Judges, the condition of Israel was not so desperate or sad. (True or False) ________
(2) Any unity that did exist was due to __________________________.
A. God's Second Best
The real remedy for Israel, as it is for the world, was not better legislative procedures, but rather spiritual
regeneration in the lives of her people. Moses once said, would God that all the Lord's people were prophets
(Numbers 11:29). Had Israel been made up of Samuels, there would have been no need for a strong centralized
power. Regeneration was ever God's real desire for Israel and anything less was therefore of necessity "second
best." The men of Israel were not, however, ready to face the fact that the real problem lay with the corruptness
of their own evil hearts. Just as in our day, they intuitively turned to human expedients instead of to God, and
worked for civil legislation to cure their ills rather than coming to the Great Physician to cure their hearts. The
result was that they demanded a king like all the nations. That little phrase is significant because therein lay the
real glory of Israel.
They were not like all the nations, nor did God ever intend that they should be. Their glory was that God was
their King. Had they believed God and obeyed Him, He surely would have solved their problems, poured out
blessings they could hardly have contained and made them the head of the nations rather than the tail. But Israel
was looking, like so many, for a detour around the necessity of a personal walk with God. They wanted the
blessing without the Blesser, peace without the Prince of Peace, and power without the omnipotent God. And so
they demanded a king.
The thing displeased Samuel, not alone for personal reasons, but because he recognized it as rebellion against
God and a departure from their peculiar relationship in which the unseen God alone was their King. Note his
protests (1 Samuel 8:10-18; 10:17-19; 12:1-15). Samuel proved that he was not simply being peevish, but was
indeed speaking for God by calling upon the Lord to send a storm at a time when storms rarely, if ever,
occurred in that part of the world. God answered with the required sign (1 Samuel 12:16-19), thus justifying his
faithful servant. And so, although God interfered to direct the choice of a king for his people, it was clearly a
matter of His permissive will, and not His directive will. It was therefore God's second best.
(3) The true solution to the problems of the people was found in ______.
a. changing society b. the Church c. spiritual regeneration d. creating industries
(4) What did Israel demand? __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(5) What was the true glory of Israel? ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(6) Samuel saw that asking for a king was ____________________ against God, and was also giving up that
particular relation to God as king.
B. Saul, Son of Kish
In choosing a king, God chose a man who in every way seemed to be naturally fitted for the job. He was the son
of a wealthy and powerful man (1 Samuel 9:1). Physically he was a giant, so that even the tallest of his
countrymen only came to his shoulders (1 Samuel 10:23). In many respects, he displayed a meek and humble
spirit (1 Samuel 9:21; 10:21-22,27; 11:12-13), and yet he appeared to be a man of great courage and natural
leadership abilities (1 Samuel 11:5-11). God's purpose for him is clearly stated in 1 Samuel 9:16. He was to
deliver Israel from the Philistines. His equipment was also furnished for him–he was endued with "power from
on high" (1 Samuel 10:6,11).
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It is reasonable to suppose that in any college of the day, Saul would have been voted the graduate most likely
to succeed. And yet this is the great paradox of Saul. No playwright ever succeeded in building our hopes so
high only to see them dashed so dismally low, as the Divine Author has done in the story of Saul. Unger says of
Saul, "There is not in sacred history a character more melancholy to contemplate than that of Saul. . . . His
natural rashness was controlled neither by a powerful understanding, nor a scrupulous conscience, and the
obligations of duty and ties of gratitude, always felt by him too slightly, were totally disregarded when
ambition, envy, and jealousy had taken possession of his mind. . . . In him is seen that moral anomaly, or
contradiction, which would be incredible did we not so often witness it, of an individual pursuing habitually a
course which his better nature pronounces not only sinful but insane" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 976).
(7) Name five characteristics that apparently made Saul fitted to be king.
(a) ________________________________________________
(b)_________________________________________________
(c) ________________________________________________
(d) ________________________________________________
(e) ________________________________________________
(8) According to Unger, Saul had almost all the conditions for triumphing, but he failed when ambition, envy,
and jealousy had taken possession of his mind. (True or False) ____________
(9) Saul was a son of _________________.
C. Saul's Three Failures
Although Saul's early career held great promise of success (1 Samuel 11:11-15; 14:47-48), he was plagued with
failures of which three eventually brought about his downfall and his ignominious suicidal death.
1. Saul intrudes into the priest's office
At the battle of Michmash, we get our first glimpse of the flaws in Saul's character that eventually ruined him.
There, afraid and unbelieving, he allowed impatience and pride to dictate his policy and he intruded into the
priest's office by offering a sacrifice in direct disobedience to God's command (Numbers 3:10). Samuel himself
served in this office only in a temporary capacity by virtue of his being a Levite and ministering under Eli,
because the sons of Eli had been destroyed (1 Samuel 1:1; 3:1; 4:11).
Saul was not ignorant of God's demand, for according to Deuteronomy 17:14- 20, where God anticipated the
desire of Israel for a king, Saul was to write him a copy of this law in a book . . . that he may learn to fear the
Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them. Because of this presumptuous
disobedience, Samuel told Saul that the Kingdom will not remain in his family (1 Samuel 13:13-14). We
sometimes compare Saul's sin here to David's and in our minds David's seems the greater. But the real
seriousness of Saul's transgression lay in the fact that it showed an utter misapprehension of the true nature of
Jehovah. Saul seemed to have a conception of Jehovah that bordered upon the idea that He was a capricious
tribal deity like the gods of the nations around him. Indeed, he was hot one moment and cold the next, and there
is evidence that his children practiced idolatry (1 Samuel 19:13). Not only did Saul's sacrifice lose for him the
honor of a continuing kingdom, but it gained nothing. The people continued to flee from him and, apart from
the courage of Jonathan, Saul would doubtless have been defeated. Even then, he hindered real victory by his
rashness (1 Samuel 14:24,44) and almost destroyed the real hero and his own heir to the throne.
(10) The first failure of Saul mentioned in this section is that of__________________________.
(11) The offering of a sacrifice without being a Levite was an ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(12) Saul offered a sacrifice through ignorance. (True or False) _______________
(13) The true seriousness of Saul's transgression lay in the fact that it showed an utter misapprehension of the
true __________________________________.
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(14) The result of Saul's priestly intrusion was that the Kingdom was not _______________________________
_________________________________________.
2. The failure with Amalek (1 Samuel 15)
The instructions given Saul for this campaign were so specific as to admit of no misunderstanding. He was to
utterly destroy all . . . spare them not . . . slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel
and ass. This Saul failed to do! Instead of pursuing the campaign and finishing the destruction of the fugitives,
he returned to Carmel where he erected a monument to his victory, and then carried the spoil to Gilgal where
Samuel met him. Centuries later, Israel was to suffer and almost be annihilated for Saul's failure (Esther 3:1-6).
It seems apparent that what Saul really wanted was the glory of victory which he hoped to attain by marching
Agag behind his chariot at his triumphal return. Having disobeyed God's command, he found himself in no
position to keep the people from flying upon the spoil. The result was wholesale disobedience which was
roundly rebuked by the prophet.
It was obvious now that Saul had stopped worshiping Jehovah and had begun worshiping the power and
prestige of his office, which he sensed was slipping out of his hands. This is exactly how Samuel interpreted
Saul's action in 1 Samuel 15:27-28, where he grasped for Samuel's support. From that day, the Spirit of God left
Saul to his own passions and lusts, which nearly drove him insane.
(15) The second failure of Saul was with ______________________.

(16) The orders of God were to destroy _______________________.
(17) Saul had stopped worshiping (a) _______________ and had begun worshiping (b) ___________________
of his office.
(18) Because of Saul's disobedience, who left him? _________________________
3. Saul's persecution of David
Saul's final failure brought upon him the judgment of God. Knowing that he was rejected and forsaken by God,
he nevertheless held tightly to the crown and was suspicious of anyone who seemed to be a rival. When it
became certain that God's purpose was to place David upon the throne, Saul found himself in the hapless state
of "fighting against God"–always a losing battle. Jonathan, who was Saul's heir, recognized Jehovah's choice of
David and would gladly have yielded to it, but his father's insane jealousy finally brought them both to ruin.
Evidence that Saul was aware of God's intention with David, and that Jonathan was ready to abdicate in his
favor, may be found in 1 Samuel 18:4; 19:1-2; 20:14-15; 30-34; 23:16-18; 24:17-22; 26:25.
(19) The last failure of Saul was (a) _______________________________________________________,
which brought against him (b) _______________________________________________.
(20) Saul found himself in the unfortunate state of _____________________________________ which is
always a losing battle.
(21) I have read the Biblical references given above. (date) _____________________
D. David Anointed and Prepared
It is marvelous to see the genuine grief which the godly Samuel had for Saul (I Samuel 15:35). Considering that
Saul had superseded him and taken hi place as the leader of Israel, and considering Samuel’s warning when the
kingdom was inaugurated, one would expect that Samuel might have taken some personal satisfaction in Saul’s
downfall. But love rejoiceth not in iniquity, and the wisdom of Solomon says, Rejoice not when thine enemy
falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: lest the Lord see it . . . (Proverbs 24:17-18). Samuel
showed himself bigger than his personal grievances and a man of real love which beareth all things.
(22) What does Proverbs 24:17-18 teach us? _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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(23) Before the fall of Saul, Samuel showed himself to be ___________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
However virtuous as his grief may have been, it could not help Saul now. God had rejected him and nothing
could change that. So Samuel was sent to anoint “a better than Saul,” and, furthermore, this time the choice
would not be made by virtue of the height of his statue, but in respect to his heart (1 Samuel 16:7). David was
the youngest son of a powerful sheik of Bethlehem-Judah, named Jesse. The family had been prominent since
the days of Pharez and David's great-grandfather was a mighty man of wealth . . . and his name was Boaz
(Ruth 2:1; 4:17-22).
David's early training was as a shepherd boy where he soon gained renown as a youth of outstanding courage
(1 Samuel 16:18). He spent his spare moments playing his harp and, as Dr. V. Raymond Edman says, "It was
his attention to the unrequired, the extra curricular avocation of playing a harp, that startles us out of our
complacency. He could have contented himself with a passing effort to acquire an indefinite acquaintanceship
with a few chords. On the contrary he learned to play well (1 Samuel 16:17-18). Perhaps the other shepherd
boys derided him for the long hours of practice necessary to the mastery of his instrument, and perhaps they
were secretly envious of his skill. However, that may be, the hour came that the king needed a skillful harpist,
and the shepherd of Bethlehem was that boy" (Disciplines of Life, pp. 95-96). David's time spent in the court
further prepared him for his later responsibility of ruling over it.
(24) According to 1 Samuel 16:7, the election of a new king would be not governed by
(a) _______________________________________ but in respect to his (b) ___________________.
(25) The great-grandfather of David was (a) ___________ and his father was (b) ____________.
(26) What was David's hobby? _________________________________________
At last the time came when the obscure lad of Bethlehem would become a national hero. What a contrast David
made to Saul who, conscious that God had forsaken him, literally trembled in his armor every time Goliath's
voice rang through the hills. In a sense, the battle seemed almost ridiculous, but there Israel learned the lesson
Solomon later penned for us to read, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
Three important things resulted from David's victory over Goliath. First, it established David as a captain in the
army of Saul and opened the way for further exploits. Secondly, it was the event which occasioned the jealousy
of Saul which drove David into exile during the next weary years of his life, but which prepared him best for his
later station as leader of his people. Finally, it was the beginning of his friendship with Jonathan which lasted
throughout David's life, even controlling his actions after Jonathan's death (2 Samuel 9:1-7). It is amazing to see
their loyalty and love as their kindred hearts were bound together by Jehovah, and it is amusing to see Jonathan,
a captain with his father's army, sneaking through the lines to converse with David while Saul seeks diligently
for him only a short distance away (1 Samuel 23:15-16). It was through Jonathan's help that David escaped Saul
and fled into exile.
(27) David became a national hero when he _________________________________________.
(28) Name the three results of the victory of David over Goliath.
(a) ______________________________________________________________________________
(b) ______________________________________________________________________________
(c) ______________________________________________________________________________
E. David's Years of Exile
After Saul's third attempt upon David's life, David fled to Samuel with the aid of Michal, his wife, and Saul's
daughter. Saul's pursuit ended when he was overcome by the Spirit of God and put to shame.
Shortly thereafter, David again was forced to flee from Saul. This time he went to Ahimelech where he obtained
assistance from the unsuspecting priest, and then on to Achish in the land of the Philistines. Here David barely
escaped death by pretending to be insane.
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In the meantime, Saul–in blind fury, unable to reach David–wreaks his vengeful wrath upon the eighty-five
priests of Nob. His action destroyed the last possibility of contact with God, and put David in possession of the
sacred oracle by the flight of Abiathar, the last remaining member of the house of Eli. David now dwelt at the
cave of Adullam where he gathered his mighty men.
(29) Which is the correct order? _______________

a. David flees with the help of his wife Michal; he goes to Ahimelech and then to Achish where he
pretends to be crazy; Saul kills the eighty-five priests of Nob, while David takes refuge in the cave
of Adullam.
b. David flees with the help of Michal, he goes to Achish where he pretends to be crazy; then he goes
to Ahimelech; he hidesout in the cave of Adullam, while Saul kills the priests of Nob.
c. David flees from Ahimelech, then he goes to Achish and then Michal, his wife, helps him in the
cave of Adullam, while Saul kills the priests.
During his wanderings and exile, David twice spared the life of his enemy when he could easily have killed
him. He thus learned the lesson of waiting upon God, which he so frequently referred to in the Psalms, many of
which were written during the period (see Psalms 7,13,18,31,34, and his advice given later in Psalm 37). Most
important he displayed that implicit trust and childlike faith in the promises of God that is the single
characteristic of the godly in every age.
Although he was counted an outlaw, David's careful personal conduct and the discipline which he exercised
over his large band of disgruntled men is clearly revealed in the story of Nabal (1 Samuel 25). Though he was
an outlaw, he was by no means lawless and his sense of right and wrong was extremely sharp even where he
himself was personally involved.
(30) What lesson did David learn during his journeys during the years of his exile?
______________________________________________________________________________________
(31) Although David was counted an outlaw, he was by no means ____________________________________
and his sense of right and wrong was extremely sharp.
However, even a David has his limits. After years of patient waiting upon God, David's faith suffered an eclipse
and he went again into the Philistine country, not this time a lonely wanderer but the captain of six hundred
armed and desperate men. There he hired himself as a mercenary regiment to Achish the king of Gath and was
given the city of Ziklag to dwell in. Saul rested from his pursuits, and David became rich through the spoil of
war (1 Samuel 27:8-9). Only God saved the discouraged exile from joining battle against his own nation (1
Samuel 29).
There is an old saying that it is always darkest just before the dawn. When David and his men returned from
Gath rejected by the lords of the Philistines, unhappy and restless, they discovered that Ziklag was no more and
their families and wives were taken. For the first- and only-time rebellion began to breed in the camp. But in the
desperation of that dark moment when all the world seemed to have collapsed about him, David's faith mounted
again. He encouraged himself in the Lord his God. The result was undreamed of–their property and families
were restored, their spoil which they took was greater than ever, and upon returning they learned that God had
at last avenged his faithful servant–Saul was dead and the people were speaking of David as king. How
marvelous and unexpected are the ways of God.
Say not my soul, "from whence
Can God relieve my care?"
Remember that Omnipotence
Hath servants everywhere.
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His help is always sure,
His methods seldom guessed;
Delay will make our pleasure pure;
Surprise will give it zest.
His wisdom is sublime,
His heart profoundly kind;
God never is before His time,
And never is behind.
Hast thou assumed a load
Which none will bear with thee?
And art thou bearing it for God,
And shall He fail to see?
–J. J. LYNCH
(32) Even a David has his limits and the faith of David suffered an eclipse and he went again into hiding.
(True or False) _________
(33) According to 1 Samuel 29, God kept David from fighting against _________________________________
___________________________________.
(34) When they did not fight, they returned to Ziklag and found that the city was (a)___________ and their
families were (b) ___________________________________________________.
(35) In this obscure moment David ______________________________ himself in the Lord his God.
F. David Takes the Kingdom
Of course, all was not easy. Abner, the uncle of Saul raised support for Ishbosheth, Saul's son, and set up his
government at Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, in the land of Gad. For seven and one-half years, David reigned in
Hebron over his own tribe of Judah, and Israel entered upon a period of civil conflict in which David waxed
stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. Finally, using an incident of
disagreement as an excuse, the politically-apt Abner deserted to David. This move all but ended the struggle
and when Abner was murdered by Joab and Ishbosheth by two of his own captains, the Kingdom of Saul was
over forever. It is important again to see David's strength of character and his extreme sense of moral judgment.
He supported neither of these treacherous deeds, punished the transgressors, and mourned the death of his
enemies.
Israel as a whole made David king, at last fulfilling the prophecy spoken long ago by the now departed Samuel
(1 Samuel 15:28). David immediately established his capital at Jerusalem after capturing the upper city which
had resisted conquest since the days of Joshua. Jerusalem was centrally located, and neutral territory between
the tribes of Judah (David's tribe) and Benjamin (Saul's tribe), and thus ideally suited to be the capital of the
nation.
Realizing the need for spiritual revival and national allegiance toward Jehovah, David next moved the ark to
Jerusalem where he built a new tabernacle after the Old Testament pattern given to Moses. His first attempt was
abortive due to a failure to conform to the Law concerning the Ark of the Covenant, but with the second attempt
and success there was joy and rejoicing in the nation which had not been known since Joshua's death, and a new
period was beginning for Israel, which was to see the Golden Age of David and Solomon.
(36) After the death of Saul, Abner gathered followers for ______________________________.
(37) How long did David reign in Hebron? ________________________________
(38) What city did David choose for his capital? ____________________________
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(39) What did David do in order to bring a spiritual revival and a national allegiance toward Jehovah?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Matching:
(1) _____ Saul a. son of Jesse
(2) _____ David b. uncle of Saul
(3) _____ Ishbosheth c. son of Kish
(4) _____ Abner d. brother of Ishbosheth
(5) _____ Boaz e. great-grandfather of David
(6) _____ Jonathan f. son of Saul
True or False:
(7) During the period of the Judges, all the unity among the Israelites was because of the ministry of Samuel. __
(8) The true solution to the problems of the people was a spiritual regeneration. ______________
(9) As a remedy for their sad condition, Israel demanded captains because they recognized that asking for a king
was rebellion against God. _______________
(10) The true glory of Israel was having God as their king. _______________
(11) Name the five characteristics that made Saul their king.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(d) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(e) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(12) Name the three failures of Saul.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(13) Name the three results of the victory of David over Goliath.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(14) The great friend of David was ____________________________________.
(15) David reigned in ____________________________ seven and one-half years.
(16) The capitol of the reign of David was __________________________________.
(17) David commanded the Ark be brought because he saw the necessity of a (a) ____________________ and
(b) __________________________________________________________.
(18) On the basis of 1 Samuel 16:7 David was not chosen for his outward appearance but because of his
__________________________________________.
II. THE GOLDEN AGE OF DAVID AND SOLOMON
The consolidation of the twelve tribes under one head, and the spiritual and governmental organization which
David set up, eventually raised Israel to its highest peak, both spiritually and materially. It is this "golden age"
that we will consider in this lesson. Scripture to be read is 2 Samuel 7 - 1 Kings 11 and the kindred passages in
1 Chronicles 17 - 2 Chronicles 9.
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A. A House for David
Hardly had the Ark reached Jerusalem when David's heart smote him that while he was dwelling in a house of
cedar, the Ark rested in a mere tent. He expressed his concern one day to Nathan the prophet who responded
enthusiastically, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee (2 Samuel 7:3). But as perfect as the
idea seemed to Nathan, it was not the will of God. How often we either lag behind when God is leading us to
move ahead or, like Nathan, we rush ahead when God is not leading at all. The answer to both problems is
found in Romans 12:1-2. True selfless dedication walks in step with God.
However, God commended David for his desire and used it as the occasion for making with David what is
known as the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:8-17). This covenant is very important for it not only determined
much of the past history of Israel, but also governs the future destiny of that nation. There are three things
which you should notice about it.
1. The Davidic Covenant is unconditional
That is, it does not depend for its fulfillment upon anything which David or his descendants might do. It
depends upon God only. Notice the way it is stated: also the Lord telleth thee that he will (vs. 11), I will . . . I
will (vs. 12), I will (vs. 13), I will . . . I will (vs. 14). When God says "I will," we may be very certain that it will
be accomplished.
(1) I have read the Biblical passages for this section. (date)______________________
(2) Why is this time called the Golden Age? ______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(3) David was motivated to construct a house for Jehovah because ______.
a. he wanted to please God and the people
b. he only had the desire to construct it and boast of the work
c. the Ark dwelt in a tent while he lived in a house of cedar
(4) What is the double importance of the Davidic Covenant?
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(5) Why do we say that the Davidic Covenant is unconditional? ______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(6) When God says "I will," we can be sure that he will do it. Do you believe in the promises of God?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. The Davidic Covenant is forever
Although God promises to chasten disobedience, he also promises that His mercy shall not be taken away and
that after chastisement the Kingdom shall last forever (2 Samuel 7:13-16).
3. The Davidic Covenant goes beyond Solomon
Solomon partially fulfilled the Covenant by construction of the Temple. But the eternal aspects of the Covenant
looked forward to a greater than Solomon. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was of the descendants of David as was
Joseph, his foster father (see Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:23-31). In Romans 1:3 Paul declares, Concerning his (God's)
Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. Jesus will fulfill the
eternal Covenant made so many centuries ago (see Psalm 89:3-4,27-37; Jeremiah 33:22-26; Luke 1:31-33).
Read these passages carefully for they will be very important to our understanding of prophecy in our future
studies.
Almost immediately, David, acting by faith in the promises of the Covenant, began to consolidate his kingdom
(2 Samuel 8;10). See Figure 1, p. 117, showing the total territory occupied by David and later by Solomon
according to the most recent discoveries.
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Between the records of David's conquests we have one of the clearest pictures of grace given anywhere in the
Bible. Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan a member of the house of Saul. From the natural point of view he
was an enemy of David and should have been destroyed. But because of the covenant made with Jonathan,
David, for Jonathan's sake, brings Mephibosheth into his own palace and makes him eat at his own table. The
key verse is verse 3 that I may show the kindness of God unto him (2 Samuel 9:3; Ephesians 2:7).
What a beautiful picture of what God the Father has done for us! For Jesus' sake, who died in our place and paid
the debt of all our sins, God has brought us to Himself by the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Then He
clothed us with the righteousness of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30), made us sit together with Him in heavenly
places (Ephesians 2:6), and feeds us with the finest of the wheat and honey out of the Rock (John 6:35; 1 Peter
2:2; Hebrews 5:11-14). Like Mephibosheth, we too were "lame on both our feet," unable to save ourselves, and
chained to our sins. The whole work of salvation was a work of God. He sought us, He saved us, He brought us
to Himself, He provides for us and watches over us, and He will someday take us to glory. We feel like saying
with Mephibosheth, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? (2 Samuel
9:8).
Figure 1: KINGDOM OF DAVID AND SOLOMON

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Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
(7) The second characteristic of the Davidic Covenant is that it is_________________________.

(8) Solomon partially fulfilled the Covenant by ___________________________________________________.
(9) Who will bring to fulfillment this Covenant? ____________________________
(10) The story of Mephibosheth is one of the most beautiful pictures of ________________________________
____________________________________.
(11) Just like Mephibosheth, we were (a) ________________________________ of saving ourselves and all
the work of salvation is a work of (b) __________.
(12) What do the following verses teach us?
(a) Ephesians 2:7 ________________________________________________________________________
(b) 1 Corinthians 1:30 ____________________________________________________________________
(c) Ephesians 2:6 ________________________________________________________________________
B. David's Great Sin and its Result (2 Samuel 11)
As long as we are in this body, we will never get beyond the reach of temptation with the possibility that we
may sin. Remember that David was a saved man upon whom the Holy Spirit had come. What David did was a
very common practice among Oriental kings and it is not uncommon among royalty even today. But what may
be acceptable conduct for godless sinners is not acceptable for David, the man after God's own heart. David had
sinned in secret as far as man was concerned, but his sin had been committed in the very presence of the all-
seeing eye of God. David was not lost because of his sin (2 Samuel 12:13). But sin has its results. Whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7). David had given sentence according to the righteousness of
the Mosaic Law that fourfold restitution was to be made, and four times the sword visited David's house to
settle the account. First, the baby of Bathsheba died, then Ammon was killed by Absalom for the rape of Tamar,
then Absalom the usurper was slain in battle and finally Adonijah was put to death by Solomon. The planting of
wild oats always brings forth the evil fruit of sorrow and death and tears. However, it is important that we
understand that atonement for David's sin was not achieved by David's suffering (Psalm 49:7-8). His suffering
was just the natural out-growth of his actions. Only Jesus can atone for sin and so the payment for David's sins
like everyone else's was made some one thousand years later, outside Jerusalem on a hill called Calvary. Sin is
forgiven when confessed, but the temporal and earthly results of sin may go on for a lifetime.
(13) What was the sin of David? _______________________________________________________________
(14) Galatians 6:7 teaches us that all that a man sows _______________________________________________
_______________________________________.
(15) List the four results of the sin of David.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(d) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(16) The sufferings of David were ______________________________________.
(17) When is the sin of a believer pardoned? _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(18) Even though sin is forgiven, what may go on for a lifetime? _________________________
C. The Last Days of David
After David's restoration to the throne in 2 Samuel 19, and the suppression of Sheba's revolt in chapter 20, Israel
experienced three years of gnawing famine (see Deuteronomy 28:15, 23-24). When inquiry was made as to why
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the famine was sent, God replied that it was due to the injustice which Saul had done to the Gibeonites. Saul's
persecution of this people constituted a breach of promise ratified in the name of Jehovah (Joshua 9:15). Such a
breach naturally brought reproach upon Jehovah Himself and since David had neglected to right the wrong
done, he was reminded of his duty by the chastening of the famine.
The Gibeonites demanded blood for blood and so they were given the seven "sons" (five were stepsons of Saul's
daughter) of Saul whom they hanged in Saul's home town of Gibeah. Their bodies were left hanging for five
months. Rizpah's faithful love and devotion moved David to perform the honors due a king to both Saul and his
sons and the famine ended. God never leaves an account unsettled or a book unbalanced. "Though justice tarry
long yet it will come!" And so David can sing, As for God, his way is perfect. . .. He maketh my way perfect (2
Samuel 22:31,33)
(19) How many years of scarcity and hunger did Israel suffer because of the injustice of Saul with the
Gibeonites? _________
(20) The solution of the Gibeonites was (a) __________________________________________________
________________________________ in the city of (b) ________________.
(21) Sometimes God leaves a debt without cancelling it. (True or False) __________
We saw the origin of David's mighty men in the last lesson. In 2 Samuel 23 and 1 Chronicles 11:10-47 we have
a list of some of their mighty deeds and a description of the way David organized his army. This was in three
sections as follows.
1. The army
Under David the national forces were divided into twelve divisions of 24,000 men, each division commanded
by its own officer, and liable to be called on to serve in their respective months (1 Chronicles 27:1-15).
2. The royal bodyguard
This group was also known as the Cherethites and Pelethites. To defend the person of the king, a force was
organized for the first time, consisting of foreign mercenaries, the command of which was entrusted to the
Levite Benaiah.
3. The heroes or mighty men
A body of six hundred men gathered around the king when he was a fugitive in the cave of Adullam. This
number David preserved, but elevated it to a sort of military order, with the special title of the Gibborim
(heroes, or mighty men). This body was divided into three divisions of two hundred each, and thirty divisions of
twenty each. The lowest rank in this order consisted of the captains of the thirty divisions, who were known as
the Thirty; then came the captains of the three larger divisions, who were known as the Three; lastly, the
commander of the whole force, who was known as the Captain of the Mighty Men, and was at this time
Abishai, David's nephew (Maclear, p. 329).
(22) Name the three divisions of the army of David.

(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
David's sin in numbering the people (2 Samuel 24; cf. Exodus 30:12-16; Jeremiah 17:5) demonstrates that there
are temptations to be faced at every age and at every stage of Christian growth. The temptation that defeated
him years before, he had outgrown. But now a different one–one more subtle–trips him. He sends Joab to
number the people. It was a sin of pride, and indicated that David was relying upon numbers rather than upon
the power of God. As predicted in Deuteronomy, the plague fell and was only stopped after 70,000 lives were
lost.
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David's sacrifice stayed the plague. Notice that God consumed the sacrifice with fire (1 Chronicles 21:26) –
again a picture of grace. As the fire consumed the sacrifice, David was made to realize that it should have
consumed him. He had sinned–the substitute had suffered. What a picture of Calvary! The sacrifice was made
on the very spot of Solomon's future Temple altar.
(23) David sinned when he ordered that a census be taken because ______.
a. he did not know that it was bad to do it and he violated the Law
b. he had indicated his pride and that he was relying upon numbers rather than the power of God
c. he wanted to know exactly the number of his valiant men
(24) In which place was the sacrifice realized? ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(25) The sin of David demonstrates to us that in each stage of the Christian life, we are confronted with
_____________________________________________.
In his final days, David was again faced with the rebellion of one of his sons; this time Adonijah. The cure was
the long-delayed action of making Solomon king. Solomon was Bathsheba's son, but was born after she was
David's legitimate wife (his adultery and murder were, of course, wrong, but the actual marriage was lawful
and, once consummated, was binding until death). Solomon's name means "the peaceful one," but Nathan called
him Jedidiah, "beloved of the Lord."
David gave his final counsels to Solomon in 1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 22: 6-16; 28-29. Some of David's personal
counsels concerning Shimei and Joab may seem to us severe, but they were given with a view of protecting the
young king from the treachery of these men. David knew all too well that the kingdom was never sure as long
as they lived.
(26) In the last days, David suffered the rebellion of his son _____________________________.
(27) Solomon means (a) ___________________________ but Nathan called him (b) _____________________
which means (c) ________________________.
(28) What was the object of the counsels of David concerning Shimei and Joab?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
At seventy years of age, "full of days, riches, and honor," David died. Carlyle wrote of him, "David, the Hebrew
king, had fallen into sin enough–blackest crimes–there was no want of sin. And, thereupon, the unbelievers
sneer, and ask, ‘is this your man according to God's heart?' The sneer, I must say, seems to me but a shallow
one. What are faults, what are the outward details of life, if the inner secret of it, the remorse, the temptation,
the often-baffled, never-ended struggle of it, be forgotten? All earnest souls will ever discern in it (David's life)
the faithful struggle of an earnest human soul toward what is good and best. Struggle often baffled– sore
baffled–driven as into entire wreck, yet a struggle never ended, ever with tears, repentance, true unconquerable
purpose, begun anew" (Carlyle, Heroes and Hero-Worship, p. 277).
D. Solomon As King
The first years of Solomon's reign saw the execution of four potential troublemakers. Solomon next made an
alliance with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by way of a treaty marriage. This was quite common in early days.
Nations ratified their agreements by intermarriage. It will be noted that this very practice, entered upon in a
small way at this time, became the snare that finally ruined Solomon in later years.
Another potentially dangerous practice which led to Solomon's later defection from Jehovah was the use of high
places for worship and sacrifice. A very good note on this is found on pages 290 and 389 of the Scofield
Reference Bible (1917 Edition) and should be read.
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(29) What were the two principal causes of the fall of Solomon?
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
1. The first appearance of God
Solomon's career is easily divided into three distinct periods by the three appearances of God to him. God first
appeared to Solomon at Gibeon (1 Kings 3:5). It was here that He challenged the young king (approximately
twenty years of age) to, ask what I shall give thee. We often read this and wish that the same challenge had been
given us. Actually, it has! If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it (John 14:14). But we must be careful
to ask with the same selfless motive as Solomon did. Otherwise, ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss,
that ye may consume it upon your lusts (James 4:3). Look up these verses. Matthew 7:7-11; 18:19; Mark 11:22-
26; Luke 11:1-13; John 14:13-14; 15:7; 16:23-24; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; James
1:5-7; 4:1-3; 1 Peter 3:7; 4:7; 5:7; 1 John 3:21-22; 5:14-15; Jude 20-21. Solomon pleased God in his request and
became the wisest man on earth. The later part of 1 Kings 3, as well as chapter 4, is devoted to an illustration of
Solomon's great wisdom.
It was during this period of Solomon's career that he built the great Temple at Jerusalem which David had
longed to build and for which he had gathered materials. It seems that Solomon went far beyond even David's
wildest imagination, as a thoughtful reading of 1 Kings 5-7 will show. We cannot go into a detailed account of
Solomon's Temple here, except to indicate that it was on the general plan of the Tabernacle but all dimensions
were doubled. God had indicated that there was to be a central place of worship in the Land (Deuteronomy
12:5-14) and in 1 Kings 8, we have the record of God's approval and acceptance of Jerusalem as that place.
Henceforth all sacrificial service in Israel was to be carried on here and the Law strictly forbade schismatic
worship at any other place. This was important both for the preservation of the true worship of Jehovah and for
the unity of the nation. When the Temple was abandoned, the result was religious apostasy and national
disunity.
(30) The career of Solomon is divided into ________________________________.
(31) The first time that God appeared to Solomon was in _____________________.
(32) What did Solomon ask of God? ________________________________________________
(33) According to John 14:14 and James 4:3, how should our petitions be?
______________________________________________________________________________________
(34) During this first period Solomon constructed _______.
a. his house b. the altar c. the Temple d. the Tabernacle
(35) Give two reasons why the Temple was important.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(36) Give two results of abandoning the Temple.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
2. The second appearance and a warning
The second time God appeared to Solomon it was by way of both promise and warning (1 Kings 9:1-9). There
was no real outbreak of iniquity in Solomon's character, but there were danger signs. Ease and plenty, continual
entertainment and great wealth have ever been a source of spiritual defeat for God's people. Paul, the Apostle,
wrote centuries later, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. But they that
will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they
have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:7-10). 1 Kings
9:10-10:29 pictures the immense wealth of the kingdom during this time (see especially 1 Kings 10:23,27).
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(37) What are the three sources of spiritual defeat for the Christian?
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
Some have doubted these descriptions of extravagant wealth and prosperity. Unger says, "Solomon's glory used
to be commonly dismissed as 'Semitic exaggeration,' or a romantic tale. The monuments, however, have shown
that during the period from 1100-900 B.C., the great empires surrounding Israel were either in eclipse or
obeyance, so that Solomon could rule with the splendor attributed to him in the Bible. Solomon monopolized
the entire caravan trade between Arabia and Mesopotamia, and from the Red Sea to Palmyra. Exercising control
over the trade routes, both to the East and West of the Jordan, the Israelite monarch was enabled to collect
enormous revenue from merchants seeking passage through his territories" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, pp. 1035-
1036).
(38) Name two or three reasons why we come to the conclusion that Solomon did, in fact, reign in prosperity
and riches as the Bible states.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
3. The final appearance and judgment
A description of Solomon's downfall is found in 1 Kings 11. Read this section carefully. God always forbade
mixed marriages of believers to unbelievers, and here we get an excellent example of why He did. Even
Solomon, the wisest man on earth was foolish enough to think that he could play with fire and not be burned.
The idolatrous gods mentioned here have been referred to in former lessons and we need not repeat a
description of their licentious practices except to note that Molech, a god particularly offensive to Jehovah, was
worshiped right in the holy city itself. This god was worshiped with human sacrifices of infant children who
were laid in the iron hands of the idol after they had been heated white hot. Obviously, it was necessary for God
to intervene in judgment. In 1 Kings 11:11-13 God pronounced on Solomon the judgment of The Rent
Kingdom. In our next section we will see the fulfillment of God's words. Notice, however, that even in
judgment, God remembers mercy and promises to preserve one tribe for the line of David (actually the
combined tribes of Judah and Benjamin).
(39) I have read the passage of 1 Kings 11. (date) _______________

(40) Solomon's foolishness is a good example why God forbids _________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________.
(41) What would you say to a young woman who, knowing full well that it was not the will of God to marry an
unbeliever, justified her contemplated marriage to an unbeliever by saying that she had prayed about it and
believed it was the will of God? (a)_________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
What Scriptures would you use in talking with her? (b) _________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(42) What was the judgment that God pronounced upon Solomon? ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(43) Even in judgment God remembers (a) __________________ and promises to preserve
(b) __________________ for the line of David.
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E. Conclusion
Solomon is the classic example of man's inability to find peace while separated from God. Solomon means
"peace" and in the early days of his career he possessed great quantities of this sweet influence. But, like many a
present-day believers, his heart was drawn away after earthly things. The further he got from God the more
restless he became. The two advantages which Solomon had over any other man were (1) he could afford
anything his heart could possibly desire or imagine (Ecclesiastes 2:10) and (2) his great wisdom made him
capable of enjoying these pleasures to the fullest extent. The book of Ecclesiastes is the record of his search for
peace apart from God and the conclusion is found at the very opening of the book, Vanity of vanities, saith the
Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The word vanity literally means, "that which is
not." If any man could have found peace and pleasure in the things this world can afford it was Solomon. He
failed–and so will we! Jesus Christ alone can give peace and satisfaction (read especially Ecclesiastes 1:12-14;
2:9-12; 12:1-14).
(44) Solomon is the classic example of the man who tries to find peace apart from God but is incapable of
doing it. (True or False) ______________
(45) The Book of the Bible that speaks to us of the man in search of peace apart from God is __________.
(46) Vanity means ______________________________________________________________
(47) Who is the only one who can give peace and true satisfaction? _______________________
(1) The Davidic Covenant is characterized for being (a) _______________________ and
(b) __________________________.
(2) The Davidic Covenant is important for two reasons.
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(3) With the construction of the Temple Solomon fulfilled the ___________________ Covenant
although Christ will fulfill it completely.
(4) The sin of David was (a) ____________________ and (b) __________________.
(5) Which story in the Bible is a beautiful picture of the grace of God? _____________________
(6) Another sin of David was _______________________________________ which showed his pride and lack
of trust in God.
(7) Solomon fell for two reasons.
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(8) How many times did God appear to Solomon? ___________________________
(9) Why is the Temple important?
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(10) The judgment of God upon Solomon was _____________________________.
Matching:
(11) _____ army a. 600 men
(12) _____ royal guard b. rebelled against his father
(13) _____ heroes or mighty men c. Cherethites and Pelethites
(14) _____ Adonijah d. 12 sections
(15) _____ Solomon e. that which is nothing
(16) _____ Jedidiah f. man of peace
(17) _____ vanity g. beloved of God
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True or False:
(18) Solomon failed in spite of being the wisest man on earth. _______________
(19) Ecclesiastes is the Book of the Bible that speaks to us of the man that hunted peace apart from God and
found it. _______________
(20) The only one that can give true peace and satisfaction to man is Jesus Christ. ____________
III. THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
Now these be the last words of David . . . The Spirit of the Lord spake by me . . . He that ruleth over men must
be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a
morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth (2 Samuel 23:1-4).
The ideal was never met, even in David, but the real tragedy was that the direction of the kingdom was away
from the ideal rather than toward it. Like all human things it deteriorated, and we must now give careful
attention to the history of that deterioration. The glory of David's words are that they one day will be fulfilled
(Isaiah 9:6-7; 32:1). The Scripture for this section is 1 Kings 12 - 2 Kings 17. The kindred passages are found in
2 Chronicles 10-36, but we suggest that these be read with the next section since they deal primarily with the
kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
This period of Israel's history is so little known by most people that it comes as a shock to them that there was a
division of Israel into two kingdoms, and that this division continued throughout the rest of the period. A review
of your dispensational chart found in God's Plan of the Ages: Part 1, and the graph found in God's Plan of the
Ages: Part 3 would be helpful here.
It is often wondered just why there are two records of this period, one found in the Books of Samuel and Kings
(originally only two continuous books) and the other found in Chronicles. Like the Gospels of the New
Testament each was written with a slightly different viewpoint and together they give us a complete picture.
The authors of these books are unknown, but tradition assigns 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings to Jeremiah,
and 1 and 2 Chronicles to Ezra the priest.
(2) According to tradition, who wrote the following books?
(a) 1 and 2 Samuel; 1 and 2 Kings________________________
(b) 1 and 2 Chronicles _________________________________
Beside the distinctions noted above, Kings deals more with the Northern Kingdom while Chronicles deals
almost solely with the Southern Kingdom, there are several other distinguishing characteristics. Kings records
primarily the ministry of the prophets, while Chronicles records primarily the ministry of the priests. This can
be under33 stood on two accounts. If Jeremiah (a prophet) wrote Kings, he would no doubt have almost
certainly emphasized the prophetic office, while Ezra (a Priest) would naturally emphasize the priestly function.
But this is also explainable from the fact that the Levites and priests were expelled from the Northern Kingdom
under Jeroboam (2 Chronicles 11:14) and hence the ministry of calling the nation back to God was left entirely
to the prophets. Since the book of Kings dwells mostly on the Northern Kingdom, naturally the prophets are
seen preeminently and the reverse is true in Chronicles.
(3) Kings dwells mostly on the (a) __________________________ Kingdom, while Chronicles treats
almost completely the (b) _____________________________________ Kingdom.
(4) Kings relates the ministry of the (a) ____________________________ while Chronicles relates the
ministry of the (b) _____________________________.
(5) Jeremiah was a (a) ___________________ and Ezra was a (b) __________.
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Another distinction is the source from which the writers obtained their material. Kings is always derived from
state records (1 Kings 11:41; 14:19,29; etc.) while Chronicles (actually called "Acts of Days" in Hebrew)
embodies more selections and information from individuals, such as "Samuel the Seer," "Nathan the Prophet,"
"Gad the Seer," etc. (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 13:22; 20:34; 26:22). "The explanation of all
this seems to be that the author of Kings wrote his book in Judah, where he would have access to the national
archives; while the writer of Chronicles probably compiled his histories from the writings of the above-
mentioned seers and prophets carried with the exiles to Babylon, or obtained after their restoration to the land.
This would make the Chronicles peculiarly the Remnant's book; while the Kings would be more for the nation
at large, particularly Israel" (The Kings of Judah and Israel by C. Knapp, Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., p. 11).
One reason for confusion in the minds of many over this period is the way in which the Books of Kings jump
back and forth between the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms–a very annoying tendency to our western way
of thinking since we love to have things strictly chronological.
To assist the student therefore in being able to get a clear picture of this period, this section will confine its
attention to the kings of the Northern Kingdom, the next to the kings of the Southern Kingdom, and to a survey
of the prophets of both Kingdoms and their ministries. Figure 2 (p. 35) shows the geographic divisions of the
Kingdoms, and the chart of the Kings and Prophets (p. 38) will show the chronological features of both the
Kingdoms, as well as the period of time during which each of the prophets ministered.
(6) Kings takes its information from the (a) ____________________ records, while Chronicles derives its
information from (b) _____________________________________.
A. Why the Kingdom Divided
Preeminently the reason for the "Rent Kingdom" was the judgment which God pronounced upon Solomon for
his sins (1 Kings 11:11-13), which we saw in Section II. The judgment was in the form of chastisement as God
has promised (2 Samuel 7:14-15), not vindictive but corrective in nature. Along with wealth and prosperity,
pomp and power, there had come the companions–pride and corruption. Idolatry, greed, and immorality marked
the final days of Solomon, and the time came when there was no recourse but judgment. Therefore, the pride of
the haughty was brought low and the house of David was left with only a fraction of its former greatness (see
Figure 2).
But there were natural factors which also are worth noting. First, Ephraim had early been given a place of high
prominence, both in the blessings of Jacob (Genesis 48:17-20) and in the blessings of Moses (Deuteronomy
33:17). Then, Joshua had come from the tribe of Ephraim, which gave them added prestige.
(7) What was the principal cause for the division of the Kingdom? ____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Ephraim seems to have always aspired to national leadership. Already, in the time of the Judges, that pride had
twice broken out in haughty demeanor (Judges 8:1-3; 12:1-6). Later, Ephraim followed Ishbosheth for seven
and one-half years while David reigned over Judah in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:1-11). After the passing of
Ishbosheth, Ephraim and the northern tribes, who seemed always too willing to follow her proud leadership,
finally acknowledged David as king and the old rivalry seems to have died out completely. But after David's sin
and Absalom's rebellion, it became apparent that it was still there (2 Samuel 19:41; 20:12), always ready to
come alive on the slightest pretext of popular opinion. It is not difficult therefore to account for the immediate
reaction of the nation to Rehoboam's foolish and haughty rejection of their request. They needed only a leader
and in Jeroboam they found a mighty man of valor …. and industrious and he was an Ephraimite. When
Rehoboam added insult to injury by sending Adoram to collect the heavy taxes he had promised, All Israel
106
stoned him with stones and the break was complete. Rehoboam and his reign will be discussed more fully in the
next section as we look at the history of the Southern Kingdom. But now we turn our attention upon the
nineteen kings of the Northern Kingdom called Israel, and elsewhere simply Ephraim (as against the Southern
Kingdom known from here on as Judah).
Figure 2: THE DIVIDED KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH
(8) List three natural factors of the division of the Kingdom.

(a) _______________________________________________________________________________
(b) _______________________________________________________________________________
(c) _______________________________________________________________________________
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108
B. The Nine Dynasties of Northern Israel
1. The First Dynasty
The First Dynasty of Israel began with Jeroboam as we have noted. An industrious person, Solomon had given
him large responsibilities. But when Ahijah, the prophet, had told him of God's intention of giving him the ten
northern tribes, Jeroboam's faithless character at once becomes apparent. Unlike David who waited patiently for
God's time, Jeroboam immediately began insurrection, which caused Solomon to drive him into exile. Ever an
opportunist, he reappeared upon the death of Solomon and led the delegation which demanded reform of
Rehoboam. He was the natural choice for king when the rebellion broke.
Jeroboam is best known for his religious apostasy. It was Jeroboam who erected the idolatrous calves at Dan
and Bethel (which retained the chief religious devotion of Israel as long as the Kingdom lasted), who expelled
the Levites from the priesthood (and eventually from northern Israel), and who proclaimed feasts rivaling the
Feasts of Jehovah at different times during the year. All of this was a master stroke to cut Israel off from any
contact with the Temple worship at Jerusalem, which Jeroboam thought might eventually awaken in the people
the desire to reconcile the Kingdom to the Davidic throne. Jeroboam received on several occasions Divine
judgment (1 Kings 13:4-5; 14:1-18), but no real repentance was ever forthcoming and he died in his apostasy
and sin.
Nadab, his son, was the second and last king of the First Dynasty. He reigned only a year, continued the
wickedness of his father, and died the death prophesied by the faithful Ahijah (1 Kings 15:25-31).
(9) The First Dynasty of Israel began with the industrious ______________________________.
(10) Jeroboam is better known for his ______________________________________________.
2. The Second Dynasty
Baasha slew the wicked house of Jeroboam, utterly destroying it, but was as wicked as those he slew. Almost at
the outset of his kingdom, God promised that his end should be like that of Jeroboam's dynasty (1 Kings 16:1-
7). His most famous act was the attempt to build a "Berlin wall" at Ramah. His subjects, disillusioned by the
idolatry and misrule in the north, were pouring into the Southern Kingdom (1 Kings 15:17). But God overruled
his wicked plan and he left off building of Ramah (vs. 21). Again, the dynasty was short. As Jehu, the prophet,
had predicted, only one son of Baasha sat on the throne. Elah was as wicked as his father before him and he
died in a drunken stupor (1 Kings 16:8-10).
(11) The Second Dynasty was made up of (a) _______________and (b) ___________________.
(12) The most famous act of Baasha was his attempt to build a"_________________" at Ramah.
3. The Third Dynasty

Zimri lasted only seven days and then died a suicide's death. He became a proverb in Israel as witnessed by
Jezebel's haughty taunt to Jehu, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? But there can be no peace to the wicked
(1 Kings 16:9-20).
4. The Fourth Dynasty
Omri was commander-in-chief of military operations in Israel under Elab. No sooner had the treachery of Zimri
come to light than he proceeded to form a military coup de'tat. He was opposed briefly by Tibni, a political
opportunist, but Omri's absolute control of the military made the contest short and certain. Omri founded what
was the most successful dynasty in Israel up to this time. His most notable achievement was the removal of the
capital to Samaria, a brilliant military move since the city lay on a high vantage point some 600 feet above the
surrounding country. Like those before him he was spiritually dead and insensible to God, and continued the
sins of Jeroboam (1 Kings 16:23-27).
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(13) Who constituted the Third Dynasty which only lasted seven days? ________________________________
(14) Omri initiated the Fourth Dynasty and his most notable achievement was ___________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(15) What was the spiritual condition of Omri? ___________________________________________________
Ahab was the second king of this dynasty and perhaps the most famous king of Israel. He is famous for his Baal
worship, famous for his murder of Naboth, famous as the king who saw the contest of Jehovah and Baal on Mt.
Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-41), but no doubt most famous of all for his wicked wife, Jezebel, under whom he
served as a mere puppet. Ahab is famous with God, as well, who wrote his obituary in words which will never
pass away (1 Kings 16:30-33; 21:25-26).
(16) Name four reasons why Ahab was famous.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(d) ___________________________________________________________________________________
Ahaziah, the heir of Ahab, walked in the ways of his father so that his reign was cut short to only two years. In
his distress he (an Israelite) sent to Baal-zebub, mentioned in the New Testament as the prince of demons (i.e.,
Satan). Elijah stopped the messengers with a searching question, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel,
that ye to go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Then he declares that God is not dead and will judge
Ahaziah for his sins. Far from repenting, the willful king, laying on his death bed, tried to destroy Elijah. In a
brief time Ahaziah was dead (2 Kings 1:1-17).
Ahaziah had no son and so his brother, Jehoram (sometimes called Joram), reigned in his place. There is no
discrepancy between the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 3:1) and the second year of Jehoram, son of
Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 8:16). Notice that the kings of Israel and Judah have the same name. This is due to the
intermarriage between them during this dynasty. We will say more about this when we study Jehoshaphat in the
next section.
Jehoram "put away" Baal worship in Israel, but there was no real repentance. He was utterly faithless
(2 Kings 5:7), and later even made an attempt on the life of Elisha (2 Kings 6:32-33). He was the last of the
dynasty of Omri and upon him there fell all the judgment due the house of Ahab because of the sins of Ahab
and Jezebel. "The payday train arrived at the station with the anointing of Jehu."
(17) The heir of Ahab was (a) _________________who only reigned (b) __________________.
(18) The wickedness of Ahaziah reached its lowest level when he consulted ________________________
instead of God.
(19) When Ahaziah died he was succeeded by his brother ___________________ upon whom fell the judgment
of God which corresponded to the house of Ahab.
5. The Fifth Dynasty
Most successful of all was this fifth and longest dynasty in Israel. Jehu had been the king's charioteer under
Ahab. Knowing the prophecies of Elijah against the house of Ahab and being reminded of his duty to execute
the wrath of God upon that wicked house, he set forth immediately with great zeal upon his bloody errand. But
although sin must be brought to punishment, Jehu's whole attitude was wrong and his real motive was political.
He murdered not only with zeal but with zest, so that one hundred years later God said through Hosea, Call his
name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu (Hosea 1:4).
Not only did he destroy the house of Ahab, but very nearly destroyed the whole house of David as well (2 Kings
9:27-29; 10:13-14).
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Jehu's main accomplishment was the utter destruction of Baal worship in Israel (2 Kings 10:19-29). Here again,
his motive was to destroy the loyal followers of Ahab and Jezebel who he considered a potential source of
trouble. Jehu's real character is seen in 2 Kings 10:31, although because he did execute the wrath of God upon
Ahab's house, he was promised four more generations in Israel (2 Kings 10:30).
(20) Who initiated the Fifth Dynasty? __________________________
(21) What was the principal work of Jehu? _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
When Jehoahaz came to the throne, the kingdom of Israel was already diminishing (2 Kings 10:32-33). All of
these things were warnings from a faithful and loving God, but His warnings went unheeded (Proverbs 1:22-
33). Therefore God delivered the whole Kingdom into the hands of Hazael whom Elisha had anointed king of
Syria (2 Kings 8:7-15). Jehoahaz went through the motions of repentance, but did not forsake his pet sins (13:6)
and therefore, although God took note of his inclination toward Him, Israel remained tributary and deeply
troubled during his and his son's reign.
Jehoash (sometimes abbreviated to Joash) next took the throne. "It is evident from a comparison of the figures
of this verse (2 Kings 13:10) with those given in verse one of the same chapter . . . that Joash reigned jointly
with his father during the last two years of the latter's life" (ibid.). Elisha died during his reign and Joash saw his
going as the loss of Israel's last real line of defense. Note his words (2 Kings 13:14). His lack of faith in smiting
only thrice with the arrows (vss. 18-19) should provide much food for thought for us. How often would you
have smitten? Remember it was "unto him according to his faith!" His last act was a provoked attack upon the
Southern Kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 14:8-14).
(22) It was during the reign of (a) _____________________ that God gave over the kingdom into the hands of
(b) _______________ king of Syria.
(23) During the reign of ___________________________ Elisha the prophet died.
Jeroboam II brought political revival to Israel. Although evil, God used him to deliver Israel out of the hand of
Hazael of Syria according to His promise to Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:5-6; cf. 2 Kings 14:25-27).
Zachariah began to reign after about eleven years had elapsed from his father's death, showing something of the
unrest and turmoil of the country. (2 Kings 15:8; compare Hosea's prophecy during the intermittent period
Hosea 7:7; 10:3,7.) His reign lasted only six months and his open assassination marked the end of the dynasty
of Jehu and the beginning of the end of the Kingdom itself.
(24) Whom did God use in spite of his wickedness in order to free Israel from the hands of Hazael, king of
Syria? _______________
(25) The last king of the dynasty of Jehu was _____________________________.
6. The Sixth Dynasty
Shallum, whose open assassination of Zachariah had ended the dynasty of Jehu, reigned only four weeks and
two days in Samaria when, at the hand of Menahem, he received a just retribution for his crime, and was
himself assassinated, ending his dynasty (2 Kings 15:10-15).
7. The Seventh Dynasty
Josephus tells us that Menahem was general of the army. His coup d'tat began a veritable reign of terror in Israel
by this merciless murderer. During his reign, Assyria's power was felt for the first time, but Menahem managed
to buy off the invaders (2 Kings 15:19-20).
Pekahiah, Menahem's son, reigned only two years when he was slain by his aide-de-camp, Pekah. In twelve
short years the Seventh Dynasty was over. It is interesting to note that the godly Uzziah, who reigned in Judah
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during this time, although a leper who doubtless died a comparatively early death, saw the death of five of
Israel's kings, three of whom were assassinated, besides an interregnum of anarchy lasting at least eleven years
(Knapp). Compare Hosea 11:12.
(26) In the Sixth Dynasty there was only one king. (True or False) ______________
(27) Who established a kingdom of true terror in Israel by his unmerciful killings? ____________
(28) The son of Menahem was _____________, who also was slain.
8. The Eighth Dynasty
Iniquity came to the full in Pekah. He not only murdered the king before him, but invaded Judah (see 2
Chronicles 28:6-15). The result was that the king of Assyria, heartened by the lack of unity between his weaker
foes, invaded Israel and carried away a host of captives. However, before he could invade Samaria itself, Pekah
was slain by Hoshea, whom history tells us was friendly toward the Assyrians (2 Kings 15:27-31).
9. The Ninth Dynasty
The last dynasty had only one king and he was a puppet of Assyria. Eight years elapsed between Pekah's death
and Hoshea's reign, during which Israel was nominally tributary to Assyria. Then Tiglath-pileser III placed
Hoshea on the throne. God's commentary on his reign is found in 2 Kings 17:2. The implication seems to be
that he did not worship the golden calves which Jeroboam had set up–but this was probably because the
Assyrians had carried them away. Hoshea served also under Shalmaneser until his proud heart led him to
conspire against the kings. With this Shalmaneser invaded Israel, bound Hoshea in prison for life, carried away
all of the influential persons in Israel, and brought to an end the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C. with the fall of
Samaria.
(29) In the Eighth Dynasty, iniquity rose to its highest with _________ who invaded Judah.
(30) The Ninth Dynasty also had only one king, ____________________, a puppet of the Assyrians. And
with it the Kingdom of the North terminated.
C. Summary
"Of the nine distinct dynasties that successively ruled the dissevered tribes, three ended with the total
extirpation of the reigning family. The Kingdom continued for a period of about two hundred and fifty years,
and the inspired records of those eventful two-and-a-half centuries of Israel's kings and people furnish us with
little more than repeated and fearful exhibitions of lawlessness and evil. Out of the nineteen kings that reigned
from the great schism to the deportation to the land of Assyria, only seven died natural deaths (Baash, Omri,
Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Menahem); seven were assassinated (Nadab, Elah, Joram, Zachariah,
Shallum, Pekahiah, and Pekah); one committed suicide (Zimri); one died of wounds received in battle (Ahab);
one was 'struck' by the judgment of God (Jeroboam); one died of injuries received from a fall (Ahaziah); and the
other, and last (Hoshea), apparently was ‘cut off as foam upon the water.’ To this not unmeaning array of facts
must be added two prolonged periods of anarchy" (ibid., p. 292). Sin can only lead to separation from God, and
to be separated from Him is death indeed. Well may we as individuals take warning to maintain the spiritual life
so that we may have fellowship with Him (see 1 John 1:5-9). Too many are like Jezebel who in her last fleeting
moments of life prettied her face rather than preparing her soul–and how can they expect to escape an end like
her's who for nearly 3,000 years has suffered in a devil's Hell? May we hear and may we take heed!
(31) How many dynasties governed the Northern Kingdom? _______

(32) This period covered about ____________ years.
(33) How many kings ruled in the North during this period? ___________________
(34) What nation carried the Northern Kingdom captive? _____________________
(35) Sin only leads to ________________________________________________.
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D. Archaeological Notes
For many years, unbelieving scholars scoffed at the Biblical record found in 2 Kings 15:19 and 1 Chronicles
5:26. "These passages in Kings and Chronicles have given great trouble to the student of the Old Testament.
When the Assyrian inscriptions were first discovered, the name of "Pul" did not appear in them, and at the
period to which this king is assigned by the Old Testament, there was no gap in any of the lists in which the
name of a king "Pul" could be inserted. Numerous efforts on the part of various Biblical and Assyrian scholars
were made to reconcile the difficulties, but in vain, until the suggestion of Sir Henry Rawlinson, R. Lepsius, and
Schrader, that "Pul" was none other than the well-known Assyrian king, Tiglath-pileser III. This theory was
supported by Schrader with a masterly array of facts and arguments. At last, the Babylonian chronicle was
found by Pinches in the British Museum, and on this Babylonian chronicle, at the year 729, stands the name
"Pul," written "Pu-lu," whereas on the other king lists of the Babylonians at that same year stands the name of
Tiglath-pileser. All Assyriologists are now agreed that the Babylonian chronicle has settled the question, and
that Tiglathpileser and Pul are one and the same person" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 900). So again, the Word
of God is proven accurate. Noman knows enough to doubt a single word of Scripture!
(36) Archaeology confirmed once again that the word of God is trustworthy an ______________ because it has
proved that "Pul" and Tiglath-pileser are one and the same person.
(1) After the death of Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms:
(a) The Northern Kingdom called _____________________.
(b) The Southern Kingdom called _____________________.
(2) The books that speak of these two Kingdoms are: 1 and 2 (a) ________________ and 1 and 2
(b) _______________ attributed to (c) ________________________ and 1 and 2
(d) ________________________attributed to (e) _______________.
(3) The principal cause of the division of the Kingdom was __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(4) The Northern Kingdom was governed by (a) _________ dynasties with a total of (b) _____________ kings.
(5) The first dynasty of the Northern Kingdom began with the industrious __________________ better known
for his religious apostasy.
(6) The second king of the fourth dynasty was (a) ____________ perhaps the most famous one of Israel because
of his wife (b) ________________________ and his struggle with the prophet (c) ____________________.
(7) The most successful dynasty that lasted the longest was the (a) ___________ with its king (b) ___________.
(8) The prophet Elisha died during the reign of _____________________________.
(9) In the seventh dynasty, who initiated a kingdom of terror with many killings? _____________
(10) Iniquity in Israel reached its peak with king (a) _______________ in the(b) _________________ Dynasty.
(11) The Northern Kingdom came to an end with king ____________ who was a puppet of the Assyrians.
(12) Which nation carried Israel captive? ___________________________
(13) Sin only leads to __________________________________________________.
(14) Archaeology proves that Tiglath-pileser was "____________________________” which confirms the
Word of God.
(15) There does not exist one solitary man who knows enough to ________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
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IV. THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH
In the last section, we surveyed the nine dynasties of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, sketching the careers of
the nineteen kings until their exile into Assyria. In this section, we will look at the one dynasty of Judah (the
House of David reigned alone) and the nineteen kings which comprised it until their exile into Babylon. The
Scripture for this section is 2 Chronicles 11-36. Kindred passages are found in 1 and 2 Kings and in sections of
the prophetic writings, some of which are referred to in this section. A thorough study of the chart of the Kings
and Prophets, page 108 in this Part, will be helpful.
(2) In the Southern Kingdom, only one dynasty ruled. That was the house of _____________.
A. The Nineteen Kings of the Southern Kingdom
1. Rehoboam
We looked briefly at the career of Rehoboam up until the dividing of the Kingdom in the last section. His
unwise actions are in striking contrast to the wisdom of his father's early years. The arrogancy of youth, both his
own and that of his counselors, mixed with the prevailing unrest of the people, and the circumstances of
Jeroboam's return from exile proved the perfect ingredients to produce rebellion. The rebellion would soon have
become civil war had it not been for the interference of God through His servant Shemaiah (2 Chronicles 11:1-
4). Rehoboam obeyed, and instead of launching an armed invasion of the secessionist tribes, he fortified himself
against them and contented himself with the status quo.
In his later years, however, when there seemed to be little danger of a northern invasion, Rehoboam turned his
back on Jehovah and sinned the sins of Solomon his father. The record of his apostasy is recorded in 1 Kings
14:21-24. The result was an Egyptian invasion under Shishak who had given asylum to Jeroboam. Rehoboam
came within an inch of losing his life, but through his repentance he was spared. One item worth our notice is
the removal of the gold shields which Solomon had made (2 Chronicles 12:9-10). Rehoboam replaced these
with brass shields to keep up appearances. They remind us of the brass shields many Christians raise to hide the
truth that the true gold is gone. (For length of reign and dates see the chart of Kings in this Part, p. 129)
(3) The result of the apostasy of Rehoboam was ______________________________________.
(4) The first king of Judah was (a) __________________________, who committed the same sins as his father
(b) _________________________________.
(5) Rehoboam obeyed God and did not invade the tribes of the North. This spared a__________.
2. Abijah
Abijah's reign was brief–he outlived his father only three short years. He had been handpicked for the job (2
Chronicles 11:22). He was just like his father, sins and all (1 Kings 15:3). He is best remembered for his battle
with Jeroboam. There had been constant war between Jeroboam and Rehoboam and, at the latter’s death,
Jeroboam saw an opportunity to destroy the Southern Kingdom. But he misjudged his adversary. Note Abijah's
famous speech (2 Chronicles 13:4-12). Despite Jeroboam's wily trickery (2 Chronicles 13:13), Abijah's 400,000
men won a stunning victory over the 800,000 of Israel. "While God could not put His seal upon the state of soul
in Abijah . . . He must vindicate the righteousness of all that is said against Jeroboam and his followers"
(Knapp). It was a telling blow to Jeroboam (2 Chronicles 13:20). When not more than forty years old, Abijah
died a natural death.
3. Asa
Asa's reign brought a time of relief not known since the days of Solomon. There was great peace throughout the
land for Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God (2 Chronicles 14:2). But Asa was
not idle. He first prepared Judah spiritually (14:3-5) and then he prepared militarily (14:6-8). He had a well-
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equipped and well-organized standing army. Not long afterwards, Asa won a miraculous victory against the
overwhelming forces of Ethiopia. God was not dead–He would still fight for those whose hearts were perfect
toward Him. Later, Asa was warned and encouraged in his pursuit of godliness of Oded the prophet.
But Asa's faith wavered when Baasha began building Ramah. Instead of trusting God, he hired the Syrians
whom God had evidently intended for him to destroy (2 Chronicles 16:7). When rebuked, he put the faithful
prophet (Hanani) in prison. It seems as though his pride had been injured and, unable to admit his wrong, when
sickness came he could not find it in his heart to humble himself before God and cry for healing. His pride
became a sin unto death and he ended an otherwise glorious reign on a very sad note.
(6) The second king of Judah __________________, was a son of Rehoboam.
(7) Abijah is best remembered for _________________________________________________.
(8) The reign of (a) _________ brought peace to Judah because he "did
(b) ________________________________________________________________.”
(9) Asa prepared Judah in two respects.
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(10) What happened with Asa when he saw that Baasha began building Ramah? _________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Jehoshaphat
Much can be said of the next important king, Jehoshaphat. His first act upon becoming king was to fortify his
Kingdom against the apostate Kingdom to the north. But his early stand soon bent beneath the winds of
diplomacy. He allowed his son, Jehoram to marry into the dynasty to the north–the House of Ahab and Jezebel.
Of all Jehoshaphat's wonderful deeds and able leadership, he is doubtless best remembered for his sinful
alliance with these wicked apostates (2 Chronicles 19:2; cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). The result of his
disobedience, although it seemed not to affect his own personal piety, was felt in Judah for the next fifteen
years. The great victory over Moab and Ammon was totally won by prayer and faith (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4).
The sameweapons are available to us. In 2 Chronicles 20:35-37, he again allied himself with Israel, indicating
that he had not learned his lesson very well. This was the last recorded act of his reign.
5. Jehoram
No greater contrast could be imagined than between the godly Jehoshaphat and his godless, apostate son,
Jehoram. And yet, Jehoshaphat himself had occasioned the evil by his unlawful friendship with Ahab. Read
God's record of Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:4-6). His record sounds just like that of his in-laws to the north.
Murder, treachery, idolatry, and judgment from God marked and marred his brief reign of eight years. Elijah,
the prophet, whose ministry had been entirely to Israel, even wrote him a personal revelation of his end which
Elijah had foreseen before his translation (2 Chronicles 21:12-15). But the posthumous report did not deter him
from his evil way and he died as Elijah foretold.
(11) The fourth king of Judah was ___________________________.

(12) With all his wonderful acts and his ability as a leader, Jehoshaphat is best remembered for his
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
(13) When Jehoshaphat died he was succeeded by the apostate and godless_________________.
(14) Which prophet told Jehoram what his fate would be? ____________________
6. Ahaziah
The only son left to Jehoram reigned next and, as Jezebel had been the power behind his father to do evil, so her
influence was felt by Ahaziah. Athaliah, Jezebel's daughter, (and no daughter was ever more like her mother)
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was the young king's mother and his counselor to do wickedly. He reigned only a year when he joined his
cousin, Jehoram, in the battle of Ramoth-Gilead. Visiting him at Jezreel where he had retired to be healed of
wounds received in the abortive attack, Ahaziah fell prey to Jehu's vengeance on the remaining house of Ahab
and died.
The next occupant of Judah's throne was not a king but a queen. She was none other than the wicked Athaliah
herself. This old wicked grandmother slew her own grandchildren in her grab for power, but providentially
missed one of the house of David, that the Word of God (2 Samuel 7:15-16) might stand. She ruled (or
misruled) Judah for six years and her very presence on the throne was a reminder to Judah that the nation was
under the chastening hand of God because of its sin.
7. Joash
Jehoshabeath, the good wife of Jehoiada the priest, was the instrument God used to accomplish the rescue of the
young king Joash (also called Jehoash). She first hid him in a bed chamber and then transferred him to the
Temple of God where Jehoiada raised him as his own son. When Jehoiada himself was nearly a hundred years
old, and Joash only seven, he planned and executed one of the most daring and successful coups in history (2
Chronicles 23:1-15).
The beginning of his reign was marked by revival and great blessing as Jehoiada (an uncle) continued to
exercise a good influence over the young king. Joash's main work seems to have been repairing the Temple,
which he did in the face of many obstacles. But Jehoiada died–and after his death the old aristocracy showed
their true color and led Joash and Judah into idolatry. It is striking to me how Satan's emissaries can be at home
in any company and go along with wind and tide (as these "princes" obviously did during Jehoiada's lifetime)
and then suddenly show their true colors when they are in the majority. Poor Joash became simply a pawn in the
hands of these aristocrats and even went so far as to order the execution of Zechariah, the godly son of the very
man to whom Joash owed both his life and his throne. How insensible sin makes men! The result as always was
chastening and death and his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada . . . but
they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings (2 Chronicles 24:25).
(15) Athaliah and Jehoram were the parents of ________________, the sixth king of Judah.
(16) Upon the death of Ahaziah, who took the throne? ______________________
(17) The true heir to the throne after the death of Ahaziah was (a) ____________, who was raised by
(b) _____________________________.
(18) What appears to have been the principal work of Joash? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
8. Amaziah
Like his father, Amaziah made a good beginning. He was careful to keep the Law of Moses (2 Chronicles 25:4
cf. Deuteronomy 17:18-20). But his heart was not a heart of faith in God, as we learn from 2 Chronicles 25:2,6.
He leaned on the mercenaries of Israel rather than God and in the end brought great grief and trouble to himself
and all Judah. In an abortive attempt to retaliate on Israel for the conduct of the soldiers he himself had hired, he
nearly lost his kingdom and his life. His popularity waned as his spiritual life dried up, and like his father, he
died at the hands of his own people.
9. Uzziah
Uzziah enjoyed the longest continuous reign of any of the kings of Judah. His chief adviser was one Zechariah
(2 Chronicles 26:5} of whom we know nothing except what is given in this verse. But his record is on high, we
may be sure, as is yours and mine. Uzziah was only sixteen but showed great energy as king. He warred
successfully against the Philistines and the Arabians as well as the inhabitants of Mt. Seir (Mehunims). He
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established an active reserve program (2 Chronicles 26:11) and he fortified the city of Jerusalem with defensive
war machines.
But like many before and after him, Uzziah's prosperity became his downfall. He intruded into the priest's office
by entering the holy place to offer incense. God warned him through the faithful priests, but when the warning
produced anger instead of repentance, Uzziah was smitten with leprosy. He was never again allowed even in the
outer court of the Temple and was isolated even from the palace itself. Jotham, his son, reigned as regent in the
final years of Uzziah's life. Even in death he was separated (2 Chronicles 26:23), demonstrating the price he
paid for his act of willful pride.
(19) Which king had a good beginning like his father, but a bad ending? _______________________________
(20) How did Amaziah show his little faith in God? ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(21) The ninth King of Judah was (a) __________________________, who had
(b) ____________________________ as his chief advisor.
(22) Uzziah died with what disease? ____________________________
10. Jotham
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began his independent reign in Jerusalem. Although he is listed as
one of Judah's "good" kings, he seems to have held a grudge against God for his father's leprosy and refused to
go to the Temple at all. The effect on the nation was bad and the people did yet corruptly. He enjoyed a reign of
prosperity, victory, and peace for sixteen years, because he prepared his ways before the Lord. Have you
prepared your ways, your activities, your plans for today, on your knees before the Lord? Great peace have they
which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them (Psalm 119:165).
11. Ahaz
The history of Ahaz is the story of a frustrated sovereign who tried everything (2 Kings 16:3-4) and turned to
everybody but God (vs. 7), and brought Judah nearer to ruin than at any other time in her history (2 Chronicles
28:19). Of particular note is the invasion of Pekah, king of Israel, and Resin, king of Syria. Their great cruelty is
described in 2 Chronicles 28:5-8. God spared Ahaz's life, but chastened him sore and humbled him. But of real
significance are the facts recorded in 2 Chronicles 28:9-15. With all of Israel's wickedness, it is marvelous that a
prophet like Oded could be found, and more wonderful yet that the aristocratic party of Israel listened to his
words and restored the captives to Judah. Doubtless, many of these men had silently stood by while iniquity
abounded, but even as God has said to Elijah, I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not
bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Sometimes God's own are found in peculiar places.
Note Ahaz's plundering of the Temple (2 Chronicles 28:21,24; cf. 2 Kings 16:7-8,14,17-18). So, he died and
was not buried in honor in Israel.
(23) Which king prepared his ways before the Lord? _____________
(24) Which king turned to everybody but God? __________________
(25) Because of the word of what prophet did Israel restore the captives to Judah? ____________
12. Hezekiah
Hezekiah did more for the spiritual life of Judah than any king before or after him. He is compared to David in
his heart attitude toward God, and he had the support of the people in his reforms (2 Chronicles 29:36),
something which could not be said of the later reformers. He even invited the remnant of Israel, which by now
had ceased to exist as a kingdom (see the chart p. 129), to join in the celebration of the Passover, but many of
the Israelites were so hardened and insensible in their sins that they laughed to scorn the gracious invitation.
They forgot that someday God will laugh at them (Proverbs 1:26). Hezekiah carefully restored the Temple and
revived its services.
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But Hezekiah rebelled from under the tribute which Assyria had laid upon Judah in the days of Ahaz his father.
When Sennacherib and his Assyrian armies retaliated by invading Judah, Hezekiah, in whose mind the fall of
Israel to Assyria was very fresh, suffered a lapse of faith and attempted to "buy off" the offended king. With his
own hands, he tenderly removed the gold he had only recently placed on the Temple doors and pillars (2 Kings
18:15-16). But when war was not avoided, Hezekiah turned in faith to God (which he might have done in the
beginning and avoided the shameful loss) and was delivered in a miraculous way (2 Chronicles 32:20-21).
His sickness and recovery was mentioned before in our discussion of Joshua's long day (see Part 4). His
deliverance, however, became the occasion for pride and Isaiah was forced to deliver a harsh message (read
Isaiah 36-39).
13. Manasseh
Manasseh was not only the wickedest king Judah had, but he reigned the longest over the nation. Not only was
he an idolater but he shed innocent blood very much. It is expressly for his sins that the irremediable judgment
of God was announced and later executed (2 Kings 21:10-15). Tradition tells us that he even encased the aged
and godly Isaiah in a wooden box and cut him in two with a saw. It is specifically for his sins that Judah was
carried away captive (Jeremiah 15:4). But notice the marvelous grace of God who chastened him sore in
Assyria, and when he cried out and repented, God forgave him and restored him (2 Chronicles 33:11-13). His
latter end was peace.
14. Amon
Amon apparently learned nothing from his father's experience and, following hard in his iniquities, was
assassinated by his own people.
(26) Which king did more for the spiritual life of Judah than any other king? ________________
(27) One work of Hezekiah was that he restored (a) ________________________ and revived its
(b) _____________________________.
(28) Name another reason why Hezekiah is remembered. ___________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(29) Specifically for the sin of what king was Judah taken captive? ________________________
(30) Manasseh repented, called upon God, and was forgiven, but it was not so with his son
______________________ who followed after his iniquities.
15. Josiah
Josiah is famous for his goodness and his determination to serve God. After his early reforms, he discovered
the Law (probably the book of Deuteronomy) while in the process of repairing the temple. His deep repentance
and grief, at realizing how far they had gone from God and what great judgments they deserved, gained him and
Judah a respite, and God delayed judgment in his days (2 Chronicles 34:24-28). A great revival accompanied
his reign, but like the early dew of morning, it soon passed after his death. His presumption in attacking Necho
took him out of his life by way of an Egyptian arrow, but perhaps it was God's providential way of sparing him
the anguish that shortly fell on Judah (Isaiah 57:1). Even Jeremiah mourned his going and well he might, for he
was the last good king of Judah.
(31) The king who was famous for his determination to serve God was ____________________.
(32) The reign of Josiah was accompanied by a great ______________________.
(33) The prophet _____________________ lived during the time of Josiah.
16. The remaining four kings
The remaining four kings we must treat but briefly, for Judah's independence ended with the death of Josiah.
When Necho, who had continued on his way to Charchemish, heard that Jehoahaz had been made king by
popular acclaim, he sent a small force back to Israel and deposed him, making his brother Jehoikim (Eliakim)
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viceroy king in Jehoahaz's place. Eleven years passed (read Jeremiah 36), and Nebuchadnezzar, king of the
ascending Babylonian Empire, deposed Jehoiakim and looted the Temple returning to Babylon. Jehoiachin
next took the throne, but within a year Nebuchadnezzar returned to depose him and set up Zedekiah as his
viceroy over Judah. To him Jeremiah gave counsel (Jeremiah 27-28), but he refused to listen and was therefore
finally deposed and carried captive with all that remained of value in Judah (read 2 Kings 25; see also
Jeremiah's prophecy concerning his death in Jeremiah 34). Thus ended the Southern Kingdom of Judah and the
period of the captivity began. Judah had survived 136 years longer than Israel, but in the end God's judgment
fell. The long dark night of the captivity will be our subject after we review the ministry of the prophets in the
next Part.
(34) Upon the death of Josiah the _____________________________________________ ended.
(35) The Southern Kingdom ended with Nebuchadnezzar setting up ___________ as viceroy over Judah.
(36) Where was Judah taken captive? ___________________________________
B. Summary
In all, nineteen kings and one queen had worn the royal crown and carried the sceptre of David. Of these, ten
were listed as "good" kings who did right in the sight of God, and seven were listed as evil kings and apostates.
Abijah is not definitely said to be an evil king, but there is no positive statement of good about him either.
Jehoahaz reigned only three months and nothing is said of his character at all.
Three of these kings were assassinated–Joash, Amaziah, and Amon–and three died of illnesses–Asa, Jehoram,
and Uzziah. Two were killed in war and nine died natural deaths. About two of these kings the Scriptures are
silent. It was a dark picture and apostasy and sin abounded, but after studying the wicked kings of Israel in the
last section, there was some encouragement here and we may expect to meet some of these "greats" along with
their faithful prophets and priests in Heaven.
C. Archaeological Notes
A number of real or seeming contradictions exists between the chronologies found in Kings and those recorded
in Chronicles. Examples are (1) 1 Kings 15:33 and 16:8 and 2 Chronicles 16:1; (2) 2 Kings 8:26 with 2
Chronicles 22:2; (3) 2 Kings 16:2 and 2 Chronicles 28:1 with 2 Chronicles 29:1 (seem to make Ahaz only
eleven years old when he begat Hezekiah); and (4) 2 Kings 24:8-9 with 2 Chronicles 36:9.
The seeming contradictions involve such things as in the first example, where Elab (son of Baasha) is said to
begin his reign in the twenty-sixth year of Asa, king of Judah, with the apparent implication that Baasha had
died before Elab's reign began, while in 2 Chronicles we learn that Baasha attacked Asa in the thirty-sixth year
of the latter's reign. The seeming discrepancy is easily resolved by allowing that although the sacred record does
not record it, Elab began his reign as co-regent with his father at least ten years before the latter's death, a not
uncommon practice at that time or since.
The real contradictions (as in example four, where Jehoiachin's age is given in Kings as eighteen, whereas in 2
Chronicles it is given as eight) must be understood as simply the error of some transcriber who later copied the
inspired text. Internal evidence always seems to be provided in such cases to solve the difficulty. In Jeremiah
22:28 (where his name is abbreviated to Coniah) we are told that after his three-month tenure on the throne, he
and his seed were carried to Babylon–an obvious impossibility if he were only eight years old–so the record of
2 Kings stands as the correct one. God, it would seem, even goes beyond to prepare for the errors men make in
transcribing His Word, so careful is He of its preservation. A complete list of these chronological difficulties
and their solution is found in The Kings of Judah and Israel by C. Knapp, Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.
(37) Of the nineteen kings of Judah, (a) ________________ were considered good kings because they did
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
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(38) The apparent contradiction in the case of Elab is resolved upon recognizing that Elab was
_____________________________________, at least ten years before the death of Baasha.
(39) In the case of the age of Jehoiachin's age, the apparent contradiction must be understood as an
_________________ of some transcriber who later copied the inspired text.
(1) Why didn't Rehoboam invade Israel and recapture the northern tribes?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(2) What action of good king Jehoshaphat caused Jehu, the son of the prophet Hanani, to rebuke him?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(3) What effect did Jehoshaphat's relations with Ahab have on:
(a) his son? _______________________________________________________
(b) the Kingdom? __________________________________________________
(4) Who saved Joash's life? (Name two)
(a) _________________________________ (b) _________________________________
(5) Who did Joash order to be slain for preaching? (a) ________________________ Whose son was this
preacher? (b) _____________________________________
(6) Who hired mercenary soldiers from Israel and then sent them back before the battle? __________________
(7) Which king died of leprosy? (a) ___________________ Why? (b) _________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(8) Who "did more for the spiritual life of Judah than any king before or after him?"_________________
(9) For specifically what king's sin was Judah carried captive? __________________
(10) Judah was first occupied by (a) ___________ from Egypt, and later(b) _______________ of the ascending
(c) __________________________________ Empire conquered it and carried away the people to Babylon.
PRE-TEST
syllabus.
(1) Saul, the first King of Israel fell due to three things. What were they?
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(2) The two characteristics of the Davidic Covenant:
(a) _________________________________ (b) _________________________
(3) David was selected not by outward appearance but because of his __________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
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(4) The two reasons Solomon fell were:
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(5) In Ecclesiastes, peace is sought for apart from God. What king wrote this book? _______________
(6) Why is the reign of David and Solomon considered the Golden Age? _______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Matching:
(7) ______ David a. carried Israel away captive
(8) ______ Jonathan b. carried Judah away captive
(9) ______ Hezekiah c. first King of Israel
(10) _____ Assyria d. close friend of David
(11) _____ Saul e. second King of Israel
(12) _____ Babylon f. great spiritual impact upon Judah
Multiple choice:
(13) Israel was divided into two kingdoms _______.
a. during David's reign b. during Solomon's reign c. after Solomon's reign
(14) Who will ultimately bring in the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant? ______
a. the Antichrist b. Elijah c. Jesus Christ
(15) Which evil King of Israel and his wicked wife, Jezebel, were known for their encounters with Elijah? ____
a. Pekah b. Ahab c. Jehu
(16) The ninth King of Judah died of leprosy. His name was ______.
a. Amaziah b. Manasseh c. Jehoshaphat d. Uzziah
(17) The Kingdom divided because of which king's sin? ______
a. David b. Saul c. Ahab d. Solomon
(18) The books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings were written by _____.
a. David b. Solomon c. Jeremiah d. Ezra
(19) What Kingdom is dealt with in the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles? _____
a. Northern b. Southern
(20) The sin of what king caused the captivity of Judah? _____
a. Uzziah b. Ahab c. Manasseh d. Hoshea
(21) The capitol of David's reign was _____.
a. Jerusalem b. Hebron c. Shechem d. Beersheba
(22) The fourth King of Judah made an alliance with wicked apostates. His name was _____.
a. Amaziah b. Jehoshaphat c. Jehoram
(23) The King of Judah who was known for his determination to serve God and who discovered part of
the Law while repairing the Temple was _______.
a. Josiah b. Amon c. Jehoahaz
History: Part V.” and give special attention to those areas of study that you do not completely understand.
Find the test in the Test Booklet titled, “Old Testament History: Part V.” You may NOT use your notes or
Testament History: Parts IV, V, and VI.” The tests may be mailed individually, in groups, or altogether
when you finish the Unit. Please mail the tests in the way that is cheapest and most convenient for you.
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ANSWER KEY: OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY – PART V
I. FROM SAMUEL TO DAVID

(1) false
(2) the ministration of Samuel
(3) c
(4) to have a king like the other nations
(5) having God as King
(6) rebellion
(7) (a) he was the son of a rich and powerful man (b) he was very tall
(c) he had natural abilities to be a leader (d) he had a humble spirit and was gentle
(e) he was invested with power and great courage
(8) true
(9) Kish
(10) intruding into the priestly function
(11) act of direct disobedience to God
(12) false
(13) nature of God
(14) to continue in his family
(15) Amalek
(16) all--spare nothing
(17) (a) God (b) the power
(18) the Holy Spirit
(19) (a) persecuting David (b) the judgment of God
(20) fighting against God
(22) we should not rejoice when evil befalls another person
(23) bigger than his personal grievances and a man of real love
(24) (a) the height of his stature (b) heart
(25) (a) Boaz (b) Jesse
(26) playing the harp
(27) killed Goliath
(28) (a) it established David as a captain in Saul's army (b) it produced jealousy in Saul
(c) it began a friendship between David and Jonathan
(29) a
(30) to wait on God
(31) without law
(32) true
(33) his own nation
(34) (a) destroyed (b) taken captives
(35) encouraged
(36) Ishbosheth
(37) seven and one-half years
(38) Jerusalem
(39) he carried the Ark to Jerusalem
REVIEW
(1) c
(2) a
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(3) f
(4) b
(5) e
(6) d
(7) true
(8) true
(9) false
(10) true
(11) (a) he was the son of a rich and powerful man (b) he was very tall
(c) he had natural abilities for leadership (d) he had a gentle, humble spirit
(e) he was invested with power and great courage
(12) (a) he intruded into the priestly function (b) he failed with Amalek (c) he persecuted David
(13) (a) it established David as a captain in Saul's army (b) it produced jealousy in Saul
(c) it began a friendship between David and Jonathan
(14) Jonathan
(15) Hebron
(16) Jerusalem
(17) (a) spiritual revival (b) national allegiance
(18) heart (inward appearance)
II. THE GOLDEN AGE OF DAVID AND SOLOMON
(2) because of the material and spiritual progress of Israel
(3) c
(4) (a) it determines a great part of the ancient history of Israel (b) it governs the future destiny of the nation
(5) it depends upon God only
(6) student's own answer
(7) eternal
(8) constructing the Temple
(9) Jesus Christ
(10) the grace of God
(11) (a) incapable (b) God
(12) (a) the abundant grace of God (b) God clothes us with His righteousness
(c) God has seated us in heavenly places
(13) adultery and homicide
(14) he shall also reap
(15) (a) his baby died (b) Absalom killed Amnon (c) Absalom was killed in battle
(d) Adonijah was killed by Solomon
(16) the results of his actions
(17) when he confesses it to God
(18) the results
(19) three years
(20) (a) killing the seven descendants of Saul (b) Gibeah
(21) false
(22) (a) the army (b) the royal bodyguard (c) the heroes or mighty men
(23) b
(24) where the altar of the Temple was erected
(25) various temptations
(26) Adonijah
(27) (a) the peaceful one (b) Jedidiah (c) beloved of the Lord
(28) to protect the young king from the treachery of these men
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(29) (a) the alliance with Egypt by way of a treaty marriage
(b) the use of "high places" for worship and sacrifice
(30) three periods
(31) Gibeon
(32) wisdom
(33) in the name of Jesus and without selfishness
(34) c
(35) (a) preservation of the true worship (b) preservation of national unity
(36) (a) religious apostasy (b) national disunity
(37) (a) ease and plenty (b) continual entertainment (c) great wealth
(38) (a) he monopolized the caravan trade (b) he controlled the trade routes
(c) he collected taxes from the merchants
(40) mixed marriages of believers to unbelievers
(41) (a) student's own answer (b) have supervisor check your answer
(42) division of the Kingdom
(43) (a) mercy (b) a tribe
(44) true
(45) Ecclesiastes
(46) that which is not
(47) Jesus Christ
REVIEW
(1) (a) unconditional (b) eternal
(2) (a) it determines a great part of ancient history of Israel (b) it governs the future destiny of the nation
(3) Davidic
(4) (a) adultery (b) homicide
(5) Mephibosheth
(6) counting the people
(7) (a) alliance with Egypt (b) using the "high places" for worship
(8) three
(9) (a) preservation of the true worship (b) preservation of national unity
(10) division of the Kingdom
(11) d
(12) c
(13) a
(14) b
(15) f
(16) g
(17) e
(18) true
(19) false
(20) true
III. THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
(2) (a) Jeremiah (b) Ezra
(3) (a) Northern (b) Southern
(4) (a) prophets (b) priests
(5) (a) prophet (b) priest
(6) (a) state (b) individuals
(7) the judgment of God upon Solomon
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(8) (a) Ephraim always aspired national leadership (b) Joshua came from the tribe of Ephraim
(c) Ephraim was given a high place of prominence
(9) Jeroboam
(10) religious apostasy
(11) (a) Baasha (b) Elah
(12) Berlin wall
(13) Zimri
(14) removal of the capitol to Samaria
(15) he was spiritually dead
(16) (a) worship of Baal (b) murder of Naboth
(c) contest between Jehovah and Baal on Mt. Carmel (d) wicked wife, Jezebel
(17) (a) Ahaziah (b) two years
(18) Baal-zebub
(19) Jehoram
(20) Jehu
(21) destruction of Baal worship
(22) (a) Jehoahaz (b) Hazael
(23) Jehoash
(24) Jeroboam II
(25) Zechariah
(26) true
(27) Menahem
(28) Pekah
(29) Pekah
(30) Hoshea
(31) nine
(32) 250
(33) 19
(34) Assyria
(35) separation from God
(36) accurate
REVIEW
(1) (a) Israel (b) Judah
(2) (a) Samuel (b) Kings (c) Jeremiah (d) Chronicles (e) Ezra
(3) the judgment of God upon Solomon
(4) (a) nine (b) 19
(5) Jeroboam
(6) (a) Ahab (b) Jezebel (c) Elijah
(7) (a) fifth (b) Jehu
(8) Jehoash (or) Joash
(9) Menahem
(10) (a) Pekah (b) eighth
(11) Hoshea
(12) Assyria
(13) separation from God (death)
(14) Pul (or) Pu-lu
(15) doubt a single word of Scripture
IV. THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH
(2) David
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(3) the Egyptian invasion under Shishak
(4) (a) Rehoboam (b) Solomon
(5) civil war
(6) Abijah
(7) his battle with Jeroboam
(8) (a) Asa (b) that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God
(9) (a) spiritually (b) militarily
(10) his faith wavered
(11) Jehoshaphat
(12) alliance with Ahab
(13) Jehoram
(14) Elijah
(15) Ahaziah
(16) Athaliah
(17) (a) Joash (b) Jehoiada
(18) the repair of the Temple
(19) Amaziah
(20) he hired mercenaries from Israel
(21) (a) Uzziah (b) Zechariah
(22) leprosy
(23) Jotham
(24) Ahaz
(25) Oded
(26) Hezekiah
(27) (a) the Temple (b) services
(28) for his illness and recovery
(29) Manasseh
(30) Amon
(31) Josiah
(32) revival
(33) Jeremiah
(34) independence of Judah
(35) Zedekiah
(36) Babylon
(37) (a) ten (b) right in the sight of God
(38) co-regent with his father
(39) error
REVIEW
(1) God warned him through the prophet Shemaiah
(2) he made an alliance with the wicked apostates
(3) (a) caused him to become apostate and godless (b) suffered for the next 15 years
(4) (a) Jehoshabeath (b) Jehoiada
(5) (a) Zechariah (b) son of Jehoiada
(6) Amaziah
(7) (a) Uzziah (b) he got angry instead of repenting when warned
(8) Hezekiah
(9) Manasseh
(10) (a) Shishak (b) Nebuchadnezzar (c) Babylonian
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PRE-TEST
(1) (a) he intruded into the priestly function
(b) he failed to destroy everything with Amalek
(c) he persecuted David
(2) (a) eternal
(b) unconditional
(3) heart or inward appearance
(4) (a) his alliance with Egypt
(b) use of the "high places" for worship
(5) Solomon
(6) because of the material and spiritual progress of Israel
(7) e
(8) d
(9) f
(10) a
(11) c
(12) b
(13) c
(14) c
(15) b
(16) d
(17) d
(18) c
(19) b
(20) c
(21) a
(22) b
(23) a
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OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART VI
FROM THE PROPHETS TO THE DISPERSION
OBJECTIVES OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART VI
The completion of Old Testament History: Part VI you should enable you to:
* Briefly define the ministry of the prophets and name the outstanding ones.
* Identify the historical acts of the Gentile world in relation to the Scriptures.
* Describe the events after the return of the Jewish people to their Land.
* Compare God's faithfulness with the faithfulness of Israel at the time of the Dispersion.
* Be able to identify the spiritual lessons in this period of Israel's history.
GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART VI

1. Canon: A rule or standard. When applied to Scripture, it refers to those books which meet the test or
standards of inspiration and are considered to be God-breathed, and therefore are considered part of the
"Canon."
2. Conspiracy: An agreement among volunteers to commit a crime.
3. Genocide: A systematic extermination of an ethnic, racial, or religious group.
4. Harbinger: A forerunner, a herald.
5. Prolific: Used in Part VI to mean an author who has produced an abundance of literary works.
6. Providence: Disposition, prevention. The supreme wisdom of God whereby He directs all things.
Part VI.
Section II - Psalm 137; Daniel 1-6; Isaiah 44:26-45:4; Jeremiah 25:9-11; 29:4-11
Section III - Ezra; Nehemiah
Section IV – Esther
OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART VI

I. THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHETS
Strickly speaking, a review of that honored guard of religion and morality, called the prophets, has little place in
a history of the Old Testament. We are including this lesson in our study for a very definite purpose. When we
study the predictions of the prophets in the final course on prophecy, we will necessarily confine our thinking to
the major themes of prophecy, such as the coming of Messiah, the future of Israel, etc. It is important, however,
to realize that these prophets were not simply fore-tellers of events in the distant future, but they were also
forth-tellers of God's message to the people of their own day. This is, in fact, why they were hated, and why
many of them were persecuted–some even put to death. We want to see them in their own natural setting,
delivering their messages to the people around them, and then we will better understand both them, their
message, and their period of history.
(1) The prophets only spoke of future events. (True or False) _______________
(2) The prophet also carried the message of God to the people. (True or False) _______________
A careful study of the chart of the Kings and Prophets with Part V will be of great help here. Notice that the
prophets are listed from left to right in the order in which they appeared historically and not in the order in
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which their writings appear in the Old Testament Canon. The prophets listed above the "Kingdom Lines" on the
chart had a primary ministry to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, while those listed below the "Kingdom Lines"
ministered primarily to Judah. The approximate date of their ministries can be seen by referring to the
centennial line at the bottom of the chart.
(3) I have carefully examined the chart of the Kings and Prophets of Part V. (date)___________
A. The Non-writing Prophets
The non-writing prophets do not appear on the chart because of space limitations. The few facts known about
them are recorded in the sacred narrative where their ministry touches one of the kings or some important
person of that period. It should not be thought, because we know so little about them, that they had an
inconspicuous or inconsequential ministry. If all we knew of Isaiah or Jeremiah was what is recorded in the
Books of Kings and Chronicles, we might conclude that they were insignificant persons. Their writings prove
otherwise. Many of these men doubtless had a full and fruitful ministry of which we shall be told when time
gives way to eternity and their record is reviewed on high. A list of these non-writing prophets follows with a
brief word about each.
1. Shemaiah (2 Chronicles 11:2-4)
Shemaiah was the first prophet to appear after the division of the Kingdom. His single recorded message was to
Rehoboam, whom he dissuaded from attacking the Northern Kingdom in an endeavor to reclaim his lost
territory and tribes.
2. The unnamed man (1 Kings 13:1-32)
The ill-fated and unnamed man of God out of Judah appears next. His message was delivered at Bethel
against Jeroboam's idolatrous altar, but he lost his life through disobedience, reminding us that there can be no
compromise with evil–no, not to eat (1 Corinthians 5:11).
(4) We know _______ about the prophets who did not write. a. very much or b. very little
(5) Because these prophets did not write, they were not very important. (True or False) _______________
(6) The first prophet that appeared after the division of the Kingdom was_______________________________.
(7) Which prophet teaches us that we cannot compromise with evil? ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Ahijah
This prophet was the agent God used to tell Jeroboam of his final end (1 Kings 14:5-8; cf. 15:29) even as he had
foretold his rise to power back in the days of Solomon (1 Kings 11:29-39).
4. Iddo
Iddo is mentioned (2 Chronicles 12:15; 13:22) as a prophet and a recorder but nothing else is known of him
except for his genealogy in 1 Chronicles 6:21.
5. Azariah (2 Chronicles 15:1-7)
Azariah was the instrument God used to encourage and warn good King Asa. And when Asa heard these
words . . . he took courage.
(8) Who prophesied the final end of Jeroboam? ________________

(9) Iddo was a (a) ________________ and a (b) ______________.
(10) Whom did God use to encourage and warn King Asa? __________________
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6. Hanani
Asa's backslidings and unbelief precipitated his action against Hanani, whom he cast into prison for his faithful
proclamation of God's word (2 Chronicles 16:7-11).
7. Jehu
But Hanani's courage was not lost–his son, Jehu, no doubt inspired by his father's example, was also faithful to
his calling. He pronounced God's judgment first against Baasha (1 Kings 16:1-7), and later met Jehoshaphat and
rebuked him, asking Shouldest thou help the ungodly (2 Chronicles 19:1-3).
8. Elijah
Elijah, the Tishbite, appears next on the scene. His ministry was entirely to the Northern Kingdom and it is
striking that even when in exile, God did not send him down to Judah, but to the Gentiles. He will ever be best
remembered for the contest at Mount Carmel between Jehovah and Baal (1 Kings 18:17-49; also see 1 Kings
17:1-2; 2 Kings 2:11).
(11) Asa put the prophet (a) ___________________ in prison because of his faithful proclamation of the
(b) __________________________________.
(12) The son of Hanani was the prophet _____________________.
(13) Whose ministry centered around the Kingdom of the North and is also remembered for his contest
with Baal? ____________________
9. Micaiah
During Elijah's ministry God had another faithful witness in Israel, but, unlike Elijah, Micaiah spent most of his
life in jail and his only recorded prophecy is his prediction of Ahab's death (1 Kings 22:1-28; 2 Chronicles 18:7-
27). Nothing more is heard of Micaiah in Scripture, but his record doubtless is among those nameless
multitudes who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises . . . not accepting
deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection . . . being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the
world was not worthy (Hebrews 11:33-38).
10. Jahaziel
Meanwhile in Judah, Jahaziel (2 Chronicles 20:14-17) was encouraging good King Jehoshaphat as he awaited
the attack of the combined forces of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir.
11. Eliezer
And not long after that, another prophet from Judah, Eliezer, was burdened to rebuke Jehoshaphat for the
second time, because of his union with the apostate Kingdom of Israel (2 Chronicles 20:35-37).
12. Elisha
Back in Israel, Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind and cast his mantle back onto the shoulders of Elisha.
Elisha's only request from the Prophet had been for spiritual power: I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit
be upon me–a hard thing. Nevertheless, God did as Elisha had asked and a study will show that Elisha
performed exactly twice as many miracles as his predecessor (fourteen as against seven for Elijah). The
Scripture covered is 2 Kings 2:12-13:20.
(14) Who prophesied the death of Ahab and spent the major part of his time in prison? _______________
(15) Which prophet in Judah gave encouragement to good King Jehoshaphat? _______________
(16) Jehoshaphat, in making an alliance with the apostate Kingdom of Israel, was rebuked the second time
by _______________________________.
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(17) The successor of Elijah was (a) ______________________ who asked for a
(b) __________________________________________________________.
13. Zechariah
The next of Judah's prophets was both prophet and priest. Zechariah (see 2 Chronicles 24:20-22), was the son
of the beloved and faithful Jehoiada. Zechariah spoke out against the evil of Joash's Kingdom and was slain on
the spot by his ungrateful cousin.
14. Huldah
The last of the non-writing prophets was a woman (2 Chronicles 34:22-28). Why Hilkiah went to Huldah
instead of one of the more prominent prophets of the day, we do not know. But Huldah was ready with the word
from Jehovah and she declared the end of the Southern Kingdom in the immediate future. Her prophecy was
heeded by King Josiah and brought repentance and reform. She was the last of the little band of fourteen about
which we know so little and yet whose faithfulness to the right when the wrong was popular challenges us even
today. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).
(18) Who was the prophet that spoke out against the evil of Joash's Kingdom and was slain on the spot by his
ungrateful cousin? ___________________________
(19) The last non-writing prophet was a woman named _____________________.
(20) Of all the prophets, how many were there who were non-writing? ___________
(21) What can we learn from these prophets? _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
B. The Writing Prophets
While little attention is given to the non-writing prophets, the names of those God inspired to pen His Word are
well-known to us. But, and this seems strange at first, as little is known of the lives of some of these men as was
known of the careers of those we have just reviewed. Few of these prophets tell us much about themselves and
what they do tell us is only as it helps to bring their message into focus. Some are difficult to place
chronologically, but we have followed the best evidence available in placing them in their correct order on the
chart of the Kings and Prophets found with Part V. We will discuss each one and something of his ministry in
this order and not in the order of the arrangement of their books in the Old Testament.
No attempt will be made here to deal with the great unfulfilled prophecies of the future which these men
delivered. These writings will be pursued in a study of the major themes of prophecy which you will study later.
We will now simply try to locate the prophet in his proper period, relate him briefly to the historical situation
existing when he wrote, and where practical, make some general observations concerning his message and
ministry.
(22) The prophets who wrote were inspired by God. (True or False) _______________
(23) The prophets who wrote are little known. (True or False) _______________
1. Joel
Joel is the first of the writing prophets. He exercised his ministry during the reign of Joash in Judah, and was a
contemporary of Elisha who ministered in the North. Some believe that he was a priest because of the frequent
mention of the priesthood in his writings. Judah's enemies are listed (Joel 3:4,19) and the immediate occasion
for Joel's writing is given (Joel 1:1-14) which was the disciplinary judgment of a plague (cf. Deuteronomy
28:15, 38-42). The remainder of Joel’s writing looks far ahead and is still largely future.
(24) The first writing prophet who exercised his ministry in Judah was (a) _________________. Some
think that he also was a (b) ________________________.
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(25) Joel 1:1-14 shows the purpose of ________________________________.
2. Jonah
Jonah is the second of the writing prophets. His book is unique in that it is largely personal history and also that
his ministry was to a Gentile city and not to Israel. The book we believe to be factual (see the Archaeological
Notes, p. 21) and historically true. Jonah is also mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25 and the evidence available
indicates that he lived during the reign of Jehoash of Israel. His fierce national pride and patriotism made the
commission to Nineveh an odious one since this Assyrian capital was Israel's potential enemy and final
conqueror. This also explains why Jonah chafed when it was not destroyed. Jonah prophesied in Nineveh about
790-750 B.C. and in 722, Nineveh (Assyria) conquered Israel and took them captive. In 612 B.C. Nineveh fell
because of her sins (see Nahum).
(26) The second writing prophet was _________________________.

(27) He was sent to preach to ________.
a. Israel b. Judah c. Assyria d. Nineveh
(28) Why did Jonah not want to preach to Nineveh? ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Amos
Amos was a humble shepherd from Tekoa, a town about six miles south of Bethlehem. His ministry was carried
on in the days of Uzziah, King of Judah, and Jeroboam II, King of Israel. Both Kingdoms were strong at this
particular time, and wealth, ease, idleness, oppression, and idolatry prevailed. At such a time as this, the plain
shepherd of Tekoa was sent to Bethel. Scofield says, "Nothing could seem more improbable than the fulfillment
of Amos' warnings; yet within fifty years the kingdom was utterly destroyed."
(29) Amos was a humble pastor of ________________a town near Bethlehem.
(30) Amos ministered during the reign of (a) _______________________ King of Judah, and
(b) __________________ King of Israel.
4. Hosea
Hosea was the last of the writing prophets of the Northern Kingdom. Like Jeremiah, he was a prophet of gloom
and doom, but his message was mixed with mercy. The time of his ministry is found in the first verse of his
book, and the unusual circumstances of his call, in verse 2. "Israel is depicted prophetically as Jehovah's
adulterous wife, shortly to be put away, but eventually to be purified and restored" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p.
501). His ministry came to a close when Israel fell to Assyria (722 B.C.) and he may have been one of those
taken captive.
(31) The last writing prophet of the Kingdom of the North was __________________________.
(32) Prophetically Israel is ____________________________________________.
(33) The messages of Hosea were of gloom and doom, but his message was mixed with ______.
5. Isaiah
Isaiah was the most prolific of the Old Testament prophets and his writings are probably the most popular and
familiar of the prophetic writings. He began his ministry toward the end of the reign of good King Uzziah, who
was a cousin of Isaiah. His ministry continued through the reign of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah when he retired
from active service. He was sawn asunder (Hebrews 11:37) by the wicked Manasseh. Evidence of historical
situations during these years is found throughout his writings. His marvelous prophetic portraits of Messiah
have led to his being called the Christ Harbinger, the Prince of the Prophets, and the Evangelical Prophet.
(34) Isaiah is the most __________________ of the Old Testament Prophets.
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(35) His ministry began at the end of the reign of (a) __________________ and continued throughout the reign
of (b) ________________________, (c) ______________________, and (d) _______________________.
(36) Isaiah died by being _______________________________ by the wicked Manasseh.
(37) What are some other titles given to Isaiah?
(a) _________________________________________
(b) _________________________________________
(c) _________________________________________
6. Micah
Micah introduces himself as the "Morasthite." He was a native of Morasheth of Gath, a town of Judah which
frequently was dependent upon the Philistines. Like Amos, Micah was a simple villager. He prophesied, as he
tells us (Micah 1:1), during the reign of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Isaiah, his contemporary, had by this time
turned from preaching repentance to a message of certain judgment, since repentance had not been forthcoming.
Micah follows his pattern and foretells the fall of Samaria and of Judah. Tradition says he was thrown from a
precipice and killed for his faithful testimony.
(38) Who came from Morasheth of Gath? _________________
(39) Micah predicted the fall of (a) ____________________ and (b) ______________________.
(40) According to tradition, how did Micah die? __________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
7. Nahum
Nothing is known of Nahum's life or background. The word "Elkoshite" tells us nothing since there is no
agreement among scholars as to where this place was located. The date of his prophecy is, however, firmly
fixed by internal evidence. The prophet cites the destruction of No-Amon (Thebes) in Egypt (3:8-10), which
was overthrown by the Assyrians in 663 B.C., and predicts the fall of Nineveh (vs. 7), which occurred in 612
B.C. The writing of this prophecy, which deals solely with the fall of Nineveh, must therefore be placed
between these two events. The great cruelty which the Assyrians had displayed in their conquest of Israel was
now amply rewarded. With the fall of Nineveh, the Assyrian Empire waned and disappeared, giving place to the
Empire of Babylon (see map, p. 13).
(41) The seventh writing prophet was ________________________.
(42) Nahum wrote this book between the fall of (a) ______________ in Egypt and the fall of
(b) ________________________ in the year 612 B.C.
(43) The fall of Nineveh gives place to the _________________________ Empire.
(44) The only subject of the Book of Nahum is ____________________________.
8. Zephaniah
Zephaniah was likely a great-grandson of Hezekiah. He prophesied during the reign of good King Josiah,
either previous to or during the revival of that period. But, despite the outward and superficial signs of revival,
he uncovered deep, putrefying infections which eventually brought about the downfall of the Kingdom of Judah
(see especially Zephaniah 3:1-7). Judah had not learned from history that God must, and God will, judge sin!
(45) A great-grandson of Hezekiah was likely the prophet ______________________________.

(46) Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of good King ___________________.
Israel fell to Assyria in 722 B.C. The people were exported from Samaria for the next 150 years and colonists
from lower Mesopotamia were brought in. Judah remained independent but tributary to Assyria.
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Assyrian Empire at its greatest extent 824-625 B.C.
Assyria was conquered by Babylon after the fall of

Nineveh in 612 B.C. Jerusalem was destroyed in 586
B.C. and Judah carried to Babylon. Twice before
prisoners had been taken but 586 B.C. marks the
general captivity.
Babylonian Empire at its greatest extent 605-539 B.C.
(47) In spite of the revival, Zephaniah brought to light ________.

a. the good works of the King b. putrefying infections c. the good governors
(48) Judah did not learn a lesson that we ought to learn. What was it? __________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
9. Habakkuk
Of Habakkuk, not much is told us and therefore little is known. Unger says, "From the conclusion to the Psalm
in chapter 3, To the chief singer on my stringed instruments (v. 19), we learn that he was officially qualified to
take part in the liturgical singing of the temple, and therefore belonged to one of the Levitical families who were
charged with the maintenance of the temple music . . ." (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 435). His ministry is dated
at the time of Josiah or thereabouts. "He alone of the prophets was more concerned that the holiness of Jehovah
should be vindicated than that Israel should escape chastisement" (Scofield Reference Bible, 1917 Edition, p.
955). Habakkuk is God's testimony to His righteousness in judging the nation.
(49) From Habakkuk 3:19 we are able to deduce that the Prophet (a) ______________________ belonged to the
(b) __________________________ family because he participated in the liturgical singing of the Temple.
(50) His ministry developed during the reign of King ________________________.
(51) What was the major preoccupation of Habakkuk? ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
10. Jeremiah
Jeremiah is known as "the weeping prophet." He was a priest (Jeremiah 1:1) and very young (vss. 6-7) when he
began his ministry. His writings are next to Isaiah's in length, and he wrote Lamentations "weeping," besides the
book which bears his name. Jeremiah began his ministry in Anathoth, his home city, and remained there until he
was driven out by his countrymen (11:21). He went to Jerusalem where he possibly assisted Josiah with his
work of reformation.
(52) The prophet _____________________________is known as "the weeping prophet."

(53) Besides the Book of Jeremiah, he also wrote (a) _______________________ which means
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(b) ______________________________.
During Jehoiakim's reign, Egypt pulled political strings in Judah. Jeremiah prophesied of the impending
conquest of Babylon and preached that Judah should submit when Nebuchadnezzar invaded. For this he was
dubbed a traitor and narrowly missed being put to death for treason. For a while he dwelt in hiding. Under
Jehoiachin, Jeremiah fared no better and, in fact, was blamed for much of the nation's woe. When Zedekiah
rebelled and brought the wrath of the whole Empire upon Jerusalem, Jeremiah was put in a slime pit prison
during the siege and, except for Ebedmelech (an Ethiopian eunuch), would have died.
(54) During the reign of (a) _________________________________ Jeremiah prophesied the imminent
conquest of (b) __________________________________.
(55) The nation considered Jeremiah to be a _____________________________.
(56) When Zedekiah rebelled, Jeremiah was put in a _______________________.
After Nebuchadnezzar captured the city and began transporting the captives to Babylon, Jeremiah was given a
choice of going with the captivity to Babylon (where he doubtless could have fared well, being in favor with
Nebuchadnezzar), or of staying behind with the remnant which was left in the land. Jeremiah chose the latter as
a selfless servant of Jehovah in order to minister to his countrymen. While living at Mizpah as advisor to
Gedaliah (whom Nebuchadnezzar had made governor over the land), Gedaliah was treacherously slain and
Jeremiah and his scribe, Baruch, were forced to accompany the murderous rebels to Egypt where Jeremiah soon
died. His life and writings are full of melancholy and although he was repeatedly proven to be right, his advice
was always rejected and he himself persecuted. His book fittingly leads us to the prophets of the Captivity:
Daniel, Ezekiel, and Obadiah.
(57) Jeremiah preferred to remain with the remnant instead of going to ____________________.
(58) Where did Jeremiah die? _____________________
(59) The people did not listen to Jeremiah's counsel. How did they treat him?
______________________________________________________________________________________
(60) Name the prophets of the Captivity.
(a) __________________________ (b) ________________________ (c) __________________________
11. Daniel
Daniel was among the youths of rank that Nebuchadnezzar carried captive at the first deportation to Babylon in
the third year of Jehoiakim (Daniel 1:2). He was taken captive seven to eight years before Ezekiel. He was a
youth, probably in his early or middle teens. Because of his determined piety and discrete wisdom, God used
him in a remarkable way in his captivity. About three years after his arrival, he began his period of public
service and he was several times the prime minister of the Kingdom under the King himself. While he was a
prophet, he also held the high office of a statesman during the Kingdoms of both Babylonia and Medo-Persia.
His prophetic ministry was entirely to the Gentile Court where he served, but his prayer ministry was largely for
his people, Israel, and the chronological key to their future (as well as that of the Gentile nations) was given to
him. An understanding of Daniel is the first step to an understanding of prophecy and we will give close
attention to his writings in the course on prophecy.
(61) Daniel was taken captive at the (a) ______________ deportation when he was yet a (b) _______________.
(62) What charges did Daniel carry out during his captivity? (a) __________________________
(b) ____________________________ (c) ____________________________
(63) The prophetic ministry of Daniel was directed toward (a) ____________________________ but his
ministry of prayer toward (b) ________________.
(64) What is the first step toward understanding prophecy? __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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12. Ezekiel
Ezekiel, son of Buzi, was both prophet and priest. But, as a priest, he was unable to function because he was
one of those carried away to Babylon in the captivity of Jehoiachin some eleven years before the destruction of
Jerusalem, or about 597 B.C. He settled by the river Chebar, a great canal southeast of Babylon. Ezekiel is so
given over to his message that the only information he gives us about himself is found in two incidental
allusions (8:1; 24:15-18). From these we learn that he had a house and that his wife, who was the desire of thine
eyes was suddenly taken from him by a stroke.
(65) The son of Buzi was (a) _________________who was a prophet and a (b) _____________________.
(66) Ezekiel was taken captive in the deportation of ________________________.
The primary importance of Ezekiel's ministry to our present study is that he does not prophesy simply to the
captives of Judah, but to the whole house of Israel, i.e., the twelve tribes. It is Ezekiel who assures us that the
ten northern tribes are not "lost" as some would have us believe, but will one day be united with Judah as one
entity (read carefully Ezekiel 37). Most of Ezekiel's prophecies look forward to the Kingdom Age. His ministry
lasted something over twenty-two years (29:17).
(67) Ezekiel prophesied to _________________________________.
(68) What does Ezekiel assure us concerning the ten tribes of the North?__________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(69) The major part of his prophesies look beyond to __________________________________.
13. Obadiah
There is more debate about the placing of Obadiah in the chronological record than any other prophetic book in
the Old Testament. The truth is that no one knows just when Obadiah wrote, but the best evidence would point
to a date immediately following the final Babylonian conquest of Palestine. The burden of the book was the
inhuman treatment accorded the captives on the day in which they were marched across the desert to Babylon,
by those who were children of Esau and, therefore, "brothers" of Jacob (see Obadiah 1:10). We are told that the
inhabitants of Seir stood along the way to mock as the captives of Judah passed by, and when one would break
away to escape, they would catch him and bring him back (see Obadiah 1:11-14). God was chastening Judah,
but to rejoice in Judah 's suffering and to make it more severe displeased God, and so Obadiah predicts the fall
of the ancient rock-bound fortress of Petra (1:3). Even today, the ancient ruins give mute testimony of the truth
of Obadiah's prediction.
(70) Approximately when did Obadiah write? ________________________________________
(71) The book is about ______.
a. the inhuman treatment that the prisoners received from the sons of Esau or Edom
b. the return of the captives
c. the establishment of the Kingdom
(72) Obadiah predicted the fall of ________________________.
(73) Archaeology testifies to the truth of Obadiah's prediction. (True or False) _______________
14. Haggai
Haggai is the first of the writing prophets to write from Palestine after the Captivity (see the chart with Part V).
The student should at least scan the books of Ezra and Nehemiah at this point to become familiar with this
period (see especially Ezra 5:1; 6:14). A complete survey of this restoration period will be made in the next
section, but a reading of these books will help you to become familiar with its main features. As noted in the
verses in Ezra, the burden of Haggai was the completion of the rebuilding of the Temple which had been started
but never finished. Notice that Darius is ruler during this period (see Daniel 5:31).
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(74) The first writing prophet that wrote from Palestine after the Captivity was ______________
(75) I have read Ezra 5:1 and 6:14. (date) _______________________________
(76) What was the desire of Haggai? ___________________________________
15. Zechariah
A comparison of the first verse of the Book of Zechariah with the preceding book will show that Zechariah's
prophecy followed Haggai's by only two months. However, Zechariah's prophecy goes far beyond Haggai's and
deals extensively with the last days–still future. "Zechariah contains more allusions to the coming Messiah . . .
than all the other minor prophets combined" (Unger). His immediate burden was the rebuilding of the Temple
which, through the combined ministries of Haggai and his own, was finally completed in 516 B.C.
(77) The book following Haggai was written by the prophet _____________________________.
(78) According to Unger, Zechariah contains more allusions to the ____________________________________
____________________________________ than all the other minor prophets combined.
(79) Zechariah had the same desire as Haggai, and that was __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
16. Malachi
Malachi was the last of the writing prophets and with his book, the Old Testament Canon ends. "By
comparison of Malachi 1:8 with Nehemiah 5:15,18, it seems clear that he prophesied . . . after Nehemiah's
governorship" (C. E. Mason), Unger says, "A Persian governor was in authority in Jerusalem . . . the temple had
been completed for some time and the religious ritual was for a long time practiced (1:7-10; 3:8). Religious zeal
had waned and enough time had elapsed for abuses to become evident. Personal piety, especially of the priests,
had degenerated (1:6-8), foreign marriages flourished (2:10-12), and paying tithes for temple support had fallen
into neglect" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 686). All of this is rebuked by Malachi. After the Book of Malachi,
there is a four-hundred-year period of silence from God, until in one of Israel's darkest hours, God, who at
sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, . . . spoke unto us by
his Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).
(80) Who was the last writing prophet? ________________________
(81) With Malachi the _____________________ of the Old Testament ends.
(82) When did Malachi prophesy? ______________________________________
(83) Name three of the four things that Malachi rebukes.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(84) After his book there are _________ years of silence.
C. Archaeological Notes
1. The attacks by the higher critics
Almost all of the prophetic writings have been attacked at some time or other by the "higher critics." Their
charges are many and varied: "the style of the author does not seem to fit the period of history;" "there is a
change of style in the book itself indicating several authors under one name;" "the book was a compilation of
later authors during the period of Ezra;" etc. When getting down to the basics, the prime problem of the critics
is plain unbelief. These prophetic books described future events in minute detail, and even named future
individuals before they were born (see Isaiah 45:1-4, which was written nearly two hundred years before Cyrus
began to reign). If one does not believe that God inspired the sacred writings and is capable of predictive
prophecy, obviously one must explain how these details could be described before they happened. The object of
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the critics has been to move the date of the writings so far ahead that all the predictive elements can be
accounted for as "history written as though it were prophecy." The trouble is that they can never move them
quite far enough, as our later study of some of these prophecies will show. After all their dishonest attempts to
rationalize and remove the miraculous from these books, the prophets still stand as one of the greatest
testimonies of the veracity of the Bible known today.
(85) Almost all the writings of the prophets have been attacked by the higher critics. Their principal problem is
______.
a. that science advances much b. that they are always right
c. their unbelief d. that perhaps the Bible is mistaken
(86) The objective of the critics has been to move the date of the writings ahead in order that history may appear
to have been written as __________________.
(87) In spite of everything, the prophets still continue as one of the greatest testimonies of the
____________________ of the Bible.
2. Jonah and the great fish
Could the story of Jonah actually have happened? The believer has no problem with that question because for
him, God is the answer to all "problems" involved. God said it happened through His servant Jonah, and Jesus
Christ stamped the book as truth (Matthew 12:39-40).
(88) According to Matthew 12:39-40, what is the major evidence that the story of Jonah is true?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
The following proof may be of help in convincing some others. "In February 1891, when the whaling ship, Star
of the East, was in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands, the lookout spotted a sperm whale. Two boats were
launched and in a short time, one of the harpooners was enabled to spear the whale.
"The second boat attacked the whale, but was upset by a lash of its tail and the men were thrown into the sea.
One man was drowned, and another, James Bartley, having disappeared, could not be found. "The whale was
killed and in a few hours was lying by the ship's side, and the crew was busy with axes and spades removing the
blubber. They worked all day and part of the night. Next morning they attached some tackle to the stomach,
which was hoisted on the deck.
"The sailors were startled by something in it which gave spasmodic signs of life, and inside was found the
missing sailor, doubled up and unconscious. He was laid on the deck and treated to a bath of salt water which
soon revived him. . .. He remained two weeks a raving maniac. . .. At the end of the third week, he had entirely
recovered from the shock and assumed his duties.
"Bartley remembers the sensation of being thrown out of the boat into the sea. . . . . He was then encompassed
by a great darkness and he felt he was slipping along a smooth passage of some sort which seemed to move and
carry him forward. The sensation lasted but a short time and then he realized he had more room. He felt about
him and his hands came in contact with a yielding, slimy substance that seemed to shrink from his touch.
"It finally dawned upon him that he had been swallowed by the whale. . .. He could easily breathe, but the heat
was terrible. It was not of a scorching, stifling nature, but it seemed to open the pores of his skin and draw out
his vitality. . .. His skin, where it was exposed to the action of the gastric juice . . . face, neck, and hands, was
bleached to a deadly whiteness . . . and never recovered its natural appearance . . . though otherwise his health
was not affected by his terrible experience" ("Jonah and the Whale," adapted from C. E. Mason's Notes on
Jonah).
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Matching:
(1) _____ Amos a. prophet whose son also was faithful to his calling
(2) _____ Malachi b. humble pastor from Tekoa
(3) _____ Nahum c. prince of the prophets who died by being "sawn asunder"
(4) _____ Ezekiel d. with his book, the Canon of the Old Testament ends
(5) _____ Daniel e. the only theme of his book is the fall of Nineveh
(6) _____ Hanani f. "the weeping prophet" who was driven out of his own country
(7) _____ Isaiah g. God revealed to him the chronological key to the future of Israel
(8) _____ Jeremiah h. he prophesied that Judah and Israel would unite into twelve
tribes again
(9) The prophets not only predicted future events, but also __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
(10) How many non-writing prophets were there? _________________________________________________
II. WORLD EMPIRES AND THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY
This lesson will be different from the others in this section, because in it we will discuss–not primarily the Bible
record of the Jewish nation–but rather the history of the non-Jewish world. (In order for us to rightly appraise
and understand the events that close the history of the Old Testament we must understand something of the
contemporary history of the nations that surrounded Palestine.) In order to do this we will have to go largely to
extra-Biblical sources. But the student should not think that in studying the history of these nations we are
studying simply so-called secular history or a mere record of human events. Actually, all history, when rightly
understood, is His-Story–the record of God's dealings with the nations of men to bring His purposes to pass.
This is especially true of this period. God was able to make Israel's disobedience and unfaithfulness serve His
purposes and through it bring the rulers of the world's greatest empires to an acknowledgment of His
sovereignty. Before the captivities, these nations had considered Israel's God little more than a local tribal deity.
(For example, see 1 Kings 20:23 where Ben-hadad excused his defeat on the basis that Jehovah was a god of the
hills and therefore he would fight the next encounter on more level ground.) This general concept, that Jehovah
was just one of the many gods of the nations, was no doubt held by Nebuchadnezzar and his successors at the
beginning, but was dispelled by the mighty works of God in their midst. They were to learn that although this
holy God had allowed His people to be taken captive, He was still powerful on their behalf even in a strange
country. They learned that He was not just a god of the Jews but He was the God in whose hand thy breath is,
and whose are all thy ways - the most high God (that) ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over
it whomsoever he will (Daniel 5:21, 23).
(1) In this section, we will be studying the history of the ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________.
(2) For this section we will use __________________________ sources in addition to the Bible.
(3) We are not going to study an account of the secular history, but we are going to see how God dealt with the
nations in order to fulfill his _______________.
(4) Before the Captivity, how did the nations consider the God of Israel? _______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
(5) They soon learned the lesson of Daniel 5:21 and 23. What is it? ___________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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It will also be seen that God's hand is moving in the general alignment and movements of the nations, and we
will see how He worked all their defeats and victories after the counsel of His own will to bring to pass even as
He showed by the mouth of all his prophets. Scripture to be read will be noted as we proceed with the lesson
and can be read then.
A. The Non-Jewish World from Nebuchadnezzar to Artaxerxes (B.C. 600-425)
1. Nebuchadnezzar
By referring to the chart of the Babylonian and Persian Empire on page 26, you will see that Nebuchadnezzar
took over the Babylonian Kingdom in 605 B.C. This is an extremely important date in history.
Nebuchadnezzar's father Nabopolassar had come to world ascendancy after the fall of Nineveh and the
subsequent end of the Assyrian Empire (see map, p. 13). Assyria had weakened from within and, as she
gradually disintegrated, several powers emerged. Egypt, under Necho II, had also thrown off the Assyrian yoke
and was anxious for conquest. It was inevitable that these two great military kingdoms should clash, and the
encounter took place at Carchemish in 605 B.C. It was at the beginning of Necho's march to Carchemish in 608
B.C. that Josiah interfered and was killed (2 Chronicles 35:20-24). At Carchemish, Necho was crushed by the
Chaldean army (the people of Babylon are called Chaldeans), led by Nabopolassar's brilliant young son,
Nebuchadnezzar. Necho retreated in confusion and Nebuchadnezzar followed him to the border of Egypt with
the intent, doubtlessly, of invading Egypt itself. But just at that moment, reports reached him that his father
Nabopolassar had died and Nebuchadnezzar was forced to return to Babylon to receive the crown. On his way,
he took a few captives from the royal families of Judah. Daniel was among them (Daniel 1:2).
(6) Nebuchadnezzar took possession of the Babylonian Empire in the year ___________.
(7) On the same date (a) __________________, King of Egypt, fought against (b) __________________,
the son of Nabopolassar in Carchemish.
(8) What event kept Nebuchadnezzar from invading Egypt? _____________________________
(9) Which king was killed when he interfered with Necho's advance toward Carchemish? __________
But after Nebuchadnezzar's return to Babylon, Egypt was again resistive, and Pharaoh-Hophra stirred rebellion
even as far away as Judah. So in 597 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar returned to Palestine and carried Jehoiakim himself
captive, along with 3,022 persons, including Ezekiel the prophet. Pharaoh-Hophra seems to have avoided
trouble at this time, but after Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and the murder of his
governor Gedaliah, a remnant fled to Egypt carrying the unwilling Jeremiah and Baruch with them.
Nebuchadnezzar then attacked and defeated Pharaoh-Hophra and destroyed most of those who fled to Egypt
(for the details, read Jeremiah, chaps. 40-44).
(10) Which Pharaoh rebelled against Babylon? __________________
(11) Because of this rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar, in the year 597, took King _________________ captive
together with 3,022 Jews.
(12) In the year 586, because of the assassination of Gedaliah and the destruction of Jerusalem, a remnant fled
to __________________________.
Besides his military achievements, Nebuchadnezzar is best known as a great builder. He glorified the city of
Babylon beyond anything history has seen either before or since. It occupied both sides of the Euphrates River,
and the palace alone was more than twice the size of the whole city of Jerusalem. "It covered eight miles with
its hanging gardens built on arched terraces, each rising above the other, and rich in all the luxuriance of
artificial cultivation" (Maclear). The temple of Bel rose from the plain in eight stupendous stories, each one
built upon the other to a height of 600 feet. The historian Herodotus estimates the city to have spread over more
than 169 square miles and to have had more than 50 miles of fortified double walls, each broad enough to
accommodate chariots being driven upon them four abreast. The wall was "pierced by one hundred gates of
bronze.” Some have doubted Nebuchadnezzar's boast, recorded by Daniel, Is not this great Babylon, that I have
built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? But Sir Henry
Rawlinson, the noted archaeologist, has said that nine-tenths of the bricks amidst the ruins of Babylon are
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stamped with Nebuchadnezzar's name. For Nebuchadnezzar's personal history and his encounters with Jehovah,
chapters 1-4 of Daniel should be read.
(13) In addition to the military accomplishments, Nebuchadnezzar was a great ______________.
(14) I have read Daniel chapters 1-4. (date) ______________________________
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2. Evil-merodach
In the year 561 B.C., Evil-merodach (name means "man of Marduck," a Chaldean god), the son of
Nebuchadnezzar, took the throne. His aged father was about 84 years old at the time of his death. Evil-
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merodach is mentioned in Scripture for his kindness to Jehoiachin of Judah (2 Kings 25: 27-30). Little else is
known of him, and his reign had lasted only two years when his brother-in-law, Neriglissar, assassinated him.
(15) The successor of Nebuchadnezzar was his son ____________________________________.
(16) He is mentioned in Scripture for his kindness toward ___________________.
(17) How did Evil-merodach die? ______________________________________
3. Neriglissar
Many historians identify Neriglissar with Rag-mag (a title of highest authority), who was present with other
high officers at the capture of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39:3,13). He was one of those who released Jeremiah from
prison. His reignlasted four years, after which his son took the throne but was deposed by Nabonidus.
(18) Historians identify Neriglissar with ________.

a. Belshazzar b. Nabonidus c. Rag-mag d. Nebuchadnezzar
(19) He was one of those who helped to release ___________________________ from prison.
4. Nabonidus
Nabonidus was a nobleman of Babylon who came to the throne in 555 B.C. His love of the arts and religion
made him insensitive to the peril of growing Median strength to the east. He rebuilt ancient temples and
followed intellectual pursuits leaving his son, Belshazzar, in control of the administration of the Kingdom.
Belshazzar was a playboy who soon paid with his life for his inattention to matters of state. His last night is
vividly related in Daniel 5.
(20) Nabonidus, being more interested in the arts and religion than in matters of state, left his son
_________________________ in charge of the administration of the Kingdom.
(21) I have read Daniel 5. (date) _______________________________________
5. Cyrus
In the meantime, eastward in Media, circumstances were in the making which would bring to pass a prophecy
made by Isaiah two hundred odd years before (Isaiah 44:26-45:4), and which would affect the end of the
Captivity as foretold by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:9-11; 29:4-11). An intermarriage between the royal houses of
Media and Persia had resulted in the birth of a child called Cyrus. Cyrus revolted against his grandfather in 559
B.C. and as a result became sole ruler of the Medo-Persian Empire. In 538 B.C., he was encamped outside the
walls of Babylon while on the inside Belshazzar held his sensual party, certain that Cyrus would not penetrate
the walls and the "two leaved gates of Brass." But in some way, perhaps through a dried-up canal channel, a
band of Cyrus' soldiers did penetrate the city and opened it to the invading hordes. In a single night, Babylon
fell and Belshazzar died, as Daniel had so recently foretold!
22) With the birth of (a)_________________ the prophecies of Isaiah and

(b) ____________________________ were beginning to be fulfilled.
(23) I have read Isaiah 44:26-45:4 and Jeremiah 25:9-11; 29:4-11. (date)___________________
(24) In which year did Cyrus surround the city of Babylon? ___________________
Cyrus, who is called by Owens "an amiable and generous prince of the Oriental world," then implemented the
writing which permitted the return of the Jews to their Land. This was undertaken by the first party exactly 70
years after the Captivity had begun (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). We will examine the details of that return in the
next section.
(25) After Cyrus took Babylon, he gave an edict which permitted_________________________.
(26) How many years after the Captivity did the first group return? ____________
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Upon conquering Babylon, Cyrus left the governing of the city in the hands of one of his generals, Gobryas
(called Darius the Median in Daniel 5:31), and continued his conquests across the Empire. Darius appointed 120
governors or "princes" over the provinces who were themselves subject to three presidents, among whom
Daniel was the greatest. The record of what followed is found in Daniel 6.
(27) One of the generals of Cyrus, named (a) __________________, was left in charge of Babylon; he was also
called (b) __________________________________ in Daniel 5:31.
(28) I have read Daniel 6. (date) _________________________
6. Cambyses
Cyrus continued to rule the Kingdom until his death in 529 B.C. Cambyses, his son, next came to the throne.
He was a strong military leader and conquered Egypt in 525 B.C., bringing it under Persian rule. But his
administrative talents were few and discontent marked his reign. Unger says, "To name the . . . (revolting)
districts would simply be to enumerate the provinces of the empire." After defeat in North Africa and Ethiopia,
Cambyses committed suicide and was succeeded first by Smerdis, an imposter who called himself Artaxerxes
(Ezra 4:7-24), and then by Darius Hystaspes.
(29) At the death of Cyrus, his son ___________________________ succeeded him.
(30) Cambyses was very competent in military matters, but he had very little talent for the
__________________________________ of the Kingdom.
(31) After a defeat, Cambyses died by (a)__________________and was succeeded by (b) _________________.
7. Darius Hystaspes, King of Persia
Darius Hystaspes restored the crumbling Kingdom. He was a military genius and an administrator of no little
talent. After consolidating the Empire militarily and moving the capitol to Susa (Shushan, Esther 1:2), he
"abolished the local kingdoms and principalities, divided the whole empire into 'satrapies,' each satrap having a
Persian official with supreme authority in civil affairs, and a division of the imperial army to support him and
maintain the government against all outside attacks. Judges were also appointed with fixed circuits, and a
system of posts was established, with royal roads extending everywhere for the transmission of dispatches and
rescripts to and from the capital cities of Susa or Persepolis" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, p. 240).
(32) Who restored the crumbling Kingdom? __________________________________________
(33) Name some of the reforms brought about by King Darius.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ___________________________________________________________________________________
In 512 B.C., Darius conquered and occupied the northwestern territory of India and about 508 B.C., he occupied
sections of North Africa and Greece. The Persian dominion extended from India to Ethiopia and north to the
Caucasus Mountains and west to Macedonia in Greece. Trouble soon loomed on the horizon, however. The
Grecian states incited revolt. After putting down the revolt itself, Darius marched on Greece in 493 B.C. In 490
B.C., he fought and lost the battle of Marathan which altered the history of the whole western world and was the
first step to the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies concerning Greek ascendancy. Darius planned a second
expedition against Greece, but his death in 486 B.C. put an end to his grandiose plans. His support of the
Temple building led by Ezra will be noted in the next section (Ezra 5:1-6:13).
(34) What battle did Darius fight and lose in the year 490 B.C.? (a)____________________________________
What significance did it have? (b) __________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
8. Xerxes
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Xerxes, Darius' son, now took the throne of the Empire in 485 B.C. Xerxes is the king known as Ahasuerus in
the Book of Esther. He was weak and tyrannical, as can be seen by his senseless dismissal of Vashti, the queen,
in Esther 1. In 480, Xerxes led another attack on Greece. He first suffered heavy loss at the narrow pass of
Thermopylae, where a small band of Spartans held off his entire force for two days. Then Xerxes moved on to
Athens, setting it afire, but his navy was defeated at Salamis. Later his army saw defeat at Plataea in 479 B.C.
Xerxes died in 465 B.C.
(35) The successor of Darius was (a) ______________ known as (b) ___________ in the Book of Esther.
(36) In his intent to capture Greece he suffered a loss in _______.
a. Elesponto b. Thermopylae c. Gibraltar
9. Artaxerxes Longimanus
Artaxerxes Longimanus came to the throne in the year of Xerxes' death. He reigned for 40 years over Persia
and was the one who commissioned Ezra to return to Jerusalem and granted large privileges to him and those
who accompanied him. About 13 years after Ezra's return, Artaxerxes made Nehemiah governor of Jerusalem
(Nehemiah 2:1-8). In 424 B.C., the Old Testament ended. One hundred years later, Alexander the Great
destroyed the Persian Empire at the battle of Issus.
(37) Who commissioned Ezra to return to Jerusalem? __________________________________
(38) Who was made governor of Jerusalem 13 years after Ezra's return? ____________________
(39) In what year did the Old Testament end? _____________________________
Jehovah had taken the sceptre out of the hands of faithless Israel and had for a time committed it into Gentile
hands. Meanwhile, God controlled the beastlike natures (see Daniel 7) of these empires, causing them to carry
out His plan of restoring Israel to her land and to prepare the way for the One whose right it is to reign, and the
sceptre of whose Kingdom shall never pass away. The old weary world still awaits His coming Kingdom, but
soon He that shall come will come, and will not tarry! Will you be ready? (1 John 2:28-29).
(40) Who has the right to reign? _____________________________
B. The Jews in Exile
There is no historical book in the Old Testament which deals with the period which was spent in Babylon by the
captives. But there are many allusions in the prophetic books and in the Psalms to their captivity and the
conditions they faced. Some aspects of their captivity can be deduced from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Josephus, the Jewish historian, has also written extensively of this period. We will look at it briefly, for it was a
period of tremendous transition and change in Jewish life and thought, and it largely paved the way for the
conditions so evident in the Gospels as the New Testament opens.
(41) There are no historical books in the Old Testament which deal with this period of exile.
(True or False) _______________
(42) Which books of the Bible reveal some aspects of the Captivity?
(a) _____________________________
(b) _____________________________
1. The heartbreak of the Captivity

All the loving entreaties and all of the threats which the prophets had delivered seemed to have had little effect
on the conscience of the nation. Like a haughty and defiant child, nothing availed until her spirit had been
utterly broken. This the Captivity achieved. The long and seemingly fruitless ministries of the prophets who had
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foretold this event were at last rewarded, for Israel's national conscience was awakened and the people
acknowledged that they were getting just what they deserved. They attributed their troubles to their sins and a
deep spirit of national repentance seems to have prevailed. And then they thought of that good land which God
had given them, and the Temple, and Jerusalem, where they could have been except for their sins, and they
wept. [The student should read the entire Psalm 137]
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down,
Yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows
in the midst thereof. (Psalm 137:1-2)
(43) I have read all of Psalm 137. (date) ______________________
(44) What did the captivity of the Jews accomplish? _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
How often believers of today are like Israel. Warnings pass us by and we continue in our backslidden ways until
at last there is no alternative and whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. . .. And then, through our tears, we
acknowledge our sins and claim the precious blood for our cleansing, and God forgives! Oh, how wonderful He
is! But wait–we are not finished weeping. Someone has written:
Of all the sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these–
It might have been.
We look around us at the mess we are in; we look at all the opportunities that have passed us by–the wasted
years of sinning, the fact that we are still babes in Christ when we could have been mature and fruitful soldiers–
and we have good cause to weep. Remember His Word? Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a
man soweth, that shall he also reap. And the heartbreak of it all is that we brought it upon ourselves! This was
the heartbreak of Israel in captivity.
(45) Write Galatians 6:7. ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Religious life in Babylon
Israel's troubles began with her persistent inclination to idolatry. All the evils that attended the base worship of
the degraded deities of the heathen were only symptomatic to the real disease. When it is remembered that all
the idolatry of the pagan world had its conception at Babylon (see Part 2), one might wonder why God chose
Babylon as the place of Israel's captivity. But, of course, God–who knows the end from the beginning–knew
perfectly well what He was doing. With a conscience newly awakened by the sufferings of the Captivity, all the
attractions of these base vanities (Isaiah 44:9-20) were gone. And then to dwell in the most idolatrous city the
world has ever seen until the days of Catholic Rome (and indeed Babylon is a type of Rome, Revelation 17-18),
gave Israel such a distaste for it all, that it could truly be said that she received her vaccination for idolatry at
Babylon. Nationally, she has remained immune to its deadly virus even to this present time.
(46) The problems of Israel began because of her inclination to___________________________.
(47) Why would it not be strange that God had chosen Babylon as the place of captivity for Israel?
______________________________________________
(48) Babylon is a type of _____________________________________________.
(49) We can say that Israel was _____________________________ against idolatry in Babylon.
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To counteract the pollution of their new home, the spiritual leaders of the Jewish communities gathered the
people together on the Sabbath day to read to them from the Law and the Psalms. As they did, several changes
took place in Jewish religious practice. The Temple had been destroyed and lay in ashes. Sacrifices apart from
the Temple were forbidden by the Law and unthinkable to the new Jewish conscience. Therefore, the synagogue
emerged as the answer to the need for corporate worship. In it no sacrifices were offered, and the teacher (later
called the rabbi), rather than the priest, became the important member. Since the copies of the Law were few,
the office of the "scribe," or copier of the Law, gradually became popular. The Law was written in Hebrew, but
the spoken language gradually became Aramaic (a Semitic language related to Hebrew which was prevalent
throughout the Babylonian Empire). Later, the Jewish court instructed that a synagogue should be built in any
city where ten Jewish families lived. After the Captivity ended, the synagogue continued to be the focal point of
Jewish religious life, both in Palestine and among the dispersion, that is, those sons of Jacob that were scattered
among the Gentile nations.
(50) What emerged during this period for the collective worship? _________________________
(51) In the synagogue, the _____________________ replaced the priest.
(52) What language was spoken in the Babylonian Empire? __________________
(53) Even today the ______________________________ continues to be the central point of the religious
life of the Jews.
3. Domestic and economic life
Nebuchadnezzar settled the Jews in communities throughout the great city of Babylon. Doubtless, their lot was
a hard one, as it would be for any displaced person bereaved of family and home, and indeed every earthly
possession. They were, however, free to work and gradually their condition improved. Some of them were able
to purchase property, and the counsel of God was, Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and
eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your
daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not
diminished (Jeremiah 29:5-6).
(54) What can be deduced from Jeremiah 29:5-6? _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
At the great metropolis of Babylon, crossroads of world trade, the Jews not only planted gardens, but many of
them became engaged in commercial activity and acquired the skills of trading, for which they have ever since
been known. Some of them learned the arts of Babylon, which they afterward put to use in rebuilding the walls
and Temple of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3:8).
Jeremiah also counseled them to seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away
captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. There is a very real sense in
which the position of Israel in those days is like our own as believers. We are not citizens of this world at all,
but strangers, sojourners, and aliens to it (Philippians 3:20-21; see the Scofield Reference Bible margin, 1917
Ed.; 1 Peter 2:11; 2 Peter 3:10-14). We should therefore not become over-involved in its pursuits, or over-awed
by its vanities, remembering that the fashion of this world passeth away. At the same time, we ought to seek the
peace of our land and pray for it, that we might also have peace (1 Timothy 2:1-4). A prayerful study of this
lesson should be a real help in these days when there is so much unrest and turmoil around us with men's hearts
failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. The Christian knows, as
did Israel (Psalms 137:8), that one day all will be destroyed; but before that terrible day arrives, we will be
home in that heavenly Zion for which we long.
(55) Why did the Jews have to seek the peace of Babylon? ______________________________
(56) What truths can we as believers glean from the experiences of Israel in exile?
(a) __________________________________________________________________________________
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(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
True or False:
(1) The nations around Palestine before the time of the Captivity had the concept that Jehovah was just
one god among the many gods of the nations. _____________
(2) This concept was not done away with, even in spite of the great works that God performed among the
Gentile nations. _____________
Multiple choice:
(3) Nebuchadnezzar defeated Necho of Egypt in the year 605 B.C. in the battle of ______.
a. Carchemish b. Issus c. Salamis
(4) In addition to the great military successes, Nebuchadnezzar is best known as a great ______.
a. administrator b. constructor c. governor
(5) Who took the city of Babylon and killed Belshazzar? ______
a. Darius b. Cyrus c. Xerxes
(6) The prophecy concerning Cyrus was given 200 years before its fulfillment by the prophet___.
a. Isaiah b. Nehemiah c. Jeremiah
(7) What king is called Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther? ______
a. Artaxerxes b. Darius the Mede c. Xerxes
(8) What nation caused problems for the Persian Empire and eventually destroyed it? ______
a. Babylon b. Greece c. Egypt
(9) Name three changes in the religious life of the Jews during the Captivity.
(a) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(c) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(10) Name two ways in which the relationship of the exiled Jews to the people of Babylon can be compared
with our relationship to the world that is around us.
(a) ___________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ___________________________________________________________________________________
III. A REMNANT RETURNS
In 538 B.C., Cyrus conquered Babylon and set Gobryas over the city while he continued his military ventures.
About two years later, Cyrus returned to Babylon to become "Sol-Rex," that is, the supreme ruler of the Empire.
At this time (perhaps toward the end of his first year of reign, 536 B.C.), he did a striking and remarkable thing.
Reversing the policy of the Chaldean rulers of Babylon, he issued a decree that the captive nations should be
allowed to return to their own countries. It was just a simple change of policy and early the next year (535
B.C.), about 42,360 Jewish captives started the long trek home.
(1) Cyrus conquered Babylon in the year ____________________.
(2) What was the decree of Cyrus? _________________________________________________
(3) In the year 535 B.C., _________________ Jews returned to Palestine.
But that simple change in policy had a marvelous background. Almost two hundred years before, Isaiah had
foreseen this event and even told the name of this Gentile Persian Prince (Isaiah 44:28-45: l-4). But there is
something more exciting than this. In 605 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar had just taken over Palestine and carried
the first captives to Babylon, Jeremiah wrote them a letter (Jeremiah 29). We looked at a portion of that letter in
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the last section. But in verse 10, Jeremiah said, For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be
accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to
this place. Now look at the figures.
605 B.C. First Captivity
-70 Years (Remember--years are computed backward from Christ's birth)
535 B.C. The year of the return
Just a simple matter of mathematics, but demonstrating that God not only was able to foretell the exact year of
the return seventy years before it happened, but that a heathen ruler called Cyrus, in his changed policy, was
unwittingly performing the counsel of God.
(4) Isaiah predicted _____________________________________________________________.
(5) Jeremiah predicted _____________________________________________.
(6) The return was begun in the year (a)___________ or (b)________________ years after the first deportation.
Daniel believed Jeremiah's prophecy and prayed for its fulfillment as the time drew near (Daniel 9:1-2). It will
not surprise the student, then, to learn that Daniel himself, at the time he was praying for the fulfillment of this
prophecy, was inspired to write a time chronology for the whole prophetic future of Israel--a prophecy that
forms a framework for every other unfulfilled prophecy in Scripture. No wonder Paul wrote centuries later,
while dealing with these very things, 0, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how
unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
(7) Daniel prayed for ____________________________________________________________.
A. The Exiles Return (Read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah)
In 535 B.C. the first band of exiles returned to the Land (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1-2). Many of those who
had been carried away preferred to stay in Babylon. They had grown wealthy and prosperous, established
businesses and owned houses and had forgotten the Land of the Covenant. But the godly and patriotic Jew
would say:
If I forget thee, 0 Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget her cunning.
If I do not remember thee,
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth;
If I prefer not Jerusalem
above my chief joy. (Psalm 137:5-6)
To catch the excitement and joy of those who returned, the student should read their song, recorded in Psalm
126.
Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah (Ezra 1:8), seems to have been in charge of this first expedition, but shortly
after their arrival in the Land, Zerubbabel (a lineal descendant of King David) and Joshua, the high priest,
became the prominent leaders. Seven months after their return, Zerubbabel and Joshua built the altar on the site
of Solomon's former Temple altar and began the round of sacrifices which the Law demanded.
(8) I have read Ezra and Nehemiah. (date) _________________
(9) All the Jews returned to the Promised Land. (True or False) _______________
(10) Many captives preferred to remain in Babylon because they had houses and businesses established.
(True or False) ______________
(11) After their arrival in the Promised Land, (a)_________________________ and
(b)___________________ became the prominent leaders.
B. Opposition to the Exiles
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But while Israel (the terms "Israel" and "Jew" are used interchangeably after the Captivity to signify the sons of
Jacob) was out of the Land, numerous groups had settled in the environs of the ruined city of Jerusalem. These
are mentioned in various places as the Idumaeans, or Edomites; the Calebites, who occupied Bethlehem; and the
Samaritans--a mixed race who were transported there by the earlier Assyrian rulers (2 Kings 17:24). These
people looked at the returning remnant as intruders and the measure of their hatred of the small Jewish
community can only be imagined by comparing the feeling of the Arabs toward the young Jewish state of today.
(Israel became an independent state on May 14, 1948.)
(12) Three groups which were established in the ruins of Jerusalem were: (a)________________
(b) ________________ (c)______________________________
(13) These people looked at the Jews as ______________________________.
The first effort of these people to weaken the colony is recorded in Ezra 4. They offered their assistance in
building the Temple (which Zerubbabel had begun), claiming themselves to be worshipers of Jehovah. The
degree of their devotion to the true God may be seen by reading 2 Kings 17:25-41. Their worship was obviously
a pagan amalgamation of heathen superstition with various tenets of the Mosaic Law--an abomination to God.
Zerubbabel saw, in their offer of friendship, that (1) they really hoped to gain a foothold in the young
community and eventually control it and (2) that their presence would pose a real threat to the religious purity
of the community, and so he refused their offer. The affected solicitude of the Samaritans immediately showed
itself for what it really was--self interest, and they began to try to hinder the work on the Temple. Avoiding
outright war, they sought by sinister means to stop the progress at Jerusalem. When harassment failed they
accused the Jews of rebellion in a letter to Cyrus, and in the confusion and red tape that followed, the work on
the Temple ceased. All through the reign of Cyrus, Cambyses, and Smerdis (called Artaxerxes. . "great ruler," in
Ezra 4:7-24) and until the second year of Darius the Great (552 B.C.) the work was discontinued.
(14) Give two reasons why Zerubbabel refused the help of these people.
(a)____________________________________________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________________________________________
(15) These people tried to ruin the work of the Jews in what two ways?
(a)____________________________________________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________________________________________
C. The Temple Built
During the reign of Smerdis, Haggai and Zechariah prophesied that the Temple should be completed. As a
result of their preaching, work again commenced. But as soon as it did, Tatnai, the Persian Governor of the
western province (Ezra 5:3) demanded to know by what authority the Jews were working. They claimed the
original decree of Cyrus and were Providentially permitted to continue work while search was made by the
bureaucrats of Shushan. Finally, the decree was found and Darius confirmed it, even commanding Persian
officials to assist the Jews and provide some financial help (Ezra 6:7-10). The result was that according to the
prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, the Temple was finished in 516 B.C.
(16) Name the two prophets who encouraged the completion of the construction of the Temple.
(a)________________________ and (b)___________________________
(17) Who was the Persian governor who opposed the work of reconstruction? _______________
(18) The Temple reconstruction was finished in the year __________________.
D. Ezra's Ministry
"Since the Jews were again in favor with the king and his satraps, and had restored their temple, the priesthood
soon satisfied itself with the keeping of feasts, the offering of sacrifices and the mumbling of words connected
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with these ceremonies. Once form caught their fancy, reality in religion quickly vanished. Their concern to
honor the Persian satrap was greater than that to honor God" (Owens, Abraham to the Middle East Crises, p.
95).
Malachi's ministry was one of rebuking the pious hypocrisies of the people, and especially the priests, but his
words seemed to go largely unheeded. Intermarriage between the Jews and their neighbors became frequent and
the spiritual condition of the colony declined to a low ebb.
(19) According to Owens, why did the reality of religion disappear? ______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
(20) What was the ministry of the prophet Malachi? ___________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
In 458 B.C., in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimanus, Ezra, a ready scribe in the Law of Moses, went up
from Babylon with about 1500 men and their families to Jerusalem to assist in the Temple worship and to
encourage the remnant in the Land. In Ezra chapter 7 we have the exciting story of his preparations and how the
king gave him permission to receive gifts from those who remained in Babylon and also gave him great
financial assistance. Ezra's remarkable faith and his desire that God's name be magnified is seen in his decision
to go across the Arabian desert with all of the wealth which Artaxerxes had provided for him, without a police
escort (Ezra 8:21-23). Notice, too, his great wisdom (Ezra 8:24-30).
(21) Ezra was a ready ___________________________________________________________.
(22) Ezra returned to (a)___________________________with (b) __________ men in order to encourage
the remnant.
(23) In Ezra 8:21,23 we see the great ______________of Ezra.
(24) Ezra 8:24-30 reveals his ______________________.
Shortly after his arrival, Ezra learned of the sad spiritual state of the community. Particularly appalling to Ezra
was the breakdown in Israel's separation. Moses' Law had absolutely forbidden intermarriage, and previous
disobedience in this realm had met with tragic results. In typical oriental fashion Ezra reacted to the report (Ezra
9:3). When God moved the hearts of others to join Ezra in his mourning, the outcome was a great prayer
meeting led by Ezra himself which resulted in repentance and resolution to right the wrongs done. The
conviction did not end with shed tears but the people acted and put away all their strange wives (those not of
pure Jewish blood) and their children. Even the chilling wind and heavy rain of the December day did not
appear to dampen their spirits. The heartbreak and separation which resulted was terrible, of course, and three
months' time was provided to make new arrangements, but even this was not as terrible as it would have been to
sustain another judgment like that of the captivities when every home was broken and many died. When the
women returned, each to the house of her father, hatred naturally waxed hot against the Jews.
(25) Upon returning to Jerusalem, Ezra saw that there was a break down in Israel's _________________.
(26) The Law of Moses prohibited ___________________________ matrimony.
(27) How did the people respond to Ezra's affliction and the great prayer meeting which followed?
______________________________________________________________________________________
In succeeding years, when the early flush of repentance had passed away, the nation suffered many reverses.
"Jews were expected to supply troops for the campaigns of Xerxes and Artaxerxes against Egypt. They paid
heavy tribute to the Persian Empire and their own economic position was very low. Small farmers who were
unable to repay their loans would lose their land and, in some instances, their liberty and that of their families.
The wealthy increased their possessions, and the poor were increasing in poverty" (Pfeiffer: Old Testament
History, p. 134). Business was transacted on the Sabbath day; murder, adultery, lying, and injustice in the courts
abounded.
(28) Name some of the reverses that the nation suffered after they passed through the experience of repentance.
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(a)___________________________________________________________________________________
(b)___________________________________________________________________________________
(c)___________________________________________________________________________________
E. The Coming of Nehemiah
It was a report of this condition that came to the ears of Nehemiah, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah
at once determined to, if possible, go and aid his brethren in Jerusalem. Providentially, permission and
assistance were given by the king who sent Nehemiah in an official capacity, thus insuring him of the
recognition both of his own people and of those satraps about Palestine. Nehemiah heard the historic decree of
Artaxerxes (that the wall of the city of Jerusalem should be built) in 445 B.C. and left for Palestine the same
year. This was the first decree that allowed the rebuilding of the city itself. The preceding ones (by Cyrus and
Darius) had dealt only with the Temple. It is unquestionably this decree about which Daniel prophesied in
Daniel 9:25, and which signaled the beginning of a chronology that would bring Messiah to the city of
Jerusalem on the very day foretold five hundred years earlier.
(29) What was the office of Nehemiah? _________________________________________________________
(30) In what way did the decree of Artaxerxes differ from that of Darius? ______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(31) What prophet predicted this decree? _______________________________
Nehemiah's arrival was greeted by mixed emotions in Palestine. While his own people welcomed him, Sanballat
the Horonite (from Beth Horon in Samaria) and Tobiah the Ammonite were grieved exceedingly because there
was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel (Nehemiah 2:10). Nehemiah's famous midnight
ride is recorded in Nehemiah 2:13-16. After viewing the job to be done and appraising something of the
greatness of the task, Nehemiah urged the people to arise and build. The response was immediate and
encouraging and they strengthened their hands for this good work (Nehemiah 2:18). Nehemiah was a marvelous
organizer and divided the workers into battalions, giving each the responsibility of a certain section of the wall.
Almost immediately the work began to progress, for the people had a mind to work.
(32) In Nehemiah 2:13-16 is found the __________________________________________________________
(33) How did Nehemiah demonstrate his ability as organizer? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
But the work was not without its difficulties. When Sanballat and his cohorts failed to discourage the builders
with innuendo (Nehemiah 2:19) and ridicule (Nehemiah 4:1-3) they resorted to the threat of armed invasion
(Nehemiah 3:8). Nehemiah, however, was not a man that could easily be intimidated and by prayer and extreme
vigilance the threat of invasion was quelled. Later, some of the people themselves became discouraged because
of their impoverished condition and the heavy mortgages held against their properties by some of their own
brethren. Nehemiah was again equal to the challenge. Having taken nothing for his own work (Nehemiah 5:14-
15) he could exhort his brethren to restore all of the mortgages held (Nehemiah 5:11-12).
Sanballat next attempted to draw Nehemiah into a conference on the plain of Ono (Nehemiah 6:2). Contrary to
the thinking of men today, Nehemiah knew that such a conference could profit them nothing. It would mean
sitting down with the enemies of God and would inevitably lead to compromise and defeat. Nehemiah wisely
responded, 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? (Nehemiah 6:3). More attempts to hinder the work followed but God kept His servant
walking in wisdom toward them that are without and in the unbelievable space of 52 days, the wall was finished
(Nehemiah 6:15-16).
(34) Name the leader who tried to hinder the construction. __________________________________________
(35) Give three ways in which Sanballat tried to hinder the construction.
(a)____________________________________________________________________________________
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(b)____________________________________________________________________________________
(c)____________________________________________________________________________________
(36) How many days did it take to complete the construction of the wall? ______
After the wall was finished and precautions were taken against attack (Nehemiah 7:1-4), Nehemiah, with the aid
of Ezra, turned their attention to the spiritual needs of the people. The Law was read and explained, the Feast of
Tabernacles was kept, and a great spirit of repentance took hold on the nation beginning with the priests. The
result was the signing of a great covenant with seven provisions (Nehemiah 10).
A number of reforms were immediately instituted including the restoration of the Temple order. Nehemiah
inspected the credentials of each of the priests and only those who could prove their pedigree from Aaron were
permitted to serve. Shortly thereafter Nehemiah left Jerusalem and returned to Babylon with Artaxerxes as he
promised (Nehemiah 2:6).
(37) After finishing the construction of the wall, their attention turned to spiritual matters. Name two things that
they did.
(a)____________________________________________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________________________________________
(38) Name two reforms that were instituted.
(a)___________________________________________________________________________________
(b)___________________________________________________________________________________
Twelve years later Nehemiah again journeyed to Jerusalem. He found that conditions had greatly deteriorated.
Ezra had since passed on to his reward, and compromise with the Samaritans was evident everywhere.
Nehemiah instituted violent reforms and punished the offenders. It was at this time that one of the sons of
Joiada . . . the high priest, who had actually married a daughter of their old enemy Sanballat, was driven out of
Jerusalem by Nehemiah. This young priest, Manasseh by name, carried with him a copy of the Mosaic Law and
led in organizing the temple on Mount Gerizim (John 4:20), setting the stage for the rivalry that existed between
these two peoples in Jesus' day.
During this period Malachi prophesied, but to little avail. Compromise, formalism, and vice had weakened them
and when the reverberation of Malachi's voice faded from their ears, God became silent and spoke no more for
about four hundred years.
(39) Who organized the temple on Mount Gerizim? ____________

(40) What prophet lived during these days? __________________
(41) How long was God silent? ____________________
F. Spiritual Lessons
The lessons of Ezra and Nehemiah are much needed in our day. First, there is the lesson of religious separation.
The religious but apostate groups around them offered their assistance in a spiritual project. Zerubbabel was
wise enough to see the danger. He knew that light and darkness can have no communion, and therefore refused
their offer. The act forced these "false brethren" to face the issue squarely. They were aliens and foreigners.
They were not eligible to work for God. How many people today will become a member of some church and
"work for God" (as though they were doing God some kind of a favor) but when repentance and a forsaking of
sin is demanded they soon show their true pride of heart and turn away offended.
And then the breakdown of the people's separation from the godless crowd around them is instructive.
Separation is actually a heart matter. When Christ is loved preeminently and supremely there is no problem with
separation from evil alliances and companions. But when one's love for Him cools, love for the world always
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takes its place and separation is broken. When this happens, the testimony of the Christian is lost and our
influence for Christ is gone. We have turned our backs on heavenly things and become, like those around us, of
the earth, earthy and are useless to God. May God help us to examine our hearts and lives carefully in the light
of the truths of this lesson. In so doing, we will save ourselves great heartache, and spare the cause of Christ
great reproach.
(42) The greatest spiritual lesson of Ezra and Nehemiah is the truth of _____________________.
(43) A Biblical principle that we should remember is that (a)_______________and
(b) ______________________are not able to have fellowship.
(44) Separation, in truth, is a _________________________________________.
(45) We separate ourselves because we are Christians and not in order to become Christians. Mention some
activities from which we should separate ourselves. ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Jeremiah prophesied that the Captivity would last _______ years.
(2) In which year did the remnant return to Jerusalem? _______
a. 538 B. C. b. 535 B. C. c. 605 B. C.
(3) When the captives returned to Jerusalem they found around them _______.
a. a great desert where no one lived
b. the land occupied by the Idumaeans and the Samaritans
c. the land occupied by the Arab nations
(4) Give two reasons why Zerubbabel refused the help that the people offered.
(a)_____________________________________________________________________________________
(b)_____________________________________________________________________________________
(5) How did these people try to stop the work of the Temple?
(a)_____________________________________________________________________________________
(b)_____________________________________________________________________________________
(6) Ezra ______.
a. restored the principle of separation in Israel
b. helped to reconstruct the Temple
c. constructed the wall of Jerusalem
(7) Nehemiah _______.
a. was a diligent scribe of the Law of Moses
b. was a descendant of the royal line of David
c. was the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes
(8) Which two prophets encouraged the people to finish the construction of the Temple?
(a)__________________________ (b) ________________________
(9) Name three ways in which Sanballat tried to hinder the construction of the wall.
(a)_____________________________________________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________________________________________
(c)_____________________________________________________________________________________
(10) Who constructed the Temple in Mount Gerizim where the Samaritans worshiped until the time of Christ?
___________________________________________
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IV. ISRAEL SCATTERED AND PEELED
On May 31, 1962, Adolf Eichmann died at the end of a hangman's noose. But listen to the words of Griedon
Hausner, Israel's chief prosecutor on April 12, as he summed up Eichmann's crimes against the six million Jews
he had sentenced to death, "The Jewish people have remembered for thousands of years the man who was
perhaps the first to attempt the crime of genocide (destruction of an entire race)—Haman the Wicked. Never
will we forget the people who partly succeeded."
In studying the Book of Esther, we are not only considering an important event in Jewish history, we are
viewing, in a sense, the history of dispersed Israel from that day to this. Moses had foretold the fate of the Jew
out of his land in Deuteronomy 28:63-68. The historical events of Esther confirm Moses' words and foreshadow
the condition of dispersed Israel through the ages. When we look at the history of Esther, we are looking at the
history of every Jew who has ever lived on foreign soil. There were many in Esther's day. There were many in
the days of Jesus (note Acts 2:9-11, obviously the greater part of the nation lived abroad). After the destruction
of Jerusalem and until 1947 Israel was totally an exiled nation, "a people scattered and peeled." It is not without
significance, then, that the last chapter of Old Testament History should foreshadow the history of the greater
part of the Jewish nation for the next two thousand years.
(1) The Book of Esther tells us something about ______.
a. the history of Israel in Dispersion b. the future millennium c. the career of Adolf Eichmann
(2) The Dispersion of Israel means ______.
a. the Jews were dispersed throughout the world
b. the Jews lived in Palestine
c. the Jews died at the hands of their captors
(3) What do we find in Deuteronomy 28:63-68? ___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
One further thing is worthy of our notice as we commence this study. The name of God does not appear in
Esther at all. It is the only Old Testament book where absolutely no mention is made of God whatsoever. There
is deep significance in this fact. Israel is the rejected nation. She has rejected God and dwells therefore under
His Divine rejection (Hosea 1:9). In such a state she is spiritually blind and faithless. But although she believes
not, yet God is faithful to her (2 Timothy 2:13). Paul tells us that God is not finished with the nation although
He has temporarily set her aside (see Romans 11:1-2,15, where the word change is significant). Israel is not cast
away in the sense that God is finished with her forever, but she is cast away in the sense that she has not
attained to right standing with God and is spiritually blind (cf. Romans 10:1-3; 11:25).
(4) How many times does the name "God" appear in the Book of Esther? _______________
(5) Hosea 1:9 shows us that Israel is a ________________nation because of her rejection of God.
(6) In what sense is Israel rejected by God? ______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
In such a condition Israel's spiritual understanding is just about nil. Religious but lost, she gropes in the
darkness of her own making. But God has not forgotten His promises to Abraham and to David. He watches
over that nation for her good and preserves her until the time appointed when the darkness shall be lifted and
spiritual life restored. The words of James Russell Lowell seem especially appropriate to Israel in her present
condition.
Truth forever on the scaffold, . . . Wrong forever on the throne--
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown
standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.
Read the entire Book of Esther before you continue.
(7) I have read the Book of Esther, (date)___________________
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A. Satan's Plan of Genocide
Ever since God's covenant with Abraham, which to this day has never seen complete fulfillment, Satan has
made numerous efforts to destroy the entire nation of Israel. The reason is quite simple: without Israel the
promises are worthless and thus God would be proven unreliable. Only as Israel continues as a nation can this
covenant know complete fulfillment. So, whether Israel is faithful or not, God is faithful to her since the gifts
and calling of God are without repentance (i.e., knows no change of mind; see Romans 11:29, the Amplified
New Testament).
(8) Why has Satan wanted to destroy Israel? _____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
As early as Israel's sojourn in Egypt, Satan tried through his willing tool, Pharaoh, to destroy the nation of
Israel. By tempting and moving Israel to sin, he endeavored to force God to destroy the faithless nation in the
wilderness (Exodus 32:10). But God reckoned on the atonement which Christ would one day make on their
behalf and declared them righteous (Numbers 23:21). Satan next provoked Israel to so rebel that the captivities
became necessary. God, however, promised deliverance and restoration. Each of these attempts failed. Satan,
however, is not easily discouraged.
Modern times have witnessed the persecution of Israel by Spain, Russia, and worst of all by Nazi Germany, also
at present by neighboring Islamic nations. The most nearly successful attempt Satan made up until that time was
the plot he hatched by way of his tool, Haman. Haman became a type of Satan himself and is the personification
of all such attempts against the nation, the last of which will be led by Antichrist himself (Revelation 12:13-17).
(9) Arrange in numerical order the following persecutions of Israel by Satan.
(a)________Pharaoh (b) _______Haman (c)________Antichrist
(d) _______Nazis (e) _______captivities (f) ________Islamic nations
Haman's descent holds a significant interest for us as well as his personal history. He is called "the son of
Hammedatha the Agagite." He is thought to be a descendant of the Amalekites and of the very line of King
Agag himself. The student will see the significance of this when it is remembered that it was this very people
who Saul failed to destroy. Hence, except for God's intervention, the ones they failed to destroy would have
destroyed them. There is a very important spiritual lesson here for us. We are commanded to judge and reckon
crucified the evil desires of our fleshly natures. If we fail, those desires which we do not judge will some day
destroy us. Let us learn from Saul! There is one other fact worth noting which is ironical--Mordecai was a
descendant of Saul!
(10) Haman was a descendant of the _____________________.
(11) The Amalekites should have been completely destroyed by __________________.
(12) The lesson for us as believers is that we should (a)_______________________ and
(b) ____________________________________the evil desires of our human nature, for if we don't
they will destroy us.
(13) The ironic note is that Mordecai was a descendant of __________________.
The Book of Esther sets before us the perfect ingredients for the plot: 1. a wicked, sensual, and selfish king who
cared little for the life of any of his subjects but was primarily interested in his own aggrandizement; 2. a
wicked, proud, and peevish prince set in an all-too-powerful position; and 3. a group of troublemakers whose
chief delight it was to stir up discord and hatred. When those troublemakers lit the fuse of hatred in the heart of
that wicked prince and he--by lies and flattery, with the promise of rich gain--was able to obtain permission for
his diabolical scheme from the selfish king, Satan's machine of total destruction was on the move and it
appeared to be impossible to stop. All of the Jewish nation would be annihilated, for remember, the Empire of
Xerxes covered the whole area of Jewish dispersion at that time and even the returned remnant in Jerusalem was
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under his dominion. It was a perfect plot conceived with Satanic ingenuity, and apart from Providential
interference it was certain to succeed.
(14) Name the perfect ingredients of conspiracy that we find in the Book of Esther.
(a)____________________________________________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________________________________________
(c)____________________________________________________________________________________
(15) The conspiracy of Haman would have been a success had it not been for
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
B. The Providential Protection of the Nation
In some ways one hates to hear someone speak of "Providence." It is so impersonal, so vague that it could mean
almost anything from God's protection to the chance of "fate." It is usually used by people who seem to have
little conception of a real personal God (who knows us all by name), and implies the "power of God" more than
the God behind the power. But Providence is a perfect word for our present study. The "impersonal power"
concept of God was pretty well Israel's concept in this age and seems to have been the concept of the Dispersion
all along. It is well-suited to Israel's concept of God: a God they do not know; nevertheless, working on their
behalf to bring about the purposes of His own will.
(16) Look up the word "providence" in a Bible dictionary and write its meaning. ________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
(17) In light of your answer to question 16, why is the word "providence” a good word for our study?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
The story itself is written so realistically that it would be foolish to review it here. The Holy Spirit has
transmitted to us this wonderful event of history in such a way that we can relive it over again alongside of
Mordecai and Esther. We do, however, want to point your attention especially to the "Unseen God" working in
the background for the nation's good. There are ten acts of Providence plainly inferred, although not stated, in
the book.
1. The drunken and sensual excess of Ahasuerus (Esther 1:10) Providentially prepared the way for Esther to
become Queen.
2. Mordecai's own indecision to return to Palestine Providentially placed him in close proximity to the Palace
where he could be aware of all that was taking place (Esther 2:11).
3. Esther is Providentially favored by Hegai, the keeper of the women. Tutored and advised by him, she wins the
favor of Ahasuerus (Esther 2:9,15).
4. Mordecai Providentially hears of the plot on Ahasuerus’ life and is able to get word to the King through
Esther (Esther 2:21-23).
5. The King Providentially forgets to reward Mordecai for saving his life (Esther 6:3)
6. Esther is Providentially saved from death when she entered the inner court of the King's house (Esther 5:1-2).
7. Ahasuerus is Providentially kept from sleep and asks for the court records to be read (Esther 6:1-4).
8. Haman is Providentially the first person to enter the court on the next day and unknowingly plans his own
debasement (Esther 6:5-14).
9. Esther's counterplot Providentially achieved maximum advantage: She was able to hold the King in suspense
(Esther 5:6-8; 7:1-2). She achieved complete surprise which added to the King's anger (Esther 7:3-7).
Haman's thoughtlessness in falling upon the same couch with the Queen as he pleaded for his life sealed his
death sentence (Esther 7:8). Someone was there who knew about the gallows Haman had built for Mordecai
and suggested that Haman be hanged thereon (Esther 7:9).
10. Mordecai, so recently recognized, was Providentially exalted to power in time to give impetus to the King's
decree and gain for the Jews the support of local officials (Esther 9:3).
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Yes, Esther is the book of Providence. It is "God in the shadows," keeping watch and acting in behalf of His
own.
(18) The invisible God of Esther is "God in the ____________,” keeping watch and acting in behalf of His own.
(19) Esther is the book of ______________________________.
C. Historical Notes
Although the exact dating of Esther is still an open question, most authorities agree that the Ahasuerus of Esther
is the Xerxes of history (the word Ahasuerus being the Hebrew equivalent of Xerxes). Unger writes; "Xerxes
(486-465 B.C.), the son of Darius I the Great, is undoubtedly the Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther. The third
year of his reign in which he held a great feast and assembly at Shushan (Susa), the palace, corresponds
identically to the third year of the reign of Xerxes when he arranged the Grecian war. In the seventh year of his
reign Xerxes returned defeated from Greece and consoled himself in the pleasures of his palace. It was then that
Ahasuerus sought fair young virgins and replaced Vashti by marrying Esther. An important historical
inscription of Xerxes discovered at Persepolis lists the numerous subject nations over which he ruled, and fully
corroborates Esther 1:1 that he ruled from India to Ethiopia" (Unger’s Bible Dictionary, p. 31).
20) Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther is _______________of history.
(1) The story of Israel in dispersion is found in the Book of ______.
a. Ezra b. Ezekiel c. Esther
(2) In which book of Moses is recorded the prophecy of the dispersion or scattering of the Jews? _______
a. Exodus b. Deuteronomy c. Leviticus
True or False:
(3) The name of God appears only once in the Book of Esther. _____________
(4) Haman was a descendant of the Amalekites and of the family of King Agag. ______________
(5) Mordecai and Esther were descendants of Saul. ________________
(6) Satan has always wanted to destroy Israel because God then would not be able to fulfill His promises made
to Abraham and David. _______________
(7) God has rejected Israel because of their spiritual blindness. ___________
(8) The remnant in Palestine would not have been affected by the decree of King Ahasuerus. _________
Multiple choice:
(9) The King Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther is synonymous with the Persian governor known as ________.
a. Xerxes b. Artaxerxes c. Darius the Great
(10) Esther is the book of _______.
a. protection b. Providence c. prevention
syllabus. Each answer is worth 3.5 points.
True or False:
(1) Cyrus, the ruler of the Medo-Persian Empire, with his forces conquered Babylon in a single night in
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538 B.C. _________________
(2) The nations around Palestine before the Babylonian Captivity considered Jehovah as just one of the many
gods of the nations. ________________
(3) A major battle occurred at Carchemish in 605 B.C. It was here that Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated
Necho of Assyria, the other great world power at that time. ____________
(4) Cyrus resisted the return of the Jews to their Land. _____________
(5) Darius restored the crumbling Persian Kingdom and supported the building of the Temple under Ezra. ____
(6) Only the Book of Jeremiah deals explicitly with the period spent in Babylon by the captives. _______
(7) God's faithfulness depends upon man's obedience as exemplified by the nation of Israel. ___________
(8) How did Jewish religious life change during the Captivity?
(a)_____________________________________________________________________________________
(b)_____________________________________________________________________________________
Matching:
(9) _____ Manasseh a. constructed temple on Mount Gerizim where Samaritans worshiped until time
of Christ
(10) _____ Elijah b. humble shepherd from Tekoa (forewarned a temporarily strong Kingdom of
coming judgment)
(11) _____ Daniel c. last of the writing prophets who revealed neglect in tithing for temple support
(12) _____ Malachi d. writer of Lamentations (also known as "the weeping prophet"
(13) _____ Isaiah e. important prophetic writer who was taken captive to Babylon before Ezekiel
(14) _____ Jonah f. ministered to the Northern Kingdom (known for contest between Jehovah and
Baal on Mount Carmel)
(15) _____ Jeremiah g. prophecy of the fall of Nineveh is the only subject of his book
(16) _____ Nahum h. ministered to the Gentile city of Nineveh after he repented
(17) _____ Amos i. most prolific Old Testament writer and the herald of the Messiah
(18) _____ Haggai j. the prophet who encouraged the people to finish the construction of the Temple
Fill in the blanks:
(19) The name of the prophet who prophesied that the Captivity would last 70 years was _____________.
(20) The book which deals with Israel in her dispersion is _____________________.
(21) The remnant returned to Jerusalem in what year? _______________________
(22) Who refused the help of the inhabitants of Jerusalem upon return from captivity? ________________
(23) In what three ways did Sanballat attempt to stop the construction of the wall?
(a)____________________________________________________________________________________
(b)____________________________________________________________________________________
(c)____________________________________________________________________________________
(24) Which book of Moses prophesies of the dispersion of the Jews? _______________________
(25) The name of the non-writing prophet who beheld Elijah taken up in a whirlwind was _____________.
History: Part VI.” and give special attention to those areas of study that you do not completely understand.
Find the test in the Test Booklet titled, “Old Testament History: Part VI.” You may NOT use your notes or
Testament History: Parts IV, V, and VI.” The tests may be mailed individually, in groups, or altogether when
you finish the Unit. Please mail the tests in the way that is cheapest and most convenient for you.
ANSWER KEY: OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY – PART VI

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I. THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHETS
(1) false
(2) true
(4) b
(5) false
(6) Shemaiah
(7) an unnamed man from Judah
(8) Ahijah
(9) (a) prophet (b) recorder
(10) Azariah
(11) (a) Hanani (b) Word of God
(12) Jehu
(13) Elijah
(14) Micaiah
(15) Jahaziel
(16) Eliezer
(17) (a) Elisha (b) double portion of Elijah’s spirit
(18) Zechariah
(19) Huldah
(20) fourteen
(21) your own answer (you may have included the challenge to be steadfast and faithful when wrong seems so popular)
(22) true
(23) false
(24) (a) Joel (b) priest
(25) his writing
(26) Jonah
(27) d
(28) it was the capitol of the potential enemy of Israel
(29) Tekoa
(30) (a) Uzziah (b) Jeroboam II
(31) Hosea
(32) the adulterous wife of Jehovah
(33) mercy
(34) prolific
(35) (a) Uzziah (b) Jotham (c) Ahaz (d) Hezekiah
(36) sawn asunder
(37) (a) the Christ Harbinger (b) the Prince of the Prophets (c) the Evangelical Prophet
(38) Micah
(39) (a) Samaria (b) Judah
(40) he was thrown from a precipice
(41) Nahum
(42) (a) No-Amon (or) Thebes (b) Nineveh
(43) Babylonian
(44) the fall of Nineveh
(45) Zephaniah
(46) Josiah
(47) b
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(48) God must and will judge sin
(49) (a) Habakkuk (b) Levitical
(50) Josiah
(51) the holiness of Jehovah should be vindicated
(52) Jeremiah
(53) (a) Lamentations (b) weeping
(54) (a) Jehoiakim (b) Babylon
(55) traitor
(56) slime pit prison
(57) Babylon
(58) Egypt
(59) they persecuted him
(60) (a) Daniel (b) Ezekiel (c) Obadiah
(61) (a) first (b) youth
(62) (a) prime minister (b) prophet (c) statesman
(63) (a) the Gentile court (b) his people
(64) understanding the Book of Daniel
(65) (a) Ezekiel (b) priest
(66) Jehoiachin
(67) all Israel
(68) they will be united with Judah as one entity
(69) the Kingdom Age
(70) immediately following the final Babylonian conquest of Palestine
(71) a
(72) Petra
(73) true
(74) Haggai
(76) to rebuild the Temple
(77) Zechariah
(78) coming of the Messiah
(79) the rebuilding of the Temple
(80) Malachi
(81) Canon
(82) after Nehemiah's governorship
(83) (any three of the following) (a) the waning of religious zeal (b) the degeneration of personal piety
(c) foreign marriages (d) negligence in paying tithes
(84) 400
(85) c
(86) prophesy
(87) veracity
(88) Christ confirmed it
REVIEW
(1) b
(2) d
(3) e
(4) h
(5) g
(6) a
(7) c
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(8) f
(9) preached the message of God to His people
(10) fourteen
II. WORLD EMPIRES AND THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY
(1) non-Jewish (or) Gentile world
(2) extra-Biblical
(3) purposes
(4) as one of the many gods of the nations
(5) God is the most high God and He rules in the kingdoms of men
(6) 605 B.C.
(7) (a) Necho (b) Nebuchadnezzar
(8) the death of his father
(9) Josiah
(10) Hophra
(11) Jehoiakim
(12) Egypt
(13) builder
(15) Evil-merodach
(16) Jehoiachin
(17) he was assassinated
(18) c
(19) Jeremiah
(20) Belshazzar
(22) (a) Cyrus (b) Jeremiah
(24) 538 B.C.
(25) the return of the Jews to their land
(26) 70 years
(27) (a) Gobryas (b) Darius the Median
(29) Cambyses
(30) administration
(31) (a) suicide (b) Smerdis (or) Artaxerxes
(32) Darius Hystaspes (or) Darius the Persian
(33) (a) divided the Empire into satrapies (b) appointed judges with fixed circuits
(c) established a postal system with royal roads
(34) (a) Marathan
(b) It was the first step toward fulfillment of Daniel's prophecies concerning Greek ascendancy.
(35) (a) Xerxes (b) Ahasuerus
(36) b
(37) Artaxerxes Longimanus
(38) Nehemiah
(39) 424 B.C.
(40) Jesus Christ
(41) true
(42) (a) Ezra (b) Nehemiah
(44) it broke their spirit and caused national repentance
162
(45) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
(46) idolatry
(47) it was the capitol of idolatry
(48) Rome
(49) vaccinated
(50) the synagogue
(51) teacher (later called the rabbi)
(52) Aramaic
(53) synagogue
(54) the captive Jews were to settle down for a lengthy stay
(55) they themselves would thereby have peace
(56) (a) we are foreigners and sojourners (b) we should not become over-involved in its present
REVIEW
(1) true
(2) false
(3) a
(4) b
(5) b
(6) a
(7) c
(8) b
(9) (a) the synagogue was instituted (b) the teacher (Rabbi) replaced the priest
(c) the scribes appeared on the scene
(10) (a) we are foreigners and sojourners (b) we should not become over-involved in its presents
III. A REMNANT RETURNS
(1) 538 B.C.
(2) it permitted the captives to return to their own countries
(3) 42,360
(4) the return of the Israelites and even named Cyrus, the Persian prince
(5) that after 70 years of captivity, they would return
(6) (a) 535 B.C.
(b) 70
(7) the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy
(9) false
(10) true
(11) (a) Zerubbabel (b) Joshua (the high priest)
(12) (a) Idumaeans (b) Calebites (c) Samaritans
(13) intruders
(14) (a) they wanted to gain a position among them in order to control them later
(b) they were a threat to religious purity
(15) (a) they used harassment (b) they accused the Jews of rebellion in a letter to Cyrus
(16) (a) Haggai (b) Zechariah
(17) Tatmai
(18) 516 B.C.
(19) they became more concerned over honoring the Persian satrap than honoring God
(20) rebuking the pious hypocrisies of the people and the priests
(21) scribe in the Law of Moses
(22) (a) Jerusalem (b) 1500
(23) faith
163
(24) wisdom
(25) separation
(26) mixed
(27) they repented and then proceeded to right the wrongs they had done
(28) (a) they were enlisted in the army (b) they paid high taxes (c) the farmers lost their land
(29) cupbearer to the king
(30) it gave permission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem itself
(31) Daniel
(32) famous midnight ride of Nehemiah
(33) he divided the workers into battalions, giving each responsibility for a certain section of the wall
(34) Sanballat
(35) (a) he ridiculed the Jews who were working (b) he threatened them with military invasion
(c) he tried to have a conference with Nehemiah
(36) 52
(37) (a) they read the Law and examined it (b) they kept the Feast of Tabernacles
(38) (a) the restoration of the Temple order
(b) only the priest, who could prove his pedigree from Adam could serve
(39) Manasseh
(40) Malachi
(41) 400 years
(42) separation
(43) (a) light (b) darkness
(44) question of the heart
(45) your own answer
REVIEW
(1) 70 years
(2) b
(3) b
(4) (a) they wanted to gain a position among them in order to control them later
(b) they were a threat to religious purity
(5) (a) they used harassment (b) they accused the Jews of rebellion
(6) a
(7) c
(8) (a) Haggai (b) Zechariah
(9) (a) he ridiculed the Jews who were working on the wall (b) he threatened them with military invasion
(c) he tried to have a conference with Nehemiah
(10) Manasseh
IV. ISRAEL SCATTERED AND PEELED
(1) a
(2) a
(3) the prophecy of Moses concerning the destiny of the Jews outside of the Promised Land
(4) none
(5) rejected
(6) she is cast aside temporarily and in a state of spiritual blindness without faith, and unable to attain to a right
standing with God
(8) without Israel the promises of God are worthless and God would be proven unreliable
(9) (a) 1 (b) 3 (c) 6 (d) 4 (e) 2 (f) 5
(10) Amalekites
(11) Saul
164
(12) (a) judge (b) reckon crucified
(13) Saul
(14) (a) a wicked, selfish king (b) a wicked, proud prince (c) a group of troublemakers
(15) Providential interference
(16) the act of providing; exercising foresight. Divine guidance or care (your dictionary may word it slightly
differently)
(17) our study speaks of God's providing protection for the nation of Israel
(18) background
(19) Providence
(20) Xerxes
REVIEW
(1) c
(2) b
(3) false
(4) true
(5) true
(6) true
(7) false
(8) false
(9) a
(10) b
PRE-TEST
(1) true
(2) true
(3) false
(4) false
(5) true
(6) false
(7) false
(8) (choose any two of the following) (a) synagogue was the place for corporate worship
(b) teacher replaced the priest (c) the offering of sacrifice ceased (d) scribes appeared on the scene
(9) a
(10) f
(11) e
(12) c
(13) i
(14) h
(15) d
(16) g
(17) b
(18) j
(19) Jeremiah
(20) Esther
(21) 535 B.C.
(22) Zerubbabel
(23) (a) ridiculed those who were working on the wall (b) threatened the Jews with military invasion
(c) by attempting to have a conference with Nehemiah
(24) Deuteronomy
(25) Elisha
165
166

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Legacy International

Legacy International Bible College

Legacy International Bible College

AUTHOR Dr. Bill Shade

OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART I

* Outline the entire Bible into five divisions.

GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART I

REQUIRED SCRIPTURE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART I

(3) We accept the Creation account of Genesis by _____________.

A. The Account of Creation

1. Light The light shone out of darkness. Genesis 1: 3-5

2. Order a. The firmament (or expanse) divides the Genesis 1:6-19

3. Life a. Fishes and fowls Genesis 1: 20-31

C. God's Rest, the Sabbath

D. Man - God's Crowning Work

E. Spiritual Lessons from the Creation Narrative

(1) Modern geology is based on the doctrine of ______________________________.

III. FROM THE FALL OF MAN TO THE FLOOD (GENESIS 3-5)

A. The Deception . . .The Fall

2. The godly line of Seth

(15) The name "Seth" means _______________________________.

(1) Satan, in his temptation of Eve, implied that _______.

(11) Explain why:

(27) What was foreshadowed by the institution of the Sabbath? _______________________________________

PREPARE FOR THE TEST

I. INTRODUCTION TO OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY

GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART II

OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART II

(1) I have read Genesis 6 to 9. (date) _________________________

B. The Sons of Noah

(1) Ur was the city of _____________________________________.

(3) What have the archaeological findings indicated? (a) ____________________________________________

(6) I have read Genesis 11:1-23:20. (date) ____________________

PREPARE FOR THE TEST

II. THE NATIONS ARE DIVIDED

III. ABRAHAM, THE FRIEND OF GOD

GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART III

OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY PART III

I. HEIRS OF THE SAME PROMISE

I have read Genesis 24-50. (date) ________________

2. The life of Isaac and his wells

(11) Esau means ________________________________________.

(22) The ministry of Joseph is the ________________ step of his life.

(27) In the ninth step of his life Joseph is a type of _____.

(2) Genesis 15:13-14 is a prophecy that God gave to Abraham concerning______________________________

(10) The burning bush is a picture of ______.

No. Nature of Plague Egyptian god Description

(15) What was God's purpose of the plagues? ________________________________________________

(25) A clear picture of redemption is ______________________________________.

PREPARE FOR THE TEST

GLOSSARY FOR OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART IV

OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY: PART IV

1. The primary, historical interpretation

(3) What did Israel do after three days? ______________________

(6) God sent quail and manna because of _______.

(9) Amalek is a spiritual picture of _____________________________________________, always ready to

(11) Name three important events that occurred in the Sinai.

B. From Sinai to Kadesh-barnea

(16) The idea of sending spies came from ________.

C. From Kadesh-barnea to the Death of Moses

(Check your answers on page 85)

(11) the Paschal Lamb _______________________________________________________________________

I. FROM EGYPT TO CANAAN