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GENESIS:
Greek, meaning 'generation' or 'creation'. The Hebrew title is Bereshith, which
means 'in beginning', which shows that this book is the book of all beginnings.
EXODUS:
Greek, meaning 'The way out' or 'going out'. The Hebrew title is Velleh Shemot
which means 'these are the names’. It is the book of redemption: Ex. 6:6,
15:13, hence the work
of
redemption is called "exodus" in Luke 9:31. (decease = exodus).
LEVITICUS:
Latin for 'pertaining to Levi'. The Hebrew title is Vayyika, from the first
words "And he called". The book relates to worship, for only those
whom God CALLS does he seek to worship Him, John 4:23, Ps.65:4. All the types in
Lev. relate to worship, while all the types in Ex. relate to redemption.
NUMBERS:
So named because the book seems to relate to the numbering of the people though
this is only a small part of the book (ch 1-3 and 26.) The Hebrew title is
Bemidba which means 'in the wilderness', because it records what took place
there.
DEUTERONOMY:
Greek for 'second law' (17:18) The Hebrew title is Haddebarim, which means 'the
words'. The history of the book of Deut. took place in the 11th month of the 40
year.
JOSHUA:
Greek for 'Jesus'. The Hebrew title is Jehoshua, which means 'Jehovah our
Saviour'. The great subject is the Land to be inherited, while all the preceding
books are about the People.
JUDGES:
The Greek title is Kritai. The Hebrew title is Shophetim, which means 'Rulers’
from the verb 'to put right', and then 'to rule'. The book records the history
of 13 judges, 12 called of God and one usurper. The book of Joshua is about the
inheritance possessed, while the book of Judges is about the inheritance
despised, and brings out the faithlessness of the people, and the faithfulness
of Jehovah.
RUTH:
The Hebrew title means 'Beauty'. The book shows the link in Christ's genealogy
between David and Christ.
1
AND 2 SAMUEL:
Really one book, or scroll. The Hebrew title is Shemuel, which means 'asked of
God', or 'God heard'. The books of Samuel and Kings view the history of Israel
exoterically, while in Chronicles views the history esoterically (from the
heavenly, or Divine) view.
1
AND 2 KINGS:
One book, or scroll, giving the history of Israel.
1
AND 2 CHRONICLES:
One book, or scroll. The Hebrew title is Dibrei Hayyamum, which means 'words of
the days'. The English title comes from the Latin 'Chronicum'. Chronicles
details
the
conclusion to the O.T. kingdom, and from that point the long wait for the
Messiah begins.
Chronicles
deals with Judah, and gives the histories of both houses from the Divine view
giving
reasons for the judgments and mercies.
EZRA
AND NEHEMIAH:
in the Hebrew these are one book. Ezra is more about the Temple
while
Nehemiah is more about the Wall and City.
ESTHER:
Her name means Star, although it could also mean 'to hide, because her
nationality
was
hidden (1:10)
JOB:
the object of this book is to show "the end of the Lord" James 5:11,
i.e. the end to which
Job
was brought: 40:4,5, 42:5,6. Job confessed his human impotence in attaining
righteousness,
and thankfully casting himself on Divine omnipotence for his salvation.
PSALMS:
There are five books in the Hebrew: Book 1: 1-41, Book 2: 42-72, Book 3: 73-8!
Book
4: 90-106, Book 5: 107-150.
PROVERBS:
The Hebrew title is Mishlai. Mishlai is from 'mashal' which means 'to rule
Gen.
1:18, 3:16. Hence applied to words which
are to rule and govern life. Not a collection of
human
wisdom, but of Divine rules from heaven for earth.
ECCLESIASTES:
Hebrew title is Koheleth, which means Assembler, or. Convener. Wisdom
personified.
Written by Solomon.
SONG
OF SOLOMON:
The Hebrew title is Shir Hashirim, which means Song of Songs. It means
the most beautiful, or most excellent song. It is a poem which tells a story
with seven characters.
ISAIAH:
the name means "The Salvation of Jehovah'. The Hebrew title means “The
vision of Isaiah".
JEREMIAH:
The Hebrew title is Virmeyahu, which means Whom Jehovah raises up, or. Who
Jehovah launches forth. It holds 51 prophecies over 40 years.
LAMENTATIONS:
Five elegies about the destruction of Jerusalem.
EZEKIEL:
The Hebrew title is Yehezk-el, which means El is strong, or El strengthens.
Ezekiel was a priest, carried to Babylon 11 years before Jerusalem fell. He was
married and his wife died in the year of the City’s siege.
DANIEL:
The name means 'God my Judge'. He was a contemporary of Ezekiel and of the seed
royal of Judah, and about 16 years old. Daniel went to Babylon, while Ezekiel
was in the outer part of the great city, with the captives, in Babylonia.
HOSEA:
the name means Salvation. Greek = Hoshea. Prophet to the ten tribes. He worked
for about 76 years.
JOEL:
The name means 'Jehovah is God". The Hebrew title is 'The Word of the
Lord'. Joel was sent to guilty Judah, and he relates his words to the end of
Judah.
AMOS:
The name means 'Burden'. The Hebrew title is 'The words of Amos', though verse 3
shows that they were Jehovah's words. Written two years before the earthquake.
OBADIAH:
The name means 'The servant of Jehovah'. The book is about the destruction of
Edom.
JONAH:
The name means 'a dove'. Also named in 2 Kings 14:25. He was sent to the capital
of the up and rising Assyrian empire, Nineveh. He knew they were being raised up
to destroy his own people Israel, so he fled, to avoid preaching repentance to
them, hoping that God would judge Assyria first.
MICAH:
The name means 'Who is like Jehovah'. He spoke against Samaria and Jerusalem,
and foretold great blessings for Israel.
NAHUM:
The name means ‘the compassionate’, or, ‘the consoler’. 1:11 could refer
to Rab-Shakeh, who was sent by Sennacherib in 603 BC to slander Jehovah (2 Kings
18: 26-28.) Nahum’s book seems to be a concise reply to Sennacherib. Jonah
went to Nineveh some 87 years before Nahum's words here (if in fact Nahum is
addressed to Assyria in Zedekiah's time.)
HABAKKUK:
The name means 'love's embrace'. He lived in evil days, and was perplexed by the
silence and forbearance of a holy God in permitting evil to continue. He utters
several cries, and is answered each time. Ch. 3 is a prayer based on the Psalm
model, covering Israel's history from Mt. Sinai (v3) to his own time.
ZEPHANIAH:
The name means ‘hidden of Jehovah' or, 'he whom Jehovah has hidden'. See the
connection in 2:3. He worked before Nineveh fell, 515 BC (or 625) and foretold
Assyria's fall, 2:13. He was a contemporary of Josiah king of Judah, and
Jeremiah.
HAGGAI:
The name means 'festive', from the Hebrew 'Hag, which means 'feast', or
'festival'. Four distinct messages: 1:1-11, 2:1-9, 2:10-19, 2:20-23. He worked
inside Persia, and spoke to the royal house of David and to the priests. He
foretold another Zerubabel, the Messiah, 2:23.
ZECHARIAH:
The name means 'Remembered of Jehovah'. He worked, like Haggai, inside Persia,
while Darius was king.
MALACHI: The name means 'My messenger'. The last word of God in the O.T. with a 400 year wait until Messiah comes. He speaks against the ceremonial formalism and hypocrisy, and corruption (1:7,8, 3:8, etc) and so did the Messiah. There are 5 messengers in this book: (1) Malachi himself, (2) the true Priest 2:7, (3) John the baptizer 3:1 (4) the Messiah Himself 3:1 - 3, (5) Elijah 4:5.