For a verse by verse word study click here Word Study

For notes on the Hebrew Bible click here Notes

For a glossary of Old Testament words click here Glossary Glossary Glossary

To study other biblical resources click here:

Commentaries Concordances Dictionaries

Encyclopedia Encyclopedia Lexicon

All of the above resources

For pictures of Biblical sites click here pictures.

Bible Atlas

How should we study the Bible? Contextually and Theologically.

What is the Old Testament? The Bible is a story about a family; this is why there are so many genealogies in it. But it is more than just a story of a family; it is a story of a “Covenant” that is made with a people by God.

What is a Covenant? A Covenant is more than a “contract.” It is a sacred kinship bond. A Covenant cannot be revoked; whereas a contract can. A covenant involves more than just a transfer of property; it is a transfer of people. A Covenant needs a mediator or priest, it involves worship (sacrifices and offerings) and a Temple, or the world in micro.

The Bible can be divided into 6 Covenants

1. Adam (mediator / priest / king) – Marriage covenant – animal sacrifice as a foreshadowing - the Earth is God’s temple and the Garden of Eden as the Holy of Holies.
2. Noah (mediator / priest) – Household covenant – animal sacrifices - the Ark is a type of Temple.
3. Abrahamic (mediator) – Tribal covenant – circumcision – no earthly Temple, just altars.
4. Mosaic / Deuteronomic – (Priests as mediator) – National covenant – sacrificial system - the portable Tabernacle is the Temple.
5. Davidic – (King as mediator) Kingdom covenant – the Temple is built.
6. Jesus – (King, Priest and Mediator) New Covenant a Universal Covenant – Substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus - we are the “Temple of the Holy Spirit.”

The Pentateuch

Sessions 1 - 4 Genesis / Exodus / Leviticus / Numbers / Deuteronomy

Handouts needed: Chronological Timeline Chart, Route of the Exodus, Encampment of 12 Tribes, The layout of the Tabernacle.

Outline of the Torah

Sessions 1 & 2 - Genesis

To view text click here Genesis (Beresheet) Hebrew - in The Beginning. Greek - Origin.

Chapters 1-11
6 days of Creation. The 7th day or Sabbath is a foreshadowing of total restoration and a Covenant.

Adam - Marriage to Eve his bride which is a foreshadowing of Jesus and his bride.

Original sin and the “Protoevangelium” (Gen.3:15) Woman’s Seed). The “first Adam” fails as husband and priest to “guard” Eve his bride and the garden and sins. The “2nd Adam” (I Cor.15:45-47) Jesus is tested in the Garden and obeys and guards and gives His life for His bride the Church. Adam and Jesus are both called the “Son of God” (Luke 3:38).

Seth
Noah – God gives humanity 120 years (Gen.6:3) to repent before the flood. Noah's 3 sons Ham, Shem and Japeth

The Tower of Babel

Shem, Terah, Abraham

Chapters 12-50 – The Patriarchs
Abram / Sarah – 3 promises made to Abraham by God (Gen.12:1-3) Land / Name change and a dynasty / World-wide blessing. It is through “Abraham’s seed Jesus” that God would bless the world (Gen.22:18, Gal.3:16, 17). Abra-ham means “Father of a multitude.”

Isaac / Rebekah – Abraham represents God the Father and Isaac is a type of Jesus in Chapter 22.

Jacob (Israel) / Rachel / Leah (12 sons / tribe) Jacob goes from being one who struggles against God, to one who gives into God, or God prevails.

Genesis 1-25: Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham.

Genesis chapters 26-50: Isaac, Esau, Jacob (Israel) and his 12 sons Chapter 49.

Other outlines:

Genesis 1-11

Genesis 12-50

For other outlines of Genesis click on any of the following:

Bible.org

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Hebrew Bible

Session 3 - Exodus

Handouts needed: Route of the Exodus, Encampment of the 12 Tribes of Israel, The layout of the Tabernacle.

To view text click here Exodus (Shemot) Hebrew - these are the Names. Greek - Departure.

Chapters 1-34
The 12 tribes of Israel end up living in Egypt as a result of Joseph. It was prophesied to Abraham that his family would end up in Egypt for 400 years (Gen.15:13).

Moses, Exodus and the Passover. Israel was called “God’s Firstborn Son” (Ex.4:22) which all inheritance went to him.

Moses and the Passover represent a type of Jesus.

The 10 Plagues represented sacred animals and deities or gods of the Egyptians.

At Mount Sinai Israel is called to be a “Kingdom of Priests” (Ex.19:6, I Peter 2:9).
The 10 commandments are given.

Mount Sinai

The Golden Calf incident (Exodus 32). Why were the sacrificial laws added? Israel sins and God institutes sacrifices as a reminder and a renunciation of their idolatry (Gal.3:19, 24, Heb.7:12). Cattle, Sheep and Goats were Egyptian deities. The Tribe of Levi took a stand for God and are substituted as the role of the firstborn and priestly position of the fathers and the firstborn. They stay at Sinai for 1 year.

Chapters 35-40 other requirements and the Tabernacle.

For a look at what the first Tabernacle would have looked like click on the following:

Wilderness Tabernacle Egyptology

For other outlines of Exodus click on the following outlines:

Bible.org

Choose a book

hope.edu

Hebrew Bible

Session 4 - Leviticus / Numbers / Deuteronomy

To view text click here Leviticus
(Written after Exodus 32)
Chapters 1-16 “Priestly Code” guidelines.
Chapters 17-27 “Holiness Code” what to teach the 12 tribes.

(Vayyikra) Hebrew - and the Lord Called. Greek - Levites.
Chapters 1-7 Various Offerings. Chapters 8-10 Aaron and his sons are consecrated.
Chapters 11-15 Clean and Unclean. Chapter 16, 17 the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
Chapter 17-23 Laws of holiness and justice. Appointed "Feasts of the Lord". To learn more about the "Feasts of the Lord" and it's connection to and fulfillment in Christianity click on the following sites:Christian Jewish Jewish Festivals 7 Feasts of Messiah Ariel Awareness DCCSA Feasts Feasts.

Chapter 24-27 Tabernacle Worship.

Different Kinds of offerings: Burnt, Thanksgiving, Grain or Meal, Peace, Trespass or Reparation, Sin and Guilt, Tithes and Vows, Purification, Firstfruit, Day of Atonement, Passover and Pentecost offerings.

3 Basic Types: Large Animal (Bull, Heafer, Lamb, Goat), birds, flour / grain

8 Categories: sin, burnt, guilt, peace, thanksgiving, firstborn, tithe, various feasts

Why all the offerings? (Gal.3:19) They were added as a result of sin and idolatry on the part of Israel. Each time they would sacrifice an animal it was a renunciation of their idolatry, it was never able to atone for sin. They were a "foreshadowing" and "type and symbol" of what was to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Read Hebrews chapters 8, 9, 10. We are under a "better covenant."

For other outlines of Leviticus click on the following outlines:

Bible.org

Choose a book

Leviticus and Numbers hope.edu

Hebrew Bible

To view text click here Numbers (Bemidbar) Hebrew - in the Wilderness.

Greek - numbering the children of Israel.

Chapters 11-21 - 40 years of wandering based on 40 days of evaluating Canaan. Kadesh Barnea – place of separation or decision.

Chapters 22-36 - on the fringe or eastern side of Cannan at Jericho. Failed test at Moab (Numbers 25) and then another numbering (Numbers 26). Phineas, Aaron’s son, is the chosen Levitical line.

Chapters 1-4 Census taken, Duties of the Levites.

Chapter 5-dealing with sins.

Chapter 6 vows and Priestly blessing.

Chapter 7 offerings for the Tabernacle.

Chapter 8 the menorahs, Levites dedication.

Chapter 9 Passover.

Chapter 10 leaving the Sinai.

Chapter 11 God sends quail.

Chapter 12 Miriam judged.

Chapter 13 Spies sent to Canaan.

Chapter 14 Israel is punished.

Chapter 15 offerings, Talet.

Chapter 16 Korah’s rebellion.

Chapter 17 Aaron’s rod buds.

Chapter 18 tribe of Levi’s responsibilities.

Chapter 19 clean and unclean.

Chapter 20 God judges Moses and Aaron.

Chapter 21 the bronze serpent.

Chapter 22-24 Balaam.

Chapter 26 Second census.

Chapter 27 law of inheritance, Joshua named successor.

Chapter 28 offerings.

Chapter 29 Feast of Trumpets.

Chapter 30 vows.

Chapter 31 War with Midianites.

Chapter 33 Israel’s 42 travels.

Chapter 34 borders of Canaan and land divided among the 12 tribes.

Chapter 35 Cities for Levites and refuge.

For other outlines of Numbers click on the following outlines:

Bible.org

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Hebrew Bible

To view text click here Deuteronomy (Davarim) Hebrew - these are the Words.

Greek - Deutero-nomos – Second Law.

Temporary Covenant. Describes Israel as a rebellious firstborn son with warnings. (29:1-) Made on the plains of Moab in addition to the Sinai Covenant. Added instructions on how to deal with gentile nations and how to conduct themselves in Canaan. Added instructions on how to sacrifice. Mounts Gerazim and Ebal: Blessings for obedience and Curses for disobedience (27-30). Exile as the ultimate curse in order to bring them back to God. (30) Prophecy of a New Covenant. As a result of Moses’ disobedience he is not allowed to enter the Land but only view it from Mount Pisgah. His closing words to the 12 tribes are found in Chapter 33.

Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal

This was the covenant made with those who were not adults during the incidence with the Golden Calf and unbelief of the Canaan spys.

Moses’ final words after 40 years of travel and 2 months before they entered Canaan.

Chapter 1- 4 Review of their 40 years of travel.

Chapter 5 - 11, chapter 6 the Shema.

Chapters 7-11 Review of parts of the Torah and their past responses over 40 years.

Chapters 12 - 26 Guidelines when you possess the promised land.

Chapter 27, 28 Blessings and curses.

Chapter 29, 30 Renewal of the Covenant.

Chapter 31 Joshua anointed.

Chapter 32 - 34 Moses’ final words, blessing and death.

For other outlines of Deuteronony click on the following outlines:

Bible.org

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hope.edu

Hebrew Bible

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