Genesis1-11
There are two creation stories, it covers the fall of man and establishes the human divine barrier. The first covenant with Noah and the flood. Also the tower of Babel.
Genesis 12-22
The call of Abraham (Then Abram) and his migration to Canaan. The covenant- Offspring, land, and becoming a great nation. Sign of the covenant-circumcision. Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah showing what happens when people disobey God. And the testing of Abraham when he almost Sacrifices Isaac.
Genesis 25-36
Abrahams death and his descendants through Isaac: Esau and Jacob (focuses on Jacob). Rebekah helps Jacob steal Isaacs blessing from Esau. Jacob flees and then dreams of a ladder to heaven. Jacob struggles with an angel for an entire night and then is renamed "Israel" Jacob then marries Leah and Rachel. Jacob and Esau forgive each other when they meet.
Genesis 37-50
This is the life of Joseph from his sale into slavery to his interpretations of dreams for the Pharaoh and the subsequent famine that reunited him with his brothers. He forgives them. Then he dies and makes people promise to return his body to Canaan at some time.
Exodus
The major theme of the last 1/3 of Exodus is the importance of holiness and maintaining the human/divine barrier. This is shown through the detailed description of how to build the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among the people. The regulations regarding the importance of the Levites, the Priestly tribe, are also emphasized. Most importantly, God's holiness is revered. Part of the covenant obligation between God and the Israelites, at least according to the Priestly source, is to respect the nature and power of God.
Leviticus
Giving of the laws and instructions to the Israelites. How to maintain a relationship with God, including laws on tabernacle maintenance, priests (sacrifices), Sexual practices and dietary laws
Numbers
Israels wilderness wanderings and rebellions against God and Moses. Result of Rebellions-God replaced the 1st generation with second. Rebellions:a. Joshua/calebb. Moses and Miriam-Miriam spoke against Moses' Ethiopian bridec. Fiery serpentsd. Phineas- People are banging in the tabernacle and Phineas kills them
Deuteronomy
Moses farewell speech-repeats the law. Name of Deuteronomy means repeated law. Shows where Israel has been and what they have done and what they have to do in the future to maintain their covenant. This is where you can find the Shema-greatest commandment. Then Moses dies.
Joshua
God keeping the covenant promise to Abraham by giving the Israelites land of their own. Joshua takes Jericho and defeats 35 kings, seizing of Ai.
Judges
Judges Cycle- Israel sins, God sends oppressors, people cry out God delivers a deliverer and there is peace for a while.• Ehud-important because he is left handed so he could sneak a weapon into the palace• Deborah- Woman predicts that oppressors will fall into the hands of a woman -Jael (tent stake) inviting/seductive
1 Samuel
God calls Samuel, Samuel replies, "speak for your servant is listening." Israel rejects God by asking Samuel for a king. David defeats Goliath, Saul loses Gods favor after performing a ritual without a priest.
2 Samuel
Saul is dead but his second in command, Abner, rises up against David. Then Abner changes sides and helps David reunite Israel. David commits adultery with Bathsheba then sends her husband to his death. After that there is another conflict with Absalom that runs David out of Jerusalem. But then David regains power and is fair to the defeated military.
1 Kings
David Is dead. Solomon is a very wise man but has a weakness the ladies. He builds and consecrates the temple but then he strays away from God into idol worship. Solomons death gave rise to a bunch of awful kings who did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Elijah the prophet tries to save Israel but the evil ruler Jezebel tried to kill him.
2 Kings
The downfall of the divided kingdoms. This shows that the lord is not afraid to judge or punish his people when they do evil. This also shows that what the prophets predict comes true. And this also shows that the lord is faithful to the covenant because he didn't bring Davids family to an end.
Jeremiah
God sends Jeremiah to spread the word of Israels impending exile and they fall to the Babylonians.
Isaiah
He had a vision of God in a temple but God was so large that only a small fraction of his robes filled the building. A seraphim came over to Isaiah and touches his lips with a burning coal to take away sinfulness and guilt.Then the lord commissions him to spread his work to the people of Earth. Very good example of Prophetic Call Narrative.
12 Minor Prophets
These minor prophets were sent to warn humanity of their sinful ways and that God was going to punish them.
Jonah
Flees from the Lord but then gets eaten by a large fish (not a whale) and eventually turns back to God and he warns the people of Nineveh about their impending doom. the Ninevites quickly shaped up and Jonah was mad at God for not punishing their sins. The Lord grew a plant and used it as a teaching opportunity to show Jonah that he should care more about the people. Shows Gods compassion.