Studies in the Old Testament. [microform] A year's course of twenty-five lessons, providing a daily scheme for personal study. Adapted also to class-work
Morgan, Charles Herbert, 1852-1937 | Taylor, Thomas Eddy
CANAAN", AS DIVIDED AMONG THE TWELVE TRIBES jgH^'agoH-ij' diboair -BoajMnU fafl^SW^^^^fc bimzoo ,-fBeero'tb,,, oAIv-^tSiaaU. y mutt "W- . j-IZBSipah. /JJiKUH.fl.IiEM B5a|:pffi&-c"zeidi>i^''^^ .11.0 1 V% ..^i*_.:.. ..... ' _ TlnrnloTifl^vflft /- /i -RoC n ;; . **' 'loKoa % %--<f I > ri i ^n-fErtS'O- ' * n* "* +T ^ ^>.Mnn,jshBiJ-<OG.eaDr<>-. N .nMO^^")fc ^ x|?ff^r----' i^^few*^,s.^ i " i ^ s -toriaAl2 r a.^Klt rHllI 4^^ >*"* vtir I '* *i.oi.iviiuu' v -y /A^U^s^-.f^J 3$""-< ^ A^V idl^w\' ^^.;vj STUDJES OLD A YEAR'S COURSE OP TWENTY-FIVE LESSONS, PROVID- ING A DAILY SCHEME FOR PERSONAL STUDY. ADAPTED ALSO TO CLASS-WORK. CHARLES HERBERT MORGAN, THOMAS EDDY TAYLOR. CINCINNATI: JENNINGS AND GRAHAM. NEW YORK: EATON AND MAINS. ; *. , ' f 1 C ) ( v < * f i '&*" OOPTEIGHT, 1905, BY JENNINGS & GOB AHAM. 767389 INTBODTJCTION. past hundred years have made a nobler, richer con- _ tribution to our knowledge of the Old Testament than the five centuries that immediately preceded. In that wonder- ful single century, the Orient, in which the Old Testament was originally written, has been subjected to an investigation of its buried cities, its long-lost languages, its varied literatures, its religions, its modern peoples with their tongues and faiths and customs and history, so rigorous, so patient, so scientific, that all the past history of human research has not its counterpart. The information thus assembled is in mass so great and in form so complex that decades must pass before it is all organized so that convincing generalizations may be made from it. That colossal task is in progress in many places, and in the hands of men whose special training matches their opportunity. Mean- while, this accumulation of knowledge of the Orient has afforded myriads of contributions to our understanding of the Old Testament in matters both small and great. Thousands of separate passages, scattered through the thirty-nine books, have found a resolution of their difficulties ; entire books that had long lain almost neglected have been restored to the inter- est of men, and large numbers of youth of high endowments who, at the beginning of the nineteenth century would have passed into the study of the great physical sciences, are now attracted to the pursuit of Old Testament criticism or exegesis, or history or archeology. They who have lived in the center of this vast and moving sea of organized effort during the most recent decenniums may well give thanks that it has been their high privilege to see, in the making, the splendid results of Old Testament literary and historical and textual criticism, of lexi- cography and geography and archaeology. But they well know that greater results are to follow ; that newer methods, now in their first testing, are yet to produce their results, and that the sifting of the accumulations will yield a harvest greater than their ingathering. To all these new methods and their results there has not yet arisen a popular instruction in any way corresponding to 3 Studies in the Old Testament. their interest or importance. The people are hungry enough to know more of their Scriptures, and to every effort to present any part of the new knowledge with enthusiasm and skill they rise with an eagerness almost pathetic. The Qhurch must arouse itself to a glorious opportunity ; its ministry and its lay teachers must learn the newer discoveries and again present a living Old Testament in a fresh and vigorous way. It has in its care an Old Testament not diminished but increased in glory ; a series of books not less but more obviously inspired of Almighty God; a revelation of the Holy Spirit's dealing with the race not less but more worthy of a conquering faith. To help onward this great purpose is this book written. I have read it in manuscript, and am happy to commend it. I know with what conscientious and scrupulous care every line of it was beaten out. I should have said more than it says here and there, but it has the right ring, and, as I firmly believe, the seeds of a propagating life are in it. If young men and women will only read it, work it out in their own thinking life, and teach it one to another with a contagious enthusiasm, we shall have to-morrow a new generation of young people more fit to teach in our Sunday schools the Word of God, the living Lord Jesus, and the apostolic witness to Him; for to these latter ends the Old Testament must ever remain indispensable. Yea, we shall also have a company of young men better fitted to begin a larger preparation for the ministry of the glorious gospel of the Son of God. ROBERT W. EOGBRS. Drew Theological Seminary, August 3, 1905. INS^^Sr^s SySr^J^ Studies in the Old Testament. their interest or importance. The people are hungry enough to know more of their Scriptures, and to every effort to present any part of the new knowledge with enthusiasm and skill they rise with an eagerness almost pathetic. The Church must arouse itself to a glorious opportunity ; its ministry and its lay teachers must learn the newer discoveries and again present a living Old Testament in a fresh and vigorous way. It has in its care an Old Testament not diminished but increased in glory ; a series of books not less but more obviously inspired of Almighty God ; a revelation of the Holy Spirit's dealing with the race not less but more worthy of a conquering faith. To help onward this great purpose is this book written. I have read it in manuscript, and am happy to commend it. I know with what conscientious and scrupulous care every line of it was beaten out. I should have said more than it says here and there, but it has the right ring, and, as I firmly believe, the seeds of a propagating life are in it. If young men and women will only read it, work it out in their own thinking life, and teach it one to another with a contagious enthusiasm, we shall have to-morrow a new generation of young people more fit to teach in our Sunday schools the Word of God, the living Lord Jesus, and the apostolic witness to Him, for to these latter ends the Old Testament must ever remain indispensable. Yea, we shall also have a company of young men better fitted to begin a larger preparation for the ministry of the glorious gospel of the Son of God. ROBERT W. BOGBES. Drew Theological Seminary, August 5, 1905. -i - ,, -_>_ OPENING SUGGESTIONS. THE present text-book is planned to cover the Old **'" Testament in a year's course of Studies. The treatment in. all parts must therefore be brief, but it is intended to be systematic, and, for the limits assigned, to give an orderly, comprehensive survey of the entire material. Large portions will be presented in summaries or outlines, but the readers or students will find themselves in con- stant touch with the Bible itself in the passages which are selected for daily reading. These embrace some of the most noble, attractive, and helpful portions of the Old Testament writings. Yet no one should suppose that the lessons are simply Narratives. outlines. After the passage of Scripture set to be read the First Day, the same as for the other days, the Nar- rative, or story, for each lesson is given. Into these twenty-five Narratives, each consisting of from eight hundred to a thousand words, are packed accounts of the several portions into which the Hebrew Bible divides the Old Testament, and the condensed knowledge about each separate book, and all the main events, characters, and features of Old Testament life. Whoever reads these Narratives will have a clear understanding and a fresh grasp of the entire Old Testament. It will be found that the main idea upon which the Ke * Idea * successive Parts and Studies are formed is that of the historical development and the biography of the leading characters. Yet, at the same time, the familiar arrange- ment of the Old Testament books can be closely followed, and the great divisions of the Hebrew literature clearly indicated. 5 6 Studies in the Old Testament. Purpose. it i s commonly understood that this field is filled with critical problems, but the very scope and aim of these Studies preclude and make unnecessary the attempt to solve these difficulties. The course is meant to serve the needs of the busy common people. It aims to be brief, simple, practical, and constructive, and so to present the life of this part of the Bible that it may kindle and nourish the spiritual life of the young people of to-day. search for ip^Q standard reference books for the course have Wtnm& Literature, been selected with the utmost care, and in the light de- rived from submitting a much larger list to the judgment of nearly a score of the most competent Biblical teachers and workers on both sides of the Atlantic, many of whom are themselves authors of important books relating to the Scriptures. Questions jf even some of these reference books are not followed ' 'in parts of the course, it is -because the authors of the text-book regard the questions involved as still open to revision by fresh facts and proofs which may arise from archaeology and other sources. The imposing construc- tions of a generation ago in the New Testament, which attempted to place nearly all its books in the second century, have yielded largely to the logic of facts, and the dates of those writings have swung back to the gen- eral period originally held. A similar change is possible with respect to the late date now given to some of the books of the Old Testament. While no effort is here made fully and finally to determine matters which are still in debate, extremes are sought to be avoided on either side. Light At the same time the best light available from every Welcomed. S01irce j s -welcomed, and the presence, in the list of ref- erence books, of several volumes that treat the Old Tes- tament history from the point of view of the current literary analysis, will be clearly understood. They appear to be among the best surveys of Hebrew history of recent Opening Suggestions. date, and with them are placed carefully selected books, some of them older and some recent, that present the other side in some of the debatable areas. It is intended that these Studies in the Old Testament Equipment. shall be complete in themselves, requiring little or no out- >side help. In fact the only book strictly needed for the course, beyond the text-book, is a copy of the Bible, pref- erably the American Eevised Version. This can. be ob- tained, entire Bible, minion, 24mo., without references, prepaid, 35 cents; 8vo., with references, prepaid, $1; Teacher's Bible, bourgeois, 8vo., Egyptian seal, divinity circuit, red-under-gold edges (No. 2172), prepaid, $2.20, and in other bindings at higher prices. This last has Bible dictionary, concordance, illustrations, and maps, and is especially recommended to leaders of classes. One or more good reference books will greatly assist both leaders and students. (Except the Hastings Bible Dictionary and the Bible Encyclo- paedia (which can be obtained only from the publishers), all books re- ferred to in this volume can be had of Jennings and Graham, Cincin- nati: Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco; or, Eaton and Mains:, New York, Boston. Pittsburg, Detroit.) Among these are the following, which compose the General list of books throughout the Studies, for standard and Relerenc * " general reference; and which will be referred to by the name or abbreviation that is placed first. Blaikie. A. Manual of Bible History. It .will be noted that 381 out of the 495 body pages of this admirable treatise are given to the Old Testament, thirty pages to the interval between the Old Testament and the New, and eighty-four to the New Testament. This concise and well- ordered survey embraces, therefore, the whole range of the Bible-study courses; written by a profound scholar, largely before the critical problems arose, and revised and .enlarged by him before his death. Newly issued, with a dozen fresh maps. Price, $1.50. Ottley. A Short History of the Hebrews to the Eoman 8 Studies in the Old Testament. Period. Valuable for its clear arrangement, extent of time covered, excellence of its maps and chronological tables, and generally reverent spirit, while accepting the critical positions. Price, $1.25 net- Barnicott. A Primer of Old Testament History. Temple Series of Bible Handbooks. Consists of a brief and well-composed narration of the entire course of Old Testament history, following closely the Bible itself. It is much to be regretted that it does not embody the dates, at least provisionally, of all the main events. But few are given, except those covering the reigns of the kings of Judah and Israel. Price, 30 cents net. Beardslee. Outlines of an Introduction to the Old Testament. A fresh, popular survey of the Old Testa- ment material, brief, lucid, and conservative. While broad in its examinations of and reference to critical lit- erature, it holds that the proposed reconstructions are, for the most part, not proved. Price, $1.20 net. Burney. Outlines of Old Testament Theology. Ox- ford Church Text-books. This compact little treatise, while throughout based upon the critical positions, is very suggestive in the order and breadth of its key ideas. Price, 30 cents net. Matheson (I) and (II). Representative Men of the Bible. It is delightful to place in the midst of the stand- ard reference books these two volumes of graphic esti- mates of Old Testament characters, composed of the charm- ing insights and soulful prayers of the sightless preacher of Edinburgh. Coming after three books of history and one each of introduction and theology, they form an in- terlude, before the books relating to special problems, single lives, and separate phases of the Old Testament are presented. Price, $1.75 per vol. But, beside Matheson's treatment of the men, may first appear two books briefly presenting the women of the Bible. Opening Suggestions. W. B. Women of the Bible, Eebekah to Priscilla. By H. Elvet Lewis, W. F. Adeney, George Milligan, and others. Price, $1. Brown. Nameless Women of the Bible. Price, 75 cents. Price. The Monuments and the Old Testament. An able portrayal of the progress and results of Oriental re- search as bearing on the Old Testament field. Price, $1.50. The following are for special phases, and separate books and lives: Davis. Genesis and Semitic Tradition. The author illumines the early narratives of Genesis by comparing the Biblical accounts with the traditions of other Semitic people, and showing how far the former are superior. Price, $1.50. Scott. Abraham. Bible-class Primers. The first mentioned in a list of compact, scholarly booklets, which can be consulted with much profit by the reader or student wishing more "full information on a character or period. Price, 20 cents net. Sayce (J. and L. E.). Joseph and the Land of Egypt. Temple Series of Bible Handbooks. Price, 30 cents net. Several of these fresh and attractive little volumes are strongly commended. In many respects this one is a model of the way in which all the new light coming from inves- tigation can be used to impart a vivid realism to the sim- ple Biblical story. Iverach. Moses. Bible-class Primers. Price, 20 cents net. Bennett. Joshua and the Palestinian 'Conquest. Temple Series of Bible Handbooks. Price, 30 cents net. Paterson. The Period of the Judges. Bible-class Primers. Price, 20 cents net. Salmond. Eli, Samuel, and Saul. Same as above. io Studies in the Old Testament. Sinker. Saul and the Else of the Hebrew Monarchy. Temple Series of Bible Handbooks. Price, 30 cents net. Knox-Little. David, the Hero King of Israel. Same as above. Winterbotham. Life and Reign of Solomon. Bible- class Primers. Price, 20 cents net. Walker. The Kings of Israel. Same as above. Given. The Kings of Ju'dah. Same as above. Davidson (E. and R.). The Exile and the Restora- tion. A brilliant and able book, perhaps the best in the entire series to which it belongs. Same as above. Skinner. Historical Connection Between the Old and [the New Testaments. Same as above. Damson (Psa.). The Praises of Israel. (The Psalms.) Davison (Wis. Lit.). The Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. These two volumes by a progressive, living thinker make clear what such a teacher and leader can do to sim- plify and open Bible treasures to the people. Price, $1 each. Ottley (H. P.). The Hebrew Prophets. Oxford Church Text-books. This little volume shows the author's power to grasp a large theme, and to compress the fruits of a wonderful era into small compass. Price, 30 cents net. Kirkpatrick. The Doctrine of the Prophets. A noble product of ripe scholarship, presenting in this wide field the findings of one who believes, to use his own words, that the prophets "were in very truth what they claimed to be, the inspired messengers of God." Price, $1.75. Maclntyre. Elijah and Elisha. Bible-class Primers. Price, 20 cents net. Driver (Isa.). Isaiah. Men of the Bible Series. Price, 75 cents. Bobson. Jeremiah the Prophet. Bible-class Primers. Price, 20 cents net. Opening Suggestions. n Harvey-Jellie. Ezekiel: His Life and Mission. Same as above. Deane. Daniel and the Age of the Exile. Men of the Bible Series. Price, 75 cents. Adams. The Minor Prophets. Bible-class Primers. Price, 20 cents net. A further or secondary list, to which some reference secondary is made, is composed chiefly of the following works, though R eferenCM still others are frequently named in footnotes or elsewhere : N. C. B. The New Century Bible. General Editor, W. F. Adeney. Price, per volume, 75 cents. . Dods. Genesis. The Expositor's Bible. .Price, $1.50. Driver (Gen.)'. Genesis. Westminster Commentaries. Price, $4. Murison (Eg.) History of Egypt. Bible-class Primers. , Price, 20 cents net. Sayce (Hon. Facts). Monument Facts and Higher Critical Fancies. Price, 75 cents. Rogers. A History of Babylonia and Assyria. Two volumes. Price, $5 per set. Murison (B. and A.). History of Babylonia and Assyria. Bible-class Primers. Price, 20 cents net. Johns. The Oldest Code of Laws in the World: The ode of Laws Promulgated by Hammurabi, King of Baby- lon. ' Price, 75 cents net. Davies. The Codes of Hammurabi and Moses. Price, 75 cents net. Robertson. The Poetry and Eeligion of the Psalms. Price, $3.50. Kent. The Wise Men of Israel. Price, $1.25. Davidson (Job). The Book of Job. The Cambridge Bible for Schools. Perhaps still the best commentary on Job that exists. Price, $1.25 net. Cobern. Ezekiel and Daniel. Price, $2. Hist. Geo. H. L. } or Smith. The Historical Geog- raphy of the Holy Land. George Adam Smith. A most inspiring book; by far the best in its class. Price, $4.50. 12 Studies in the Old Testament. Stewart. The Land of Israel. Price, $1.50. Calkin. Historical Geography of Bible Lands. Price, $1 net. MacCoun. The Holy Land in Geography and His- tory. Two volumes. Price, $2. Hurlbut. Bible Atlas: A Manual of Biblical Geog- raphy and History. Price, $1.50 net. Bib. Diet. Any good Bible dictionary. That by J. D. Davis is useful for one of moderate cost, and presents a conservative position in respect of every question. Price, $2 net. East. Bib. Diet. Dictionary of the Bible, edited by James Hastings. In general it embodies a high standard of reverent scholarship, and represents a moderate, med- iating position. Four regular volumes and extra volume. Charles Seribner's Sons. Sold, only by subscription. Bib. Ency. The Bible Encyclopaedia and Scriptural Dictionary, edited by Bishop Samuel Fallows. Three vol- umes. The Howard-Severance Company. Sold only by subscription. A. V., Authorized Version; E. V., Eevised Version; Am. V., American Eevised Version. (The last is used regularly for Scripture quotations in the text-book.) Reference Carefully selected reference library lists, made up from ra f es *the above list of books, with price for each set, will be sent on application by the Bureau of Bible Study, 57 Washington Street, Chicago, 111. sketch Maps As the chronological and map features of the Old Tes- 80 ' tament are much more varied than those of the New Testament, the three colored maps and chronological table in the text-book are supplemented by a number of sketch maps and charts, the whole affording a basis for many interesting individual and class exercises. It is strongly recommended that the suggestions for map work be car- ried out in notebook and class work as far as possible. Opening Suggestions. 13 Taking even the simple lessons of the text-book as a Old Testament background, and consulting with care one or more of the reference books, any student would gain most valuable results by writing a biography of some of the more im- portant Old Testament characters, or a story of one or more of the epochs of the history, and illustrating the same with maps, charts, and pictures. Joseph and the Land of Egypt, Moses, Joshua and the Conquest, Samuel, David, Daniel and the Exile, Nehemiah and the Eestoration, the Hebrew Prophets, afford a list from which a selection can be made. If any wish to arrange Scripture material in their note- scriptur* books, the passages for the daily readings for the course may be clipped from a thirty-five-cent copy of the American Eevised Version, using the titles of the Parts and Studies and the several days for each lesson as the framework. In submitting the results of that which has been an arduous, but delightful, task, we desire especially to ac- ment " knowledge our obligations for the encouragement and counsel from the beginning given in such fraternal fashion by Professor E. W. Eogers, of Drew Theological Seminary; for the reading of the work in manuscript and valuable suggestions by Professor F. C. Eiselen, of Garrett Biblical Institute; for the preparation of the postlude at the end of the Narra- tive in each Study by Dr. W. F. Anderson, Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Education and President of the Spiritual Culture Society; and for the most considerate response of professors and ministers in the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Congregational Churches, as an estimate was sought of the best reference literature for the course. LIST OF MAPS AND CHAETS. a. COLORED MAPS. MAP 1. THE TWELVE TRIBES, ... Frontispiece. PAGE MAP 2. JOUHNEYINGS OF ISRAEL, ----- facing . 4 MAP 8. ASSYRIAN AND BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITIES, - " 14 b. PHYSICAL SKETCH MAP. MAP L.  15. MAP 16. MAP 17. MAP 18. MAP 19. MAP 20. STELLAR UNIVERSE, PLAIN AND GARDEN OF EDEN, EARLY NATIONS AND PEOPLES, FROM BABYLONIA TO EGYPT, - FIELD oi/ UHE EXODUS, PLAIN GB* ESDRAELON AND NORTHWARD, CENTRAL PALESTINE, SAMTTEL TO DAVID, - PHILISTINES, SAMSON, DAVID, SAUL, KINGDOM OF DAVID AND SOLOMON, EARLY JERUSALEM, AFTER TIME OF SOLOMON, .... PERSIAN AND GREEK PERIODS, - JERUSALEM OF LATER OLD TESTAMENT, ASSYRIAN PERIL OF JERUSALEM, EASTERN BIBLICAL FIELD, - RIVALS FOR POSSESSION OF PALESTINE, PALESTINE TOWARD NEW TESTAMENT TIMES, 27 85 42 49 62 77 84 90 97 104 111 183 140 175 183 190 199 d. CHARTS. CHART A. PLAGE OF GENESIS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, CHART B. HEBREW MONARCHIES, CHART 0. HEBREW PROPHETS, - 14 44 120 163 LIST OF MAPS AND CHAETS. a. COLORED MAPS. MAP 1. THE TWELVE TRIBES, ... Frontispiece. MAP 2. JOURNEYINGS OF ISRAEL, .... MAP 8. ASSYRIAN AND BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITIES, lacing u PAGE 4 14 b. PHYSICAL SKETCH  15. MAP 16. MAP 17. MAP 18. MAP 19. MAP 20. C. SKETCH MAPS. STELLAR UNIVERSE, PLAIN AND GARDEN OF EDEN, EARLY NATIONS AND PEOPLES, FROM BABYLONIA TO EGYPT, ... FIELD 01- VHE EXODUS, PLAIN OB 1 ESDRAELON AND NORTHWARD, CENTRAL PALESTINE, SAKXTEL TO DAVID, - PHILISTINES, SAMSON, DAVID, SAUL, KINGDOM OB* DAVID AND SOLOMON, EARLY JERUSALEM, AFTER TIME OF SOLOMON, - ... PERSIAN AND GREEK PERIODS, - JERUSALEM OF LATER OLD TESTAMENT, ASSYRIAN PERIL OF JERUSALEM, EASTERN BIBLICAL FIELD, - ... RIVALS FOR POSSESSION OF PALESTINE, PALESTINE TOWARD NEW TESTAMENT TIMES, 27 85 42 49 62 77 84 90 97 104 111 183 140 175 183 100 199 d. CHARTS. CHART A. PLACE OF GENESIS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, CHART B. HEBREW MONARCHIES, CHART C. HEBREW PROPHETS, - 14 44 120 163 OUTLINE PARTS, STUDY TITLES, AND SCRIPTURE MATERIAL. Part I. IN THE BEGINNING. From not less than 7000-4000 B. 0. to 2500 B. 0. STUDY PAGE 1. CREATION OF THE WORLD AND MAN, - - 23 Gen. i, ii. 2. BEGINNINGS OF SIN AND EEDEMPTION, - - 31 Gen. iii. 3. FIRST NAMES IN THE EACE EECORD AND THE FLOOD, 38 Gen. iv xi, 9. part II. HEBEEW EACE FATHEES. From about 2500 B. G. to about 1300 B. 0. 4. ABRAHAM AND ISAAC, 45 Gen. xi, 10 xxviii, 9 ; xxxv, 27-29. 5. JACOB AND JOSEPH, 5 Gen. xxv, 191, 26. Part III. HEBEEW NATION FOUNDEES. From about 1300 B. C. to 1211 B. 0. 6. MOSES AND THE LAW, 58 Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 7. JOSHUA AND THE CONQUEST, - 66 Joshua. 15 16 Studies in the Old Testament. Part IV. HEBEEW NATION BUILDERS. From 1217 B. 0. to 1027 B. G. STUDY PAGE 8. THE EARLY JUDGES, - - - - -72 Judges, Ruth. 9. SAMUEL, 80 1 Sam. i xxv, 1. Part V. HEBREW NATIONAL LIFE. From 1027 B. G. to 4 B. C. 10. SAUL, 86 1 Sam. ix 2 Sam. i. 11. DAVID, 93 1 Sam. xvi xxxi ; 2 Sam. ; 1 Kings i ii, 12 ; 1 Chron. x xxix. 12. SOLOMON, 100 2 Sam. xii, 24, 25; 1 Kings i xi; 1 Chron. xxviii 2 Chron. ix. 13. REHOBOAM AND JEROBOAM, - ... 107 1 Kings xi, 26 xiv, 31 ; 2 Chron. ix, 31 xii. 14. THE NORTHERN KINGDOM TO ITS CLOSE, - - 114 1 Kings xiv, 20 2 Kings xvii. 15. THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM TO CAPTIVITY, - 121 1 Kings xiv, 312 Kings xxv, 21 ; 2 Chron. xii, 16 xxxvi, 21. 16. IN EXILE AND RESTORATION, TO 4 B. C., - 128 2 Kings xxv, 22-29 ; 2 Chron. xxxvi, 22, 23 ; Ezraj Nehemiah, Esther. Part HEBREW SINGERS AND WISDOM WRITERS. From about 1017 B. G. to about 250 B. G. 17. THE PSALMS, - - 136 Psalms. 18. PROVERBS AND SONG OF SOLOMON, - 144 Proverbs, Song of Solomon. 19. JOB AND EOCLESIASTES, 151 Job, Ecclesiastes. Outline. 17 part Til. HEBKEW PKOPHETS AND TEACHEES. From about 860 B. 0. to about 800  21. 21. AMOS AND HOSEA, 164 Amos, Hosea. 22. MICAH AND ISAIAH, 171 Micah, Isaiah. 23. JEREMIAH AND EZEKIEL, - ... 173 Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel. 24. DANIEL, 186 Daniel. 35. THE CLOSING LINE OP MINOR PROPHETS, - 194 (Amos, Hosea, Micah) ; Nahum, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah. PTOCSlCALSKETCttMAP **/ CENTRAL BIBLE LANDS C. H..MOB6AH CHRONOLOGY OB 1 THE OLD TESTAMENT. [Roman numeral indicates number of Study ; N, Narrative opening Study.] PART I. TJSSHER {Probably ^ not less than 7000-6000 I ^* B.C. 1 ] Deluge, III, N 5000-2500 2348 PART II. Age of Abraham, IV, N 2300-1700 2 1921 Descent of Israel into Egypt, V, N 2100-1500 3 1706 PART III: Exodus, VI, N 1400-1200 4 1491 "Wilderness Wandering, 40 years, VII, N, closing 1237 1451 Period of Conquest, Joshua, elders, 20 years, closing ...'. : 1217 s 46 yrs. 1405 1 "Warren Upham in the Bibliotheca Sacra, 1898, presents strong evidence to show that the ice sheets of the glacial era " disappeared from North America and Europe from 6,000 to 10,000 years ago;" and Professor Q. Frederick Wright, in the same journal, 1895, says: "All the evidence tends ... to prove that late glacial (or post-glacial) man . . . came down approximately to within some 10,000 years of our own times." Some would perhaps now even reduce these estimates. 2 As the era of Abraham is regarded by most scholars as contem- porary with that of Hammurabi, probably the best date is about 2250 B. G., although fresh light may flx the date more clearly. 8 The descent of Israel into Egypt is generally placed in the period of the Hyksos kings, which is viewed as extending from about 2098 B. O. to 1587 or 1630 B. O. Hast. Bib. Diet., I, 898; II, 771 ; Ottley, 807. 4 Sayce, Early History of the Hebrews, 161, in view of the allusion to the Israelites by Merenptah on his stele in 1276 B. 0., would make the date of the Exodus 1277 B. 0., and this meets with approval by Driver (Gen.), xxix; Ottley, 66. As Paterson makes the period of Joshua and the elders seventeen years, but others make it a somewhat longer time, twenty years would seem a reasonable figure. 19 2o Studies in the Old Testament. PART IV. trSSHEE Early Judges, Othniel Samson, VIII, N, 130 years, closing 1087 285 yrs. 1120 Eli, 40 years, IX, N 1087-1047 1181-1141 Samuel, 20 years, IX, N 1047-1027 1135-1095 PART V. Saul, 10 years, 6 X, N 1027-1017 40 yrs. 1095-1055 David, 40 years, XI, N 1017-977 1055-1015 Solomon, 40 years, XII, N 977-937 1015-975 Rehoboam, 17 years, XIII, N 937-920 975-957 Abijam, 8 years, XIII, N 920-917 957-955 Jeroboam, 22 years, XIII, N 937-915 975-954 Northern Kingdom, 215 years, XIV, K. 937-722 254 yrs. 975-721 Kings of Israel and dates of beginning of reigns : 7 Jeroboam 22 years 937 975 Nadab 2 " 915 954 . Baasha 24 " 914 953 Elah 2 " j S} 930 Zimri 7 days { fjj 929 Omri 12 years { gj 929 Ahab 22 " 875 918 Ahaziah 2 " 853 898 Joram 12 " 852 896 Jehu 28 " 842 886 Jehoahaz 16 " 815 856 Joash 17 " 798 841 Jeroboam II ....41 " 782 825 Zachariah 6 months 741 773 Shallum 1 month 741 772 Menahem 10 years 741 772 Pekahiah 2 " 737 761 Pekah 20 " 736 759 Hoshea 9 " 734 730 End of Northern Kingdom 722 721 6 Hast. Bib. Diet., 1,899. J Hast. Bib. Diet., 1, 401, column (/). Chronology. 21 TJ8SHER Southern Kingdom, 351 years, XV, N.... 937-586 887 yrs. 975-588 Kings of Judah and dates of beginning of reigns : 8 Rehoboam 17 years 937 975 Abijam 3 " 920 957 Asa 41 " 917 955 Jehoshaphat ....25 " 876 914 Jehoram 8 " 851 889 Ahaziah 1 " 843 885 Athaliah 6 " 842 884 Joash 40 " 836 878 Amaziah 29. " 796 838 Uzziah 52 " .: {*??} 81 Jotham ...16 " {*?$} 758 Ahaz 16 " 735 742 Hezekiah 29 " {*gj| 726 Manasseh 55 " j Sj 698 Amon 2 " 641 643 Josiah 31 " 639 641 Jehoahaz 3 months 608 610 Jehoiakim 11 years 608 610 Jehoiachin 3 months 597 599 Zedekiah 11 years 597 599 Destruction of Jerusalem 586 588 Exile and Restoration, XVI, 586-4 B. 0. Daniel and others taken to Babylon.. 606 607 Cyrus's decree for return from Baby- lon 538 536 Temple of Solomon destroyed 586 588 Temple of Zerubbabel dedicated 516 515 Interval in each case, about 70 years. Main deportations from Judah in 597 and 588. Return of 42,360 with Zerubbabel 537 or 536 536 Return of 1,000 with Ezra 458 457 Visits of Nehemiah to Jerusalem 445 & 433 445 & 434 Events of the Book of Esther occur between these last named dates. Persian period of Jewish history 537-333 Greek " " " 333-167 Maccabean " " " 167-63 Roman " " " 63-4 8 Hast. Bib. Diet., I, 401, column ( c ). * Indicates where reigns probably overlap because of a co-regency. The other cases in the lists of kings, where two dates are brack- 22 Studies in the Old Testament. PART VI. Psalms, written, XVII, N, from time of David onward. Proverbs, written, XVIII, N, " " " Solomon " Song of Solomon, written, XVIII, N, " " " Job, written, XIX, N, " " " Hezekiah " Ecclesiastes, written, XIX, N, " 400-250 PART vn. Prophetic period of Elijah, XX, N 860-852 " " Elisha, XX, N 852-797 " "Amos, XXI, N 755 " " " Hosea, XXI, N 750-735 " " " Micah, XXII, N .... 736-700 " " " Isaiah, XXII, N .... 738-698 " " " Jeremiah, XXIII, N.... 626-580 " " Ezekiel, XXIII, N, 593-570 Book of Lamentations, written, XXIII, N, 586-536 Eecorded life of Daniel, XXIV, N, and Fifth Day 606-535 Book of Daniel, written, XXIV, N, in time of Daniel or of the Maccabees. Nahum, written, XXV, N 664-607 Zephaniah, " " " 626-621 Habakkuk " " " 605 Haggai, " " " 520-516 TIpfhnrinh " " " fiSO-'ilfi / Jatter chapters Z/ecnanan, o/u-oio | perhaps later. Malachi, " " " 460-440 T__I it a 007 Qi7 for perhaps Joel d7-S17 | about 860. Obadiah, " " " 845 or 586 Jonah, date of life, " " 795-730 " " " book, " " 745 or, 400-300 eted, are at points where Assyrian and Hebrew history seem to require that some years be taken from the reign of one king and added to that of another, as ten years from Baasha added to Omri. In the Chart on Hebrew Monarchies, p. 120, of the text-book, the date of the beginning of Jotham's reign has been made 751 B. 0., as is implied in statement of Hast. Bib. Diet., 1, 402, and the closing reigns of the kingdom of Israel are modified to conform to Hast. Bib. Diet., I, 401, column (/), as given above. When it is remembered that exact chronology is a thing of modern times, the Biblical data for this difficult period are seen to yield remarkably favorable results. PART I. THE FIRST WEEK. CEEATION OF THE WOELD AND MAN. STUDY I First Day. Memory Verse, Gen. i, 1. Eead Psa. viii. Narrative. It is not possible to add to the completeness and power Qenesi* as Related the Bible. of the first verse of the Bible, "In the beginning God 1 ReIated to created the heavens and the earth." Genesis, of which the verse forms the opening sentence, not only stands as the first book of the Bible, but also as the first of the five Books of Moses. These are called the Pentateuch, which means "five books," or "fivefold volume." They were also together called by the Jews "The Law," which, with "The Prophets" and "The Writings," made up the Jewish or Old Testament Scriptures. The name "Genesis" comes from the Septuagint or Greek version of the Old Testa- ment, made about 250 B. C., in which the Greek for the Hebrew name has this form. As it means "origin" or "beginning," it is a very proper name for this book, which has been called "The Book of Beginnings." 1 A brief outline of Genesis is given under Second Day items in its in Studies I, IV. In addition, it may be stated, that, in a^j!^ ol general way, Genesis gives an account of the beginning of the world and mankind, of sin and redemption, of the Bedrdslee, 82; Ottley (H. P.), 1. 23 24 Studies in the Old Testament. Sabbath and of marriage, of the primitive family, com- munity, peoples, and the chosen race, of prayer and sac- rifice, of promise and prophecy, of language and the arts, and of civilization and history. When one considers how much it means to have light thrown on the origin of all these things, it will he clear that Genesis is one of the most remarkable books of the Bible. Opening For- The first two chapters of Genesis, covered by the pres- 'sctence! en * Study, are concerned chiefly with the creation of the world and of man. It can not properly be expected that the account of creation given here should be distinctly scientific, for the Bible is not a book of science, but of religion. Far less can it be demanded that the statements should embody the current conceptions of modern science, since these have greatly changed their form even within the past fifty years, and are still open to large modifica- tions. view of some All that can fairly be asked is that the Biblical account ers " shall be consistent with the assured results of science, while permitting it to be clothed in Oriental and Hebrew conceptions and terms. Many eminent geologists, such as Hugh Miller, James D. Dana, Guyot, and Dawson, with other scientists, have given their verdict that it is thus consistent. The following may be offered as bearing on this point: order in "In Genesis, first of all, creation is spoken of as 'in Creation. ^ beginning/ a period of indefinite, possibly of most remote distance in the past; secondly, the progress of the preparation of the earth's surface is described as gradually advancing from the rocks to the vegetable world, then gradually mounting up, through birds and mammals, till it culminates in man. This is the course of creation as popularly described in Genesis; and the rocks give their testimony, at least in the general, to the same order and progress/' 2 2 Bishop Browne, quoted In Blaikie, 18. In the Beginning. 25 The objections which have been raised to this view Parallel with appear to lose much if not all of their force when the Geolofify * Bible is treated as a book of religion, and is expected to give the broad outlines of the work of creation, and not, of necessity, the special distinctions of exact, modern sci- ence. Professor A. C. Zenos especially notes that the records of the creation, in geology and G-enesis, are par- allel; they move upon different planes, "but these two planes are parallel to one another. The geological ac- count is a nineteenth-century grouping of certain facts, with a view to satisfying a scientific need; the Genesis account is a pre-Christian presentation emphasizing the place of God in the origin of the world. Perfect corre- spondence between them does not exist. And yet a gen- eral similarity of order can not be denied." 3 As to the supreme value of the Biblical account of Ke y to Llfe ' creation, Professor Whitehouse says that "it furnishes us with the only key that can solve the dark riddle of life. It sets God above the great complex world-process, and yet closely linked with it, as a personal intelligence and will that rules victoriously and without a rival. As the supreme object of his creative energy, it sets man, fash- ioned in his Divine likeness, to be the ruler of created things. All else is secondary, and it is for scientific inves- tigation to determine the exact details of those interme- diate steps in the stupendous ascent whereby God's work advanced along the vistas of past time to the dawn of human existence. But without that clear and sublime attestation at the threshold of the inspired record of the personal source from which all has flowed, and of the unique worth and dignity of man, and his near Tcinship with that source, surely human life would have been far darker and more hopeless, and its deepest problems would have remained unsolved. Upon this basis, laid broad and clear in Genesis, the revelation of the New Covenant of 3 Bib. Ency., I, 463. 26 Studies in the Old Testament. Redemption in Christ Jesus rests. For the mediatorial work of Christ rests on the Fatherhood of the Creator of all things, and on the supreme worth of man, whom Jesus came to save/' * Purity of As bearing on the freedom of the Mosaic cosmology Revelation" f rom false elements as compared with all other ancient accounts of creation, the following statement of Professor Sayce may be noted : "The cosmology of Babylonia is thickly overgrown and intertwined with polytheistic, mythological, and even materialistic elements; in the cos- mology of Genesis these are all swept away, and in place of them the doctrine is proclaimed that there is but one God, the Creator of the whole universe." 6 "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." By His agency chaos gave way to systems, confusion to order. The Spirit of God works to this end always. His unfolding forms the progressive principle of history. He is the Organizer of civilization. He it is who makes the deserts of human life to "rejoice and blossom as the rose." STUDY I. Second Day. Memory Verse, Gen. i, 3. Read Gen. i, 1-8, 14-19. A very helpful idea, men- tioned by Davis, 14-20, is that a principle of grouping marks the narrative in this chapter, so as to distribute the work of creation into six days or periods, followed by the period of Divine rest, thus filling out the ideal of the week and the Sabbath. So the record of the fourth day is placed to be read along with that of the general creation and arrangement of the heavens and the earth before life began. 4 Hast. Bib. Diet., 1, 507. 5 Sayce (Mon. Facts), HO. See also Ottley, 7, 8 ; Burney, 92-04. In the Beginning. 27 Scripture Outline. First Division of Genesis. The Primeval Period, Gen. i xi, 26: (1) Generations of the heavens and the earth, Gen. i iv ; (2) Of Adam, v, 1 vi, 8 ; (3) Of Noah, vi, 9 ix, 29; (4) Of the sons of Noah, x, 1 xi, 9; (5) Of Shem, xi, 10-26. For Second Div., see Study IV. STUDY I. Third Day. Memory Verse, Psa. cxlv, 16. Eead Gen. i, 9-13, 20-25. In these few verses is indi- cated, in a marvelous way for a narrative produced so long ago, the whole development of life on the earth up to the point where man appears. Short as is the- account, it is wonderfully open to harmony with life development, heredity, environment, and other working ideas of mod- ern biology. Suggestions for Map Work. If any of the students or classes desire to make sim- ple diagrams, illustrating the possible nebular origin of MAP 4. STBLLAE the solar system, and the rock and life history of the earth, as given by astronomy and geology, let them know that 6 Diagram reproduced from Wallace, Man's Place in the Universe, 296. The sun's orbit is supposed to be located at the black spot marked S, toward the outer part of the central solar cluster; and the entire diagram shows a space which takes light 3,600 years to cross. 2.6 Studies in the Old Testament. Eedemption in Christ Jesus rests. For the mediatorial work of Christ rests on the Fatherhood of the Creator of all things, and on the supreme worth of man, whom Jesus came to save."* Purity of As bearing on the freedom of the Mosaic cosmology Revelation* ^ rom ^ se elements as compared with all other ancient accounts of creation, the following statement of Professor Sayce may be noted: "The cosmology of Babylonia is thickly overgrown and intertwined with polytheistic, mythological, and even materialistic elements; in the cos- mology of Genesis these are all swept away, and in place of them the doctrine is proclaimed that there is but one God, the Creator of the whole universe." 5 "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." By His agency chaos gave way to systems, confusion to order. The Spirit of God works to this end always. His unfolding forms the progressive principle of history. He is the Organizer of civilization. He it is who makes the deserts of human life to "rejoice and blossom as the rose." STUDY I. Second Day. Memory Verse, Gen. i, 3. Eead Gen. i, 1-8, 14-19. A very helpful idea, men- tioned by Davis, 14-20, is that a principle of grouping marks the narrative in this chapter, so as to distribute the work of creation into six days or periods, followed by the period of Divine rest, thus filling out the ideal of the week and the Sabbath. So the record of the fourth day is placed to be read along with that of the general creation and arrangement of the heavens and the earth before life began. 4 Hast. Bib. Diet., I, 507. BSayce (Mon. Facts), 110. See also Ottley, 7, 8; Burney, 92-94. In the Beginning. 27 Scripture Outline. First Division of Genesis. The Primeval Period, Gen. i xi, 26: (1) Generations of the heavens and the earth, Gen. i iv ; (2) Of Adam, v, 1 vi, 8 ; (3) Of Noah, vi, 9 ix, 29 ; (4) Of the sons of Noah, x, 1 xi, 9 ; (5) Of Shem, xi, 10-26. For Second Div., see Study IV. STUDY I. Third Day. Memory Verse, Psa. cxlv, 16. Eead Gen. i, 9-13, 20-25. In these few verses is indi- cated, in a marvelous way for a narrative produced so long ago, the whole development of life on the earth up to the point where man appears. Short as is the account, it is wonderfully open to harmony with life development, heredity, environm.ent, and other working ideas of mod- ern biology. Suggestions for Map Work. If any of the students or classes desire to make sim- ple diagrams, illustrating the possible nebular origin of MAP 4. STELLAH the solar system, and the rock and life history of the earth, as given by astronomy and geology, let them know that 6 Diagram reproduced from Wallace, Man's Place in the Universe, 296. The sun's orbit is supposed to be located at the black spot marked S, toward the outer part of the central solar cluster; and the entire diagram, shows a space which takes light 3,600 years to cross. 28 Studies in the Old Testament. nothing here forbids their efforts. Such methods in cre- ation, in so far as they are proved to be real, in the judg- ment of multitudes of Christian believers, only add to the wisdom and glory of God as Creator, and to the truth of this record in Genesis. STUDY I. Fourth Day. Memory Verse, Gen. i, 27. 