Module 3: Historical Books

Hi everyone, and welcome to the third module for the Old Testament survey course. In this section, we'll be working through the Historical Books of the Old Testament.

Below you will find links to all the study material for this module.

Module Objectives & Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Place the Major OT people, events and books of the Historical Books in a general chronology
  • Explain the main message(s), organization, theme(s), and/or character(s) of the Historical Books.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the character of God as revealed through His revelation in the history and literature of the Historical Books.
  • Consider how God’s revelation through the Historical Books applies in the student’s life and ministry.

Instruction Documents

In this section, you'll find links to the instruction documents for this module. There is an instruction document for an individual student studying on their own. And there is an instruction document for students working through this material with a group. Click the links below to access those documents.

Bible/Textbook Reading

In this section, you'll find links to the list of required Bible and textbook reading for this module. The student should read the assigned Bible portions and respond according to the instructions contained in the Bible Response Reflection or Discussion documents found below. The student may read the assigned portions of the Textbook before the lectures, or they may wait and read them after the lectures to serve as review, and to fill in any additional information the student may wish to know. Click the link below to access this document.

Bible Response Reflection Journal/Discussion

The student will choose one or more portions from the assigned Bible reading for this module and write a journal and/or discuss with their group based on that Bible passage. As you read from the Old Testament, let it be a devotional experience. Detailed instructions for this activity are given below. Click the link to see the instructions for individual journaling or the instructions for group discussion.

Lecture Videos

In this section, you will find the video lectures for the Historical Books module. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Before each video, there is a link to a study guide for that lecture and a link to blank, fill-in notes for that lecture. Click each banner to open access to each video. There is also a link with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface. In addition, there is a link to download the audio from the presentation for offline review. And after most of the lectures, there is a link to a summary sheet for the Bible book(s) covered in that lecture. Click each link to access those documents.

Intro to the Historical Books

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17: Intro to the Historical Books
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Joshua

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18: Joshua
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Judges

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19: Judges
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Ruth

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20: Ruth
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First Samuel

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21: First Samuel
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Second Samuel

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22: Second Samuel
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First & Second Kings

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23: 1 & 2 Kings
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First & Second Chronicles

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24: 1 & 2 Chronicles
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Ezra & Nehemiah

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25: Ezra & Nehemiah
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Esther

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26: Esther
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Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 3. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the banner to begin the slide show.

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Review Slideshow
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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

It is highly recommended that the student recite these reviews out loud as an aid to memory. Some memory aids and tricks were mentioned in the Lectures for some of the summaries (e.g. SCRuB). The student should also brainstorm any shorthand memory aids to help them commit these review summaries to memory. The student should not just attempt to memorize the summaries, but also to use the summaries as a framework to understand and retain the nature and content of the Old Testament.

Course Material Response Reflection

The Student will choose one or more items from either the Video Lectures or the Course Textbook which stood out as personally significant to them. The student will then reflect and write on the item(s); how it/they challenged or added to their current understanding, and how their worldview, life, and/or ministry should be affected by their new understanding.

Detailed instructions for this activity can be found by clicking the link below:

Timeline - Step Three

The student will research and present an Old Testament Timeline in seven steps over the course of all seven modules.

Step Three of the Timeline should include the following information:

  • The events, characters, and Bible books for each of the Historical Books.
  • These should be appropriately placed in the historical epochs as displayed in the first step of this project.

If you are working through this material in a group, the group leader may choose for the Timeline to be constructed as a group activity during the group meeting time.

Detailed instructions for this activity can be found by clicking the link below:

Review Quiz

This section contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 3. By clicking the banner, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the banner to begin the quiz.

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Quiz for Module 3
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Review Quiz for Module 3

Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


Which of these is NOT a section of the books of Kings?

Judah Alone

Sorry, see Lecture 23

Solomon

Sorry, see Lecture 23

David

Correct

Divided Kingdom

Sorry, see Lecture 23
Which word best summarizes the Books of Samuel?

Temple


Providence


Apostasy


Monarchy


Conquest


Divided


Return


Joshua defeated every city the Israelites encountered.

True

Sorry, they did not conquer Gibea, because of the Gibeonite deception, see Lecture 18

False

Well done
The book of Joshua purposely makes clear that Joshua is God's chosen leader, just like Moses had been.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 18
Who was the leader of the third return from Babylon?

Zerubbabel

Sorry, see Lecture 25

Ezra

Sorry, see Lecture 25

Nehemiah

Well Done
Which occurred LAST in history?

The ministry of Ezra

Good Job

The Kingdom divided


David vs. Goliath


The Northern Kingdom taken into exile


The ministry of Elijah


The first temple was built


Which of these is NOT one of the items always mentioned in the cycles of Kings?

Introductory Sentences

Sorry, see Lecture 23

Death and Succesor Account

Sorry, see Lecture 23

Prophetic Advisor

Good Job

Bibliographic Reference

Sorry, see Lecture 23

Evaluative Sentences

Sorry, see Lecture 23
Which best describes the experience of Israel at the end of Old Testament history?

They are chastened by the exile, they struggle to be faithful, but it is unsure whether they will succeed

Correct

They are chastised by the exile and are conscientious to be faithful to God

Sorry, see Lecture 25

They are experiencing exile and oppression, failure and relapse into unfaithfulness.

Sorry, see Lecture 25

They are chastened by the exile, but remain unfaithful to God

Sorry, see Lecture 25
In Joshua, the Promised Land is divided among the tribes by lot.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 18
The Books of Ezra/Nehemiah are organized around three returns from Babylon.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 25
All of the Northern Kingdom's kings were rated as 'bad' by the author of Kings.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 23
All of the real kings of the Southern Kingdom were direct descendants of David.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 23
Which of these is true?

Babylon conquered Judah in 721BC

Sorry, see Lecture 23

Assyria conquered Israel in 586BC

Sorry, see Lecture 23

Assyria conquered Israel in 721BC

Well Done

Bablyon conquered Israel in 721BC

Sorry, see Lecture 23

Assyria conquered Judah in 721BC

Sorry, see Lecture 23

Babylon conquered Israel in 586BC

Sorry, see Lecture 23
David was anointed king while Saul was still reigning as king.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 21
Which word best summarizes the Books of Ezra/Nehemiah?

Providence


Divided


Monarchy


Conquest


Return

Well Done

Temple


Faithfulness


The Book of Esther is organized around a problem, then a solution.

True

Excellent

False

Sorry, see Lecture 26
The Book of Joshua describes which historical epoch?

Patriarchs

Sorry, see Lecture 18

Exile/Return

Sorry, see Lecture 18

Prehistory

Sorry, see Lecture 18

Monarchy

Sorry, see Lecture 18

Exodus/Conquest

Well Done
The Book of Ruth demonstrates God's faithfulness.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 20
Which word best summarizes the Books of Chronicles?

Divided


Apostasy


Monarchy


Providence


Temple

Good Job

Return


Which is NOT a section of First Samuel?

Transition from Saul to David

Sorry, see Lecture 21

Transition from Samuel to Saul

Good Job

Transition to the Monarchy

Sorry, see Lecture 21
The Books of Chronicles are more positive in their description of Israelite Kings than the Books of Kings.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 24
First Samuel emphasizes that godly character is important for leadership.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 21
Who was the leader of the first return from Babylon?

Ezra

Sorry, see Lecture 25

Zerubbabel

Excellent

Nehemiah

Sorry, see Lecture 25
What was the most important accomplishment of the reign of Solomon?

He built the Temple

Well Done

He fought wars to complete the conquest

Sorry, see Lecture 23

He taught supernatural wisdom

Sorry, see Lecture 23

He brought economic prosperity

Sorry, see Lecture 23
Which is the reason why God's people divided into two Kingdoms in the Book of Kings?

It was the result of Reheboam's stupidity

True, but only partial, see Lecture 23

It was the result of Jeroboam's rebellion

True, but only partial, see Lecture 23

It was God's purpose

True, but only partial, see Lecture 23

All of the other reasons are equally true

Great Job

It was punishment for Solomon's sin

True, but only partial, see Lecture 23
Which is NOT part of the cycle of the Book of Judges?

Oppression

Sorry, see Lecture 19

Sin/Idolatry

Sorry, see Lecture 19

Crying out to God

Sorry, see Lecture 19

Faithfulness and Obedience

Well Done
Many of the Historical Books are influenced by Deuteronomy in the way that they tell their history.

True

Excellent

False

Sorry, see Lecture 17
The Monarchy epoch starts historically in which book?

Joshua

Sorry, see Lecture 21

Second Kings

Sorry, see Lecture 21

Second Samuel

Sorry, see Lecture 21

First Kings

Sorry, see Lecture 21

First Samuel

Well done
Which of these is NOT a theme of Joshua?

Holy War

Sorry, see Lecture 18

Transition of Leadership

Sorry, see Lecture 18

Complete the Conquest

Well Done

Inheritance

Sorry, see Lecture 18
One of the first things done by the returning exiles is to rebuild the altar and make sacrifices to God.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 25

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains some questions for further thought and discussion from Module 3. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions are generated from a larger group of possible questions, so they will likely be different every time you open this banner. You may reopen this banner to see different questions. Click the banner to view the questions.

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Discussion/Application Questions
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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. Why do you think things went so bad in the Book of Judges? What could have been done better? What lessons from this can you apply to your own life?
  2. How does God work in the Book of Ruth? What does that teach us about the way He can work in our own lives?
  3. Describe how Deuteronomistic theology is illustrated in the Books of Joshua and Judges. How does Deuteronomistic theology impact your worldview and lifestyle.
  4. What is the "Davidic Covenant" and how is it fulfilled? How does this help you to understand and apply the New Testament?

Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the third module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on to the next module as soon as is convenience. The button below will take you to Module 4.