The Historical

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS

The final book of the Pentateuch; Deuteronomy, ends with the tribes of Israel camped in Moab. They are prepared to enter Canaan, the land God promised to give to them (Deut 1:1-8; 34:1-8). The final words of Deuteronomy outlines the death of Moses and the handing over of ruler-ship to Joshua as the next leader of Israel.

Christians call these 12 Old Testament books that proceed the Pentateuch, starting from Joshua to the book of Esther, the Historical Books. They describe Israel’s history as a people in the promised land of Canaan. The descriptions of the events in these books are more concerned with the religious teaching about God and his relationship with Israel than they are about the historical facts of the events themselves. Therefore, the Historical Books reads more like exciting stories than even historical accounts. In fact, two of the Historical books;, Ruth and Esther, are more like short stories than history books.

Together, these books can be thought of as telling one long journey that took place from around 1250 B.C. to 150 B.C. with several key events and main characters.


Go to the OLD TESTAMENT page