Biblical Hebrew Terms for Types of Poems Category Hebrew Term Meaning general shir song tehillah prayer, song of praise zamir/zimrah song qinah lament, dirge, with a grieving content wisdom sayings mashal proverb khidah riddle prophetic poetry massa’ oracular utterance, “burden”
Biblical Chronology in Esther The events of Esther unfold over a period of 10 years. Reference Event Month Day Year of Ahasuerus’s Reign Year 1:3 Ahasuerus holds his banquets 3 483b.c. 2:16 Esther goes to Ahasuerus 10 7 479 3:7 Haman casts his lots 1 12 474 3:12
Biblical Chronology of Nehemiah Event Month/Day Year Reference Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem (20th year of Artaxerxes I) 445–444 b.c. 1:1 Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes 1 445 2:1 Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls 445 2:11 Wall is finished 6/25 445 6:15 People of
Biblical The Hand of God in Ezra and Nehemiah Ezra 7:6 The king granted Ezra all that he asked for the hand of the Lord his God was on him Ezra 7:9 Ezra began to go up from Babylon and came to Jerusalem for the good hand of his God was on him Ezra 7:28 Ezra
Biblical Kings of Persia Mentioned in Ezra–Nehemiah Cyrus 539–530 b.c. Darius I 522–486 Xerxes (Ahasuerus) 485–464 Artaxerxes I 464–423
Biblical Adversaries Hinder Work Ezra 4:5 The people of the land hired counselors to work against the Israelites from the reigns of Cyrus (539–530 b.c.) to Darius (522–486) Ezra 4:6 Accusations arose during the reign of Xerxes (Ahasuerus) (486–464) Ezra 4:7–23 Accusations arose during the reign
Biblical Chronology of Ezra Event Year Reference Cyrus king of Persia captures Babylon 539 b.c. Dan. 5:30–31 First year of King Cyrus; issues proclamation freeing Jewish exiles to return 538–537 Ezra 1:1–4 Jewish exiles, led by Sheshbazzar, return from Babylon to Jerusalem 537? Ezra 1:11 Altar rebuilt
Biblical Relationship of Ezra–Nehemiah to 1–2 Chronicles Relationship of Ezra–Nehemiah to 1–2 Chronicles 1–2 Chronicles Ezra–Nehemiah Chronicles ends with the Cyrus Edict. Ezra begins with the Cyrus Edict. Chronicles emphasizes Jerusalem and the temple. Ezra–Nehemiah emphasizes Jerusalem and the temple. Chronicles has a priestly focus. Ezra is more focused on the law
Biblical The Chronicler’s Presentation of the Reigns of David and Solomon In contrast to 1–2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings, the Chronicler focuses overwhelmingly on the religious significance of the united reign of David and Solomon, principally their joint role in establishing the Davidic covenant and the Jerusalem temple. Little attention is paid to the personal and political dimensions of
Biblical Comparison of 1–2 Chronicles with 2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Samuel Genealogies 1:1–9:44 Death of Saul and sons 10:1–14 1 Sam. 31:1–2 Sam. 1:16 Lament for Saul 2 Sam. 1:17–27 David king of Judah 2:1–7 War between house of Saul and David; Ish-bosheth made king
Biblical Basic Chronology of 1–2 Chronicles Events Dates Passages Foundation of the Davidic monarchy c. 1010–931b.c. 1 Chronicles 10–2 Chronicles 9 History of Judah from the division of the kingdom until its fall 931–586 2 Chron. 10:1–36:21 Babylonian captivity 586–538 2 Chron. 36:17–21 Cyrus’s decree
Biblical The Divided Kingdom: Kings of Israel (all dates b.c.) King Years of Reign Total Years Accession Year* Possible Co-Reigns References in 1–2 Kings** Notes Jeroboam I 931/930–911/910 21 (22) 1 Kings 11:26–40; 12:1–14:20 Nadab 911/910–910/909 1 (2) 2 of Asa 1 Kings 15:25–32 Killed by
Biblical The Divided Kingdom: Kings of Judah (all dates b.c.) King Years of Reign Total Years Accession Year* Possible Co-Reigns References in 1–2 Kings** Notes Rehoboam 931/930–915/914 17 1 Kings 12:1–24; 14:21–31 Abijah/Abijam 915/914–912/911 3 18 of Jeroboam I 1 Kings 15:1–8 Asa 912/911–871/
Biblical Evaluating Kings of Israel and Judah in 1–2 Kings Good Bad Mixture of good and bad Kings of Israel Kings of Judah Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:25–33) Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:21–31) Nadab (1 Kings 15:25–31) Abijam (1 Kings 15:1–8) Baasha (1 Kings 15:33–16:7) Asa (1 Kings 15:9–24)
Biblical Solomon’s Tainted Glory in 1 Kings Positives Negatives David’s chosen heir (ch. 1) Gained power in bloody coup (ch. 2) Nathan’s early support (ch. 1) Prophetic voice disappears Prayer for wisdom to rule righteously (chs. 3–4) Rules with forced labor; accumulates wealth unjustly (9:15–22; 10:26–29) Completion and dedication of
Biblical The Rise and Failure of David in 1 and 2 Samuel David’s Rise (1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 10) David’s Failures (2 Samuel 11–20) Eager holy warrior Remains in palace Marries honorably Adultery with Bathsheba Protects Saul’s life Plots Uriah’s death Decisive Indecisive Prayers effective Prayers ineffective Fearless when outnumbered Fearfully takes census Attracts thousands of
Biblical The Fall of Saul and the Rise of David in 1 Samuel Saul David Holy Spirit removed; evil spirit given (16:14–23) Anointed with Holy Spirit (16:1–13) Jealous and treacherous (ch. 18) Faithful friend (ch. 20) Attempts to kill David (ch. 19) Protects Saul’s life (chs. 24; 26) Failed holy warrior (ch. 15) Mighty holy warrior (ch. 17)
Biblical The Journey of the Ark of the Covenant in 1–2 Samuel 1 Sam. 3:3 The Lord calls to Samuel who is sleeping in the tent of meeting, “where the ark of God was” 1 Samuel 4 Philistines capture the ark (for seven months: 1 Sam. 6:1) 1 Sam. 5:1–7 Philistines bring the ark to Ashdod, setting it
Biblical The Rise of Samuel, Israel’s Last Judge Decline of Eli’s Sons Rise of Samuel Wickedness of Eli’s sons (1 Sam. 2:12–17) Samuel approved by Eli (1 Sam. 2:18–21) Eli reproves his sons (1 Sam. 2:22–25) Samuel grows in favor (1 Sam. 2:26) Prophecy against Eli and sons (1
Biblical Events of 1–2 Samuel Referenced in the Psalms 1 Samuel Incident Psalm 19:11 David’s house surrounded 59 21:10–11 David seized by Achish 56 21:12–22:1 David escapes from Achish (called Abimelech in Psalm 34 title) 34 22:1 (possibly also 24:3) David in cave 57; 142 22:9–19 Doeg the
Biblical Anarchy without a King: Bookends of Judges 17–21 Micah and the Danite Migration (chs. 17–18) Gibeah’s Deed and Their Punishment (chs. 19–21) Religious Deterioration Moral Deterioration Beginning “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6). “In those days, when there was no king
Biblical Samson’s Ten Feats of Strength and Heroism Part 1: Three mentions of the “Spirit of the Lord” 1. The killing of the lion 14:5–9 “The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him” (14:6). 2. The killing of 30 Philistines 14:19 “The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him” (14:19). 3. The burning
Biblical Reasons Israel Failed to Take the Promised Land 1. The Canaanites had superior arms and fortifications 1:19 2. Israel was disposed to make alliances with the people of the land 2:1–5 3. Israel sinned and must be punished 2:20–21 4. Yahweh was testing Israel to see if they would be faithful or not
Biblical Cycles of Good and Bad under the Judges (2:11–16:31) Pattern Outline Othniel Ehud Deborah Gideon Jephthah Samson Apostasy 2:11–13 3:7 3:12a 4:1 6:1a 10:6 13:1a Servitude 2:14–15 3:8 3:12b–14 4:2 6:1b–6a 10:7–9 13:1b Supplication and salvation 2:16–18 3:
