Old Testament
Student Study Guide

cover

Prepared by the Church Educational System

Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Salt Lake City, Utah

© 1998, 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America

English approval: 10/02

Table of Contents

How to Use This Manual 1
Studying the Scriptures 2
Old Testament Reading Chart 6
Welcome to the Old Testament 7
The Books of Genesis, Moses, and Abraham 9
   Abraham 3   The Premortal Life and Council in Heaven 9
   Moses 1   “This Is My Work and My Glory” 10
   Genesis 1; Moses 2   The Creation 11
   Genesis 2; Moses 3   The Creation of Eve 12
   Genesis 3; Moses 4   The Fall 13
   Genesis 4; Moses 5   Sacrifice and the Family of Adam 14
   Genesis 5; Moses 6   Enoch Teaches the First Principles of the Gospel 16
   Genesis 5; Moses 7   Zion Taken into Heaven 17
   Genesis 6; Moses 8   Noah’s Preaching 18
   Genesis 7   The Flood 19
   Genesis 8   The Rain Stops 20
   Genesis 9   A New Start 20
   Genesis 10   Noah’s Descendants 21
   Genesis 11   The Tower of Babel 21
   Abraham 1   Abraham Desires the Priesthood 22
   Abraham 2   Abraham Receives Covenants from God 22
   Genesis 12–13   Let There Be No Strife 23
   Genesis 14   Abraham Meets with Melchizedek 24
   Genesis 15   A Covenant Confirmed 24
   Genesis 16   Abraham Marries Hagar 25
   Genesis 17   The Abrahamic Covenant 25
   Genesis 18   “Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?” 26
   Genesis 19   Sodom and Gomorrah 27
   Genesis 20–21   A Promise Fulfilled 27
   Genesis 22   The Sacrifice of Isaac 27
   Genesis 23   Sarah Dies 29
   Genesis 24   A Wife for Isaac 29
   Genesis 25   What Is the Value of the Covenant? 29
   Genesis 26–27   Jacob Received Covenant Blessings 30
   Genesis 28   Jacob’s Sacred Experience 31
   Genesis 29   The Children of Jacob, Part 1 31
   Genesis 30   The Children of Jacob, Part 2 32
   Genesis 31   Jacob Leaves Padan-aram 32
   Genesis 32   Jacob Travels toward Home 33
   Genesis 33   Jacob Meets Esau 33
   Genesis 34   Vengeful Acts of Jacob’s Sons 33
   Genesis 35   Jacob Returns to Bethel 34
   Genesis 36–37   Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors 34
   Genesis 38–39   Joseph’s Righteousness 35
   Genesis 40   Joseph in Prison 36
   Genesis 41   Joseph and the Pharaoh 36
   Genesis 42   Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt 37
   Genesis 43   Joseph’s Brothers Return to Egypt 38
   Genesis 44   Joseph Tests His Brothers 38
   Genesis 45   Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers 38
   Genesis 46   Father and Son Reunited! 39
   Genesis 47–48   Jacob Adopts Joseph’s Sons 39
   Genesis 49   Patriarchal Blessings for Israel’s Sons 40
   Genesis 50   Jacob and Joseph Die 41
The Book of Exodus 41
   Exodus 1   Courageous Midwives 42
   Exodus 2   Moses’ Early Life 42
   Exodus 3   The Burning Bush 43
   Exodus 4   Moses Returns to Egypt 43
   Exodus 5   Hard-Hearted Pharaoh 44
   Exodus 6   I Am the Lord 44
   Exodus 7–10   The Plagues 44
   Exodus 11–12   The Passover 45
   Exodus 13   The Firstborn 47
   Exodus 14   Crossing the Red Sea 47
   Exodus 15   Murmuring, Part 1 48
   Exodus 16   Murmuring, Part 2 48
   Exodus 17   Murmuring, Part 3 49
   Exodus 18   Keeping Moses from Wearing Away 49
   Exodus 19   At Mount Sinai 50
   Exodus 20   The Ten Commandments 51
   Exodus 21–23   An Eye for an Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth 51
   Exodus 24   Seventy Elders See God 52
   Exodus 25–27; 30   The Tabernacle 52
   Exodus 28–29   The Priests in the Temple 53
   Exodus 31   Men Called to Work on the Tabernacle 54
   Exodus 32   The Golden Calf 54
   Exodus 33   Moses Sees the Lord Again 55
   Exodus 34   The Lesser Law 55
   Exodus 35–40   The Tabernacle Is Built and Dedicated 56
The Book of Leviticus 56
   Leviticus 1   The Burnt Offering 56
   Leviticus 2–7   Other Offerings 57
   Leviticus 8–9   The Consecration of Aaron and His Sons 57
   Leviticus 10   Priesthood Holders Must Be Holy 58
   Leviticus 11   A “Word of Wisdom” for the Israelites 58
   Leviticus 12   Clean and Unclean 59
   Leviticus 13–14   Leprosy 59
   Leviticus 15–16   The Day of Atonement 60
   Leviticus 17–18   Avoid Idolatrous Practices 60
   Leviticus 19–20   “Be Holy for I Am Holy” 61
   Leviticus 21–22   Holiness of the Priesthood 61
   Leviticus 23–25   Holy Days and Events 61
   Leviticus 26–27   Blessings or Cursings 62
The Book of Numbers 62
   Numbers 1–4   The Census 63
   Numbers 5–8   Additions to the Law of Moses 63
   Numbers 9   The First Passover in the Wilderness 64
   Numbers 10   Leaving Sinai 65
   Numbers 11   The Israelites Driven by Their Appetites 65
   Numbers 12   Sustaining or Rejecting the Prophet 66
   Numbers 13–14   Scoping Out the Promised Land 66
   Numbers 15   Obtaining Forgiveness 67
   Numbers 16   Rebellion against the Prophet 67
   Numbers 17–19   A Follow-up to a Tragic Incident 67
   Numbers 20   Thirty-Eight Years of Frustration 68
   Numbers 21   The Brass Serpent 68
   Numbers 22–24   The Story of Balaam 69
   Numbers 25–26   Cursing Israel 70
   Numbers 27   Choosing a New Leader for Israel 70
   Numbers 28–30   Old Commandments Still Apply 70
   Numbers 31   Balaam Dies 70
   Numbers 32   Land for Reuben and Gad 70
   Numbers 33–36   Instructions for the Promised Land 71
The Book of Deuteronomy 71
   Deuteronomy 1–3   A Review of History 71
   Deuteronomy 4   “Take Heed to Thyself” 72
   Deuteronomy 5   The Ten Commandments 72
   Deuteronomy 6   The Great Commandment 72
   Deuteronomy 7   Marry in the Covenant 73
   Deuteronomy 8   Remember! 73
   Deuteronomy 9–10   The Lord Will Help 74
   Deuteronomy 11   Blessings or Cursings—You Choose 74
   Deuteronomy 12–13   Avoid Evil Practices 74
   Deuteronomy 14–17   Practices of God’s People 74
   Deuteronomy 18   True and False Prophets 75
   Deuteronomy 19–25   Specific Laws for a Chosen People 75
   Deuteronomy 26   Our Debt to God 75
   Deuteronomy 27–28   Blessings and Cursings 75
   Deuteronomy 29–30   Returning to the Lord 76
   Deuteronomy 31–32   The Song of Moses 77
   Deuteronomy 33   Blessings for Each Tribe 77
   Deuteronomy 34   Farewell to Moses 78
The Book of Joshua 78
   Joshua 1   “Be Strong and of a Good Courage” 79
   Joshua 2   Spies in Jericho 79
   Joshua 3–4   Crossing the Jordan River 80
   Joshua 5   A Special Visitor 80
   Joshua 6   The Walls Came Tumbling Down 81
   Joshua 7   Conquering the City of Ai 81
   Joshua 8   Conquering Ai 82
   Joshua 9   Tricked by the Gibeonites 82
   Joshua 10   The Sun and Moon Stand Still 82
   Joshua 11–21   The Conquest of Canaan Continues 83
   Joshua 22   Settling the East Side of the Jordan 83
   Joshua 23–24   “Choose You This Day” 83
The Book of Judges 84
   Judges 1   Who Shall Fight for Us? 84
   Judges 2–3   Ehud Delivers Israel 85
   Judges 4–5   Deborah the Prophetess 85
   Judges 6–8   Gideon 85
   Judges 9–10   The Cycle Continues 86
   Judges 11–12   The Story of Jephthah 86
   Judges 13   The Birth of Samson 86
   Judges 14–15   One Mistake after Another 87
   Judges 16   Samson and Delilah 87
   Judges 17–21   Israel Suffers for Disobedience 88
The Book of Ruth 88
   Ruth 1   “Where You Will Go, I Will Go” 88
   Ruth 2   Ruth Meets Boaz 89
   Ruth 3–4   Ruth and Boaz Marry 89
The First Book of Samuel 90
   1 Samuel 1   “For This Child I Prayed” 90
   1 Samuel 2   Eli’s Sons 91
   1 Samuel 3   Samuel Hears the Lord 92
   1 Samuel 4–6   The Ark of the Covenant 92
   1 Samuel 7   Repentance Brings the Victory 92
   1 Samuel 8   “Give Us a King” 93
   1 Samuel 9–10   Saul Anointed King 94
   1 Samuel 11   Saul Leads Israel to Battle 94
   1 Samuel 12   The Lord Is Still King 95
   1 Samuel 13   Saul Acts Foolishly 95
   1 Samuel 14   A Foolish Oath 95
   1 Samuel 15   The Importance of Obedience 95
   1 Samuel 16   The Lord Chooses a New King 96
   1 Samuel 17   David and Goliath 96
   1 Samuel 18–23   Saul Seeks David’s Life 97
   1 Samuel 24   Respect for the Lord’s Anointed 97
   1 Samuel 25–26   Love Your Enemies 98
   1 Samuel 27   David among the Philistines 98
   1 Samuel 28   Saul’s Spiritual Darkness 98
   1 Samuel 29–31   David’s Success and Saul’s Death 99
The Second Book of Samuel 99
   2 Samuel 1–3   After Saul’s Death 99
   2 Samuel 4–5   David Becomes King 99
   2 Samuel 6   The Ark of the Covenant Comes to Jerusalem 100
   2 Samuel 7   David Wants to Build a Temple 100
   2 Samuel 8–10   David’s Political and Personal Success 100
   2 Samuel 11–12   David’s Tragic Mistakes 101
   2 Samuel 13–14   The Sins of David’s Children 102
   2 Samuel 15–18   Absalom Seeks to Be King 103
   2 Samuel 19–20   Continued Troubles for David 103
   2 Samuel 21–23   More about David 103
   2 Samuel 24   More of David’s Mistakes 103
The First Book of the Kings 104
   1 Kings 1–2   The Death of David 104
   1 Kings 3   What Shall I Give Thee? 104
   1 Kings 4   Solomon Organizes the Kingdom 105
   1 Kings 5–7   Solomon Builds a Temple 105
   1 Kings 8   The Temple Is Dedicated 105
   1 Kings 9   The Lord Appears to Solomon 106
   1 Kings 10   The Queen of Sheba Visits 107
   1 Kings 11   Solomon Turns from the Lord 107
   1 Kings 12   A Divided Kingdom 107
   1 Kings 13–14   Double Trouble 108
   1 Kings 15–16   New Kings, Old Problems 108
   1 Kings 17   Elijah the Prophet 108
   1 Kings 18   Elijah versus 450 Priests of Baal 109
   1 Kings 19   Elijah Learns More about the Holy Ghost 110
   1 Kings 20–21   Ahab’s Continued Disobedience 110
   1 Kings 22   The Prophet Micaiah 110
The Second Book of the Kings 111
   2 Kings 1   The King Seeks Help from Idols 111
   2 Kings 2   Elijah Taken into Heaven 111
   2 Kings 3–4   Miracles 112
   2 Kings 5   The Healing of Naaman 113
   2 Kings 6–7   Trust the Prophet 113
   2 Kings 8   Righteousness amid Great Wickedness 114
   2 Kings 9–10   Ahab’s Descendants Destroyed 114
   2 Kings 11–14   More Wicked Kings, Part 1 114
   2 Kings 15–16   More Wicked Kings, Part 2 115
   2 Kings 17   The Northern Kingdom (Ten Tribes) Taken Captive 115
   2 Kings 18–19   Righteous King Hezekiah 116
   2 Kings 20   More about Hezekiah 117
   2 Kings 21   Wicked King Manasseh 117
   2 Kings 22–23   The Power of the Word 117
   2 Kings 24–25   Judah Taken Captive by Babylon 118
The First and Second Books of the Chronicles 118
   1 Chronicles 22:5–19   Preparing to Build the Temple 118
   1 Chronicles 29:29   “The Acts of David the King” 118
   2 Chronicles 3:1   Solomon Begins to Build the Temple 119
   2 Chronicles 7:1–12   The Glory of the Lord 119
   2 Chronicles 11:13–17   The Levites Return 119
   2 Chronicles 15   Asa Obeys a Prophet’s Counsel 119
   2 Chronicles 20   Asa’s Son Jehoshaphat 120
   2 Chronicles 26:14–21   Uzziah Becomes a Leper 120
   2 Chronicles 29:1–11   “Be Not Now Negligent” 120
   2 Chronicles 36:11–16   Wickedness in Jerusalem 120
The Book of Ezra 121
   Ezra 1   Cyrus Fulfills Prophecy 122
   Ezra 2   Who Returned? 122
   Ezra 3–6   The Building of the Temple 122
   Ezra 7   Ezra—Teacher of the Law 122
   Ezra 8   Journey to Jerusalem 123
   Ezra 9–10   Marriages to Non-Israelite Wives 123
The Book of Nehemiah 123
   Nehemiah 1   Nehemiah’s Prayer 124
   Nehemiah 2   Nehemiah Goes to Jerusalem 124
   Nehemiah 3–4   The Builders Face Opposition 125
   Nehemiah 5   Nehemiah: A Great Leader 125
   Nehemiah 6   Nehemiah Finishes the Walls 125
   Nehemiah 7   The Names of Those Who Returned 125
   Nehemiah 8   Ezra Reads the Scriptures to the People 126
   Nehemiah 9–10   The Power of the Word 126
   Nehemiah 11–12   The Dedication of the Wall 126
   Nehemiah 13   Nehemiah Continues to Preach Repentance 127
The Book of Esther 127
The Book of Job 128
   Job 1   Job Loses Everything, Except 129
   Job 2   More Trials for Job 129
   Job 3   Why Was I Even Born? 129
   Job 4–31   Job’s Friends Give Him Counsel 130
   Job 32–37   A Fourth Friend 130
   Job 38–39   The Lord Speaks 130
   Job 40–42   Job Passes the Test 131
The Book of Psalms 131
   Psalm 22   A Psalm about Jesus Christ 132
   Psalm 23   “The Lord Is My Shepherd” 133
   Psalm 24   The Joy of the Lord’s Coming 133
   Selected Verses from Psalms 134
The Proverbs 134
   Proverbs   An Overview 134
Ecclesiastes or, the Preacher 135
   Ecclesiastes 1–2   “All Is Vanity” 136
   Ecclesiastes 3   Make the Best of Life While You Can 136
   Ecclesiastes 4–5   What Brings Happiness? 136
   Ecclesiastes 6   All Is Still Vanity 137
   Ecclesiastes 7–11   Finding Some Contentment in Life 137
   Ecclesiastes 12   The Conclusion 137
The Song of Solomon 138
The Book of Isaiah 138
   Isaiah 1   Isaiah Calls Israel to Repentance 138
   Isaiah 2   Come to the Mountain of the Lord 139
   Isaiah 3   Prophecies against the Proud 140
   Isaiah 4   Blessings for the Humble 140
   Isaiah 5   The Sins of Israel 140
   Isaiah 6   Isaiah Sees the Lord 141
   Isaiah 7–8   Trust the Lord 141
   Isaiah 9   A Prophecy about the Coming of the Messiah 141
   Isaiah 10   The Destroyers Shall Be Destroyed 142
   Isaiah 11   Events in the Future 142
   Isaiah 12   Praise the Lord 142
   Isaiah 13–14   Babylon and Lucifer 143
   Isaiah 15–23   Prophecies against Nations That Do Not Serve the Lord 143
   Isaiah 24   A Wicked World Destroyed 144
   Isaiah 25   Isaiah Praises the Lord 145
   Isaiah 26   Isaiah’s Song of Praise 145
   Isaiah 27   The Lord and His Vineyard 145
   Isaiah 28   Counsel for a Prideful People 145
   Isaiah 29   A Marvelous Work and a Wonder 145
   Isaiah 30–32   Trust in the Lord 146
   Isaiah 33–34   The Second Coming of Jesus Christ 147
   Isaiah 35   A Message of Hope 147
   Isaiah 36–39   The Story of King Hezekiah 147
   Isaiah 40   The Lord’s Power and Greatness 147
   Isaiah 41–47   Redeemer of Israel 148
   Isaiah 48   An Invitation to Come Back 149
   Isaiah 49   A Message to Scattered Israel 150
   Isaiah 50   Return to the Lord 150
   Isaiah 51–52   Awake! And Come unto Him 151
   Isaiah 53   Jesus Christ’s Suffering Foretold 151
   Isaiah 54   The Kind Husband 152
   Isaiah 55   An Invitation from the Lord 152
   Isaiah 56   The Lord Saves All Nations 152
   Isaiah 57   The Lord Has Power to Heal 152
   Isaiah 58   Fasting and the Sabbath 153
   Isaiah 59   Sins and Consequences 153
   Isaiah 60   Let Your Light Shine 153
   Isaiah 61   The Mission of the Lord and His Servants 154
   Isaiah 62   The Redemption of the House of Israel 154
   Isaiah 63   The Second Coming of Jesus Christ 154