Welcome back to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. Job is arguably among the oldest books in the Bible and presents a distinct literary vision of God’s sovereignty.
Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.
Summary
Job is the first book in what is known as the “books of poetry.” The books vary in literary form and cover a wide range of functions, from wisdom literature to personal prayers and hymns of worship.
Category: Wisdom
Theme: Suffering
Timeline: Unknown — sometime in Genesis, around the time of Abraham
Written: Date and author unknown
Key Verse
“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. — Job 42:2 (NIV)
Job’s Theodicy
Job tackles massive questions that have loomed in the minds of sufferers throughout all time. How can a good God allow righteous people to suffer?
We can take heart that while we will surely suffer, God is at work and can be trusted.
Reflect on the insights into the nature of suffering and faith, who God is and how deeply he values righteousness, and the unseen spiritual conflicts between God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom.
As you read Job, pay close attention to the scenario set up in this book, which probably took place during the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference.
The books of the Bible were written over a period of over a millennium and a half, with the oldest parts composed around 1500-1400 BC and the most recent books from the late first century AD. These books cover the entire span of time from the creation of the universe to its final consummation — but most focus on roughly the period of their composition.
This article will provide the best approximation for when each book of the Bible was written, based on both traditional accounts and the latest scholarship.
But first, it’s important to understand that the process of dating books of the Bible always involves a bit (or a lot) of guesswork.
Challenges With Establishing Dates in the Bible
There are several reasons why it’s difficult to establish precise dates for when the Bible was written — including the lack of a consistent calendar, different understandings of history, and the common practice of oral transmission in the ancient world.
These problems diminish the closer you get to the modern age, but even in the New Testament era it can be difficult to lock down precise dating.
No Consistent Calendar
Before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, there was no uniform dating system worldwide. Various cultures had different systems — some solar, some lunar, some based on rulers’ reigns. Aligning these systems becomes increasingly challenging the further back you look.
To get past this challenge, historians meticulously reconstruct dates by cross-referencing rulers’ reigns, celestial positions, other information given by ancient writers, and, more recently, carbon dating.
Still, dating precision varies, and can sometimes only be given in ranges of decades or even centuries.
Different Understanding of History
Another problem with dating ancient events is that the Bible’s authors had a different purpose for recording history than modern historians. While today we focus on establishing timelines and causality, ancient writers were more concerned with the events’ meanings rather than their chronological order.
You can see this especially in the books of the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy). Few of those stories provide any attempt at dating whatsoever. What matters is the way God appears in and uses history to accomplish his plan for his people.
Oral Transmission
For many of us today, it’s hard to imagine memorizing our email passwords, never mind the entire Bible. But in the ancient world, it was relatively common.
Paper in the ancient world — typically made painstakingly from cured animal skins — was very hard to come by, and literacy was rare. As a result, many works were transmitted orally for years, decades, or even centuries before they were written down.
This was especially true for popular stories, prophecies, Psalms and Proverbs, eyewitness accounts like the Gospels, and other genres that people might have shared widely before a scribe was able to commit them to paper.
New Discoveries
Sometimes new academic or archaeological discoveries — ancient manuscripts, buried buildings, language evolution over time — reveal clues about when a Biblical work was composed. This can help determine more precise dating.
Today, scholars can date the reigns and activities of the kings of the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles with confidence thanks to the wealth of documents and material culture from that period. Even if that doesn’t tell us exactly when the books about those kings were written, it can help give us an idea of the time frame.
Many of the prophets can be dated during that time as well, though others remain mysterious (Joel is the most notoriously difficult).
Dates of the Old Testament Books
With those caveats out of the way, here are our best guesses for when each book of the Bible was written, starting with the Old Testament.
Pentateuch (Torah)
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy: 1446-1406 BC; may have been mostly oral tradition until much later
Historical Books
Joshua: 1400-1370 BC; possibly oral tradition recorded during the reign of Josiah (late 600s BC)
Judges: 1045-1000 BC; possibly oral tradition recorded during the reign of Josiah (late 600s BC)
Ruth: 1011-931 BC (likely during reign of David)
1 & 2 Samuel: 930-722 BC; may have been mostly oral tradition compiled during the reign of Josiah (late 600s BC)
1 & 2 Kings: 560-540 BC
1 & 2 Chronicles: 450-425 BC
Ezra: 440-430 BC
Nehemiah: 430-400 BC
Esther: Probably around 400 BC
Wisdom Literature
Job: Disputed; dates range from second millennium to fifth century BC
Psalms: Various times from 1400-500 BC
Proverbs: 950-700 BC
Ecclesiastes: Around 935 BC
Song of Solomon: 960-931 BC
Prophets
Isaiah: 700-681 BC; oral traditions may have been compiled much later, with additional content as late as early 500s BC
Jeremiah: 626-585 BC
Lamentations: ca. 586 BC
Ezekiel: 593-571 BC
Daniel: Beginning 530 BC; some parts may be much later
Hosea: 750-715 BC
Joel: Disputed; likely either 835-796 BC or 500-450 BC
Amos: 760-750 BC
Obadiah: Disputed; 850-450 BC, though most likely the early exilic period (580-560 BC)
Jonah: Probably 500s BC, though it takes place much earlier (790-760 BC)
Micah: 735-700 BC
Nahum: 663-612 BC
Habakkuk: 612-589 BC
Zephaniah: 640-609 BC
Haggai: Around 520 BC
Zechariah: 520-480 BC
Malachi: 440-430 BC
Dates of the Apocrypha
In general, the Deuterocanonical or Apocryphal books were written in Greek rather than Hebrew and date from the Intertestamental Period — roughly 300-100 BC or a little later.
Dates of the New Testament Books
The books of the New Testament are much easier to date than the Old Testament. They were obviously all written after the death and resurrection of Jesus in 33 AD, and were mostly in their completed forms by 100 AD, when Christian writers began referencing and quoting from them.
Still, some of the same problems persist from the Old Testament period, and there is dispute about the exact dating of the Gospels (most of which were oral testimony written down after the fact) and most of the epistles. Unlike the Old Testament, though, they are disputes of a few years or, at the most, decades — rather than centuries.
Gospels & Acts
Matthew: After 70 AD, preserving oral accounts from the previous generation
Mark: 64-70 AD, preserving oral accounts from the previous generation
Luke: Debated; could be any time between 62-90 AD, preserving earlier oral accounts
John: 90-110 AD, preserving earlier oral accounts
Acts: 62-90 AD (by Luke)
Pauline Epistles
Romans: 56-57 AD
1 Corinthians: 53-54 AD
2 Corinthians: 55-56 AD
Galatians: 50-56 AD
Ephesians: 60-62 AD
Philippians: 54-62 AD, depending on whether it was sent from Ephesus, Caesarea, or Rome
Colossians: 57-62 AD, depending on whether it was sent from Caesarea or Rome
1 Thessalonians: 50-51 AD
2 Thessalonians: 51-52 AD
1 Timothy: 62-64 AD (or 90-110 AD if pseudonymous)
2 Timothy: 64-67 AD (or 90-110 AD if pseudonymous)
Titus: 62-64 AD (or 90-110 AD if pseudonymous)
Philemon: 54-62 AD, depending on whether it was sent from Ephesus, Caesarea, or Rome
General Epistles & Revelation
Hebrews: 60-95 AD, but probably late 60s
James: 45-62 AD
1 Peter: 60-65 AD (or 85-90 AD if pseudonymous)
2 Peter: 65-68 AD (or 80-90 AD if pseudonymous)
1 John: 85-100 AD
2 John: 85-100 AD
3 John: 85-100 AD
Jude: 65-80 AD
Revelation: Either 64-65 AD (during persecutions by Nero) or 95-96 AD (during persecutions by Domitian)
Conclusion: When Did Each Book Take Place?
Understanding even roughly when the books of the Bible were written helps to contextualize not only their relationships to each other, but also to the wider cultures of Israel, the Levant, and the Middle East at the time of their composition.
You also might notice that they weren’t always written (or at least not written down) exactly when they took place — especially with books like Jonah and Esther that take place decades or even centuries before they were finalized.
If you’d like to read the books in the order they take place, look no further than our chronological ordering of the Bible — and learn more about the circumstances of their composition by digging into who wrote each book.
Want to get better context behind each of the dates in this article? Try Bible Gateway Plus free for 14 days and get access to some of the same resources I used to research this very article!
This excerpt from The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible explains the original meaning of Acts 4:32-35, describing what Luke meant when he talked about believers being one in heart and mind. Then, it provides ways to apply the passage to your life today.
We start with words from Luke:
Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Original Meaning
For a second time Luke describes the quality of the radical sharing that the first Christian community practiced (see 2:44–45). This time he describes it in greater detail. The fact that he mentions this issue twice suggests we should regard it with some importance.
Luke first presents what was at the heart of the practice of sharing — a deep unity (v. 32a). In the Gospels the disciples often quarreled among each other and had to be corrected by Jesus (Luke 9:46–47; 22:24–27), but in Acts the Twelve are a unified group (2:14; 5:29; 6:2–4), and this unity now spreads to the entire church. This is often the case that when the leaders are united; it helps the members to be united too.
Spiritual Unity
“One in heart and mind” (kardia kai psychē mia) describes a comprehensive unity (v. 32). What joined them was not simply a common affiliation to the church. There was a spiritual unity and a unity of passionate commitment to a mission. Therefore, right in the middle of this description of unity we find the witness of the apostles (v. 33). Community life is never an end in itself; a vibrant community is a community in mission.
Included in this unity was the sharing of possessions among the believers. They did not consider their possessions as their own (v. 32b). This sharing extended to material possessions. As a result, “there were no needy persons among them” (v. 34a). But for that to happen, some costly sacrifices had to be made by some believers who sold their lands and houses (vv. 34b–35).
Christian Communism?
This practice of selling land and giving it to the church has been called Christian communism. But it is different to communism in two ways. First, it was an entirely voluntary renunciation of wealth. Unlike communism and the Qumran community of the first century, the sharing of property was not legislated.
Second, private ownership continued in the church. Acts 12:12 mentions the house of Mary the mother of John Mark. Earlier we were told that people met in each other’s homes for meals (2:46). Thus, what is mentioned here is not a renunciation of all private property by everyone in the church.
There are five verbs in the imperfect tense in 4:34–35. The imperfect describes continuous action in the past. In other words, this selling of land is something that took place regularly. The NIV rendering (“from time to time”) attempts to express this idea (v. 34). In other words, whenever there was a need, those who owned land asked themselves whether the Lord wanted them to sell this land. Some did and then gave the proceeds to the leaders to distribute wherever there was a need.
These were probably not easy decisions to make. But some did make them, and the result was the elimination of poverty in the church.
Application
While being one in heart and mind is considered the usual model for Christian community life, it is not easy to maintain in today’s individualistic society. We do not like having anyone pry into our personal lives, which would be necessary if the model shown in Acts were to be followed.
For this reason, many have lowered their standards and settled for a functional unity that comes more from secular management studies than from God’s word. People agree to work according to a plan, even though they may not be “one in heart and mind” with it.
But can we jettison this biblical model so easily? Given the fact that there are so many commands to this model of unity, we should not be satisfied by lowering our standards.
Acts Demands a Countercultural Church
This is an area where the church needs to be countercultural. In a society where people deny the community orientation that is part of human nature in order to protect their privacy, close Christian community life may be one of the most important prophetic messages we can give the world.
No one can deny one’s essential humanity without sooner or later feeling a void inside. The church must present itself as the group that can adequately fill this thirst for community in the heart of the human being.
The NIV Application Commentary
The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible is a masterful blend of content written by today’s top academics in a way that is compelling and easy to understand for anyone — no formal training or seminary degree required. This one-volume commentary is intended both for personal study and for teaching preparation.
Concise commentary and background help the reader understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Clear explanations make it easy to understand matters related to grammar and the meaning of biblical words.
While most commentaries stop there, the unique format of The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible provides a bridge from the world of the Bible to our lives today, guiding the reader to powerfully apply the biblical message to contemporary situations, problems, and questions.
The NIV Application Commentary on the Bible is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.
Welcome back to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. The book of Esther caps off the History section of the Bible.
Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.
Summary
In Esther, all of God’s unconditional covenant promises to Abraham and David were jeopardized. However, God’s love for Israel is nowhere more apparent than in this dramatic rescue of his people from pending elimination.
Category: History
Theme: Preservation
Timeline: Around 473 BC
Written: Around 460 BC by an unknown author
Key Verse
“…and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 (NIV)
Ancient Enemies
Why were Mordecai the Benjaminite and Haman the Agagite enemies?
The Jews exited from Egypt and were attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. 17:8-16). God pronounced his curse on the Amalekites, which resulted in their total elimination (Ex. 17:14). King Saul (a Benjaminite) received orders to kill all the Amalekites, including their king Agag, but he disobeyed (1Sa. 15:7-9) and incurred God’s displeasure. Because of his lineage from Agag, Haman carried deep hostility toward the Jews, wanted Mordecai to bow to him, and that’s why Mordecai refused.
All 167 verses of Esther have ultimately been accepted as canonical, although the absence of God’s name anywhere has caused some to unnecessarily doubt its authenticity.
Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference.
At first glance, the Ten Commandments are exactly what they sound like — a list of ten basic rules God gives his people for how to live morally upright lives. The Ten Commandments have been a bedrock of western morality, law, and culture for millennia.
Under the surface, however, the Ten Commandments are a lot less simple than they first appear.
There are a lot of factors that complicate the Ten Commandments:
First, they appear twice in the Bible — first in Exodus 20:1-17 and then in Deuteronomy 5:4-21 — in slightly different language and format.
Though all Christian and Jewish readers agree there are ten commandments in those passages, they sometimes disagree on exactly how to divide them up.
Believers of different denominations have often disagreed quite radically on how to interpret some of the commandments, such as what constitutes idolatry and even the distinction between “murder” and “kill.”
Since there are a lot more than ten commandments in the Old Testament alone (613 is the traditional number for Orthodox Jews) — and since Jesus summarizes all of them in just two commandments — there is dispute about how best to contextualize and prioritize them.
Oh, and sometimes people make mistakes, and get the commandments very wrong.
To help you understand the hubbub, this post will explore the different versions, orders, and interpretations of the Ten Commandments as they are found in the Bible.
The Ten Commandments in the Book of Exodus
The Ten Commandments first appear in the book of Exodus, when Moses receives them from God on Mount Sinai and subsequently delivers them in a speech to the Israelites.
Here are the Ten Commandments as they appear in Exodus 20, in the KJV and NIV. (You can review other versions at Bible Gateway.)
Verse
KJV
NIV
2
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
You shall have no other gods before me.
4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.
11
For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13
Thou shalt not kill.
You shall not murder.
14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
You shall not commit adultery.
15
Thou shalt not steal.
You shall not steal.
16
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Differences in Deuteronomy
And here, in the NIV, are the verses where Deuteronomy is different from Exodus:
Exodus 20:8-11
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
Exodus 20:12
Deuteronomy 5:16
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:17
Deuteronomy 5:21
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Ordering the Ten Commandments in Different Traditions
Now, here is a table showing how different denominations have divided and ordered the Ten Commandments:
Ex. 20
Deut. 5
Commandment
Reformed
Lutheran
Catholic
Jewish
2
6
I am the Lord
1
1
1
1
3
7
No other gods
2
4-6
8-10
No graven image
2
7
11
No name in vain
3
2
2
3
8-11
12-15
Remember/ observe the Sabbath
4
3
3
4
12
16
Honor parents
5
4
4
5
13
17
No killing
6
5
5
6
14
18
No adultery
7
6
6
7
15
19
No stealing
8
7
7
8
16
20
No false witness
9
8
8
9
17a
21b
No coveting neighbor’s house…
10
9
10
10
17b
21a
…wife…
10
9
17c
21c
…or property
10
Interpreting the Ten Commandments: Historical and Denominational Disputes
As you can see from the previous tables, everyone basically agrees on the content of the Ten Commandments, even if they disagree on exactly how to phrase or divide them.
However, even very minor changes in phrasing or positioning can have far-reaching consequences for how believers understand some of these commandments — especially when it comes to whether they should be interpreted literally.
Here are a few examples of different ways some of them are interpreted.
No Graven Images
What does it mean when the Bible says not to make any “graven” (an old-fashioned way of saying “engraved”) images, and then says not to bow down to or worship them?
For some Christians, and especially for some Jews, this has meant not to make any art at all representing either God or people or animals.
Others have interpreted it much more loosely, saying that it’s okay to make art and images, as long as you don’t worship them (that is, turn them into “idols”). Today, this is by far the most popular approach — just consider how often you see pictures of Jesus or of doves representing the Holy Spirit — but many Christians are still reluctant to make images of God the Father and risk constraining him to a “bearded man in the sky” archetype.
No Other Gods
Similarly, the obvious meaning of “I am the Lord” and “have no other gods before me” is that Yahweh, the God of the Bible, is the one true God, and pagan gods like Baal or Asherah who are mentioned throughout the Old Testament are false gods.
However, many Christians (and Jews) have also understood this commandment to prohibit turning other things — such as money, power, or political allegiances — into “gods” or “idols” by giving them an equal or higher status than God in our lives.
Remember/Observe the Sabbath
This one comes down to the distinction between “remembering” the Sabbath (in Exodus) and “observing” it (in Deuteronomy) — as well as what it means to “keep it holy.”
For most believers, this day is set aside for worship and perhaps also to rest and spend time with family. In general, most Christians tend to lean on the importance of “remembering” the Sabbath (typically on Sundays) as a holy day to celebrate God and his work in creation. Orthodox Jews take a hard line of “observing” the Sabbath (on Saturdays), setting the day apart by doing absolutely nothing that could be construed as work — including cooking or cleaning.
Murder or Kill
This one should be pretty simple, right? In fact, the distinction between “killing” and “murdering” — and, again, how seriously the prohibition should be taken — can make a huge difference.
A blanket injunction against all killing has led many Christians to oppose the death penalty and even embrace a strict pacifism. But if it’s only against murder, some argue that capital punishment and war are appropriate or even morally necessary in certain instances.
The Greatest Commandments
As I mentioned above, there are believed to be 613 commandments given by God throughout the Torah/Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). Even if (as is often the case) the Ten Commandments are given primacy over the rest, how do we know how to prioritize their importance, or how stridently to apply them?
The answer Jesus gives is: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ [Deut. 6:5]. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ [Lev. 19:18]. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:37-40 NIV)
For most Christians, interpreting the Ten Commandments (and the other 603 in the OT) therefore comes down to filtering them through Jesus’ words: that is, the commandments are always in service to loving God and neighbor, and not the other way around.
The ‘Wicked Bible’ — or, Why Editors Matter
The “Wicked Bible” was a version of the King James Bible published in 1631 (20 years after the original) that featured a typographical error in the Ten Commandments. It omitted the “not” in Exodus 20:14, so that it read “Thou shalt commit adultery.”
Oops!
In the aftermath, most versions of the Wicked Bible were destroyed (though over a dozen remain even today) and the printers responsible received a hefty fine and lost their printing license.
But beyond an amusing historical anecdote, this episode provides a couple of important lessons:
First is the simple challenge of rendering the Bible accurately in print — even in its original languages, but especially in translation!
There are more than 23,000 verses in the Bible, totaling (depending on the version) somewhere between 725,000 and 800,000 words, and a human being has to carefully check every single one. One minor distraction — maybe someone missed their morning coffee — and you might be responsible for a mistake that people remember for hundreds of years.
And second: While God’s Word is perfect, printed copies of it sometimes aren’t.
Conclusion: The Importance of Understanding the Ten Commandments
Regardless of exactly how one interprets or positions them, the Ten Commandments are among the most profoundly influential statements defining Western morality and help define our legal systems, governments, and culture.
Still, it’s important to understand the nuances that have led to disagreements between groups of believers — such as what constitutes idolatry and how far the prohibition against killing goes — and how those differences continue to challenge and divide us.
For thorough commentaries on the Ten Commandments and every other part of the Bible, try Bible Gateway Plus free for 14 days. You’ll find dozens of resources to help you navigate difficult passages and all your other questions about the Bible.
If the early Christian traditions are correct about Mary’s residence at the temple in Jerusalem, we can imagine that she may have played a musical role in service to Israel.
Mary wasn’t a Levite, so she wouldn’t have assisted with formal liturgical singing around the altar. Yet perhaps there was a role for non-Levites as choir singers or instrumentalists during parades and processions.
We know from Scripture that those included female musicians. Psalm 68:24–25 says, “They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the maidens playing timbrels” (emphasis added).
The Song of Mary
If Mary had become familiar with public temple music during her girlhood, it would explain how she was later able to compose the lovely song known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55). This Latin-based title comes from the opening couplet: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (emphasis added).
In contrast to the chest-thumping braggadocio of Herod, Mary emphasized her lowly estate before God’s mighty power. She was but a “maidservant” who was humbly grateful (even a bit astonished) that “He who is mighty has done great things for me” (v. 49).
Instead of glorifying herself, Mary focused on God’s attributes: his holiness, mercy, strength, provision, and help. Israel is lifted up by God’s grace alone, not by anything a mere man can do for the nation.
Greatness in Humility
Mary’s song celebrated God’s topsy-turvy way of doing things. Those who are laid low will soon arise, while those who stand on the high places will find themselves cast down. “[He] has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,” Mary sang. “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly” (vv. 51–52).
With those words, the humble virgin on the fringe of society displayed more insight than all the rulers of Judea combined. They strived for power and riches, while she sought the face of the Lord. The blessed maidservant of God discerned what Herod and his devious family didn’t have eyes to see: that the route to exaltation begins with humility of heart.
Adapted from Herod and Mary by Kathie Lee Gifford and Bryan M. Litfin, Ph.D.
Explore the interwoven lives of King Herod and Mary, Mother of Jesus as New York Times bestselling author Kathie Lee Gifford brings these biblical figures into a new light. Follow Herod from boyhood as he strives and fails throughout his life to become a beloved king. Walk in the steps of Mary of Nazareth as she navigates the repercussions of Herod’s deadly obsession.
Herod and Mary is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.
Your source for all the latest Bible-related and Bible-adjacent news from the month of September 2024 — from archaeological discoveries and academic research to cultural events and conversations, developments in the global church, and more.
Week of September 22
Sept. 27 — The oldest Episcopal seminary, General Theological Seminary (founded 1817) announced a deal to lease its property in New York City to the Nashville, Tennessee-based Vanderbilt University. The deal will allow GTS to expand its M.Div. program to accommodate more incoming students, while Vanderbilt will use the location as a “regional administrative hub” to engage with alumni, prospective students, and corporate partners. (The Christian Century)
Sept. 26 — In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, thousands gathered to celebrate Meskel, a significant Orthodox Christian festival commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena in Jerusalem. The festival, marked by the lighting of bonfires, is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage event, and brings hope for peace and unity amid the country’s ongoing political tensions with Egypt, Somalia, and internal rebellions. (AP News)
Sept. 26 — A new Pew Research Survey reveals changing views of Catholic ecclesial doctrines in Latin America. In nearly every country surveyed (including the U.S.) a majority said the church should ordain women priests and allow birth control. Opinion was more divided on whether priests should marry and whether to recognize marriages of gay and lesbian couples. (Religion News Service, from Pew Research)
Sept. 26 — As conflict continues to rage in the Holy Land, churches in Lebanon have opened their doors to refugees displaced by Israeli airstrikes. Christians make up nearly a third of Lebanon’s population, and they are heavily concentrated in the south, where conflict has been most severe. While attacks have been directed at rooting out the militant Islamist group Hezbollah, dozens of children have been killed in the process. (Christian Today)
Sept. 25 — The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a fact sheet on the tightening of religious freedom in China. The report warns that the Chinese government enforces the incorporation of Communist Party ideology into “every facet of religious life” for Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and more, leading to genocide, mass arrests, and enforced disappearances for noncompliant groups. (Baptist Press)
Sept. 25 — A report from the Lausanne Movement that was released ahead of the world congress this week reveals some stark disparities in missionary activity. Though 40% of the world has not yet been evangelized, 97% of missionaries go to people who already have access to the Gospel. More promising is the number of missionaries now being sent from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, reflecting the changing face of global Christianity. (Christianity Today)
Sept. 24 — Egyptian archaeologists uncovered an ancient barracks apparently dating to the time of Ramses II “the Great,” the pharaoh most likely associated with the events of the Book of Exodus. Most prominent among the many amazing finds at the site is a bronze sword — still shining after 3,000 years — that prominently bears the pharaoh’s name engraved in hieroglyphs. (Aleteia, from CNN and Smithsonian Magazine)
Sept. 23 — Dallas Jenkins, creator the popular TV series The Chosen based on the life and ministry of Jesus, announced he is expanding the “Chosen Cinematic Universe” with three new shows. First up will be an animated series about Jesus’s interaction with children. That will be followed by a survival reality show featuring Bear Grylls and the cast of The Chosen, and then a 3-season series based on the life of Moses. (RELEVANT)
Sept. 23 — For the first time in modern American history, young men are more religious than young women. While for decades women have been more reliable churchgoers and therefore seen as key to passing on the faith, a new trend is playing out among Gen Z. Young men are seeking the stability of tradition, while young women feel increasingly unwelcome: two-thirds of women age 18-29 say that most churches do not treat men and women equally. (The New York Times, paywalled)
Sept. 22 — A Greek document from the late 3rd century B.C. containing the oldest known reference to a “Jewish Egyptian” has finally been translated, decades after it was acquired by a Japanese museum. The 3×5-inch fragment, containing nine broken lines of text, is a petition addressed to King Ptolemy from Palous, a “Judeo-Egyptian,” requesting redress for some wrong involving the sheep of a man named Socrates. (Haartez)
Sept. 22 — Fifty years after the original, the Fourth Lausanne Congress has convened in South Korea with over 5,000 in attendance and many more participating virtually. The weeklong conference will focus on key issues impacting global Christianity such as intergenerational ministry, emerging technology, and God’s mission in cities, areas of conflict and persecution, and the workplace. (Christian Today)
Week of September 15
Sept. 21 — The 11th annual Doxacon — an interdenominational convention for Christians who love “geek” culture — will take place Nov. 1-2 at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Founded by an Orthodox priest as a way for Christians to “reflect seriously about the intersection between faith and storytelling,” this year’s gathering will feature everything from prayer groups to gaming sessions to keynote addresses on the theology of Dune and Marvel’s Loki. (Aleteia)
Sept. 19 — Easter will be celebrated on the same day in 2025 by Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians in a year that is also the 1700-year anniversary of the Council of Nicaea — an “important sign,” said Pope Francis, that “must not be allowed to pass by in vain.” Eastern and Western Christians calculate the date of Easter differently, and they coincide less than 1/3 of the time. The remarks highlight a growing trend for international ecumenical unity among Christians, as in the upcoming Gather25. (Aleteia)
Sept. 19 — The Vatican approved Marian devotion at a popular shrine in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, following 40 years of analysis and deliberation. Visions of the Virgin began occurring at the site in 1981, and its popularity grew to receive 3 million visitors per year prior to COVID. The Church remains ambivalent about the reality of the visions, but acknowledged the “abundant spiritual fruits received at the Sanctuary.” (Religion News Service)
Sept. 19 — Ahead of the Fourth Lausanne Congress next week, many Christian organizations have made North Korea a priority for missionary and humanitarian work. The country, ranked highest in the world for Christian persecution, has been almost entirely closed off due to U.S. restrictions and COVID-era border closures. Still, some Christian nonprofits are hopeful for future opportunities to serve the isolated nation. (Christianity Today)
Sept. 18 — A tree germinated from a 1,000-year-old seed found in a cave in the Judean Desert is believed by some to be the source of the medicinal tsori, a Biblical balm whose composition has been lost. It has been identified as a member of the frankincense and myrrh family, and is likely medicinal — but has so far not produced the sweet scent associated with the Balm of Gilead. (Times of Israel)
Sept. 18 — The Southern Baptist Convention is putting its Nashville, TN headquarters up for sale in an effort to offset the legal costs of various sexual abuse scandals, which it says have totaled over $12 million in the last 3 years. The SBC’s Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg said it’s time to “stop talking” and “take an initial strategic step of action” on abuse reform by setting up a dedicated internal department to address the issue. (Religion News Service)
Sept. 18 — An ancient mosaic that adorned one of the earliest Christian prayer halls is now on display at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. through July 2025. The Megiddo Mosaic had to be painstakingly recreated at the museum after traveling from Israel. It includes images of a fish, a Greek inscription reading “To God Jesus Christ,” the names of five women (perhaps leaders of the local faith community) and the name of the Roman officer who funded it. (Christian Today)
Sept. 17 — An Oregon town will have to pay $400,000 to a local church for violating their religious freedom. St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church fought back against a city ordinance preventing them from carrying out their ministry of feeding and caring for the town’s homeless population. The settlement will cover the church’s legal fees, plus a donation to the Oregon Justice Resource Center. (The Christian Century)
Sept. 17 — Gen Z are significantly more likely to have poor mental health (19%) than older generations (7%), reports the State of the Bible survey in their latest chapter. But Bible engagement can help. Bible-engaged Gen Z scored 3.4 on the anxiety scale, compared with more than twice that (7.1) for their Bible-disengaged peers. These and similar findings in the report can help inform ministry outreach. (Baptist Press, from State of the Bible)
Sept. 16 — An American pastor who was detained in China for nearly 20 years was released and has returned home. David Lin, 68, frequently traveled to China to spread the gospel throughout the 1990s and 2000s until he was detained for “contract fraud” (a common charge against Christians unregistered with the government) in 2006. Lin’s family expressed joy and gratitude: “God did it!!!” his daughter said. (Religion News Service)
Week of September 8
Sept. 13 — With Pope Francis safely back from the longest journey of his pontificate across southeast Asia, you can view a gallery of his many visits, which included some of the poorest and richest countries in the world, the largest Muslim country, and the one with the highest percentage of Catholics after the Vatican (East Timor, which saw nearly half of its entire population show up to celebrate Mass with him. (AP News)
Sept. 12 — New research indicates that nearly 1 in 5 Protestant U.S. pastors has contemplated suicide or self-harm in the past year. The finding sheds light on the difficulties pastors face in bringing spiritual care to struggling congregations, and the importance of addressing their own wellbeing — not neglecting the “as yourself” part of the Greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28-34). (Barna Group) Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, help is available. Dial or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7.
Sept. 12 — An incredibly rare and beautiful Hebrew Bible written and decorated by a 14th-century Spanish rabbi sold at auction for $6.9 million. The 1312 Shem Tov Bible “led a peripatetic and almost miraculous existence, surviving countless wars and upheavals on its travels to Jerusalem, Baghdad, Tripoli, London and Geneva over the course of seven centuries.” (The Guardian)
Sept. 12 — Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I (representative leader of Eastern Orthodoxy) expressed hope that Pope Francis will participate in a joint ceremony next year on the 1,700-year anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. While the Pope himself has not announced any plans, he has affirmed his desire the visit the area in 2025. Such a meeting would be a profound gesture of peace between the 1,000-year rivals. (Aleteia)
Sept. 12 — A new documentary film called Join or Die encourages everyone (especially young people) to join a club — or a church. The film highlights declining church membership across nearly every demographic and denomination as part of the disintegration of civil society — not to mention a spiritual threat that renders our faith unaccountable to anyone except ourselves. (The Gospel Coalition)
Sept. 12 — Based on their findings in the Philistine region of Gath (see below) researchers believe they have identified the location of the town of Ziklag, which was gifted to David by King Achish when David was on the run from Saul (1Sam. 27). Not everyone is convinced of the theory, saying the town may not be far enough south to qualify, but radiocarbon dating indicates the time frame at least is correct. (Biblical Archaeology Society)
Sept. 11 — “Philistine” has long been a byword for an uncouth and barbaric people (Goliath, anyone?) — but recent archaeological findings suggest it’s a misnomer. Rather than conquering the Levant as was previously supposed, it appears they integrated with the local population over time, existing as mostly peaceful rivals with Judah until the time of Hazael (cf. 2 Kings 8). (Biblical Archaeology Society)
Sept. 11 — A former first responder at Ground Zero in New York City shared how a Bible he was gifted that day has been bringing comfort to victims of tragedies across the U.S. ever since. Dennis McKenna revealed that a visiting police chaplain offered him the tiny Bible while he was crying in the rubble on 9/11. He later began sending it to families of victims in Aurora, CO; Sandy Hook, CT; Las Vegas, NV; and elsewhere. (New York Post)
Sept. 9 — Christians across the UK are preparing for a National Week of Prayer, to be held October 12-20, 2024. The ecumenical effort is backed by Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, and Catholic leaders and organizations — on the right and the left — who are calling all professed UK-based Christians to gather and pray for their nation, whether independently or as part of a regional prayer event. (Christian Today)
Sept. 9 — Apollo Quiboloy, the leader of a wealthy Filipino megachurch, has been arrested on multiple charges of sexual abuse and human trafficking from both Filipino and American authorities. Quiboloy went into hiding last month after his 75-acre compound (connected by networks of underground tunnels) was raided by police, but surrendered peacefully after receiving an ultimatum from the Philippine National Police. (Religion News Service)
Week of September 1
Sept. 6 — The National Baptist Convention, U.S.A (NBCUSA) — the largest historically African American church in America and the second largest Baptist denomination — voted to elect their new president, Rev. Boise Kimber of Connecticut. In an unusual election, Kimber ran unopposed, with detractors allowed a “no” vote, but won with 69% approving and hoping the younger pastor can inject new life into the convention. (Religion News Service)
Sept. 6 — A group of physicists and theologians met at the Vatican to find common ground in approaching life’s biggest questions. The conference, which included the father of string theory and the inventor of the microprocessor, presented their dialogue — not a debate — in an academic book that also discusses artificial intelligence and the development of new cultural understandings of time and eternity. (Religion News Service)
Sept. 5 — What’s the smallest Christian denomination? There are exactly two Shakers left at Sabbathday Lake in Maine, U.S.A. The denomination — known for its utopian egalitarianism; asceticism (including strict celibacy); and especially its unique, high-quality woodworking — began in 1774 and once counted tens of thousands in their numbers. Today Brother Arnold and Sister June run a small farm and museum. (The New York Times, paywalled)
Sept. 4 — Five years after the devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire, another historic French church burned from suspected arson this week. As firefighters fought the blaze at Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, the parish priest, Father Sébastien Roussel, dashed through the sanctuary to recover the eucharist and “some 20 other religious artifacts.” No casualties were reported. (Catholic News Agency)
Sept. 4 — College football kicked off this week in the United States, and at The Ohio State University students are lining up to watch their favorite players… preach? That’s right: three Buckeye players started the semester with an outdoor service that attracted nearly 1,000 students and led to more than 60 baptisms. (RELEVANT)
Sept. 4 — An Italian Catholic priest who has been combating mafia influence in Rome for decades recently suffered a violent attack. Don Antonio Coluccia was pelted with planks, bottles, and sticks during an anti-crime march — the latest attack in a longstanding feud between antimafia clergy and the mob. Undeterred, Coluccia promises he will return and is “committed to serving the city,” come what may. (The Guardian)
Sept. 2 — According to a new report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa (ORFA), nearly 17,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria over the past four years — more than half at the hands of extremist Muslim groups. These groups aren’t only targeting Christians, though: over 6,000 Muslims have been killed as well. ORFA calls on the international community to “fully understand the scale of the challenge.” (Christian Today)
Sept. 2 — Pope Francis is embarking on his longest international trip yet: 12 days covering nearly 20,000 miles around Southeast Asia. The 88-year-old pontiff will navigate enormous religious, economic, and environmental variety — from wealthy, urban countries like Singapore to poor, undeveloped ones like Papua New Guinea — and engage in interfaith dialogue with Muslims, Protestants, Buddhists, animists and more. (Aleteia)
September 1 — How faith sustained an octogenarian prisoner of Al Qaeda for seven years; how the Salvation Army transformed the Beatles’ Strawberry Field into a faith-based tourist attraction; how two British churches finally reopened after the other pandemic (the Black Death); how Lutherans and Orthodox reconciled nearly a millennium after the Great Schism: catch up on all of last month’s biggest, strangest, and most inspiring Bible and church news stories.
Welcome back to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. Here we continue the work of Ezra with his second book, Nehemiah.
Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.
Summary
Describes the events after the first waves of Israelites returned to the land. It shows how God used Nehemiah — cupbearer for the Persian king Artaxerxes I — to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and protect it from enemies.
Category: History
Theme: Reconstruction
Timeline: 445-432 BC
Written: Around 440 BC, most likely by Ezra
Key Verse
“The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” — Nehemiah 2:20 (NIV)
Home at Last
Nehemiah recounts the third wave of returning exiles.
Zerubbabel leads the first wave around 520 BC
Ezra leads the second wave around 458 BC
Nehemiah leads the third wave around 445 BC
God used Nehemiah’s prayers, plans, and passion to accomplish great things. Nehemiah not only led the people to reconstruct Jerusalem’s walls but also helped restore Jewish tradition and faithfulness to God in the community.
There is internal and external evidence that Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book.
Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference.
What is the goal or purpose of Bible study? While there are a number of different ways to say it they all boil down to this: We study the Bible to discover the intended meaning of a passage of Scripture and apply it to our lives today.
It’s simple, but also not.
The “simple” is that we have a clear purpose. The “not” is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to getting there. That’s why different Bible study methods exist.
What Is a Bible Study Method?
A Bible study method is a framework that helps us understand and apply Scripture to our lives. Every method shares certain characteristics. They all incorporate observation, interpretation, application, and personal reflection. They all also place a different emphasis on one or another. Here are 6 methods we recommend:
The Inductive Method
The SOAP Method
The TEXT Method
The Verse-Mapping Method
The Topical Study Method
The Character Study Method
In addition to the methods listed here, you can also try using a Study Bible to help walk you through difficult passages and discover hidden meanings.
The Inductive Method
The Inductive Bible Study Method is a process by which you make observations of a passage and draw conclusions from those observations. The questions at the heart of this approach typically follow the five Ws (and one H) approach many of us learned in elementary school:
Who (who is speaking; who is the intended audience; who is present in the moment, etc.)
What (what is this passage about; what problem is this addressing; what is happening; what is being said; what commands need to be obeyed, etc.)
When (when is this event taking place?)
Where (where is this event taking place, where does it fit in the larger context of the book and Scripture?)
Why (why is this message needed, why is it relevant today?)
How (how does this change what I know about God and humanity; how do I apply this to my life so that I can live more faithfully as a follower of Jesus?)
Many popular Bible study methods are variations of this tried-and-true approach (including many on this list). It’s also important to note that an inductive Bible study doesn’t require asking all of these types of questions every time. All you need are the passages that help you to best understand the meaning of the message and apply it.
The SOAP Method
The SOAP Method is a proven and effective approach to Bible study built on four practices:
Scripture, reading a passage and writing out 1–2 specific verses by hand.
Observation, asking questions of the text (who, what, where, when, how).
Application, considering how you should respond to what you’ve read.
Prayer, thanking God for what he’s shown you, and for his empowerment as you seek to live faithfully in light of what you’ve discovered in your time in the Word.
This method is at the heart of the Love God Greatly Bible. And best of all, SOAP can be used in in a verse-by-verse progression or in a topical study.
The TEXT Method
The TEXT Method is an accessible and memorable Bible study approach using four steps:
Talk to God in prayer before you read.
Encounter God and humanity in Scripture as you reflect on two simple questions: what does this passage say about God, and what does it say about humanity?
eXamine your heart, considering what needs to be confessed, added, taken away, or maintained as a follower of Jesus.
Talk to God and others, thanking God for what he has shown you in Scripture, and sharing what he’s shown you with someone else.
This method was introduced in The TEXT, a Bible designed for teens, young adults, and new believers, and can be practiced in a verse-by-verse or topical approach.
The Verse-Mapping Method
The verse-mapping method of Bible study allows you to study the historical context, transliteration, translation, connotation, and theological framework of a verse in the Bible. After choosing a verse (or verses) to study, do the following:
Write out your chosen verse(s).
Write them in at least two other translations (remember, you can read a verse in multiple translations using Bible Gateway’s free tools).
Circle keywords to look up in the original languages and write down the definitions, synonyms, and root words.
Explore the meaning and message of the verse or verses as you consider the people, places, and context involved, and make connections to other relevant passages and concepts in Scripture (the cross references in your Bible are ideally suited for this).
Write a 1–2 sentence summary of what you learned and consider how you can apply it.
The Topical Bible Study Method
As the name suggests, this method helps you to explore in-depth a specific topic or concept within Scripture. To put this method into practice, follow the following steps:
Choose a topic you want to explore, perhaps a theological concept or aspect of how we’re meant to live as God’s people.
Look up references to this topic (an exhaustive concordance is a helpful tool for this).
Choose the verses you wish to study.
Ask questions about the topic.
Read the verses and see how they address your questions.
Summarize your conclusions.
Write out your application.
The Character Study method
Similar to a topical study, this method focuses on a specific biblical character to learn about how God worked in and through that individual and apply what we discover to our lives. Character studies involve the following steps:
Choose the biblical character you want to study.
Find the relevant passages about him or her.
Read your passages, and consult additional Bible study tools like Bible dictionaries, to learn everything you can about this character (the trustworthy questions who, what, when, where, and how will serve you well here).
Find the application points for your life.
Many Bible Study Methods to Reach One Truth
These different Bible study methods all share the same goal: they are designed to help you better understand and live out the truth of God’s Word. Try them all and see how they help you to know, love, and obey God daily.
For more help studying the Bible, sign up for a free 14-day trial of Bible Gateway Plus and get access to dozens of resources designed to help you deepen you faith and knowledge— all for cheaper than a pack of highlighters.
![Look at the Book: Job [Infographic]](https://i0.wp.com/staticblog.bgcdn.com/learn/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/02145607/job-look.png?fit=696%2C385&ssl=1 "Look at the Book: Job [Infographic]")
![Look at the Book: Esther [Infographic]](https://i0.wp.com/staticblog.bgcdn.com/learn/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/02144745/esther-look.png?fit=696%2C455&ssl=1 "Look at the Book: Esther [Infographic]")
![Look at the Book: Nehemiah [Infographic]](https://i0.wp.com/staticblog.bgcdn.com/learn/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/02143709/nehemiah-look.png?fit=696%2C392&ssl=1 "Look at the Book: Nehemiah [Infographic]")
