What's in the Bible?

the long version

In this inviting resource, the history of the Jewish people unfolds. From the story of Adam and Eve and the saga of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs to the tales of the legendary King David and the brave Queen Esther, the Bible is filled with holy men and women, great leaders, wise sages, historic lovers, and personifications of evil bent on destroying the Jewish people. Each of the 39 books of the Bible - the 5 books of Moses (the Torah), the 21 books of the Prophets, and the 13 Ketuvim (Holy Writings) - are summarized so that readers of the Bible can understand the plot or story line of each book. To place the books in historical context, the author has provided a time line of biblical and Jewish history, a chronological table of the kings of Israel and Judah, and brief explanations of the prevailing social, economic, and religious conditions that motivated the writers of many books. Maps are included to help locate places mentioned in the Bible and to illustrate certain key events such as the exodus from Egypt. Following each summary, a selection of notable quotations from the book is featured. What's in the Bible? is not meant as a substitute for reading the actual texts but rather as an encouragement to its perusal and further study. Once readers have gotten a taste of what the Bible contains and feel familiar with the contents, they will feel more comfortable about delving into the "Book of Books."