“One of the most marked and hopeful signs of our time is the increasing attention given on all sides to the study of Holy Scripture. Those who believe and love the Bible, who have experienced its truth and power, can only rejoice at such an issue. They know that ’the Word of God liveth and abideth for ever,’ that ’not one tittle’ of it ‘shall fail;’ and that it is ‘able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.’ Accordingly they have no reason to dread the results either of scientific investigation, or of searching inquiry into ’those things which are most surely believed among us.’ For, the more the Bible is studied, the deeper will be our conviction that ’the foundation of God standeth sure.’” — Alfred Edersheim, from the Preface.

Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889), was raised Jewish. He studied at the University of Vienna and New College, Edinburgh. After finding faith in the Messiah, he was ordained in the Free Church of Scotland, and later the Church of England. His books continue to be highly influential in bringing to life the background and details of the Old Testament historical accounts. His “Church History” series is especially intended for students, young people, and anyone who desires to deepen their understanding of the Bible.

Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter knowledge needed.

Book Contents

• Preface.

• Dates of Events

• Introduction.

• Part One. The World Before the Flood, or the History of the Antediluvians

  • 1 Creation — Man in the Garden of Eden — The Fall. (Gen. 1-3)
  • 2 Cain and Abel — The Two Ways and the Two Races. (Gen. 4)
  • 3 Seth and His Descendants — The Race of Cain. (Gen. 4)
  • 4 Genealogy of the Believing Race, Through Seth. (Gen. 5)
  • 5 The Universal Corruption of Man — Preparation for the Flood. (Gen. 6)
  • 6 The Flood. (Gen. 7-8:14)

• Part Two. The History Of The Patriarchs.

  • 7 After the Flood — Noah’s Sacrifice — Noah’s Sin — Noah’s Descendants. (Gen. 8:15-9:28)
  • 8 Genealogy of Nations — Babel — Confusion of Tongues. (Gen. 10-11:10)
  • 9 The Nations and Their Religion — Job.
  • 10 The Chronology of the Early History of the Bible — Commencement of the History of God’s Dealings with Abraham and His Seed.
  • 11 The Calling of Abram — His Arrival in Canaan, and Temporary Removal to Egypt. (Gen. 11:27-13:4)
  • 12 The Separation of Abram and Lot — Abram at Hebron — Sodom Plundered — Lot Rescued — The Meeting with Melchizedek. (Gen. 13,14)
  • 13 The Twofold Promise of “A Seed” to Abraham — Ishamel — Jehovah Visits Abraham — The Destruction of Sodom — Abraham’s Sojourn at Gerar — His Covenant with Abimelech. (Gen. 15-20; 21:22-34)
  • 14 Birth of Isaac — Ishmael Sent Away — Trial of Abraham’s Faith in the Command to Sacrifice Isaac — Death of Sarah — Death of Abraham. (Gen. 21-25:18)
  • 15 The Marriage of Isaac — Birth of Esau and Jacob — Esau Sells His Birthright — Isaac at Gerar — Esau’s Marriage. (Gen. 24, 25:19-26)
  • 16 Isaac’s Blessing Obtained by Jacob Deceitfully — Esau’s Sorrow — Evil Consequences of Their Error to All the Members of the Patriarchal Family — Jacob is Sent to Laban — Isaac Renews and Fully Gives Him the Blessing of Abraham. (Gen. 27-28:9)
  • 17 Jacob’s Vision at Bethel — His Arrival at the House of Laban — Jacob’s Double Marriage and Servitude — His Flight from Haran — Pursuit of Laban, and Reconciliation with Jacob. (Gen. 28:10-35)
  • 18 Jacob at Mahanaim — The Night of Wrestling — Reconciliation Between Jacob and Esau — Jacob Settles at Shechem — Jacob Proceeds to Bethel to Pay His Vow — Death of Rachel — Jacob Settles at Hebron. (Gen. 37-39)
  • 19 Joseph’s Early Life — He is Sold by his Brethren into Slavery — Joseph in the House of Potiphar — Joseph in Prison. (Gen. 40,41; 47:13-26)
  • 20 Joseph in Prison — The Dream of Pharaoh’s Two Officers — The Dream of Pharaoh — Joseph’s Exaltation — His Government of Egypt. (Gen. 40,41,42:13-26)
  • 21 The Sons of Jacob Arrive in Egypt to Buy Corn — Joseph Recognizes his Brothers — Imprisonment of Simeon — The Sons of Jacob Come a Second Time, Bringing Benjamin with Them — Joseph Tries His Brethren — He Makes Himself Known to Them — Jacob and His Family Prepare to Descend into Egypt. (Gen. 44-45)
  • 22 Departure of Jacob and His Family into Egypt — Jacob’s Interview with Pharaoh — His Last Illness and Command to be Buried in Canaan — Adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh among the Sons of Israel. (Gen. 46-48)
  • 23 The Last Blessing of Jacob — Death of Jacob — Death of Joseph. (Gen. 49, 50)

• The End of Book 1. Continued in Book 2!

• Copyright Notice

Publication Information

• Lutheran Library edition first published: 2021
• Copyright: CC BY 4.0