The second book of Kings depicts Israel as a land divided, being ruled by wicked kings who lead the Israelite people only further into idolatry and sin. Throughout this period, the prophets, notably Elijah and Elisha, bring hope for repentance and reformation by performing astounding miracles and spreading the word of God. Their efforts to lead the Israelites from their stubborn and disobedient path are chronicled in 2 Kings and, once again, God shows...

Not ony is Genesis the first book in the Bible, it is also the first of the five books of the Torah, a set of instructional and historical volumes which recount the early history of mankind and provide the list of rules under which the Hebrews lived in accordance to their covenant with God. Many of the best known biblical stories can be found in Genesis, including the story of creation, the fall of man through Adam and Eve and the Great Flood's cleansing...

The book of Nahum speaks of the prophet by the same name that was sent to the wicked city of Nineveh to prophesy of their impending doom because they had repented only temporarily and returned soon after to sin. Nahum portrays the dangers of false and inconsistent piety and faithfulness to God as well as the consequences which follow.

Romans is the first of the epistles to be penned by the Apostle Paul. As its name suggests, it was written directly to the newly founded Christian church in Rome, which was struggling to uphold the beliefs and morals of Christianity. In this book, Paul clearly lays out the doctrine of Christianity and gives illuminating instructions on how to live righteously in the midst of sin.

This book follows the Israelite people on their journey to the Promised Land and depicts their continual disobedience and rebellion towards God, despite the many signs and miracles performed through Moses. To punish them for their waywardness, God instructs the Israelites to wander the desert for forty years, and it is in this time period that Numbers was written. As its name suggests, Numbers also contains a great deal of statistical information...

The epistle of James was penned by the half-brother of Jesus, who became a pillar of the church after His death. Written to a largely Jewish audience, James strongly urges the followers of Jesus to live a holy life, and to ensure that their new faith is not in words only, but is also manifested in good deeds.

Only one chapter long, the book of Obadiah is the shortest in the Old Testament, and prophesies the destruction of Edom, the neighboring city to Judea. Obadiah warns of the dangers of pride, rebellion and sin, and reveals the vengeance of God against nations who reject Him.

Habakkuk is a short yet powerful book of the Bible that questions the presence of God during times of difficulty and suffering. Written before the Babylonian invasion of Judah, this book contains reassurances that God's hand is still present even in the midst of trying circumstances.

The book of Ezekiel was written during the Jewish exile to Babylon, as the Israelites struggled to keep their faith while surrounded by foreign customs, foods, and religions. Although there are numerous prophecies of judgment for the Israelites' pride and arrogant self-assurance, Ezekiel teaches that God's punishment is not out of cruelty, but to teach humility and repentance to a wayward nation.

The book of Haggai was written after the return of the Jews from their exile in Babylon. Surrounded by enemies and struggling to repair their lives and city, the Jewish people despair and realize their need for God's help. Haggai instructs them to rebuild their temple to restore favor with God and warns them of the consequences of attempting to succeed without His blessings.