"When we open the Old Testament we find it, first of all, a book of history. We are apt to look upon the Bible as a dictionary of doctrine, wherein we are to search for sentences as proof--texts. But instead it contains the story of redemption in the form of a history. We see how God chose a family and pruned off its dead branches and caused it to grow into a nation; then, how he trained and disciplined that nation through fifteen centuries, until upon it blossomed the Divine Man. The history of the Bible is the history of humanity, of literature, of ethics, of religion, of doctrine; and no one who studies it carefully will fail of an abundant reward for his endeavor." - Rev . Jesse L . Hurlbut "The aim of this little book is to present an outline history of God's chosen people, Israel, and to show what was their mission, how they were trained for it, and how the world was prepared to receive it. The book itself consists of ten studies, to each of which are attached a blackboard outline, questions for review, and subjects for special papers. It is designed for private study, and also for use in the classroom, and is admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is intended. Any person who will thoroughly acquaint himself with its contents will be well informed in Old Testament history. It is a book that should be studied." -The Reformed Quarterly Review, Volume 38, 1891 "Into ten studies, Dr. Hurlbut compresses much of the Old Testament history, enabling the reader by a little diligence to master it, and to understand the historic Scriptures as he never could understand them without grasping them in their wholeness and as part of the system of revelation. Definitions, explanatory notes, dates and Scripture references, with glimpses of contemporaneous history, are numerous while the arrangement is progressive and systematic. It is a very useful compilation." -The Methodist Review, Volume 73, 1891 CONTENTS Preface Chronological Table Hints to Students Hints to Teachers The Course Divided Into Lessons First Study.-The Beginnings of Bible History Second Study.-The Wandering in the Wilderness Third Study.-The Conquest of Canaan Fourth Study.-The Age of the Heroes Fifth Study.-The Rise of the Israelite Empire Sixth Study.-The Golden Age of Israel Seventh Study.-The Rival Thrones-Israel Eighth Study.-The Rival Thrones-Judah Ninth Study.-The Captivity of Judah Tenth Study.-The Jewish Province