The historical books of the Old Testament (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther) tell the story of the Jewish people from the time they entered Canaan; the united kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon; the division of the kingdom; and the captivity of the northern kingdom by the Assyrians and, later, of the southern kingdom by the Babylonians. The historical books end with some of the Jews in Babylon returning to Jerusalem. Included are the stories of two unique women: Ruth and Esther. The Open Your Bible Commentary was written to encourage daily Bible study. Each reading is short, but the content is rich with careful explanation, devotional warmth, and practical relevance. More than 200 daily readings let you explore all the historical books in depth. The Open Your Bible Commentary has four great strengths: * Accessible – it’s written for the average, thoughtful Christian without assuming a great deal of background, yet it is never superficial. * Digestible – it’s written so you can read a section or two a day, working your way through an entire book of the Bible in days or weeks. * Dependable – it’s written by an amazing group of scholars and trusted pastor-teachers. * Practical – it’s a rich combination of specific application and encouragement to listen to God for guidance. The commentary for each of the 12 historical books of the Old Testament is introduced by an overview, summary, outline, key themes, and relevance of that book for today.