Synopsis

of the

Books of the Bible

By J. N. Darby

==========================

Volume I

Genesis—2 Chronicles

==========================

Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.

New York

Revised Edition, November 1942

Second Edition, January 1950

Contents

———

INTRODUCTION

GENESIS

EXODUS

LEVITICUS

NUMBERS

DEUTERONOMY

JOSHUA

JUDGES

RUTH

1 SAMUEL

2 SAMUEL

1 KINGS

2 KINGS

1 CHRONICLES

2 CHRONICLES

Preface

* * *

The following Synopsis was originally written and published in French, at the desire and more immediately for the use of Christians speaking that language. It has been already translated into English, and introduced, Book by Book, into a religious publication appearing from time to time. It has been thought desirable to give it as a whole.

The Synopsis of the Book of Genesis, which was felt to be too brief, has been considerably enlarged; and the whole revised and corrected, but without any material change.

In the original publication the review of that part of Leviticus which treats of the sacrifices which prefigured that of Christ, had been omitted, as such a review had been already published long ago in “Notes on the Offerings,” and more fully in French in “Les Types du Lévitique,” since then translated into English also. To complete the Synopsis now published, this last tract has been, after revisal, introduced into the present work, of which it naturally formed a part.

A few words only are needed to introduce the reader to the present publication. He is not to expect a commentary, nor, on the other hand, to suppose that he has a book which he can read without referring continually to the Word itself in the part treated of. The object of the book is to help a Christian, desirous of reading the word of God with profit, in seizing the scope and connection of that which it contains. Though a commentary may doubtless aid the reader in many passages in which God has given to the commentator to understand in the main the intention of the Spirit of God, or to furnish philological principles and information, which facilitate to another the discovery of that intention; yet if it pretend to give the contents of scripture, or if he who uses it seeks these in its remarks, such commentary can only mislead and impoverish the soul. A commentary, even if always right, can at most give what the commentator has himself learned from the passage. The fullest and wisest must be very far indeed from the living fulness of the divine word. The Synopsis now presented has no pretension of the kind. Deeply convinced of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, given to us of God, and confirmed in this conviction by daily and growing discoveries of their fulness, depth, and perfectness; ever more sensible, through grace, of the admirable perfection of the parts, and the wonderful connection of the whole, the writer only hopes to help the reader in the study of them.

The Scriptures have a living source, and living power has pervaded their composition: hence their infiniteness of bearing, ...