The Bible is like the ocean: shallow enough for a child to play safely but so deep scholars can never reach its depths.This book presents an comprehensive view of Old Testament history as a foundation for reading in context and continued study. It provides three high-level overviews as well as more detailed perspectives, including events, books, and characters divided into eight time periods. Using a literal interpretation of the scriptures, the central theme of the Bible (God building His kingdom) unveils from the two-part promise made to a man: (1) "I will make of you a great nation" and (2) "in you all of the families of the earth shall be blessed," setting the stage for the Nativity.