P r o v e r b s.(*): Probably the greatest psychology book ever written. A book containing much wisdom. Written B.C.E. 1000..A collection of moral and philosophical.maxims of a wide range of subjects, such as bringing up children. It impresses upon us in the most forcible manner the value of intelligence and prudence and of a good education.

Solomon is said to have written three thousand proverbs and those contained in this book are a selection from these:.1Kings 4:29-32,34. In the New Testament there are thirtyfive direct quotations from this book or allusions to it.

As to the origin of this book."It is probable that Solomon gathered and recast many proverbs which sprang from human experience in preceding ages and were floating past him on the tide of time and that he also elaborated many new ones from the material of his own experience. Towards the close of the book, indeed, are preserved some of Solomon's own sayings that seem to have fallen from his lips in later life and been gathered by other hands."....Arnot's Laws from Heaven, etc.

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E c c l e s i a s t e s.(*): means the 'preacher'. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are ranked as the wisest books ever written. Such great psychology is discovered in the words in them, written by Solomon.

Ecclesiastes was written B.C.E. 975, almost a thousand years before Emmanuel came on the scene. The writer represents himself implicitly as Solomon:.Ecclesiastes 1:12. The writer concludes by pointing out that the secret of a true life is that a man should consecrate the vigour of his youth to God. At the close of his life he recorded here his experience for the benefit of others, 

The keynote of the book is sounded in chapter 1:2."Vanity of vanities! saith the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! all is vanity!" or, all man's efforts to find happiness apart from God are without result, so learn early; why waste your life?

From.Adam Clarke's Commentary.the chapters are about: "Chapters 1-3: The vanity of life is increased by oppression; 4: by envy; 5: by idleness; Chapters 6-12: The misery of a solitary life, and the advantages of society; 13: A poor and wise child; better than an old and foolish king; 14-16: The uncertainty of popular favour."

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S o n g  O f  S o l o m o n.(*):.Written B.C.E. 1013..An erotic book of love about the passion a male/female couple can experience. Also known as the.Song of Songs.and the.Canticles.

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I s a i a h.(*): Written B.C.E. 698 Isaiah, an Old Testament prophet prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. The book of Isaiah is about the spiritual and moral deterioration of the people under Ahaz and is the frequent theme of Isaiah's prophecy. 

The book contains numerous and full prophesies concerning the coming and character, the ministry and preaching, the sufferings and death of the Messiah and the extent and continuance of his kingdom; example of a prophecy written about 740 years before Emmanuel:.Isaiah 7:14.

In the New Testament, written in Greek, the spelling for Isaiah is Esaias:.Matthew 12:17.

Chapters in Isaiah and what they cover.

Barnes Notes: "...the thirteenth to the twenty-third inclusive, have been occupied mainly in describing the destruction of nations that were hostile to the Jews or great and distressing calamities that would come to ripen them. The prophet had thus successively depicted the calamities that would come upon Babylon, Damascus, Moab, Nubia, Egypt, Dumah and Tyre.  In Isaiah 22, he had, however, described the calamities which would come upon Judea and Jerusalem by the invasion of Sennacherib. 
In chapter 24, the prophet returns to the calamities which would come upon the people of God themselves. This chapter and the three following, to the end of the twenty-seventh, seem to have been uttered about the same time."

Under the veil of the deliverance from Babylon, Isaiah points to a much greater deliverance, which was to be effected by the Messiah.

Nothing more is known of the ancestors of Isaiah than that he was the son of a man named Amoz. He prophesied in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, who all were kings of Judah. From the closing years of Uzziah to the death of Hezekiah would be from about B.C.E. 765 to 700, embracing a period of 65 years. The first verse says that the vision was concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In few words the prophecy may be said to treat of the failures of the nation of Judah and the judgments upon it. Assyria is used as God's rod of correction to them. Judgments are pronounced against the nations around the promised land.(Numbers 13:25-28).that had been enemies to God's people. The Messiah is prophesied of and His rejection and universal blessing is spoken of. 

More on the Book of Isaiah is in.The Concise Bible Dictionary.

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J e r e m i a h.(*):.Like the name 'Jesus', there was no letter 'J' till the 17th century A.D., so Jeremiah's name was actually 'yirmeyahu'. His name means 'God exalted', that is, raised up or appointed by Jehovah. Written B.C.E. 588.

And what was he raised up to do?.Jeremiah 1:4-19; 24:5-7.

Jeremiah lived about seventy years after the death of Isaiah. He was a priest, a native of Anathoth, in the tribe of Benjamin. He was contemporary with kings Josiah, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah.

He was called to the prophetic office when very young and exercised it for about forty years with great faithfulness, till the sins of the Jewish nation and the nation of Israel, led to the nation's destruction:.Jeremiah 5:15-29. Jeremiah existed when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem.(Jeremiah 37:4,5), B.C..(now called B.C.E.).589. 

The general subject of his prophecies is the idolatry and other sins of the Jews; the judgments by which they were threatened, with references to their future restoration and deliverance and promises of the Messiah. They are remarkable for plain and faithful reproofs, affectionate expostulations and awful warnings.

Jeremiah lived till the reign of Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar-II and must have been about ninety years of age at his death.

Evil-Merodach's friendly treatment of Jehoiachin the captive king of Judah, in releasing him from prison and variously distinguishing him above other captives, is mentioned to his praise:.2Kings 25:27-30; Jeremiah 52:31-34. His reign and life were cut short by a conspiracy, headed by Nergalsharezer.(Jeremiah 39:3).his sister’s husband, who succeeded him.

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L a m e n t a t i o n s  o f  J e r e m i a h.(*): Written B.C.E. 588. Jeremiah the prophet mourns over the desolation brought on the city and the holy land by Chaldeans. It is evident that Jeremiah was the author of the Lamentations which bear his name. The book was not written till after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. 

Adam Clark's Commentary:."Israel had been carried away captive and Jerusalem was become desolate. Jeremiah sat weeping. He lamented with this lamentation over Jerusalem."

Meaning of lament.