HAPPY ENDINGS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

 

In reading a story, everyone likes a happy ending. At one time, my wife would not even begin reading a book until she skipped to the end to see how it all turned out. But what about the early books in the Old Testament including the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Poetry, and Wisdom Literature? Here is a quick review.

Genesis – It may close with the death of Joseph, but only after he has made the Israelites swear that they will carry his bones to be buried in the Promised Land. This is, in effect, a prophecy of what will later transpire.

Exodus – The conclusion to this book is the completion of the tabernacle, in which God's glory rests and proceeds to lead them through the wilderness to their destination in Canaan.

Leviticus – This book is not at all a narrative, but it does conclude on an appropriately celebratory note with the grand statement: “these are the commandments the LORD gave to Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.”

Numbers, not surprisingly concludes with practically the same words: “These are the commandments the LORD commanded through Moses.” With those commands in hand, the people of Israel were now totally equipped to deal with any barriers they might encounter in the future if they were faithful in obeying God's word.

Deuteronomy – This ending could have been exceedingly sad since it pictures Moses on a high hill overlooking the Promised Land which he was forbidden to enter. But the narrator softens the blow by appending a glowing review of Moses' career as the person who spoke to God face to face and was known by the unequaled signs and wonders that God performed through him.

Joshua – This book fittingly ends with a look back to the end of Genesis in that it describes the long-promised burying of Joseph's bones at Shechem.

Judges is the exception that proves the rule in that the whole book describes one long moral slide downward for the Jews. And the reason is capsulized in the final words, “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.” But in that manner, it serves as an excellent preparation for the next book of Ruth since it clearly points to what the Israelites were sadly lacking, a leader in the mold of David and his eventual son Jesus.

Ruth concludes in a touching scene with Ruth happily married and having a baby, Naomi being childless no longer, and the list of a long lineage culminating in the birth of David.

The Books of Samuel (they were originally one) have at their conclusion the odd episode in which David purchases a threshing field on which he erects an altar and sacrifices to God to stay a plague. But the true significance of this event is that this is the very spot where Solomon will later erect the Jerusalem Temple.

The Books of Kings – It is hard to find a happy ending here as the Divided Monarchy falls with the conquest of Judah by Babylon and the carrying away of its populace into slavery. But the narrator has managed to put a positive spin on the events before he concludes his narrative. He relates how Judah's last king, Jehoiachin, was released from prison and dined regularly at the Babylonian king's table. This small bright note is a sort of prophecy of the eventual return of the Jews from captivity due to the kindness of a later foreign captor.

I-II Chronicles – As a follow-up to this last fact, this extended history of the Divided Monarchy continues the story forward in time and ends with notice of King Cyrus' proclamation announcing the return of the exiles to Israel for any who wish to avail themselves of the opportunity.

Ezra ends on a high spiritual note with the apparent cleansing of all foreign elements from the returnees to Jerusalem.

Nehemiah – Unfortunately, we can read between the lines and deduce from the conclusion of this account that Ezra's cleansing attempts were incomplete and needed to be repeated under the leadership of Nehemiah in a more forceful manner.

Esther is a rags-to-riches story which concludes with the Jews' enemies being vanquished, Esther firmly established as queen, and Mordecai appointed second-in-command under the king of Persia where he intercedes for his fellow Jews.

The ending of Job is well known to everyone and happily concludes with the title character being blessed by God more than he had been at the beginning of the story.

Psalms is not exactly what would be called a narrative book. But nonetheless, though it contains much heartfelt moaning and groaning among the various hymns, the final five Psalms provide a very upbeat ending to the Psalter as they praise God for his actions and attributes.

Proverbs – This is another miscellany in many ways, but after the numerous warnings in the book, especially against loose women, it is refreshing to have it conclude with a wholly positive portrait of the virtuous wife.

Ecclesiastes – The bulk of this rather depressing book describes the many vanities of living a life “under the sun.” And toward the end in Eccles. 12:1-8, the author even treats us to the sad picture of what happens as we age and approach death with a decaying body. Fortunately, the actual conclusion in vv. 9-14 ends on a little more positive note by cautioning the audience not to worry too much about such things or drive yourself crazy trying to accumulate more and more knowledge and wisdom. Just fear God and keep His commandments, which still stands as excellent advice to ourselves today.

Song of Songs – Dobbs-Allsopp says, “The concluding poem of the sequence, fittingly, ends on a note of expectation and anticipation.” I have some problems with that assessment since it really ends with the lovers being separated after having been together intimately earlier. In my mind, this is one book of the Bible in which the happy ending actually comes at its exact literary center (around 5:1) at the point where the couple's union is blessed by God. If you would like more details demonstrating that contention, see my post “Song of Songs: Introduction to the Literary Structure.”

I will not continue this brief review of OT endings into the prophetic books since most of them are a mixture of cursing of foreign nations, denunciation of Israel's behavior, and future hope for the Jews some time in the future. And what is a happy ending for Israel often means disaster for the other nations, and vice versa.