There are 39 books in the Old Testament, written over a 1,500-year time period. The OT has 929 chapters and over 23,000 verses. The OT teaches us the early history of the world, and the formation of Israel as the people of God.The Old Testament is part of the holy, inspired, and inerrant Word of God. THE MOST IMPORTANT thing about the Old Testament is that it teaches us about the coming Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the World, who would suffer and die for all people.