<P> The Old Testament (sometimes abbreviated OT) is the first section of the two - part Christian Biblical canon and is based on the Hebrew Bible but can include several Deuterocanonical books or Anagignoskomena depending on the particular Christian denomination . For a full discussion of these differences, see Books of the Bible . </P> <P> Following Jerome's principle of Veritas Hebraica (Latin for "Hebrew truth"), the Protestant Old Testament consists of the same books as the Hebrew Bible, but the order and numbering of the books are different . Protestants number the Old Testament books at 39, while Jews number the same books as 24 . This is because Jews consider Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles to form one book each, group the 12 minor prophets into one book, and also consider Ezra and Nehemiah a single book . </P> <P> The traditional explanation of the development of the Old Testament canon describes two sets of Old Testament books, the protocanonical books and the deuterocanonical books (the latter considered non-canonical by Protestants). According to this theory, certain Church fathers accepted the inclusion of the deuterocanonical books based on their inclusion in the Septuagint (most notably Augustine), while others disputed their status and did not accept them as divinely inspired scripture (most notably Jerome). </P> <Table> Books of the Old Testament <Tr> <Td> The Pentateuch or Torah <P> Common to Judaism, Samaritanism and Christianity (excepting the minority of Protestant denominations sometimes called New Testament only Christians which reject the "Old Testament") </P> <Ul> <Li> Genesis </Li> <Li> Exodus </Li> <Li> Leviticus </Li> <Li> Numbers </Li> <Li> Deuteronomy </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Common to Judaism and Christianity but excluded by Samaritans <Ul> <Li> Joshua </Li> <Li> Judges </Li> <Li> Ruth </Li> <Li> 1--2 Samuel </Li> <Li> 1--2 Kings </Li> <Li> 1--2 Chronicles </Li> <Li> Ezra </Li> <Li> Nehemiah </Li> <Li> Esther </Li> <Li> Job </Li> <Li> Psalms </Li> <Li> Proverbs </Li> <Li> Ecclesiastes </Li> <Li> Song of Solomon </Li> <Li> Isaiah </Li> <Li> Jeremiah </Li> <Li> Lamentations </Li> <Li> Ezekiel </Li> <Li> Daniel </Li> <Li> Minor prophets <Ul> <Li> Hosea </Li> </Ul> </Li> </Ul> <Dl> <Dd> <Ul> <Li> Joel </Li> <Li> Amos </Li> <Li> Obadiah </Li> <Li> Jonah </Li> <Li> Micah </Li> <Li> Nahum </Li> <Li> Habakkuk </Li> <Li> Zephaniah </Li> <Li> Haggai </Li> <Li> Zechariah </Li> <Li> Malachi </Li> </Ul> </Dd> </Dl> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Included by Catholics, Orthodox, but excluded by Jews, Samaritans and most Protestants: <Ul> <Li> Tobit </Li> <Li> Judith </Li> <Li> 1 Maccabees </Li> <Li> 2 Maccabees </Li> <Li> Wisdom (of Solomon) </Li> <Li> Sirach </Li> <Li> Baruch, includes Letter of Jeremiah (Additions to Jeremiah) </Li> <Li> Additions to Daniel </Li> <Li> Additions to Esther </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Included by Orthodox (Synod of Jerusalem): <Ul> <Li> 1 Esdras (see Esdras for other names) </Li> <Li> 3 Maccabees </Li> <Li> 4 Maccabees (listed but not canonical) </Li> <Li> Prayer of Manasseh </Li> <Li> Psalm 151 </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Included by Russian and Ethiopian Orthodox: <Ul> <Li> 2 Esdras </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Included by Ethiopian Orthodox: <Ul> <Li> Jubilees </Li> <Li> Enoch </Li> <Li> 1--3 Meqabyan </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Included by Syriac Peshitta Bible: <Ul> <Li> Psalms 152--155 </Li> <Li> 2 Baruch </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

What council decided on the books of the bible