Adam and Eve

In the foreground, God creates Adam and Eve. At the back left, the serpent tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, which eventually leads to the couple's expulsion from the Garden of Eden, seen on the right edge of the panel.

Cain and Abel

Adam and Eve sit with their children, Cain and Abel, in the upper left corner. The story proceeds downward, showing the boys at work in the field, farming and tending livestock. At the top right, God accepts Abel's sacrifice, but not Cain's. Out of jealousy, Cain kills Abel, shown below. At the bottom right, God curses Cain.

Noah and the Flood

In the background, Noah's ark, filled with his family and the animals, lands safely. At the bottom right, Noah makes a sacrifice to God, in thanks for for surviving the flood. The story progresses to the top right corner, where God promises Noah a rainbow. In the bottom left corner, Noah lies drunk and half-clothed, and his sons cover.

Abraham and Isaac

In the lower left corner, three angels appear to Abraham, conveying God's command that he ascend a mountain to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Abraham drops to his knees in worship while servants and a donkey remain at the foot of the mountain. Later, at the top of the craggy peak, Abraham strips Isaac and prepares to sacrifice him. However, an angel intercedes and shows Abraham a ram, which he sacrifices instead.

Isaac and His Sons, Esau and Jacob

The story of the twin brothers Jacob and Esau begins in the top right corner. Their mother, Rebecca, receives a prophecy that her elder son "will serve the younger" (a surprising suggestion in an era when the firstborn assumed the birthright, or special family privileges and rights). The narrative continues at the bottom, from left to right. Jacob, following his mother's instructions, tricks his father, Isaac, into giving the birthright to him, rather than to Esau, the first of the twins to be born.

Joseph and His Brothers

The story begins at the top right: Joseph's jealous brothers sell him to the pharaoh of Egypt. Joseph gains the admiration of the pharaoh, who makes Joseph a leader. Below, Joseph oversees the storing and distribution of grain. To the left, Joseph's youngest brother, Benjamin, is wrongfully accused of stealing a silver cup. Directly above the crowd, Joseph forgives his brothers for their wrongdoing.

Moses Receives the Ten Commandments

Moses receives two tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments on top of Mount Sinai. Below, Joshua appears halfway up the mountain, while onlookers at the bottom of the mountain marvel at the drama: the earth quakes, lightning strikes, and thunder rumbles.

Joshua Overtakes Jericho

Joshua appears in the middle of the left edge of the panel. He leads a crowd to the city of Jericho and halts at the Jordan River. On the right edge, Joshua pitches 12 tents. Across the top of the panel, people sound trumpets, and eventually the walls surrounding the city fall.

David Slays Goliath

A young David slays the enormous enemy warrior Goliath, returning with Goliath's severed head in his hand. Music plays and people sing, while others come to meet David.

King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

The story begins in the center of the panel, with Solomon greeting the queen of Sheba upon her visit to the kingdom of Israel. In the foreground and on either side of the pair, the queen's attendants look on.