Another is the story of Jonah and the people of Nineveh. God sent Jonah to tell the people of Nineveh that they would be destroyed because of their wickedness. But when they repented, God forgave them. Jonah was initially angry about this but it shows God's capacity for forgiveness in the Old Testament.
The forgiveness stories in the Old Testament teach us that mercy is a divine quality. For instance, in the story of Joseph and his brothers, Joseph's mercy towards his brothers despite their great wrong against him shows that mercy can overcome hatred. It teaches us that we should be like God and show mercy even when it's difficult.
Another example is when Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. After Jesus' resurrection, He still forgave Peter. Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times, corresponding to the three denials. By this, Jesus restored Peter, showing that no matter how great our failures, God's forgiveness is available.
One of the main themes is the relationship between God and His people. It shows how God chose the Israelites, made covenants with them, and guided them. Another theme is the concept of sin and redemption. The stories often depict the people's disobedience and God's mercy in forgiving them when they repent.
The age of the Old Testament stories is difficult to pinpoint precisely. They have been passed down and developed over a long period, likely spanning several millennia.
I'm not entirely sure specifically which '87' stories you are referring to. However, in the Old Testament, the concept of 'the beast' can be related to various symbolic or literal interpretations. For example, in the book of Daniel, there are visions of strange beasts that represent kingdoms or powers. Each beast has distinct characteristics that signify different aspects of worldly rule and its relationship with the divine.
The Exodus is a very significant event. It's when the Israelites were led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses. Another one is the creation of the world as described in the book of Genesis.