There is sort of an ascending order of Bibles. Bibles without translator notes and/or notes of explanation, Bibles with those translator notes and/or possibly some notes of explanations, Bibles with the preceding plus cross-references to other scriptures that may illuminate the verse in question, Bibles with such features in somewhat expanded form, with maps and diagrams, and so on. Then, another major leap are commentaries. Usually there is a “pericope” (a few verses) of scripture then some expanded explanation by one or more authors. Then, the next level is the previous plus perhaps some homiletic notes, such as the application of that text in modern life.
The notes may be from any point of view such as: translator notes on difficult passages or alternate translations, explanations of what’s going on in that section of scripture. Then, your Bible may have essays inserted in the text of scripture (clearly delineated) or at the end of the Biblical text.
I tend to read the longer versions, in the form of commentaries. I don’t know how anybody can possibly appreciate the significance of scripture without notes explaining the meaning the text would have had in ancient times, discussing the contradictions or apparent contradictions in scripture.
At the end of Luke’s gospel, Jesus is on the road to Emmaus with two of his disciples and explains all the places in the Old Testament that refer to him – wish we would have had a transcript of that. In its place, many versions of the Bible attempt to recreate that, as best as they can. And, truly, it is the position of the Catholic Church that all scripture refers to Jesus Christ, ultimately. and, so, some footnotes or commentary on that helps a lot, I think.
Leviticus is a difficult book for many Catholics to read. I recently read a great commentary on it that makes studying that book relatively painless.
the book of Isaiah is a very complex book, now generally regarded as having been written over hundreds of years, and contains compilations of compilations of prophecies of doom and oracles of hope and restoration. A little help with that goes a long way.
Your public library may have Bible commentaries not only Catholic but Jewish and Protestant, as well. sometimes on a key point, you would be rewarded by looking around a bit, at a couple different points of view.
A previous post referenced the books by Pope Benedict, and these contain comments from protestant and Jewish scholars, usually that the pope is trying to argue against.
