Which books of the OT should I read?

[David_Young]

This is something that has been an enigma for some time. Why is it that so many people who, at least ostensibly, regard the Bible as divinely inspired have not read it?

Something doesn’t gel here.

 

[blessedtoo]

I may read Job today just for you, blessedtoo! Thanks for the tip.

Do start a thread on it when your finished! God bless!

 

[opdsgt]

This is something that has been an enigma for some time. Why is it that so many people who, at least ostensibly, regard the Bible as divinely inspired have not read it?

Something doesn’t gel here.

Probably because they trust the Church to “read” it for them during the three year cycle of the Liturgy of the Word (assuming you go to Mass every Sunday). In any event, that’s a separate discussion IMO.

 

[stargazer257]

opdsgt,

To answer your question (late in the game and just to throw my :twocents: in); you should probably read all of them . Now more specifically, I would also highly recommend the bible timeline posted by runandsew above. This is the same list as Jeff Cavins’ Bible Timeline course/series. I am personally in 1 Kings myself following this same timeline (although I read Ruth as well - short book) and Judges (a.k.a., the time of the Judges of Israel) which you stated you skimmed was a nice bridge for me between Joshua’s time and the united kingdom years of the kings Saul, David, and Solomon.

The timeline method has done well for me in logically putting the history together, and I look forward to reading the other books not in the “timeline” to build up more depth later.

It sounds like you are on a similar path…

God Bless,

 

[lak611]

opdsgt,

To answer your question (late in the game and just to throw my :twocents: in); you should probably read all of them .

I agree. I actually have read them all. I followed the timeline type of thing first, and then read the other books. Now, I still read the Bible all the way through at least once a year; but I skim over the genealogies, censuses, and lists of tabernacle/temple furnishings. I concentrate on the more important parts that are always going to be relevant, and pay less attention to the things that are not necessary for us today.

 

[Deacon_Joseph]

I would say read Samuel 1 and 2 and Kings 1 and 2 and you really won’t need to read Chronicles 1 and 2 unless you want more details from Samuel and Kings. If you like history, Joshua, Judges and Ruth(Ruth was the great grandmother of King David). Isaiah and Jeremiah and Daniel are good prophetic books that give some historic background; and Maccabees 1 and 2. If you like litature, try Proverbs, Psalms, Job, Tobit, Ecclesiastes and Wisdom.

 

[Zooey]

The measurements for Noah’s Ark aren’t that bad. **All the details of the Tabernacle and the Temple **definitely are a cure for insomnia! The same goes for the censuses of the Tribes and the geneologies.

I agree. I actually have read them all. I followed the timeline type of thing first, and then read the other books. Now, I still read the Bible all the way through at least once a year; but I skim over the genealogies, censuses, and lists of tabernacle/temple furnishings. I concentrate on the more important parts that are always going to be relevant, and pay less attention to the things that are not necessary for us today.

And you don’t know about the brass couches either??!! Nobody does!!!
What is a brass couch? Other than very uncomfortable???

 

[lak611]

And you don’t know about the brass couches either??!! Nobody does!!!
What is a brass couch? Other than very uncomfortable???

Oh, I know enough about them that I wouldn’t want one in my apartment, and I’m glad that they aren’t in my church! Wooden pews are not the most comfortable, but they sure must be better than the brass couches!