What to Know Before Reading the Old Testament
A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the First 39 Books of the Bible
Have you ever started reading the Old Testament and found yourself completely confused?
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One minute you're reading about Abraham, the next you're learning about laws and sacrifices, and suddenly you're reading prophecies about nations you've never heard of! If you've ever felt lost while reading the Old Testament, you're definitely not alone.
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The Old Testament contains history, poetry, laws, wisdom, and prophecy. It introduces us to people who lived thousands of years ago, in cultures that looked very different from our own. But here's something important to remember: the Old Testament isn't just a collection of unrelated stories. Its books are connected, and understanding a few key things before you begin can make reading it so much easier!
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Let's explore what you should know before diving into the Old Testament. ♡
The Old Testament Isn't Completely Chronological
The Books Aren't Always Arranged in the Order Events Happened
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One of the biggest surprises for new Bible readers is discovering that the Old Testament isn't arranged entirely in chronological order.
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You might expect to start in Genesis and follow one continuous timeline all the way through Malachi, but that's not exactly how it's organized.
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Instead, the 39 books of the Protestant Old Testament are generally grouped into different categories based on their content.
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These categories include:
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Law: Genesis through Deuteronomy
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History: Joshua through Esther
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Poetry and Wisdom: Job through Song of Solomon
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Major Prophets: Isaiah through Daniel
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Minor Prophets: Hosea through Malachi
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This means that some books describe events that happened during the same periods, even though they appear in completely different parts of the Bible.
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For example, the prophet Jeremiah lived during the final years of the kingdom of Judah, a period also described in 2 Kings.
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So, if you're reading through the Old Testament from beginning to end, remember that reaching a new book doesn't always mean you've moved forward in history.
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Understanding how the books are organized can help you see where each one fits into the bigger picture.
The Culture Was Very Different
Understanding Ancient Customs Makes the Stories Easier to Follow
The Old Testament describes a world that existed thousands of years before our own.
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People lived under different governments, followed unfamiliar customs, and organized their families and communities in ways that might seem unusual today.
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For example, you may encounter marriage arrangements, inheritance practices, religious sacrifices, and family responsibilities that are very different from what we're familiar with.
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Even the geography can be confusing!
The Old Testament frequently mentions ancient cities, kingdoms, and territories that may have different names today or no longer exist in the same form.
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Understanding these cultural differences can help explain why people behaved the way they did and why certain events were so significant.
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Rather than assuming that people in the Bible lived and thought exactly like we do, try to understand their actions within the world they lived in.
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A little historical and cultural context can make a confusing passage much easier to understand!
Prophecy Is More Than Predicting the Future
The Prophets Had Messages for Their Own Generations, Too!
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When we hear the word "prophecy," we often think about predictions of future events.
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And while some Old Testament prophecies do speak about things that would happen later, predicting the future wasn't the only purpose of the prophets.
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God also sent prophets to deliver messages to the people living during their own time.
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These messages frequently included warnings about sin, calls to repentance, reminders of God's covenant, and encouragement to remain faithful.
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For example, prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos confronted injustice, idolatry, and disobedience among God's people.
They warned about the consequences of turning away from God while also reminding the people of His mercy and promises.
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Some prophetic passages concern events that were still in the future for their original audiences, while others address circumstances happening at that very moment.
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This is why understanding the historical setting of a prophetic book is so important.
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Before assuming that every prophecy is describing something that hasn't happened yet, consider who the prophet was speaking to and what was happening during that time.
The Same Events May Appear More Than Once
Different Books Sometimes Describe Overlapping Events
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Have you ever been reading the Bible and thought, "Wait a minute, didn't I already read this story?"
You probably did!
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Several Old Testament books describe overlapping historical events, sometimes emphasizing different details or perspectives.
This is especially noticeable in Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles.
For example, the reign of King David is described in both 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.
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Similarly, portions of the history of Israel's and Judah's kings appear in both Kings and Chronicles.
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Although these books sometimes describe the same events, they don't always focus on exactly the same details.
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One account might emphasize a king's political decisions or military victories, while another highlights events connected to worship, the temple, or the people's relationship with God.
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Recognizing these overlapping accounts can help you avoid confusion when familiar stories appear again.
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Instead of thinking you're reading the same information unnecessarily, remember that these accounts can help you understand the events more fully.
It's All One Connected Story
The Old Testament Reveals God's Relationship With Humanity
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With so many different books, authors, and historical periods, it can be easy to lose sight of how everything fits together.
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But the Old Testament tells an interconnected story about God, humanity, Israel, and His plan of redemption.
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It begins with the creation of the world in Genesis and introduces humanity's relationship with God.
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After humanity's fall into sin, the story continues through generations of people, eventually focusing on Abraham and the promises God made to him.
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From Abraham's family comes the nation of Israel, whose history becomes a major focus throughout the Old Testament.
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We read about God's covenant with His people, their journey out of Egypt, their settlement in the Promised Land, and the establishment of their kingdom. We also see their victories, failures, disobedience, and repeated struggles to remain faithful to God.
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Eventually, the kingdom divides, and both Israel and Judah experience conquest and exile.
Yet the story doesn't end there.
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The Old Testament also describes the return of some of God's people from exile and their efforts to rebuild their community and restore worship.
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Throughout these events, we see God's promises, His justice, His mercy, and His continuing relationship with His people.
For Christians, the Old Testament also provides the foundation for understanding Jesus Christ and the message of redemption revealed in the New Testament.
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Although the books contain many individual stories, they are all connected to a much larger biblical story.
Maps and Timelines Really Help
Understanding Where and When Events Happened Makes a Difference
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One of the easiest ways to make the Old Testament less confusing is to use maps and timelines while reading.
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Why?
Because the Old Testament covers many generations, different kingdoms, changing borders, and events that sometimes overlap.
Without a clear understanding of where and when things happened, it's easy to lose track of the story.
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A timeline can help you understand how different people and events relate to one another.
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For example, knowing that certain prophets lived during the reigns of particular kings can help you understand the circumstances behind their messages.
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Maps can be just as helpful.
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When you read about Abraham traveling to Canaan, the Israelites leaving Egypt, or the people of Judah being taken into Babylonian exile, seeing those locations on a map makes the journey easier to picture.
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You don't need to memorize every date or location!
Simply having a general understanding of the geography and historical timeline can help you connect the stories and better understand what you're reading.
Much of the Old Testament Follows Israel
Understanding Israel's History Helps Everything Make Sense
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Although the Old Testament begins with the creation of the world and the earliest generations of humanity, much of its narrative eventually focuses on the people of Israel.
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Their story begins with God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jacob, whose name was also changed to Israel, became the father of twelve sons whose descendants formed the twelve tribes of Israel.
From there, the Old Testament follows their history through several major periods.
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We read about their time in Egypt, their deliverance through Moses, and their covenant relationship with God.
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We follow their journey into the Promised Land, the period of the judges, and the establishment of the monarchy under kings such as Saul, David, and Solomon.
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After Solomon's reign, the kingdom divides into two: Israel in the north and Judah in the south.
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Both kingdoms experience periods of faithfulness and disobedience, eventually leading to conquest and exile.
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Later, some of the people of Judah return from Babylonian exile and begin rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple.
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Understanding this general progression makes it much easier to follow the historical books and recognize where the prophets fit into the story.
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The Old Testament includes many other people and nations, but Israel's relationship with God remains one of its central themes.
