READING THRU THE
OLD TESTAMENT?
(Recent Posts)
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Made in Elements
(Recent Posts)
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It is easy to read the opinions of others in a Bible study guide. But the real value (blessing) of the Bible comes primarily through reading and pondering the Bible text itself.
Judges - May 24, 2026
Judges:
Watch a Bible Project video about Judges
: The Continuing Conquest of Canaan … Failure to Complete the Conquest
2: Israel’s Disobedience … The Death of Joshua … Israel’s Unfaithfulness …The LORD Raises Up Judges
3: Othniel …Ehud … Shamgar
4: Deborah and Barak
5: Song of Deborah and Barak
6: Midian Opresses Israel … Call of Gideon … Gideon Destroys the Altar of Baal … Sign of the Fleece
7: Gideon’s Three Hundred Men … Gideon Defeats Midian
8: Gideon Defeats Zebah and Zalmunna … Gideon’s Ephod … Death of Gideon
9: Abimelech’s Conspiracy … Downfall of Abimelech
10: Tola and Jair … Further Disobedience and Oppression
11: Jephthah Delivers Israel … Jephthah’s Tragic Vow
12: Jephthah’s Conflict with Ephraim … Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
13: Birth of Samson
14: Samson’’s Marriage
15: Samson Defeats the Philistines
16: Samson and Delilah … Death of Samson
17: Micah and the Levite
18: Dante’s Take the Levite and the Idol
19: A Levite and His Concubine … Gibeah’s Crime
20: Israel’s War with the Tribe of Benjamin
21: Wives Provided for the Tribe of Benjamin
Ponder:
? What is the significance of the fact that God calls and uses leaders of different character traits?
? How does God decide what kind of leaders to give His people? (What they need or what they deserve or something else?
? How faithful to God were the people under their various leaders?
? What do these “Judges” reveal about the common idea that “If we had better leaders we would be better people?”
Joshua, May 17, 2026
Read Joshua:
Watch a Bible Project video about Joshua
1: God Commissions Joshua … Joshua Assumes Command
2: Rehab Hides the Spies
3: Israel Crosses the Jordan
4: Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan
5: The New Generation Circumcised … First Passover in Canaan … The Commander of the LORD’s Army
6: The Fall of Jericho
7: Israel Defeated at Ai … The Sin of Achan
8: The Fall of Ai … Joshua Renews the Covenant
9: The Gibeonite Deception
10: The Sun Stands Still … Five Amorite Kings Executed … Conquest of Southern Canaan
11: Conquests of Northern Canaan
12: Kings Defeated by Moses … Kings Defeated by Joshua
13: Land Still to be Conquered … Inheritance East of the Jordan
14: Inheritance West of the Jordan … Caleb’s Request and Inheritance
15: The Allotment for Judah
16: The Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh
17:
18: Allotment of the Remaining Land … The Inheritance for Benjamin
19: The Inheritance for Simeon … for Zebulun … for Issachar … for Asher … for Naphtali … for Dan … for Joshua
20: The Cities of Refuge
21: Cities and Pasturelands Allotted to Levi
22: The Eastern Tribes Return Home … The Eastern Tribes Altar of Witness
23: Joshua’s Charge to Israel’s Leaders
24: The Covenant Renewal at Shechem … Choose Whom You Will Serve … Joshua’s Death and Burial
Ponder:
? In what ways were the people who entered the Promised land different from those who left Egypt? In what ways were they similar?
? Was God’s approach to Israel changed or different?
? What might be the significance of God allowing specific areas to each of the tribes of Israel?
? How did the experiences of the Jews prompt them to long for a Messiah?
? In what ways were the Israelites challenges similar to our challenges in faithfully following God?
Deuteronomy - May 10, 2026
Read Deuteronomy 1-34
Watch a Bible Project video about Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy Chapter and section headings:
1: The Command to Leave Horeb … Leaders Appointed … Israel’s Refusal to Enter the Land … The Penalty for Israel’s Rebellion
2: The Wilderness Years … Defeat of King Sihon
3: The Defeat of King Og … Moses Forbidden to Enter the Land
4: Moses Commands Obedience … Idolatry Forbidden … The LORD Alone is God … Cities of Refuge … Introduction to the Law
5: The Ten Commandments
6: The Greatest Commandment
7: A Chosen People
8: Remember the LORD Your God
9: Not Because of Righteousness …The Golden Calf
10: New Tablets of Stone … Circumcise Your Heart
11: Love and Serve the LORD
12: The LORD’s Chosen Place of Worship … Warning Against Idolatry 13:
14: Clean and Unclean Food … Tithes
15: The Sabbatical Year
16: Passover … The Feast of Weeks … The Feast of Booths … Justice … Forbidden Forms of Worship
17: Legal Decisions by Priests and Judges … Laws Concerning Israel’s Kings
18: Provision for Priests and Levites … Abominable Practices … A New Prophet like Moses
19: Laws Concerning Cities of Refuge … Property Boundaries… Laws Concerning Witnesss
20: Laws Concerning Warfare
21: Atonement for Unsolved Murders … Marrying Female Captives … Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn … A Rebellious Son … A Man Hanged On a Tree is Cursed
22: Various Laws … Laws Concerning Sexual Immorality
23: Those Excluded from the Assembly … Uncleanness in the Camp … Miscellaneous Laws
24: Laws Concerning Divorce … Miscellaneous Laws
25: Laws Concerning Levirate Marriage … Miscellaneous Laws
26: Offerings of Firstfruits and Tithes
27: The Altar on Mount Ebal … Curses from Mount Ebal
28: Blessings for Obedience … Curses for Disobedience
29: The Covenant Renewed at Moab
30: Repentance and Forgiveness … The Choice of Life and Death
31: Joshua to Succed Moses … The Reading of the Law … Joshua Commissioned to Lead Israel
32: The Song of Moses … Moses’ Death Foretold
33: Moses’ Final Blessing on Israel
34: The Death of Moses
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Ponder:
? What does Deuteronomy teach us about human nature? (Our nature?)
? What was God wanting to do with the Jew? (With us)
? What does Deuteronomy teach us about God’s nature? (Jesus’ nature?)
? What hindered the Jews from following God more closely? (Don’t just answer “sin”)
? What resources was God giving the Jews to help them follow Him? How were their resources similar or different from ours?
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Numbers 1-36 - May 3, 2026
Read Numbers 1-36
Watch a Bible Project video about Numbers
Numbers Chapter and section headings:
1: A Census of Israel’s Warriors … Levites Exempted
2: Arrangement of the Camp
3: The Sons of Aaron … Duties of the Levites … Redemption of the Firstborn
4: Duties of the Kohathites
5: Unclean People … Confession and Restitution … A Test for Adultery
6: The Nazirite Vow … Aaron’s Blessing
7: Offering at the Tabernacle’s Consecration
8: The Seven Lamps … Cleansing of the Levites … Retirement of the Levites
9: The Passover Celebrated … The Cloud Covering the Tabernacle
10: The Silver Trumpets … Israel Leaves Sinai
11: The People Complain … Elders Appointed to Aid Moses … Quail and a Plague
12: Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses
13: Spies Sent into Canaan
14: The People Rebel … Moses Intercedes for the People… God Promises Judgment … Israel Defeated in Battle
15: Laws About Sacrifices … Laws About Unintentional Sins … A Sabbathbreaker Executed … Tassels on Garments
16: Korah’s Rebellion
17: Aaron’s Staff Buds
18: Duties of Priests and Levites
19: Laws of Purification
20: The Death of Miriam …The Waters of Meribah … Moses Strikes the Rock …. Edpm Refuses Passage … The Death of Aaron
21: Arad Destroyed … The Bronze Serpent … The Song of the Well … King Sihon Defeated … King Og Defeated
22: Balak Summons Balaam … Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel
23: Balaam’s First Oracle … Balaam’s Second Oracle
24: Balaam’s Third Oracle … Balaam’s Final Oracle
25: Baal Worship at Peor … The Zeal of Phinehas
26: Census of the New Generation
27: The Daughters of Zelophehad … Joshua to Succeed Moses
28: Daily Offerings … Sabbath Offerings … Monthly Offerings …Passover Offerings … Offerings for the Feast of Weeks
29: Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets … Offerings for the Day of Atonement … Offerings for the Feast of Booths
30: Men and Vows … Women and Vows
31: Vengeance on Midian
32: Reuben and Gad Settle in Gilead
33: Recounting Israel’s Journey … Drive Out the Inhabitants
34: Boundaries of the Land … List of Tribal Chiefs
35: Cities for the Levites … Cities of Refuge
36: Marriage of Female Heirs
Ponder:
? As God was leading His people to the Promised Land, what part of their covenants did the people keep or not keep?
? Why did God continue to rescue and lead the Israelites?
? Why did God continually give His people instructions that they did not follow faithfully?
? How are we like or unlike the Israelites of Moses day?
Leviticus 1-27 - April 26, 2026
Read Leviticus 1-27
Watch a Bible Project video about Leviticus
Chapter and section headings:
1: Laws for Burnt Offerings
2: Laws for Grain Offerings
3: Laws for Peace Offerings
4: Laws for Sin Offerings
5: Laws for Guilt Offerings
6: 7: 8: Consecration of Aaron and His Sons
9: The LORD Accepts Aaron’s Offering
10: The Death of Nadab and Abihu
11: Clean and Unclean Animals
12: Purification After Childbirth
13: Laws About Leprosy
14: Laws for Cleansing Lepers … Laws for Cleansing Houses1
5: Laws About Bodily Discharges
16: The Day of Atonement
17: The Place of Sacrifice … Laws Against Eating Blood
18: Unlawful Sexual Relations
19: The LORD Is Holy … Love Your Neighbor as Yourself … You Shall Keep My Statutes
20: Punishment for Child Sacrifice … Punishment for Sexual Immorality … You Shall Be Holy
21: Holiness and the Priests
22: Acceptable Offerings
23: Feasts of The LORD … The Sabbath … The Passover … The Feast of Firstfruits … The Feast of Weeks … The Feast of Trumpets … The Day of Atonement … The Feast of Booths
24: The Lamps … Bread for the Tabernacle … Punishment for Blasphemy … An Eye for an Eye
25: The Sabbath Year … The Year of Jubilee … Redemption of Property … Kindness for Poor Brothers … Redeeming a Poor Man
26: Blessings for Obedience … Punishment for Disobedience
27: Laws About Vows
Ponder:
? Did offering a sacrifice make a person forgiven or holy? What is the difference?
? Are there any temple ordinances other than sacrifices for sin prescribed in Leviticus?
? What does it mean when we try to replace the Old Testament laws and sacrifices with other rules and ordinances seeking to please God and earn His blessings?
? What kind of sacrifice could make all the temple sacrifices of Leviticus obsolete?
Exodus 35-40 - April 26, 2026
Read Exodus 35-40
Chapter and section headings:
35: Sabbath Regulations ... Contributions for the Tabernacle ... Construction of the Tabernacle ... 36:
37: Making the Ark ,.. Making the Table ... Making the Lampstand ... Making the Altar of Incense
38: Making the Altar of Burnt Offering ... Making the Bronze Basin ... Making the Court ... Materials for the Tabernacle
39: Making the Priestly Garments
40: The Tabernacle Erected
Ponder:
? Why are the construction directions for the Tabernacle so specific and detailed?
? Why was there only one Tabernacle? Why didn’t each Jewish Tribe build their own?
? What was God wanting the Jews to see, think and feel as they went to the Tabernacle again and again?
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Exodus 19-34 - Apr 19, 2026
Read Exodus 19-34
Watch a Bible Project video about Exodus
Chapter and section headings:
19: Israel at Mt Sinai
20: The Ten Commandments ... Laws About Altars
21: Laws About Slaves ... Laws About Restitution
22: ... Laws About Social Justice
23: ... Laws About the Sabbath and Festivals ... Conquest of Canaan Promised
24: The Covenant Confirmed
25: Contributions for the Sanctuary ... The Ark of the Covenant ... The Table for Bread ... The Golden Lampstand
26: The Tabernacle
27: The Bronze Altar ... The Court of the Tabernacle ... Oil for the Lamp
28: The Priests' Garments
29: Consecration of Priests
30: The Altar of Incense ... The Census Tax ... ... The Bonze Basin ... The Anointing Oil and Incense
31: Oholiab and Bezalel ... The Sabbath
32: The Golden Calf
33: The Command to Leave Sinai ... The Tent of Meeting ... Moses' Intercession
34: Moses Makes New Tablets ... The Covenant Renewed ... The Shining Face of Moses
Ponder:
? What motivated God to call the Israelite people His own and rescue them from their bondage in Egypt?
? In what ways were the Israelites obedient to God?
? What motivated them to obey? What motivated the Israelites to disobey God? How are these motivations related?
? What should we carefully think about regarding our own commitments (covenants, obedience) to God? What is the object and purpose of our obedience? What if our own blessing is our primary motive?