Best of the Old Testament

I am trying to organize a study group for the Old Testament based on weekly readings, and I came up with the schedule below. Do you think I covered the best of the Old Testament in this list?

Week 1: Genesis 1-4
Week 2: Genesis 6-9
Week 3: Genesis 11-14
Week 4: Genesis 15-17
Week 5: Genesis 18-21
Week 6: Genesis 22-25
Week 7: Genesis 26-29
Week 8: Genesis 30-33
Week 9: Genesis 34-35,37-38
Week 10: Genesis 39-42
Week 11: Genesis 43-46
Week 12: Genesis 47-50
Week 13: Exodus 1-4
Week 14: Exodus 5-8
Week 15: Exodus 9-12
Week 16: Exodus 13-16
Week 17: Exodus 17-20
Week 18: Exodus 21-24
Week 19: Exodus 31-34
Week 20: Leviticus 11-13
Week 21: Leviticus 18-20
Week 22: Leviticus 24-27
Week 23: Numbers 11-14
Week 24: Numbers 15-16,20
Week 25: Numbers 21-24
Week 26: Numbers 25,27,30-31
Week 27: Numbers 32,34-36
Week 28: Deuteronomy 1-4
Week 29: Deuteronomy 5-8
Week 30: Deuteronomy 9-12
Week 31: Deuteronomy 13-16
Week 32: Deuteronomy 17-20
Week 33: Deuteronomy 21-24
Week 34: Deuteronomy 25-27
Week 35: Deuteronomy 28-30
Week 36: Deuteronomy 31-34
Week 37: Judges 13-16
Week 38: Ruth 1-4
Week 39: 1 Samuel 8,17, 2 Samuel 11-12
Week 40: Proverbs 1-4
Week 41: Proverbs 5-7
Week 42: Proverbs 8-9,31
Week 43: Ecclesiastes 1-3,12
Week 44: Isaiah 1-4
Week 45: Isaiah 5,42,56
Week 46: Micah 6-7, Ezekiel 20,33
Week 47: Jeremiah 1-3
Week 48: Jeremiah 7,23,35
Week 49: Jonah 1-4
Week 50: Esther 1-3
Week 51: Esther 4-6
Week 52: Esther 7-10

dazed said:

For a more balanced points of view, you might add some not so great parts of the OT. Teach the controversy.

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Do you have any specific suggestions?

Nickybobby said:

It looks like a lot is missing. Song of Solomon and Daniel?

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What would you have me remove to make room for these? I picked sections that I thought would make for good discussion. The Song of Solomon is love poetry which is fine reading for those who like poetry (I don't) but I am not sure what there would be to discuss. Daniel is a story but, to be honest, I don't see much point to this story. Does it teach anything new or interesting?

seashale76 said:

You could cover all of the Old Testament.

Here's a yearly OT lectionary (it's the last one on the page) you could use to help divide it up more to your liking. It also includes deuterocanon (which I think is too interesting to leave out).

One-year NRSV Bible Reading Plans

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Thanks but I am aiming for a weekly group covering at most 4 chapters per week. Of course I have read all of the Bible including the Apocrypha. But I am aiming for something like the Jewish parsha system, that is manageable for most people in a year.

alien444 said:

These are two of my personal favorites.

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You should be pleased to know that both are included in my list. Just so that you understand my perspective, there is nothing in this world that I despise more than modern culture.

cloudyday2 said:

What is the purpose of the study group?

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I am looking for people who are interested in understanding and following the ethical ideas of the Old Testament. I don't much care what they believe. My interest is in morality. I plan to organize one group online and another locally.

My favorite OT books/stories are:
Genesis: Garden of Eden, Noah's Ark, Tower of Babel, Melchizedek
Numbers: Balaam's Donkey
Judges
Ruth
Ecclesiastes
Isaiah (inspiring portions only)
Daniel
Jonah

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From this list, I am missing Judges and Daniel. Judges is just too long to fit in, though I included the story of Samson because it is famous. I discussed Daniel in this thread already, but I am curious to know if you are leaning towards Christianity which would explain your interest in Daniel. If you aren't leaning towards Christianity, I would like to understand what you like about Daniel.