In a chronological reading of the Old Testament, various historical periods are covered in more than one book. The harmony between Samuel+1&2Kings with 1&2Chronicles is well known. Likewise many of the prophets spoke in the same time periods, sometimes to the same king or addressed similar issues. So another way to read the Old Testament is to read these harmonious sections in two tracks.
In both tracks, you’d start with Genesis through Ruth. As you come to the time of David, you can then follow one of the tracks. Follow that track until the time of the return from Exile, when you’d finish with Ezra, Nehemiah, and other books of that period.
Specifically, here’s the “common” start for either track:
Genesis 1 – 22
Job
Genesis 23 – 50
Exodus
Psalm 90
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Psalm 91
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
Then choose one of these tracks to continue past the Judges period:
Samuel/Kings Track
I Samuel 1 – 16:13
Psalm 23
I Samuel 16:14 – 19:11, Psalm 59
I Samuel 19:12 – 21:15, Psalm 34, 56
I Samuel 22:1, 2. Psalm 57, 142
I Samuel 22:3-23, Psalm 52
I Samuel 23, Psalm 54
I Samuel 24 – 31
II Samuel 1 – 7
Psalm 30
II Samuel 8:1-14, Psalm 60
II Samuel 8:15 – 12:14, Psalm 51
II Samuel 12:15 – 15:37, Psalm 3
II Samuel 16 – 20, Psalm 64
II Samuel 21, 22, Psalm 18
II Samuel 23, 24
Psalm 4-9, 19-22, 31, 44-50, 53, 55, 58, 65, 68, 72-85, 143-145
I Kings 1 – 4
Proverbs 1-15
I Kings 5 – 11
Ecclesiastes
I Kings 12 – 22
II Kings 1 – 14:25
Jonah
II Kings 14:26-15:7
Hosea
Amos
Isaiah 1 – 6
II Kings 15:8 – 20
II Kings 21 – 25
Isaiah 7 – 66
Ezekiel
Psalm 1, 10, 43, 66, 67, 71, 89, 102, 104 – 106, 127 – 136
Chronicles Track
I Chronicles 1-10
Psalm 63
I Chronicles 11-12
Psalm 32, 69, 70
I Chronicles 13-29
Psalm 11 – 17, 24 – 29, 35 – 42, 61, 62, 86-88, 101, 103, 108 – 110, 138 – 141
II Chronicles 1
Proverbs 16-31
Song of Solomon
II Chronicles 2-21
Obadiah
II Chronicles 22-23:15
Joel
II Chronicles 23:15-28
Micah
II Chronicles 29 – 32
Nahum
II Chronicles 33, 34
Zephaniah
II Chronicles 35
Habakkuk
Jeremiah
Lamentations
II Chronicles 36:1 – 8
Daniel
II Chronicles 36:9 – 21
Psalm 137
II Chronicles 36:22, 23
Psalm 2, 33, 92 – 100, 111 – 125, 146 – 150
Finish the history with this “common” end:
Ezra 1 – 5:1
Haggai
Zechariah
Psalm 107, 126
Ezra 5:2 – 6:22
Esther
Ezra 7 – 10
Nehemiah
Malachi
This is one way to read through the Old Testament history more quickly. Your family can then read through again following the other track, reinforcing your family’s understanding of God’s work through Israel. Your family will benefit from any reading of the scripture, so consider these ideas if tackling the Old Testament has been difficult.