Looking Forward to the Old Testament
There’s a lot to look forward to in the Old Testament. One thing is the stories like old friends.
Simple, vivid, told in the beautiful poetic language of the King James’ Version, delighting children… and me.
The Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel, Noah, Sarah and Isaac, Abraham and Isaac, Rebekah and the servant, Jacob and Esau, Jacob and Rachel/Leah, Jacob wrestling with the Lord,
Joseph and the coat of many colors, Joseph and Potiphar’s wife, Joseph interpreting the dreams, Joseph and his brothers, Moses and the bullrushes–the burning bush–the ten plagues–the red sea–too many stories from Moses, Joshua and the battle of Jericho, Gideon, David, Solomon, Elijah…. I’ve left off so many.
We wrestle with these like Jacob wrestled the Lord–why did Isaac favor Esau and why did Rebekah lie to Isaac and so on–because they are so vivid and real. It is easy to wrestle down abstractions.
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Rozy
January 9, 2026
I love the Old Testament too. My sister asked me what my favorite story is. If I could time travel I’d love to go back and see Elijah and the Priests of Baal. I know miracles happen today, but what a spectacle!!
Annie
January 9, 2026
I find myself torn between loving the old familiar and beautiful Early Modern English poetic language (Hail Shakespeare!) and wanting to be sure I understand the meaning.
I bought the Robert Alter translation of The Hebrew Bible a while back, which I haven’t spent much time in so far. I think I will bring it out and use it in my study this year.