Judges 13-14 opens the Samson cycle with one of the most striking contrasts in the whole book.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/judges/judges-13-14-samsons-birth-and-early-compromise

Judges 15-16 carries Samson's story from violent strength to humiliating bondage and finally to death.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/judges/judges-15-16-samsons-strength-bondage-and-death

Judges 17-18 is one of the most revealing sections in the whole book because there is almost no heroic action in it.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/judges/judges-17-18-micah-the-levite-and-danite-idolatry

Judges 19 is one of the most painful chapters in all of Scripture, and it must be taught with sobriety, clarity, and pastoral care.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/judges/judges-19-gibeah-and-the-desecration-of-the-covenant-people

Judges 20-21 brings the book to its bleakest public conclusion.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/judges/judges-20-21-civil-war-bitter-victory-and-the-wound-of-benjamin

2 Samuel tells the story of David’s kingdom, but it refuses to flatter David.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/2-samuel/2-samuel-general-introduction

2 Samuel opens with grief, not triumph. David receives the news that Saul and Jonathan are dead, and the first thing Scripture shows us is not David claiming the throne but David tearing his garments, fasting, weeping, judging opportunistic violence, and teaching Judah how to lament.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/2-samuel/2-samuel-1-david-laments-saul-and-jonathan

These chapters show the kingdom slowly turning toward David, but Scripture refuses to make the road look clean.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/2-samuel/2-samuel-2-4-a-divided-kingdom-and-the-cost-of-ambition

2 Samuel 5 is the chapter of arrival, but it is not a chapter of self-made success.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/2-samuel/2-samuel-5-david-anointed-king-and-jerusalem-taken

2 Samuel 6 is one of the Bible’s clearest lessons on holy joy and holy fear.

Read and follow along: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.com/bible-studies/old-testament/2-samuel/2-samuel-6-the-ark-comes-to-zion