Old Testament Retention Bible Plan

Do you have difficutly remembering major details of the Old Testament? If so this Bible reading plan was designed with you in mind!

And if not, “well fine, I guess you have a good memory then…”

This plan utilizes what is referred to as “spaced-repetition” to help improve retention. You read the Bible in historical sections: roughly three new chapters a day and then you briefly reread the previous day’s three chapters so the storyline remains clear in your mind.

Chapters from wisdom literature are also mixed in regularly — especially after the historical book/section is completed for that month — to help give you a break from the more detail/fact heavy passages.

The plan divides each of the historical books of the Old Testament up into two-three larger sections. After you complete one of the sections you spend a day reviewing/recapping. This involves doing things like: thinking through the storyline of the chapters, writing a brief summary, etc.

MONTH 1 — GENESIS + JOB

Day 1 — Gen 1–3 | Ps 1–2
Day 2 — Gen 4–6 | R: Gen 1–3
Day 3 — Gen 7–9 | R: Gen 4–6
Day 4 — Gen 10–12 | R: Gen 7–9
Day 5 — Gen 13–15 | R: Gen 10–12
Day 6 — Gen 16–18 | R: Gen 13–15
Day 7 — Gen 19–21 | R: Gen 16–18
Day 8 — Gen 22–23 | R: Gen 19–21
Day 9 — Gen 24–25 | R: Gen 22–23
Day 10 — Recap Gen 1–25

Day 11 — Gen 26–28
Day 12 — Gen 29–31 | R: Gen 26–28
Day 13 — Gen 32–34 | R: Gen 29–31
Day 14 — Gen 35–37 | R: Gen 32–34
Day 15 — Gen 38–40 | R: Gen 35–37
Day 16 — Gen 41–42 | R: Gen 38–40
Day 17 — Gen 43–45 | R: Gen 41–42
Day 18 — Gen 46–47 | R: Gen 43–45
Day 19 — Gen 48–50 | R: Gen 46–47
Day 20 — Recap Gen 26–50

Day 21 — Job 1–2
Day 22 — Job 3–5
Day 23 — Job 6–8
Day 24 — Job 9–11
Day 25 — Job 12–14
Day 26 — Job 15–18
Day 27 — Job 19–21
Day 28 — Job 22–27
Day 29 — Job 28–31
Day 30 — Job 32–36

Day 30 — Job 37-42

MONTH 2 — EXODUS + LEVITICUS

Day 1 — Ex 1–3 | Ps 3–4
Day 2 — Ex 4–6 | R: Ex 1–3
Day 3 — Ex 7–9 | R: Ex 4–6
Day 4 — Ex 10–12 | R: Ex 7–9
Day 5 — Ex 13–15 | R: Ex 10–12
Day 6 — Ex 16–18 | R: Ex 13–15
Day 7 — Ex 19–21 | R: Ex 16–18
Day 8 — Ex 22–24 | R: Ex 19–21
Day 9 — Recap Ex 1–24

Day 10 — Ex 25–27
Day 11 — Ex 28–30 | R: Ex 25–27
Day 12 — Ex 31–33 | R: Ex 28–30
Day 13 — Ex 34–36 | R: Ex 31–33
Day 14 — Ex 37–39 | R: Ex 34–36
Day 15 — Ex 40 | R: Ex 37–39
Day 16 — Recap Ex 25–40

Day 17 — Lev 1–3 | Ps 5–6
Day 18 — Lev 4–6 | R: Lev 1–3
Day 19 — Lev 7–9 | R: Lev 4–6
Day 20 — Lev 10–12 | R: Lev 7–9
Day 21 — Lev 13–15 | R: Lev 10–12
Day 22 — Lev 16–18 | R: Lev 13–15
Day 23 — Lev 19–21 | R: Lev 16–18
Day 24 — Lev 22–24 | R: Lev 19–21
Day 25 — Lev 25–27 | R: Lev 22–24
Day 26 — Recap Leviticus

Day 27 — Ps 7–9
Day 28 — Ps 10–12
Day 29 — Ps 13–15
Day 30 — Ps 16–18

MONTH 3 — NUMBERS + DEUTERONOMY

Day 1 — Num 1–3 | Ps 19–20
Day 2 — Num 4–6 | R: Num 1–3
Day 3 — Num 7–9 | R: Num 4–6
Day 4 — Num 10–12 | R: Num 7–9
Day 5 — Num 13–15 | R: Num 10–12
Day 6 — Num 16–18 | R: Num 13–15
Day 7 — Num 19–21 | R: Num 16–18
Day 8 — Num 22–23 | R: Num 19–21
Day 9 — Num 24–25 | R: Num 22–23
Day 10 — Recap Num 1–25

Day 11 — Num 26–28
Day 12 — Num 29–31 | R: Num 26–28
Day 13 — Num 32–34 | R: Num 29–31
Day 14 — Num 35–36 | R: Num 32–34
Day 15 — Recap Num 26–36

Day 16 — Deut 1–3 | Ps 21–22
Day 17 — Deut 4–6 | R: Deut 1–3
Day 18 — Deut 7–9 | R: Deut 4–6
Day 19 — Deut 10–11 | R: Deut 7–9
Day 20 — Recap Deut 1–11

Day 21 — Deut 12–14
Day 22 — Deut 15–17 | R: Deut 12–14
Day 23 — Deut 18–20 | R: Deut 15–17
Day 24 — Deut 21–23 | R: Deut 18–20
Day 25 — Deut 24–26 | R: Deut 21–23
Day 26 — Deut 27–29 | R: Deut 24–26
Day 27 — Deut 30–31 | R: Deut 27–29
Day 28 — Deut 32–34 | R: Deut 30–31
Day 29 — Recap Deut 12–34
Day 30 — Ps 23–26

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL MONTH:
If trying to improve retention even more reread the Torah (Genesis — Deuteronomy) without repeating anything.
6–7 chapters a day will get you through the entire Torah in one month.

MONTH 4 — JOSHUA + JUDGES + RUTH

Day 1 — Josh 1–3 | Ps 27–28
Day 2 — Josh 4–6 | R: Josh 1–3
Day 3 — Josh 7–9 | R: Josh 4–6
Day 4 — Josh 10–12 | R: Josh 7–9
Day 5 — Josh 13–15 | R: Josh 10–12
Day 6 — Josh 16–18 | R: Josh 13–15
Day 7 — Josh 19–21 | R: Josh 16–18
Day 8 — Josh 22–24 | R: Josh 19–21
Day 9 — Recap Joshua

Day 10 — Judg 1–3 | Ps 29–31
Day 11 — Judg 4–6 | R: Judg 1–3
Day 12 — Judg 7–8 | R: Judg 4–6
Day 13 — Judg 9–11 | R: Judg 7–8
Day 14 — Judg 12–14 | R: Judg 9–11
Day 15 — Judg 15–17 | R: Judg 12–14
Day 16 — Judg 18–19 | R: Judg 15–17
Day 17 — Judg 20–21 | R: Judg 18–19
Day 18 — Recap Judges

Day 19 — Ruth 1–4
Day 20 — Recap Ruth

Day 21 — Ps 32–34
Day 22 — Ps 35–37
Day 23 — Ps 38–40
Day 24 — Ps 41–43
Day 25 — Ps 44–46
Day 26 — Ps 47–49
Day 27 — Ps 50–52
Day 28 — Ps 53–55
Day 29 — Ps 56–58
Day 30 — Ps 59–61

MONTH 5 — SAMUEL

Day 1–1Sam 1–3 | Ps 62–64
Day 2–1Sam 4–6 | R: 1Sam 1–3
Day 3–1Sam 7–9 | R: 1Sam 4–6
Day 4–1Sam 10–12 | R: 1Sam 7–9
Day 5–1Sam 13–15 | R: 1Sam 10–12
Day 6 — Recap 1Sam 1–15

Day 7–1Sam 16–18
Day 8–1Sam 19–21 | R: 1Sam 16–18
Day 9–1Sam 22–24 | R: 1Sam 19–21
Day 10–1Sam 25–27 | R: 1Sam 22–24
Day 11–1Sam 28–31 | R: 1Sam 25–27
Day 12 — Recap 1Sam

Day 13–2Sam 1–3 | Ps 65–67
Day 14–2Sam 4–6 | R: 2Sam 1–3
Day 15–2Sam 7–8 | R: 2Sam 4–6
Day 16–2Sam 9–10 | R: 2Sam 7–8
Day 17 — Recap 2Sam 1–10

Day 18–2Sam 11–13
Day 19–2Sam 14–16 | R: 2Sam 11–13
Day 20–2Sam 17–19 | R: 2Sam 14–16
Day 21–2Sam 20–22 | R: 2Sam 17–19
Day 22–2Sam 23–24 | R: 2Sam 20–22
Day 23 — Recap 2Sam

Day 24 — Ps 68–70
Day 25 — Ps 71–73
Day 26 — Ps 74–76
Day 27 — Ps 77–79
Day 28 — Ps 80–82
Day 29 — Ps 83–85
Day 30 — Ps 86–88

MONTH 6 — KINGS

Day 1–1Kgs 1–3 | Ps 89–91
Day 2–1Kgs 4–6 | R: 1Kgs 1–3
Day 3–1Kgs 7–8 | R: 1Kgs 4–6
Day 4–1Kgs 9–11 | R: 1Kgs 7–8
Day 5 — Recap 1Kgs 1–11

Day 6–1Kgs 12–14
Day 7–1Kgs 15–17 | R: 1Kgs 12–14
Day 8–1Kgs 18–20 | R: 1Kgs 15–17
Day 9–1Kgs 21–22 | R: 1Kgs 18–20
Day 10 — Recap 1Kgs

Day 11–2Kgs 1–3 | Ps 92–94
Day 12–2Kgs 4–6 | R: 2Kgs 1–3
Day 13–2Kgs 7–10 | R: 2Kgs 4–6
Day 14–2Kgs 11–13 | R: 2Kgs 7–10
Day 15–2Kgs 14–17 | R: 2Kgs 11–13
Day 16 — Recap 2Kgs 1–17

Day 17–2Kgs 18–19
Day 18–2Kgs 20–21 | R: 2Kgs 18–19
Day 19–2Kgs 22–23 | R: 2Kgs 20–21
Day 20–2Kgs 24–25 | R: 2Kgs 22–23
Day 21 — Recap 2Kgs

Day 22 — Ps 95–97
Day 23 — Ps 98–100
Day 24 — Ps 101–103
Day 25 — Ps 104–106
Day 26 — Ps 107–109
Day 27 — Ps 110–112
Day 28 — Ps 113–115
Day 29 — Ps 116–118
Day 30 — Ps 119–121

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL MONTH:
If trying to improve retention reread the Former Prophets (Joshua — Judges — Samuel — Kings).
5 chapters a day will get you through in one month.

MONTH 7 — ISAIAH

Day 1 — Isa 1–3 | Ps 122–123
Day 2 — Isa 4–6 | R: Isa 1–3
Day 3 — Isa 7–9 | R: Isa 4–6
Day 4 — Isa 10–12 | R: Isa 7–9
Day 5 — Isa 13–15 | R: Isa 10–12
Day 6 — Isa 16–18 | R: Isa 13–15
Day 7 — Isa 19–21 | R: Isa 16–18
Day 8 — Isa 22–24 | R: Isa 19–21
Day 9 — Isa 25–27 | R: Isa 22–24
Day 10 — Isa 28–30 | R: Isa 25–27
Day 11 — Isa 31–33 | R: Isa 28–30
Day 12 — Isa 34–36 | R: Isa 31–33
Day 13 — Isa 37–39 | R: Isa 34–36
Day 14 — Recap Isa 1–39

Day 15 — Isa 40–42
Day 16 — Isa 43–45 | R: Isa 40–42
Day 17 — Isa 46–48 | R: Isa 43–45
Day 18 — Isa 49–51 | R: Isa 46–48
Day 19 — Isa 52–53
Day 20 — Isa 54–55 | R: Isa 52–53
Day 21 — Recap Isa 40–55

Day 22 — Isa 56–58
Day 23 — Isa 59–61 | R: Isa 56–58
Day 24 — Isa 62–64 | R: Isa 59–61
Day 25 — Isa 65–66 | R: Isa 62–64
Day 26 — Recap Isaiah

Day 27 — Ps 124–126
Day 28 — Ps 127–129
Day 29 — Ps 130–132
Day 30 — Ps 133–135

MONTH 8 — JEREMIAH + LAMENTATIONS

Day 1 — Jer 1–2 | Ps 136–137
Day 2 — Jer 3–4 | R: Jer 1–2
Day 3 — Jer 5–6 | R: Jer 3–4
Day 4 — Jer 7–8 | R: Jer 5–6
Day 5 — Jer 9–10 | R: Jer 7–8
Day 6 — Jer 11–12 | R: Jer 9–10
Day 7 — Jer 13–14 | R: Jer 11–12
Day 8 — Jer 15–16 | R: Jer 13–14
Day 9 — Jer 17–18 | R: Jer 15–16
Day 10 — Jer 19–20 | R: Jer 17–18
Day 11 — Jer 21–22 | R: Jer 19–20
Day 12 — Jer 23–24 | R: Jer 21–22
Day 13 — Jer 25–26 | R: Jer 23–24
Day 14 — Jer 27–29 | R: Jer 25–26
Day 15 — Recap Jeremiah

Day 16 — Jer 30–31
Day 17 — Jer 32–33 | R: Jer 30–31
Day 18 — Jer 34–35 | R: Jer 32–33
Day 19 — Jer 36–37 | R: Jer 34–35
Day 20 — Jer 38–39 | R: Jer 36–37
Day 21 — Jer 40–41 | R: Jer 38–39
Day 22 — Jer 42–43 | R: Jer 40–41
Day 23 — Jer 44–45 | R: Jer 42–43
Day 24 — Jer 46–47 | R: Jer 44–45
Day 25 — Jer 48–49 | R: Jer 46–47
Day 26 — Jer 50
Day 27 — Jer 51 | R: Jer 50
Day 28 — Jer 52 | R: Jer 51
Day 29 — Recap Jeremiah

Day 30 — Lam 1–5

MONTH 9 — EZEKIEL + SONG

Day 1 — Ezek 1–2 | Ps 138–139
Day 2 — Ezek 3–4 | R: Ezek 1–2
Day 3 — Ezek 5–6 | R: Ezek 3–4
Day 4 — Ezek 7–8 | R: Ezek 5–6
Day 5 — Ezek 9–10 | R: Ezek 7–8
Day 6 — Ezek 11–12 | R: Ezek 9–10
Day 7 — Ezek 13–14 | R: Ezek 11–12
Day 8 — Ezek 15–16
Day 9 — Ezek 17–18 | R: Ezek 15–16
Day 10 — Ezek 19–20 | R: Ezek 17–18
Day 11 — Ezek 21–22 | R: Ezek 19–20
Day 12 — Ezek 23–24 | R: Ezek 21–22
Day 13 — Recap Ezekiel

Day 14 — Ezek 25–26
Day 15 — Ezek 27–28 | R: Ezek 25–26
Day 16 — Ezek 29–30 | R: Ezek 27–28
Day 17 — Ezek 31–32 | R: Ezek 29–30
Day 18 — Recap

Day 19 — Ezek 33–34
Day 20 — Ezek 35–36 | R: Ezek 33–34
Day 21 — Ezek 37–38 | R: Ezek 35–36
Day 22 — Ezek 39–40
Day 23 — Ezek 41–42 | R: Ezek 39–40
Day 24 — Ezek 43–44 | R: Ezek 41–42
Day 25 — Ezek 45–46 | R: Ezek 43–44
Day 26 — Ezek 47–48 | R: Ezek 45–46
Day 27 — Recap

Day 28 — Song 1–4
Day 29 — Song 5–8
Day 30 — Ps 140–145

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL MONTH:
Reread the Major Prophets (Isaiah — Jeremiah — Ezekiel), 5–6 chapters a day will get you through in roughly one month.

MONTH 10 — MINOR PROPHETS + FINAL PSALMS + PROVERBS

Day 1 — Hos 1–3
Day 2 — Hos 4–6 | R: Hos 1–3
Day 3 — Hos 7–9 | R: Hos 4–6
Day 4 — Hos 10–12 | R: Hos 7–9
Day 5 — Hos 13–14 | R: Hos 10–12

Day 6 — Joel 1–3
Day 7 — Amos 1–3 | R: Joel
Day 8 — Amos 4–6 | R: Amos 1–3
Day 9 — Amos 7–9 | R: Amos 4–6
Day 10 — Recap

Day 11 — Obadiah + Jonah
Day 12 — Mic 1–4 | R: Prev
Day 13 — Mic 5–7 | R: Mic 1–4
Day 14 — Nah 1–3
Day 15 — Recap

Day 16 — Hab 1–3
Day 17 — Zeph 1–3
Day 18 — Hag 1–2
Day 19 — Recap

Day 20 — Zech 1–4
Day 21 — Zech 5–8 | R: Zech 1–4
Day 22 — Zech 9–11 | R: Zech 5–8
Day 23 — Zech 12–14 | R: Zech 9–11
Day 24 — Mal 1–2
Day 25 — Mal 3–4 | R: Mal 1–2
Day 26 — Recap Prophets

Day 27 — Ps 146–150
Day 28 — Prov 1–4
Day 29 — Prov 5–10
Day 30 — Prov 11–16

MONTH 11 — CHRONICLES + EZRA–NEHEMIAH–ESTHER–DANIEL + WISDOM

Day 1–1Chr 1–4 | Prov 17–20
Day 2–1Chr 5–9 | R: 1Chr 1–4
Day 3–1Chr 10–13 | R: 1Chr 5–9
Day 4–1Chr 14–17 | R: 1Chr 10–13
Day 5–1Chr 18–21 | R: 1Chr 14–17
Day 6–1Chr 22–25 | R: 1Chr 18–21
Day 7–1Chr 26–29 | R: 1Chr 22–25

Day 8–2Chr 1–5 | Prov 21–25
Day 9–2Chr 6–9 | R: 2Chr 1–5
Day 10–2Chr 10–14 | R: 2Chr 6–9
Day 11–2Chr 15–20 | R: 2Chr 10–14
Day 12–2Chr 21–24 | R: 2Chr 15–20
Day 13–2Chr 25–28 | R: 2Chr 21–24
Day 14–2Chr 29–36 | R: 2Chr 25–28
Day 15 — Recap Chronicles

Day 16 — Ezra 1–4 | Prov 26–31
Day 17 — Ezra 5–10 | R: Ezra 1–4

Day 18 — Esth 1–5
Day 19 — Esth 6–10 | R: Esth 1–5

Day 20 — Neh 1–4 | Ecc 1–4
Day 21 — Neh 5–8 | R: Neh 1–4
Day 22 — Neh 9–13 | R: Neh 5–8
Day 23 — Recap ENE | Ecc 5–9

Day 24 — Dan 1–2 | Ecc 10–12
Day 25 — Dan 3–4 | R: Dan 1–2
Day 26 — Dan 5–6 | R: Dan 3–4
Day 27 — Dan 7 | R: Dan 5–6
Day 28 — Dan 8 | R: Dan 7
Day 29 — Dan 9 | R: Dan 8
Day 30 — Dan 10–12 | R: Dan 9
Day 31 — Recap Daniel