A simple tool for a first reading of the Bible that answers the first questions that are posed by the reader who has little familiarity with the Bible and helps with the critical reading of the Bible, i.e., to maintain the right distance to avoid the problems that arise when the text is taken literally. Chapters 1. Why Don’t People Read the Bible? 2. What Is the Old Testament? 3. The Pentateuch or the Constitution of Israel 4. The Historical Books (the “Former Prophets”) and the Voice of the Opposition 5. The Prophets: Writers, Journalists, Columnists, and Pundits of the Period 6. The Wisdom Books, the “Gurus” of Israel 7. The Last Shelves of the National Library of Israel 8. Conclusion †