I would like to understand more of the historical/cultural context of the Old Testament, can anyone recommend a book(s)?  Something not too "academic".  I find OT history very confusing and can't keep all those pagan cultures/rulers who surrounded/captured/interacted with the Jєωs straight.

Marsha

I would suggest, if you have not yet done this, to study your Mass prayers
through the season of Lent.  Since this is now Advent, it is probably best
to focus on Advent Introits, Collects, Graduales, Tracts, Offertorys, Secrets,
Prefaces, Communions and Postcommunions.  But if you're doing this with
a lot of energy, you could then move on past Advent and get into Epiphany
and Septuagesima, and Lent.  But I'm suggesting that you look for all
the Old Testament quotes especially, and see how they are applied to
the New Testament.  But it is mostly in Lent that the prophesy of the OT is
taken to its fulfillment in the New.  That is the key importance for a
Catholic today to understand where you are headed when you are then
to read the OT from the beginning.  You will have some landmarks to go
by and that's always a big help.

Isaias chapter 53 is a most powerful description of the Crucifixion, for
example.  Parts of it are quoted in the liturgy and even in devotional
prayers such as the Anima Christi (Soul of Christ, sanctify me...).

The big thing to remember is that the entirety of the OT was but a
preparation for the coming of Christ.  The people then knew this, for it
was a continuous doctrine that any one of the Jєωιѕн women may find
themselves to be the most favored one, whose child would be the long-
awaited Redeemer.  That is where the OT is supposed to lead the reader.

In that vein, there is a most edifying and comprehensive tome called
the Liturgical Year by Dom Guaranger  (sp?).   It is in about 15 volumes
and has a lot of context and explanation for the Mass prayers for every
day of the year.  You could just focus on the books that apply to the current
season, Advent, for it would give you a whole lot of OT references for this
current time of the year.  Loreto Publications is the source (St. Benedict
Center, Richmond NH), and the set sells for about $250.  You may be able
to find a used copy, even of individual volumes.  They're all hard cover.

In general, I would look to excellent children's books so as to give you
a very simple outlook.  You will find that the best ones often have things
in them that the adult books overlook, but things that are most
helpful even for adults to see.  I especially enjoy the books of Mary
Fabyan Windeatt, whose collection of about 20 soft cover books has been
out of print at TAN books for several months.   But you can find them even
used online at Amazon and such.  Don't forget to order by entering
Amazon through Matthew's link here on CI!  Most of her books are about
recent saints, but several of the set are regarding OT themes.  The whole
set (when available) sells for $240 or so, but you can get individual copies
used for probably less than $10 each, and I think there are only three or
four that are OT themes.

Also, good quality children's picture catechism books are great for adults
because they give a pictorial context and many of us big-uns need a
nice picture to look at when reading about things that are not of our
own experience.  

There is a nice summary of the OT prophesies that were fulfilled at the
Nativity of Our Lord, which was traditionally read at the beginning of
Midnight Mass every year.  I have a copy of this, which I could scan for
the members.  It's one standard page.  I don't think it's in any missal,
for it is not part of Mass, and is not for congregational recitation.  It is
read by a lector as the priest processes into the Church.  



Hobbles probably has some things to share with you, perhaps already
scanned into the CI database.