2 tips for Bible study

It took at least 4000 years for the events in the Classic (Old) Testament to take place.  From Genesis-Malachi, you need 4000 years.  Genesis covers half of that time in the first 10 chapters.  Then it zooms in on one family.  The family of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob get the Bible's attention moving forward.  That's when we need to know what 2 major events help to orient us to this vast and complicated history.  
1. The Exodus.  The second book in the Bible describes the deliverance of the Hebrew people from 400 years of slavery.  God's strong hand and mighty arm changed the trajectory of this people group.  From this nation, would come the Messiah.
2.  The Exile.  There were two actually.  The first was the exile of the people of Israel in 722 by the aggressor nation of Assyria. The second was the exile of the people of Judah in 586 by the aggressor nation of Babylon.  Knowing these 2 events and their significance, helps us to to orient where we are in the Bible.