Hi servant101,
You're in a GREAT stage! There are plenty of sources available for this type of more serious Bible study. If you dig around, you'll find quite a bit online. Like you mentioned, some sites have those resources behind a "paywall" (usually a subscription fee). However, others are available free-of-charge too.
My wife and I begin our mornings with a verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter reading of the Bible. Prior to this, we used to do other types of Bible studies and readings (usually topical or various chapters/books independently). However, we now choose this very consistent reading pattern. We start with the New Testament and then the Old Testament. For each reading, we've been using different Bible translations (that we both use during that particular journey through the Word). I usually read it aloud as she follows along.
Our study usually goes like this (each time we begin a new book):
- Look up the writer (or any potential writers if the writer is unknown), the year it was (likely) written, the language in which it was written, the place it was written and, in the case of the Gospels or known recipients, to whom it was written.
- In some Bibles, many of these things are recorded. For instance, the "Starting Place Study Bible" has very good articles, lists, dates, names, years, etc. at the beginning of each book. They also include diagrams of things like items in the Tabernacle/Temple or even the Tabernacle and Temple (including placement of specific items). We often refer to those (but typically look up those things too).
- When we read, we sometimes use our phones to look up questionable words or other ways in which a word or phrase is translated (such as other versions at BibleGateway). Most Bible versions indicate these in footnotes. However, I often use my phone to access the Blue Letter Bible (mentioned by narrowpath) to look up the Hebrew and Greek as it appears in the Masoretic text for Hebrew and the Textus Receptus for Greek).
- I also have a few resources that we keep next to our couch -- including the "Rose Book of Bible Charters, Maps & Time Lines" as well as the "Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary." We bought the Rose Book inside a gas station and the Zondervan Bible Dictionary from eBay. They are very good when you're looking up information, names or particular customs found in various passages.
- While we read, we often make a note of names, people or cultural peculiarities. I then go online that day and search them out and find what I can about them. There is a lot of information (often conflicting); however, it is helpful to read different potential information about a person, people or custom.
For instance, this morning, we read through the end of the Book of Proverbs. The last two chapters of the book are not attributed to Solomon but, rather, two other men: "Agur son of Jakeh" and "King Lemuel" (from wisdom imparted to him by his mother). There is very little written about them; so, it was helpful to try and get a basis for who they were and why their words were included at the end of the Book of Proverbs.
In addition to reading about them from the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, I simply looked them up on Google (i.e., "Who is Agur son of Jakeh" and "Who is King Lemuel"). I often look up certain names in Hebrew or Greek to see if they may be general titles rather than names too.
For instance, "Lemuel" is "lemo el" which can mean "for/to God" or "[devoted] to/for God." While King Lemuel may have been the Hebrew name of a specific king (outside of Judah or Israel), it may have been a nickname for Solomon, a name for another king or a general name for a king devoted to God. While the name isn't entirely clear of the identity of this king, we can surmise that he was a king who had a mother who imparted inspired wisdom (Proverbs 31:1).
- After each day's reading, we often listen (usually on-the-go) to different Bible teachers cover certain things to help reinforce what we've read or to offer some insight about things that we haven't considered. Personally, we listen to verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter or book-by-book teachings from men like Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Chuck Smith, Skip Heitzig, etc. While I don't always agree with their specific doctrinal views, I don't listen to ascertain their doctrine. Rather, I'm listening to hear commentary on things like customs, names, locations, times, etc. For this, my wife and I find them helpful. In fact, we often listen to several each day.
- I also use a notebook (for things that were written down during our Bible reading) and make further notations during the day when I look them up online.
- Finally, I also look up videos of specific Bible topics (including names, customs or specific topics) on YouTube. One source that I began watching during our latest journey through I/II Samuel, I/II Kings, I/II Chronicles was a YouTube channel called "Just Scripture Ministries." The teacher at that channel has done a great job of showing cultural peculiarities to certain passages as well as historical evidence for things recorded in the Bible (refuting claims about the Bible from atheists and secular historians who actively seek to try and disprove the Bible).
No matter how you study, I hope and pray that you'll be very blessed through your own journeys in the Word of God. After all, it is the Spirit who leads us and guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
