Part 1: The Pentateuch

Introduction

Course Summary

English Bibles are often divided the Old Testament into four major sections:

Pentateuch - “Torah” - Law (April 7)

History (April 14)

Poetry (April 21)

Prophets (April 28)

Pentateuch Overview

The Pentateuch (meaning “five-volumed book”) comprises the first major section of the OT.

Within them God’s earliest covenants with his chosen people are described and confirmed.

Primarily accounts of the history of God’s covenant people (Israel)

Begins with broad view of the Universe/all creation in Genesis

Moves focus to human beings in general + God’s role for them in the world

Narrows focus to Abraham and one nation

Israel as the people of the divine King and His kingdom

Exodus - Deuteronomy tell of

Israel’s exodus from Egypt

Assent to the Sinaitic covenant

Wandering in the Desert of Sinai b/c of unbelief + disobedience (cf. Num. 13 - 14)

The Order of the Experience of the People of God

Genesis - Our lives begin and are immediately ruined through sin

Exodus - God meets our biggest need, our need for redemption (salvation)

Leviticus - We learn how to worship God properly

Numbers - Our lives as we pass through this hostile world en route to our home in Heaven

Deuteronomy - Instructions as we prepare to receive our inheritance

Warning: Considering we are taking a 10,000 ft. view of the letters in theOld Testament, we will not be looking at much Scripture apart from a verse here or there.

Genesis

*Genesis - Our lives begin and are immediately ruined through sin

Quick Look

Title - “Genesis” = Greek in origin (geneseos)

Pre-Christian Greek translation of OT (Septuagint) of 2:4; 5:1

Depending on context, the word can mean “birth,” “genealogy,” or “history of origin”

Author - Moses

Audience - God’s chosen people Israel

Date - Probably between 1446 and 1406 BC

Theme - “Genesis” appropriately describes its contents since it’s primarily a book of beginnings

Beginning of life - Heavens and the earth, of light and darkness, of seas and skies, of land and vegetation, of sun and moon and stars, of sea and air and land animals, of human beings (made in God’s own image, the climax of his creative activity)

Marriage, society and civilization, of sin and redemption

It’s first words, “In the beginning God” (cf. Gen. 1:1) is in striking contrast with the end, “In a coffin in Egypt” (Gen. 50:26)

Structure and Outline

Basic outline (divided by the word “account”)

“The account of the heavens and the earth” (2:4 - 4:26)

“The written account of Adam’s family line” (5:1 - 6:8)

“The account of Noah” (6:9 - 9:29)

“The account of Shem, Ham and Japheth” (10:1 - 11:9)

“The account of Shem’s family line” (11:10 - 26)

“The account of Terah’s family line” (11:27 - 25:11)

“The account of the family line of Abraham’s son Ishmael” (25:12 - 18)

“The account of the family like of Abraham’s son Isaac” (25:19 - 35:29)

“The account of the family line of Esau” (36:1 - 50:26)

Exodus

* Exodus is the book of redemption, the first need of a ruined race.

Quick Look

Title - “Exodus” = ‘Exit’ or ‘Departure’ (Latin word derived from Greek Exodos)

Luke 9:31 TNIV

appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Author - Moses

Audience - God’s chosen people Israel

Date - Probably between 1446 and 1406 BC

Theme - God reveals Himself to His people and delivers them from slavery in Egypt to establish a covenant with them in the desert.

Theological Themes

Is a continuation of the narrative that began in Genesis and was completed in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

Not intended to exist separately

Compare:

Genesis 46:8 TNIV

These are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob.

Exodus 1:1 TNIV

These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:

Lays a foundational theology in which God reveals:

His name

His attributes

His redemption

His law

How he is to be worshipped

Major Events

Appointment and work of Moses as the mediator of the Sinaitic covenant

Beginnings of the priesthood in Israel

Defines the role of the prophet

Relates how the ancient covenant relationship between God and his people came under a new administration (Covenant given at Mount Sinai)

Structure and Outline

Prologue (chs. 1 - 2)

God’s Deliverance of Israel (chs. 3 - 10)

Covenant at Sinai (chs. 19 - 24)

God’s Royal Tent in Israel (chs. 25 - 40)

Leviticus

*Leviticus is the book of worship and communion, the proper exercise of the redeemed.\

Quick Look

Title - “Leviticus” = ‘Relating to the Levites’

Concerns mainly the service of worship at the tabernacle, which was conducted by the priests who were the sons of Aaron + assisted by many from the rest of the tribe of Levi

Author - Moses

Audience - God’s chosen people Israel

Date - Probably between 1446 and 1406 BC

Theme - Israelites receive instructions from God at the base of Mount Sinai concerning how to live as God’s holy people.

Theological Themes

Leviticus is a manual of regulations enabling the Lord to set up his earthly throne among the people of Israel.

Much of the regulations for the people and priests is similar to that in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Exodus gives directions for the building of the tabernacle

Leviticus gives the laws and the directions for building the tabernacle

Instructions include ceremonial cleanness, moral laws, holy days, the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee

Laws given, for the most part, during the year that Israel camped at Mount Sinai

Structure and Outline

Five Main Offerings (chs. 1 - 7)

The Burnt Offering

The Grain Offering

The Fellowship Offering

The Sin Offering

The Guilt Offering

Installation and Ministry of Aaron and His Sons (chs. 8 - 10)

Distinction Between Clean and Unclean (chs. 11 - 15)

The Annual Day of Atonement (ch. 16)

Holy Living (chs. 17 - 26)

Regulations for Offerings Vowed to the Lord (ch. 27)

Numbers

Speaks of the experiences of a pilgrim people, the redeemed passing through a hostile scene to a promised inheritance.

Quick Look

Title - “Numbers” = Based on the census lists found in chs. 1; 26 (OT Septuagint)

Author - Moses (Moses writing activity - cf. 33:1-2)

Audience - God’s chosen people Israel

Date - Probably between 1446 and 1406 BC

Theme - Because the Israelites are unwilling to enter the land of Canaan, their entire generation is forced to wander in the Desert of Sinai for 38 years

Theological Teaching

In telling the story of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, Numbers offers much that is theologically significant - how to establish God’s kingdom on earth.

Presents the sobering reality that the God of the covenants was also a God of wrath.

Lesson for the Church - God does display his wrath even against his errant people, but God is gracious

Structure and Outline

The book is broken up into three major divisions, based on Israel’s geographic locations:

Sinai (1:1 — 10:10)

Kadesh (13:1 — 20:13)

Plains of Moab (20:14 — 32.42)

Deuteronomy

Book is retrospective and prospective, a book of instruction for the redeemed about to enter that inheritance.

Quick Look

Title - “Deuteronomy” = ‘Repetition of the law’ (Greek Septuagint)

Author - Moses

Audience - God’s chosen people Israel

Date - Just before the Israelites entered Canaan, probably about 1406 BC

Historical Setting

Deuteronomy locates Moses and the Israelites in the territory of Moab

The area where the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea (1:5) [Map]

Moses’ final act of transferring leadership to Joshua

Delivers his farewell addresses to prepare the people for their entrance into Canaan

Emphasizes the laws that were especially needed at such a time

Presented them in a way appropriate to the situation.

Here the words of Moses come to us from his heart as he presses God's claims on his people Israel.

In contrast to the matter-of-fact narratives of Leviticus and Numbers

Special Function In The Bible

Deuteronomy functions as a massive interruption of the story that unfolds in Genesis - Numbers + Joshua, the conquest of Canaan.

Moses’ final acts are so momentous that Deuteronomy’s account marks the conclusion of the Pentateuch.

The book of Joshua, which narrates the initial fulfillment of the promises made to the patriarchs and the conclusion to the mission on which Moses had been sent serves as the introduction to th Former Prophets.

Moses renews the Sinaitic covenant, a reminder to Israel of what the Lord requires of them as His people if they cross the Jordan.

It was a word Israel needed to hear over and over again.

Structure and Outline

Deuteronomy is a covenant renewal document.

Therefore, the structure is a bit irregular, made-up of more extemporaneous addresses, sometimes in non-chronological order:

Historical Prologue (1:6 - 4:43)

Stipulations to the Covenant (4:44 - 26:19)

The Great Commandment: The Demand for Absolute Allegiance (4:44 - 11:32)

Supplemental Requirements (chs. 12 - 16:17)

Ratification; Curses and Blessings (chs. 27 - 30)

Leadership Succession under the Covenant (chs. 31 - 34)