Chapter 3
Encountering the Old Testament

What is the Pentateuch?
The term Pentateuch refers to the first five books of the Bible.
The word comes from the Greek pente, meaning five and teuchos meaning scroll.

What is the Pentateuch?
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy belong together as one literary unit.

Old Testament references refer to the Pentateuch when it uses phrases like
“Book of the Law of Moses”
(2 Kings 14:6) and “The Book of the Law”
(Josh 1:8)

Kings 14:6 Yet he did not put the sons of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of
Moses where the LORD commanded …

Joshua 1:8 Do not let this
Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

“Law” in the expression, “The
Law and the Prophets”
Luke 16:16

16"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
17It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the
Law.
Luke 16:16

We can view the first five books of the Bible as one book. Perhaps the size of the scrolls made the books have to be broken up into 5 divisions.

The Pentateuch spans from the beginning of historical life on earth up to but not beyond Israel’s conquest of the promised land.

The Hebrew version of the word referring to these five books is “Torah.”
Torah – usually translated
Law, but it comes from the word teach or instruction .

Summary of the books:
Genesis – Book of Origins
Exodus – Traces the salvation of God’s people who are helpless to save themselves.

Leviticus – Call for holiness as the only natural lifestyle for Israel and the only response to
God’s grace.

Numbers – A book of wonderings in which
God’s people suffer the consequences of their unbelief.

Deuteronomy – The story’s ending on a positive note presenting a program for renewal.

Themes of the Pentateuch
•Sovereignty of God
History
Fallen Condition of Humanity
Salvation
Holiness

There are two clear references to Moses as the author of Exodus chapters
20-23 which is known as
“Book of the Covenants.” Ex.
24:4-7

The text also claims Moses wrote the Ten
Commandments under the
Lord’s direction. Ex 34:27

Other References to Moses:
Exodus 17:14
Numbers 33:2
Clear references to parts of
Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 31:9, 19,22,24
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying”
Lv 4:1

Both Jewish and Christian tradition accepts Mosaic authorship or his being the originator of the writings of the Pentateuch.