OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
The Pentateuch
1.) Structure of the Pentateuch
-First 5 Books of the Old Testament; means “5 scrolls.”
-Also known as the “Torah,” which means “teaching.”
-Covers creation – 1450 BC.
IT’S MADE UP OF TWO SECTIONS
1.) GENESIS 1-11 // THE HUMAN DILEMMA
2.) GENESIS 12 – DEUETERONOMY // THE DIVINE
RESPONSE
2.) Formation of the Pentateuch
A.) Traditional View – Moses wrote it.
-Bible says he wrote it.
-Exodus 17:14, 24:4, Deut. 31:24
-Well-educated in Pharaoh's household (Acts 7:22)
-Considered the writer after his death
-Neh. 8:1, Mark 12:26, Luke 2:22, Acts 13:39
2.) Formation of the Pentateuch
B.) Higher-Critical View
-Documentary Hypothesis
-4 different sources/writers – “J,E,P, & D”
-J = Jehovah writer // E = Elohim writer
P = priestly writer // D = Deuteronomy writer
-Genesis 1 & 2 – start off as primary evidence
-Why do people believe this? Different names for
God; duplicate narratives (Gen. 1 & 2); Different
vocabularies; Different writing styles; Different
theologies (ex. J shows more of a human God)
2.) Formation of the Pentateuch
C.) Modified-Traditional Approach
-Author is Moses.
-Moses used different sources to write it himself.
-Ex: He wasn’t even alive when the events of
Genesis took place.
-This is why it seems there are 2 different writers.
-All in all? Moses maybe wrote 90% of the
Pentateuch, but there was some he probably didn’t.
Deuteronomy 34:5-12, Moses dies – did he write this?
Numbers 12:3 – Would Moses write this about himself?
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
The Book of Genesis
Interpretive Issues
1.) It’s relationship to other mythical stories.
-Creation Myth: Enuma Elish (1100 BC)
-Main problems: 1.) polytheistic 2.) Gods are
sexually created. 3.) Gods are given over to
sin and selfishness. 4.) Humans have no
dignity.
-Flood Myth: The Gilgamesh Epic (1600 BC)
-Main problems: 1.) Reason for the flood 2.) 7
days here & 40 in Bible. 3.) Construction 4.)
Reason for saving heroes is different.
Interpretive Issues
What do we say to “mythical” skeptics?
If Moses borrowed from these stories, he did a
terrible job of it. If he didn’t borrow, then we
know there really was a flood.
Interpretive Issues
2.) Its relationship to science.
Two Affirmations to make about Bible & science:
1.) They are compatible.
2.) God’s purpose in Genesis was not science
but theology.
Content of Genesis
1.) Primeval History (Gen. 1-11)
2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)
1.) Primeval History (Gen. 1-11)
Creation
-When did it happen? Around 4004 BC.
-Genesis 1:1-2:25 recounts the creation of
everything that exists. It is the main focus here.
-Seem to be 2 different stories.
1.) Primeval History
Some Issues in Creation History
-The length of creation – how long did it take?
-3 different ways to understand the word “day.”
1.) Day = 24 hour period (Gen. 1:5, day/night)
2.) Day = era/age – could be 24 hours or a
longer period of time
3.) Day = literary device (Is Gen. 1 a poem?)
1.) Primeval History
Some Issues in Creation History
-The use of the word “us” in 1:26-31
-3 different ways to understand the word “us.”
1.) Heavenly court
2.) “Plural of majesty”
3.) Trinity – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit
1.) Primeval History
Some Issues in Creation History
-The idea of the word “image”
-Gen. 1:26 – Man made in God’s image.
1.) Physical similarities (Jesus = God in flesh)
2.) Spiritual Resemblance
3.) Functional idea
1.) Primeval History
Humanity’s Rebellion
-Chapters 2-3 – Rebellion in the garden with the
first man and woman – Adam and Eve.
-Chapters 4-11 – Rebellion of the rest of the
world.
-Starts with Cain and Abel. (Gen. 4)
-Moves to the whole world. (Noah – Gen. 6)
-The climax is Tower of Babel (Gen. 11)
2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)
This is divided to the patriarchs (fathers).
1.) Abraham
2.) Jacob
3.) Joseph
2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)
Abraham
-His life is narrated in chapters 11-25.
Significant Parts
-11:27-12:4 // He is called by God.
-15:1-21 // God makes a covenant with
Abraham. Child and descendants promised.
-22:1-14 // Abraham is asked to sacrifice his
son, Issac.
2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)
Jacob
-His life is narrated in chapters 25-36.
-He is the grandson of Abraham (son of Issac).
-Has conflict with Esau, Laban, then God.
-God changed his name to Israel after Jacob
wrestled with him for some time.
-Has 12 sons – thus, the 12 tribes of Israel.
2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)
Joseph
-His life is narrated in chapters 37-50.
-He is a son of Jacob.
-Was a dreamer/prophet; interpreted dreams.
-Saw himself ruling in a dream and made his
brothers mad. They sold him; faked his death.
-He eventually does rule. He had purity
(39:1-20), persistence (37:2), and
providence of God working (50:15-20).
2 Themes of the Book of Genesis
1.) The Sovereignty and Power of God
-God created.
-God, himself, was not created. Always existed.
-In the flood, we see he is in control of the world.
-Also with Tower of Babel and Joseph’s story.
2.) Sin and Judgment
-Adam and Eve’s sin judged.
-Peoples’ sin in the flood account judged.
-Tower of Babel, Sodom/Gomorrah, Joseph’s bros.
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
The Book of Exodus
The Book of Exodus
-It means “to go out.”
-Assumed in tradition that Moses wrote it.
-Most of the book is a story concerning him and
the “exodus” of his people (the Israelites) from
Egyptian captivity.
1.) The Dating of Exodus
A.) 15th century – based on 1 Kings 6:1.
B.) 13th century – based on extra-Biblical
resources.
Weaknesses:
-Conflict with 1 Kings 6:1.
-Information and generalizations are changed.
2.) The Route
of
the
Exodus
Three different options
1.) NORTHERN
-Hebrews followed a strip of land south of the
Great Sea coming into the northern area where
Mt. Sinai was.
-There would have been plenty of quail for them
to eat this way – Exodus 16:13.
-Would’ve come across Amalichites – Exodus 17.
2.) The Route
of
the
Exodus
Three different options
1.) NORTHERN – PROBLEMS W/ THIS ROUTE
a.) God forbade this route because of the
Philistines in Exodus 13:17.
b.) This area has impossible sand dunes to pass.
c.) This area is where the Egyptians had much
territory; it wouldn’t have made sense for the
Israelites to walk into their domain.
2.) The Route
of
the
Exodus
Three different options
2.) CENTRAL
-Hebrews would’ve crossed the Sea of Reeds.
-This area contained volcanic activity, which
would explain events in Exodus 19:16-25.
-Moses knew the Midianites, who were in areas
along this route.
2.) The Route
of
the
Exodus
Three different options
2.) CENTRAL – PROBLEMS W/ THIS ROUTE
a.) Midianites were nomadic; might not have
been in this area at that time.
b.) To say events of Exodus 19:16-25 are a
volcano brings some problems.
-People can’t be that close to a volcano
and live.
2.) The Route
of
the
Exodus
Three different options
3.) SOUTHERN
-This is the traditional belief.
-They cross the Red Sea (waters parted) down
to the Sinai peninsula.
-This area is known as Jebel Musa.
-Deut. 1:2 implies it took 11 days to get from
Sinai to Kadesh Barnee; works with this route.
-We have inscription that says Jebel Musa is
where God revealed himself to Israelites.
The 3 Possible Exodus Routes
3.) The Content of Exodus
1.) Israel in Egypt (Exodus 1-13)
2.) Israel in the Wilderness (Exodus 14-18)
3.) Israel at Sinai (Exodus 19-40)
4.) The Themes of Exodus
1.) The Presence of God
-God isn’t mentioned until Exodus 2:23.
-He’s with Moses as he keeps going to Pharaoh.
-God’s presence was a pillar of fire by night and
a cloud by day as they traveled.
-God told Moses to build tabernacle (and how).
-It was built. Exodus ends with a cloud covering
the tent and the glory of God filling it. They
couldn’t go in.
4.) The Themes of Exodus
2.) The Covenant with the People
-First covenant was made with Abraham in Gen.
-It’s carried to a 2nd stage in Exodus (19-24).
-In 19:1-6, he initiates the covenant as they
came to Mt. Sinai.
-In chapters 20-23, he gave them the substance
and conditions of the covenant – the 10
Commandments.
QUESTIONS?
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY