Introduction to the Pentateuch
Synthesis of the OT – The Pentateuch
Arturo Pérez
Arthur_pink@hotmail.com
Contents
Introduction to the Pentateuch
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The Name: Pentateuch
The Teaching of the Pentateuch
The Author of the Pentateuch
Chronological View of the Pentateuch
Geographical setting of the Pentateuch
The Name: PENTATEUCH?
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The word “Pentateuch” is NOT in the Bible.
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The Jewish Name:
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TORAH (Instruction or Law). Torah (Hebrew) root
yara, “launch” or “shoot”, the word means
“direction”, “law”, “instruction” or “teaching”.
The Torah was not known as five books.
The Torah was known as one single entity.
Jewish Name in the Old Testament
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The Law: Jos.8:34; Esd.10:3; Neh.8:2,7,14; 10:34,36; 12:44; 13:3; 2Cr.14:4;
31:21; 33:8.
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The Book of the Law: Jos.1:8; 8:34; 2Re.22:8; Neh.8:3.
The Book of the Law of Moses: Jos.8:31; 23:6; 2Re.14:6;
Neh.8:1.
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The Book of Moses: Esd.6:18; Neh.13:1; 2Cr.25:4; 35:12.
The Law of the Lord: Esd.7:10; 1Cr.16:40; 2Cr.31:3; 35:26.
The Law of God: Neh.10:28,29.
The Book of the Law of the Lord: 2Chr.17:9; 34:14.
The Book of the Law of Jehovah their God: Neh.9:3.
The Law of Moses the servant of God: Dn.9:11; Mal.4:4.
Jewish Name in the New Testament
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In the NT, the Pentateuch is called
in a similar way than the OT:
The Book of the Law: Gal.3:10.
 The Book of Moses: Mk.12:26.
 The Law: Mat.12:5; Lk.16:16; Jn.7:19.
 The Law of Moses: Lk. 2:22; Jn.7:23.
 The Law of the Lord: Lk. 2:23,24.
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These Names in the OT/NT described
the Pentateuch correctly because:
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Those names emphasize its legislation:
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They show the abiding message:
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“THE BOOK”
They guide our attention to a human writer:
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“THE LAW”
“MOSES”
They guide our attention to the Divine Author:
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YHWH, Jehovah, the Lord, who is God.
Current Name: PENTATEUCH
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“Pentateuch” from Greek pentáteuchos from two terms: (Penta =
“five”; teuchos = “volume”). The word can be translated as
“(book) of five volumes” or “comprised by five scrolls”.
Septuagint (250 B.C.) introduced the idea of dividing the Law of
Moses in five books.
In the original manuscripts there were already five sections (not
separate books, though):
 “In the beginning” (Genesis)
 “These are the names” (Exodus)
 “And the Lord called” (Leviticus)
 “And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness” (Numbers)
 “These are the words that Moses spoke” (Deuteronomy)
Origen (Origenes Adamantius 185 – 254) has been credited with
the first use of the word “Pentateuch” when he speaks about
“the Pentateuch of Moses” (PG XIV, Col 444).
The Name Pentateuch appeals to the unity of those 5 books
The Teaching of the Pentateuch
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John 5:46 For if you believed Moses, you would
believe me; for he wrote of me. (Jesus Christ)
TEACHING OF THE PENTATEUCH
FOUNDATION FOR CHRIST
BOOK
THEME
LESSON
GENESIS
The Election of Israel
Salvation is Essential
EXODUS
The Redemption of Israel
Deliverance is Essential
LEVITICUS
The Sanctification of Israel Holiness is Essential
NUMBERS
The Discipline of Israel
Perseverance Essential
DEUTERONOMY
The Instruction of Israel
Obedience is Essential
Smith, J. E. (1993). The Pentateuch (2nd ed.). Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co.
Foundational Revelation of the Bible
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The Pentateuch contains the foundational revelation of the
Bible. These books depict God as Creator and man as
fallen creature. They narrate the first stages in the
Creator’s scheme of redemption: the call of Abram, the
Exodus from Egypt, and the covenant at Sinai.
Other Subjects in the Pentateuch
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The Covenants of God with His people
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Noah, Abraham, Moses…
The promise of God: “I will be your God and you will be my
people”
The election of God
The deliverance of the people of God
The Law of God
The Promised Land
Smith, J. E. (1993). The Pentateuch (2nd ed.). Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub. Co.
Author: Moses
Internal Evidence in the Pentateuch.
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Ex. 17:14; 24:4; 34:27; Num.33:1-2; Deut. 31:9, 24.
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External Evidence outside the Pentateuco.
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In the Old Testament:
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In the New Testament:
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Josh.1:7-8; 23:6; Judg.3:4; 1King.2:3; 2King.14:6; 2Chr.25:4;
Ezr.3:2; 6:18; Neh.8:1; Dan.9:11-13.
Testimony of Christ: Mat.19:8 (comp. Deut.24:1-4); Mat.8:4;
Mar.7:10; Lc.16:31; 24:27,44; Jn.5:4-6.
Testimony of the Apostles: Act. 3:22 (comp. Deut.18:15-16;
Act.13:39.
Tradition: Since Moses times until closing the canon of
the NT, both Jews and Christians believed that Moses
was the author of the Pentateuch.
Biblical Criticism
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Higher Criticism: Author-Centred approach.
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Historical criticism: who wrote a book, and when. Purpose,
style, language.
Source criticism: sources used by the author to write a
book. Oral or written tradition, reliable witnesses, etc.
Lower Criticism: Text-Centred approach.
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Is the careful study of the copies of any written
document whose autograph (the original) is unknown
or nonexistent, for the purpose of determining the
exact wording of the original”. They try to restore the
original text by comparing different versions of
imperfect copies by a methodology to try to deduct
what was the terms used in the original.
The Problem with Higher Criticism
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Higher Criticism is useful if it is used with
integrity.
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It has helped us to receive more light about the
books of the Bible.
The problem has been the German School
who rationalized everything in the Bible
denying miracles and some other truths.
German Higher Criticism doubted the
authorship of Moses for the Pentateuch but
this lacked of any foundation.
Examples of Germans’ objections
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The account of Moses death (Deut.34) was written for any other
author. The Talmud, (instructions from the Rabbinic Jews) says
that Joshua wrote that section.
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Gn.14:14. There is a city this text named “Dan” in a historical
moment when Abraham had not had Isaac, Jacob or Dan.
 The explanation of this name can be given to clarifying notes or
change of archaic geographical names that were introduced to
have a clear account for the readers. (See Judges18:29).
 These marginal notes in the copies were not relevant regarding
the integrity of the text.
 The internal and external evidence show that Moses was the
author.
Disclaimers on Chronology of OT
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Not perfect, only approximations. Don’t be dogmatic about dates in the OT.
There are many Chronological proposals on several scholars. We will take
one of the possibilities to be consistent across this study. (James Usher)
Genealogies are not necessary exhaustive.
Co regency problem.
The different ways of ancient civilizations to measure time.
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Lunar calendar based on 28 days phases of the moon were not so accurate, they
had to “adjust” or add one month to align with solar year.
Egyptians were the first substituting lunar calendar for a calendar based on solar
year of 365 days of 12 months of 30 days with 5 extra days at the end of the year.
Roman calendar 700 BC had 10 months with 304 days a year and started in
March. Then they added January and February. Let alone the fact that the
governors abused of their authority to advance or delay the calendar for their
convenience for elections.
Ptolemy III (238 BC) ordered to add one day every 4 years as our modern leap
year.
In 45 BC Julio Caessar followed Sosigenes (Greek)’s advice to adopt a solar
calendar with 365 days and a leap year every four years (Julian Calendar).
Archbishop James Ussher (1581-1656)
“Annals of the Old Testament, deduced from the first origins of the world”
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A theologian of Ireland published his
work in 1650 and 1654.
His conclusion, taking account of the
seasonal equinoxes was that the
earth was created on night preceding
October 23, 4004 BC.
Others attempted this calculations
before, with similar conclusions.
XVII century scientists Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) and Sir
Isaac Newton (1643 – 1727).
Ussher’s dating has a great reputation compared with geological
and other scientific discoveries in XIX and XX century.
The Importance of a Chronology
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It helps you to correlate the history of
civilizations with Biblical history.
It helps you to understand the Progressive
Revelation of God. (Ex. The Divorce or polygamy)
It helps you to understand the subject of
every book of the OT according at the time in
history where its content was revealed.
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Exodus prepared Israel to start as a nation while
Deuteronomy prepared the next generation to
enter into the Promised Land.
Chronological View of the OT
1451 1426 1116 1055
4004? BC
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1016
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605
1st
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536
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1&2 Chronicles
Job
Leviticus
Ruth
Sal.
Deuteronomy
Legend
Pentateuch
Historical Books
Poetical
Prophets
Proverbs
Songs
Babylonian
Captivity
Ecclesiastes
(70 years)
605 - 536
Before
During
Jonah Micah
Hosea Nahum
Amos Habakkuk
Isaiah Zephaniah
Joel *
Obadiah*
Ezekiel
Daniel
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Esther
After
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
NT
Chronological View of the Pentateuch
Abraham
4004? BC
Exit &
The Law
Joseph
1996 – 1821 BC
1745 – 1635
Wilderness
40 years
1491 BC
Joshua
Canaan
1451 BC
Gal. 3:17 From Abram to Moses – 430 years
1921 Abram @ 75 is called
1706 Jacob’s arrival to Egypt
1491 Moses Exodus
------------------- 215 years ------------------- ---40 years---
(1-11)
(12 – 50)
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(1 – 12:36)
(12:37 – 40:38)
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Leviticus
Deuteronomy
At the end of the 40 years,
Moses was 120 years old
Bible
Lands