The Pentateuch:
“Way” into the Old Testament
By Mariette Martineau
Purpose
The first five books of the Bible are called the Pentateuch.
As they are the first books, they are the way into the Old Testament. They launch
the themes carried throughout the Old Testament and into the New. In this
session, participants will explore the Old Testament themes as they are grounded
in the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Participants will also become comfortable with the purpose behind each of these
five books.
Component: Catechesis
Session at a Glance
7:00 p.m.
Welcome and Introduction
7:05 p.m.
Community Builder: Favorites
7:20 p.m.
Opening Prayer: People of the Pentateuch
7:35 p.m.
The Bible Begins: The Pentateuch Scavenger Hunt
8:15 p.m.
Take a Person Home with You
8:20 p.m.
Closing Prayer
8:25 p.m.
Announcements and Refreshments
8:30 p.m.
Good Night!
Extend the Session: Find the Fit (30 to 45 minutes)
Note to Leader: Set the newsprint sheets for Find the Fit at one end of the room,
and have the group reviewing their Find the Fit slips at the other end. Make sure
you tell each group that there are five slips for each book.
Give each group a bowl or container with the slips of information cut up from
Handout 2, Find the Fit. Challenge each group to examine one slip at a time to
figure out which book the slip of paper belongs in, and when certain of the book
it belongs in, to send someone to run across the room and paste it (use masking
tape) in the right column of the chart. They are to continue reviewing and
pasting each slip until they think they have all of the answers right. When they
think they have the answers right, they are to call you over to check them out.
Remove any slips that are posted in the wrong place, and invite them to send a
team member to collect their “errors”. They are to try again to put those in the
right place by sending one runner at a time over with a slip. After their second
attempt to get them right, gather all the teams around their flip charts and give
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
Copyright © Center for Ministry Development, 2009. All rights reserved.
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them the right answers. They are to remove any that they have wrong, and give
themselves 10 points for each correct one.
Materials Needed
 Newsprint
 Markers
 Nametags
 Masking tape
 Bibles, one for each participant or two for each small group of three or four
participants
 Handout 1, The Pentateuch Scavenger Hunt, 2 or 3 per group
 Resource 1, The Pentateuch Scavenger Hunt Answer Key, for the leader
 Resource 2, Find the Fit, cut into pieces for each group, if you are doing the
Extend the Session activity
 Resource 3, The Way into the Old Testament: Themes Launched in the
Pentateuch, for the leader
Prepare in Advance
1. Invite a strong reader to proclaim Deuteronomy 30:11-20.
2. Invite volunteers to each read 2-3 voices of the opening prayer response.
3. Review Resource 3, The Way into the Old Testament: Themes Launched in
the Pentateuch and be prepared to provide a presentation about these themes
within the Scavenger Hunt activity.
4. Extend the Session: Place the “Find the Fit” activity pieces from Resource 2
into a bowl for each group.
5. Extend the Session: Prepare a newsprint for each group divided into 5
quadrants (use the newsprint sheet horizontally), with one title from each book
of the bible in each one at the top. Example:
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Session Outline
Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)
Welcome the participants; if this is a new group for you or if they do not know
each other well, it will be worthwhile to spend a few minutes doing a community
building or warm-up activity. Introduce the session using the purpose above to
assist you.
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
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Community Builder: Favorites (10 minutes)
Step 1: Invite each participant to think of their favorite person from the Old
Testament.
Step 2: Invite them to find someone who has thought of the same person, or a
person that in any way resembles their person (male, female, leader, good guy,
bad guy, and so on).
Step 3: Once they have found a partner, or are in triads if necessary, invite them
to share why that person is their favorite.
Opening Prayer: People of the Pentateuch (15 minutes)
Gather
Prayer Leader: (begin with the Sign of the Cross)
Creator God, your love created earth and loved us into being.
Thank you for choosing us to be your people, may we learn to live in faithful
relationship to you. Amen.
Listen
Invite a volunteer to proclaim Deuteronomy 30:11-20. Allow for a few moments
of quiet meditation.
Respond
Prayer Leader:
Our response will be, “Thank you, God of life.”
Voice One:
Adam and Eve, you were created in the image of God and all humanity was
created good… Thank you, God of life.
Voice Two:
Noah you believed in God’s promise of life to you, and God made a covenant
of faithfulness with you… Thank you, God of life.
Voice Three:
Abraham and Sarah, you trusted that God would bring forth off spring from
you, and great nations were created… Thank you, God of life.
Voice Four:
Jacob, as you departed your home and all that was familiar, you trusted in
God to show you the way… Thank you, God of life.
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
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Voice Five:
Joseph, despite being treated so poorly by your brothers, you helped them
out in their time of famine and need… Thank you, God of life.
Voice Six:
Moses, you were an unlikely leader, and were awestruck at God speaking to
you through the burning bush, but you said yes… Thank you, God of life.
Voice Seven:
Miriam, you lead the people in prayer and praise after they safely crossed the
Red Sea… Thank you, God of life.
Voice Eight:
Joshua, you obeyed God by respecting Moses, thank you for listening to your
call to be a leader… Thank you, God of life.
Go Forth
Prayer Leader:
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you; and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
Amen.
The Bible Begins: The Pentateuch Scavenger Hunt (45 minutes)
Distribute Handout 1, The Pentateuch Scavenger Hunt, along with a pencil and
several Bibles to each group. Tell them that their task is to go on a scavenger
hunt, in which they will use their Bibles to do the scavenging. Tell them to make
sure to read the theme carefully before they search for the answer to the clue.
Once each group has completed their hunt, review the answers with them and
highlight the meaning of each theme as you do so using Resource 3, The Way
into the Old Testament: Themes Launched in the Pentateuch, to assist you. As
you present each theme, provide ideas and ask participants to add ideas about
how we live the truth of this theme in our lives today.
Take a Person Home With You (5 minutes)
Invite each participant to think of one Old Testament person to take home with
them, someone they think they might need on their journey right now. For
example, maybe someone needs Miriam to lead them in praising God, or
someone else needs Moses’ courage to see God in burning bushes.
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
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Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
Close by praying together the Shema – simply invite participants to open their
Bibles to Deuteronomy 6:4 and read it aloud together.
Announcements and Refreshments (5 minutes)
Make any needed announcements, and invite the youth to enjoy some
refreshments.
This session was written by Mariette Martineau. Mariette worked for CMD as
Project Coordinator for Generations of Faith Online and the Fashion Me a People
Conference. She is working on her teaching credential. Mariette and her
husband, Dean, and their three children live in Kenora, Ontario, Canada. Fr. Roy
Shelly, Ph.D., Director of Formation and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese
of Monterey, provided the theological review for this session.
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
Copyright © Center for Ministry Development, 2009. All rights reserved.
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Handout 1
The Pentateuch Scavenger Hunt
There are nine great themes in the Old Testament that get launched in the first
five books of the Bible. Read each theme, then look up the Scripture passage
“hint” to find the answer to the clue. Happy hunting!
Theme One: God is One
God is a single divine being who orders all things out of love. All that God
created and imagined was rooted in love.
Clue #1: How does the book of Genesis convince us that God was pleased with
his creation?
Hint: Genesis 1:1-23: _____________________________________________
Theme Two: God is Active in Human History
Our God is not a God who created us then watched us from a distance. Rather,
our God actively guides, protects, cares for, and is involved in human history.
Clue #2: In Jacob’s dream at Bethel, what did the angels use to ascend and
descend from heaven?
Hint: Genesis 28:10-15: ________________________________________
Theme Three: People Respond to God’s Activity
God invites us into relationship—Adam and Eve, Moses, Abraham, Sarah,
Rachel, Aaron, and so on were all invited into relationship with God and
responded to his invitation. Sometimes they responded willingly, sometimes
reluctantly, and sometimes not always understanding what God was doing.
Clue #3: Noah said yes to build an ark, and saved his family and many living
species from death by drowning. What bird did Noah first send out at the end of
the forty days?
Hint: Genesis: 8:6-9: _______________________________________________
Theme Four: Prayer and Praise
Prayer and praise to God begins in the Pentateuch, and continues throughout the
Old Testament. God does great things, and when people pay attention they stand
in gratitude before God singing and praising all of God’s goodness.
Clue #4: Who is credited with being the first woman prayer leader mentioned in
the Old Testament?
Hint: Exodus 15:20-21: ____________________________________________
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
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Theme Five: Tradition
Tradition is important to who we are as God’s people. Remembering and retelling the stories of our history keeps us connected to the covenant of love with
God, and keeps our community alive. The Old Testament, beginning in the
Pentateuch, tells and re-tells the stories of God’s people, that we may not lose
their power and importance.
Clue #5: From what did the people hear God’s voice declaring his covenant to
them?
Hint: Deuteronomy 4:9-14: _______________________________________
Theme Six: God Seeks Covenant
The Old Testament has a pretty clear pattern to it: God seeks covenant
relationship with his people, his people agree to it, the people make bad choices
and break covenant, God seeks out the people again to renew the covenant.
Abraham, Moses, David, and ultimately in the New Testament, Jesus, forge
covenants with God, on God’s initiative.
Clue #6: What happens to the first person engaged in celebrating covenant with
God?
Hint: Genesis 17:1-8: ____________________________________________
Theme Seven: Justice and Morality are Possible
Again and again in the Old Testament, we see that it is possible to live just and
moral lives. We see again and again that NOT living just and moral lives results
in war and unrest.
Clue #7: What was to be done to the fields and vineyards so that the poor and
those in need could find food?
Hint: Leviticus 19:9-10: _________________________________________
Theme Eight: Hope for the Future
There were some cloudy times encountered by the Hebrew people—some which
were not of their making, some which was of their making. No matter the
situation—slavery, famine, poor leaders—God always provided his people with
hope for the future.
Clue #8: What were the meat and bread that God gave the Israelites to eat in the
wilderness of Sin?
Hint: Exodus 16:9-15: ______________________________________
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
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Theme Nine: Mystery of God’s Ways
We are invited into faithful relationship with God, though we do not fully know
and understand all of God’s ways. What seems the right path to us in our
humanity, is not necessarily the path that God would take. “Knowing” why isn’t
what is most important, knowing God and trusting him is.
Clue #9: What did Jacob sneak away from his oldest brother?
Hint: Genesis 25:1-29: _________________________________
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
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Resource 1
The Pentateuch Scavenger Hunt Answers
Clue #1: How does the book of Genesis convince us that God was pleased with
his creation?
Hint: Genesis 1:1-23: God is cited as saying after each major creation, “And God
saw that it was good.”
Clue #2: In Jacob’s dream at Bethel, what did the angels use to ascend and
descend from heaven?
Hint: Genesis 28:10-15: A ladder.
Clue #3: Noah said yes to build an ark, and saved his family and many living
species from death by drowning. What bird did Noah first send out at the end of
the forty days?
Hint: Genesis: 8:6-9: A raven.
Clue #4: Who is credited with being the first woman prayer leader mentioned in
the Old Testament?
Hint: Exodus 15:20-21: Miriam.
Clue #5: From what did the people hear God’s voice declaring his covenant to
them?
Hint: Deuteronomy 4:9-14: Fire.
Clue #6: What happens to the first person engaged in celebrating covenant with
God?
Hint: Genesis 17:1-8: Abram’s name is changed - from Abram to Abraham.
Clue #7: What was to be done to the fields and vineyards so that the poor and
those in need could find food?
Hint: Leviticus 19:9-10: Don’t reap or harvest all that is there, leave some
behind.
Clue #8: What were the meat and bread that God gave the Israelites to eat in the
wilderness of Sin?
Hint: Exodus 16:9-15: quail and a fine flaky substance.
Clue #9: What did Jacob sneak away from his oldest brother?
Hint: Genesis 25:1-29: His birthright and father’s blessing.
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
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Resource 2
Find the Fit
Directions: Cut the descriptions for each book into single slips and place in a
bowl or container.

Genesis
Adam and Eve are created.
Noah floats a boat.
Joseph stars in the amazing technicolor coat.
Abraham is promised descendants as great as the sands.
This book celebrates that we are created in God’s image and have a special
relationship with God.

Exodus
Lots of bad things happen to the Egyptians.
The Hebrew people spend a lot of time complaining in the desert.
God hangs out in a lot of fire.
The ten tablets rock the world.
This book celebrates that no earthly thing is insurmountable to our relationship
with God.

Leviticus
The rich sacrificial practices of the Israelites are reviewed.
Great festivals are described in this book.
The true meaning of scapegoat is revealed in chapter 16:20-21.
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
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Purity and holiness laws abound in this book.
This book points out that maintaining a right relationship with God through
what we do: worship, daily life and customs, festivals, should be a priority for
us.

Numbers
40 years are spent wandering in the desert until all are ready to enter the
Promised Land.
One of the most famous blessings is found in this book in Chapter 6:22-27.
Miriam and Aaron show their humanity by getting jealous of Moses in chapter
12.
Joshua is appointed Moses’ successor.
This book shows that it takes us humans a long time to learn to walk with God,
but God remains patient through out.

Deuteronomy
In this book we hear of the land of milk and honey (Chapter 11:8).
The Jewish prayer for Shema is found in this book (Chapter 6:4-9).
At the end of this book, Moses is given a view of the Promised Land before he
dies.
This book contains the laws Moses spells out to shape and govern their lives.
This book reminds us that God gives us all that we need to make the journey of
faith a good one.
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Resource 3
The Way into the Old Testament:
Themes Launched in the Pentateuch
Theme: God is One
This is the first and most important theme. God is a single, divine being who orders all things out of love.
For ancient peoples, who worshipped many gods and attempted to control and manipulate their gods,
this was a truly radical notion. As “One,” God is creator, shepherd, King. God is holy above all things.
Theme: God is Active in Human History
God actively guides, protects, cares for, and is involved in human affairs. The history of the ancient
Israelites shows this to be true. Theirs is a “salvation history.” God operates in the world in a loving way
for the good of humans. God is Liberator and Savior, time after time delivering the people from their
troubles.
Theme: The People Respond to God’s Activity
Our response to God’s activity in the world is important. Our response to God comes in the form of
friendship, loyalty, and obedience. We must express ourselves fully before God.
Theme: Prayer and Praise
The psalms are explicit in their prayerful praise of God. All the actions, stories, and history of the
Israelite people are an expression of praise and gratitude to the One, true God. We should offer explicit
prayer and praise to God, but so should all our actions express praise and gratitude.
Theme: God Seeks Covenant
God pledges everlasting and faithful love to the people. God chose the Israelites as God’s people.
God made covenant with the people—through Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. God is like a person—
seeking relationship and connection with others. The covenant demands that we not only love God, but
also our neighbor.
Theme: Tradition
Tradition keeps the community alive. Remembering and re-telling the stories of our history keeps us
connected to the covenant of love with God. We have an obligation to keep the tradition alive and pass it
along to the next generations.
Theme: Justice and Morality
There is a tension between God’s perfect will and our sinful and selfish response. As humans, we are
made with rational minds and free choice. We are confronted with moral choice, and we cannot escape
moral responsibility. God shows the way, for God is holy. We must seek to obey God.
Theme: Hope for the Future
In the midst of struggle and strife, there is optimism about the future. There is hope of a Messiah who
will deliver us from all evil. Remember that God created the world, and saw that it was “good.”
Theme: The Mystery of God’s Ways
While we are in covenant with God, we cannot fully know and understand all of God’s ways.
The Bible is a source of wisdom and insight into the ways of God. We seek to align our ways with God’s
ways, as best we can.
The Pentateuch: “Way” into the Old Testament
Copyright © Center for Ministry Development, 2009. All rights reserved.
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