The Pentateuch

Homework on the first 5 books of the Bible

Greetings all!

I’m sharing a bit of my homework with you, and I could use some help!

My assignment is to prove that I know the Bible… in this case, specifically the first 5 books of the bible, the Pentateuch. I’ve challenged myself to summarize each of the books of the bible in between 250 and 300 words… something that may end up being a challenge of summarization (Genesis or Romans) or a challenge of finding the depth (Philemon and 3rd John).

On to what I need help with… please let me know if anything doesn’t make sense in the summaries below.

Peace, and thanks.

Jeremy

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

Genesis

Genesis is all about two things. Beginnings and God’s faithfulness. Genesis gives us the story of creation, demonstrating that the God who created the universe also created us in His image. God did so by speaking first to things like the void, light, sky, earth, and even water. God brings forth life on the planet by speaking into the Earth and the water. God brings forth mankind by speaking to himself. (Gen 1:26) God’s first commandment to what he created? “Be Fruitful and Multiply” (Gen 1:28) and repeated to Noah and his family (Gen 8:17 and 9:1)

Genesis details how sin came into the world and through sin all the evils. Satan’s only tool is to create doubt in God’s faithfulness. From this, mankind begins to doubt and fear God and instead trust in ourselves. Even in punishment and curse, God continues to be faithful in providing for us. (Gen 3:21) This is also seen with Cain (Gen 5:15).

While shepherding and providing for humanity, God calls specific individuals to himself. It is through those individuals that he will fulfill his promise to Eve that one of her descendants will defeat Satan.(Gen 3:15) This guidance continues after the flood with Abraham and Sarah, their son Issac, Jacob, and his children. Along the way, God reveals his plan to redeem all nations in a series of additional promises to Abram (Gen 12:3 and 22:18),  and Jacob (Gen 28:14). Finally, Jacob blesses Judah’s line to be the rulers until the ultimate ruler comes from him, that being Jesus (Gen 49:10). 

Exodus

Exodus is God’s reintroduction to the people of the world as well as his chosen people, Israel.

Genesis leaves off with the family of Abraham living in Egypt and not in the lands promised to them. Centuries later, the Hebrews have become slaves and targets of extermination by an unnamed Pharaoh.

The first 19 chapters of Exodus is about God rescuing the Hebrews from this situation. He raises up Moses, a Hebrew raised in Pharoh’s house, exiled due to a murder. Through a series of 10 plagues, the last of which is justice for murdered children of the Hebrews (Exo 12), God breaks Pharaoh and defeats the Egyptian gods. Pharaoh releases the Hebrews but also attempts to recapture them resulting in the destruction of his army in a miracle for the Hebrews (Exo 14).

The Amalekites take the opportunity to ambush a weakened Israel, yet God helps Israel prevail. In the end, God orders Israel to remember this event. The Amalekites will remain important enemies of Israel through the time of the Judges and King Saul, as well as into the Persian period. 

The rest of the book is about instructing the Hebrews about their God and how to live as his people. Chapter 34:6-7 is critical for this, describing God as caring, loving, and forgiving as well as the depth of his anger at sin and sinners. 

God also gave Moses the laws for the Hebrews to follow, starting with the 10 Commandments (Exo 20). The first three outline the responsibilities each person has to God. The remaining 7 outline our responsibilities to each other in order to have a working society. 

Finally, God orders a special tent to be made with the riches the Hebrews took with them from Egypt. This tent, called the Tabernacle, is where God will dwell and talk with his people. 

Leviticus

Leviticus is God’s instruction to the Israelites on how to live with each other and a powerful God. The book is named for Jacob’s son, Levi. The descendants of Levi are gifted the role of priest within the Israelite community and in many ways the book is addressed to them. These priests are to perform sacrifices (Lev 1-7), distinguish between that which is Holy and common, what is clean and unclean, and teach God’s ordinances (Lev 10:10-11). Finally, the priests are to remind the people of what their God has done (festivals) and promises to do (Lev 23 and 26).

A major idea introduced here is that of clean and unclean. Many things that are a natural part of life would make a person unclean, from bearing children to burying the dead. Uncleanliness is not the same as sinfulness but exemplifies the separation between a person and God. Uncleanliness is a temporary state, and ritual purification and offerings restore the relationship.

In addition, sin is prominent throughout the book. Sin may be intentional or unintentional, but regardless, it requires an admission of guilt (Lev. 5:5) and sacrifice to right the relationship between Man and God. Introspection doesn’t fix sin.

There is a deep connection between blood, sacrifice, and atonement (Lev 17:11). This connection foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the gift of forgiveness in the Lord’s Supper. Similarly, transferring the sins of the community to a scapegoat (Yom Kippur) (Lev 16:21) foreshadows the transferring of sin to Christ.

Numbers

Numbers takes its name from the two prominent censuses that bookend the text. The first happens in Chapter 1, while Israel sets out from Mount Sinai. The second takes place 40 years later when Israel is making their final preparations for entering the promised land. In between, the overarching story is one of complaints, rebellions, and preparation for conquest. Overall, the population of Israel decreases, but only slightly... proving that despite God’s harsh discipline, God provides and prospers His people.

Chapter 6 contains the Aaronic blessing, often used at the end of worship services, and it also contains rules about the Nazarite vow. Samson and Samuel are two important Nazarites in the Judges period, but the vow informs the behavior of other holy people including John the Baptizer and even the Apostle Paul. Chapter 9 also contains rules for celebrating Passover.

Much of the middle part of the book tells about the complaining and rebellion of the people of Israel over things such as food (Num. 11 and 21), Moses’s position (Num. 12 and 16), water (Num. 20), and being afraid to enter Canaan (14) after sending spies into the land the previous chapter.  God meets these complaints with punishments, but also by providing for his people. The rejection of the plan of entering Canaan is met with another 40 years in the wilderness.

Also in the middle of the text is a series of battles against the Midianites and Moabites (Chapters 22-25). Midianite and Moabite women serve as temptations and worship of their gods as idols foreshadow the issues that Israel will have in the promised land.

At the end of Numbers, the Israelites are prepared to conquer Canaan. God gives additional instructions and divides the land between the tribes.

Deuteronomy

The final book of the Pentateuch is Deuteronomy. The name for the book comes from the fact that it is a second telling of the law. Narratively, it is a last will for Moses... given as the Israelites prepare to enter the promised land. It begins with a reminder of the events of the Exodus and wandering in the wilderness. The book finishes with Moses’s blessing of the tribes and his death (33-34).

There are several reasons behind this second telling. First, those who agreed to the covenant in Exodus have passed away and their children are now leading Israel. Second, the book of Leviticus is aimed at instructions for the priests, not the common folk. Finally, Deuteronomy includes clarification of the laws presented in the previous texts and an expansion including the  of roles for civil leaders (Deut. 17 and 18) and laws focusing on property and prosperity for all (Deut. 21-25).

Vitally important to the Jewish faith is the Shema (Deut. 6:4-9). The purpose of the Shema is so that the relationship with God is never lost or forgotten, as it was in Egypt. The Word of God is to be written on the hands, hearts, and doorposts of believers. It is taught to children so that they too may continue to receive God’s blessings. It is the greatest commandment, according to Jesus... to love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, and your might.

Sprinkled throughout the book is both dire warnings of what happens when God’s law is misused or ignored, as well as blessings for those who follow God’s law. The book winds down Moses’s ministry and sets the stage for Joshua. This includes the assembly reaffirming the covenant (Deut. 29) and Joshua’s commissioning (Deut. 30).