Pentateuch

The Bible speaks about God and devine revealation of God. It is the love. The word Bible derived from Greek word ‘Biblia’ which means book and collection of many books. There are 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the new testament.

The old testament

1.       Pentateuch=5 books

2.      Historical=16

3.      Prophetical= 18 books

4.      Wisdom= 07

The New testament

1.      Gospel=4

2.      Pauline letter=13

3.      Letter to the Heb.= 01

4.      Catholic letter= 07

5.      The apostles=1

The  septugint is the translation in Greek of the Hebrews. The jews tradition recognizes 3 devision – the law, prophets and writings.  From the initial letters of these threefold division in Hebrew Torah, Nebi’im and Ketubim; acronym. The first five books of the Old Testament is Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus, leviticus, Numbers and Deotoronomy.

The word Pentateuch comes from Gk pentateuchos a combination of the Greek word penta, meaning “five” and teuchos, which can be translated “scroll.” Therefore, it simply refers to the five scrolls that make up the first of three divisions of the Jewish canon. Also known as the Torah, which is the Hebrew word meaning “Law,” these five books of the Bible are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Ø  Bereshit ("In the beginning"); Shemot ("Names"); Vayikra ("He called"); Bamidbar ("In the wilderness"); Devarim ("Things" or "Words")

comprehenship outline of Pentateuch

1.    prehistory- creation, universe- geneology. Gen. 1:1-11

2.    Story of patriachs- Gen. 12-50

3.    Israrel in Egypt- Ex.1: 1-15

4.    Journey from Egypt-(sinai part) Ex. 15:22-18: 21

5.    Israel in Egypt/ giving law/ covenant Ex.19;1- Num. 10;10

6.    journey from sinai. Num. 10:11-36:13 ( toward Moab and conquest) part-2

7.    Farewell speach of Moses in preparation for the promise land Deut. 1:1-34

Authorship of   Pentateuch: Traditionally  authorship of the Pentateuch is Moses. There is some reference in the Bible that Moses is the author of the Pentateuch.Ex. 17:14; 24:4; 34: 3. 27-28. Deut. 31:9. 24. Ezra. 3:2; 2Cron 25:4 Etc.. The new testament also named moses, “for your hardness of heart moses wrote you this commandment. Mk10;2-5. I am the God of Jacob MK 12:26. In the 12 century Jewish scholar Ezra doubts about authorship of Moses and 17 and 19 century T. Hobbes, Spinoza and many others. The scholars rejects for below reason.

1.      There are many anachronisms. Existence of Egypt is not in the period of Moses. (G. 26: 14-18)

2.      Edomite Lived after the Moses.

3.      Deuteronomy includes the death of Moses who predicts his death or other writers.

4.      Moses is spoken in the third person.

5.      Alteration, the name of God.

6.      Pentateuch was not written in 13 century.

7.       Moses is the humblest man in the earth it express that he is not author.

8.      The doublet stories say that Moses is not author.

Above all reason Moses is not author of the Pentateuch.

Julius Wellhausen in 1878 in his book he brough four source

Yahwist Tradition:  9 th century 950 bc in the period of solomon Judah southern kingdom. characteristic:  Lively anthromorphisms, vivid storytelling, creative theological, optimistic, expect a great king, deals with theme of the sin, conflict stories of the triumph of the younger brother, particular pattern, God’s love- people disobedience, punishment- compassion- new beginning, good evil sin and forgiveness.

Elohist Tradition: 8 century (800/7500 BC) around the period of first prophet; Amos, Hosea Etc..

charateristic: Opposite to anthromorphism. God speaks through cloud, fire, breaze, angel etc., emphasize on morality and reflects proper response of Israel, Pays more attention to Jacob than Ambraham. It has beautiful narratives like the mastepices of Gen.22.

Deuteronomist tradition: 7 / 6 century in the period of the reform of King Joshua 622 BC started in the North and then extended to the south.

Characteristic: Fear and love of God in terms of obedience to the divine commands and under the threat of punishment. It style is like sermon with urgent appeal to obedience and loyalty to God. It has exhortatory style. it promotes the idea of a single place of worship. the laws in the speech of Moses. finalized during the Babylolian exile.

Priestly tradition: 6 century 550 BC written after the Babylonian exile.

Characteristic:  concern in the question of cult and ritual and holiness. interested in genealogies and  in the contrast to the name theology of Deut. speaks in the presence of God in term of glory of tabernacle.

The source and redaction: the source and redaction of the composite texts of various author who worked in various epoch. Three redaction at least we must distingush

a)      RJE: Redaction that combined the oldest source Jand E. it was made after the fall of the Nothern kingdom (721/22 BC)

b)      RD: this introduced texts, sentence and even parts of sentence the resemble Deutoronomy/ Deutoronomic history.

c)       RP: it is important redaction in the postexillic period and combined the J and E with priestly document.

Ø  The Pentateuch is not work of single author, it is not even redacted by one school of author. It is a composite text composed with great attention and art. There are many architects but one architect.

Ø  Fundamental text to speak about Moses. Deut. 34/10-12. 1. Moses is the greater than other prophets. 2. Moses’s superiority also comes from the preeminence of his relationship to Yahwist. 3. The Exodus in the fundamental event in the history of Israel.

The book of Genesis

In Hebrew b’ resit= in the beginning and Greek Genesis origin. so Genesis is the book of orgin, beginning of creation, of universe, of human and human sins, language, of the sex punishment, war and strife,

Outline of Genesis

1)      Pre-history Gen. 1/1=11

a)      Gen. 1/1-2:25 two creation accounts.

b)      Gen.3/1-4:16 sin; reason for suffering and death

c)      Gen. 4/17-5:32 Genealogies

d)      6/1-9:19 Flood accounts

e)      9/20-9:29 Noah’s drunkenness and cures

f)       10/1-10:32 The table of the nation

g)      11/1-11:9 The tower of the Babylon

h)      11/10-11:32 From Shem to Ambraham

2)      The Patriarchs Gen. 12-50

a)      Gen. 12/1-25:18 The story of Abraham and Sara

b)      Gen. 25/19-26:35 The story of Isaac and Rebeca

c)      Gen. 27/1-37:1 The story of Jacob

d)      Gen. 37/2-50:26 The story Joseph

Two accounts of creation in Gen. 1/1-2:4a and 2/4b-3:24

Genesis 1 describes creation as taking place in two sets of three actions; first 3 separations and 3 quickening; first founds the earth and the life comes from it.

Day	action separation	action quickening
1	God separates lights from darkness 1:1-5	God commands lights in the sky 1:14-19
2	God separates the sea from the sky 1:6-8	God created sea creatures and birds 1:20-23
3	God separates dry land from the sea 1:9-13	God creates animals and human kinds. 1:24-31

First account of creation

Ø  Universe rise from water and primordial darkness

Ø  water is fearful and chaotic. God separates it.

Ø  complete story of the universe and heaven and earth.

Ø  created first couple

Ø  plants on the earth

Ø  God is transcedents

 second account of creation

Ø  the universe is a desert without water.

Ø  Water is life giving.

Ø  concerns only  of the earth and of living beings.

Ø  God created first man

Ø  grows trees in the garden

Ø  Divinity antromorphism

The Babylonian creation story; Enuma Elish. Apsu is the father of God and Tiamat is the mother goddess.  She has sons. The young gods disturb the old gods. So Apsu wanted to destroy them. But Tiamat did not want.  the young gods killed Apsu. Tiamat became ferocious to kill the young god. The young god got help from Marduk who kill Tiamat. He created earth from her body and one half of her body created sky. finally created human.

There are some similarities and difference between two creation stories.

Similarities: the same understanding of the Universe. both creation from chaotic and Tiamat is similar to Hb word tehom. the order of the creation is the same. there is special day at end of creation for god.

difference: only one God many gods in Enuma elish. tehom is unformed tiamat is defeated . stars are object in Gn and stars are God in Enuma El. Marduk dependent God independent. God created out of nothing Marduk created from the body of Tiamat. God created heaven and earth from words and Marduk from body.     Man dominated the worlds and Man became slaves

messages about God in Gen.1; only one God who is creator of the universe, of lands and of nation and of man. God is almighty omnipresence and universal.

Messages about world: the world is beautiful, ordered, no violence, abundace of blessing. everything in the world is from God.  world is divine creation.

messages about human;  human being is image of God. unique of man is rationality which makes image of God. Man is God’s ambassador. God creates man and woman likeness of Him. The same value man and woman. After creation God said, very  good to man and woman.

Sin, suffering and death: Eves disobeyed God’s command and sinned against Him and Adam shares it. For sins man needs clothes, sexual difference, shame and sexual appeal to opposite sex.

Spread of sins: Abel and Cain who were farmers and shepherds. Cain was killed of jealous. God punished him and showed mercy.

The flood story of Noah (Gen.6:5-9:19) Two flood story combined together and it is the same to the Gilgamesh epic story of the flood. God announcement of the flood twice Gen. 6:13 &7:4 God promise not to send flood again, Noah is asked to take two pairs of every living being.

Reasons of the flood:  Heart of the human became evil and violence and corruption on the earth. So God punished human being. But Noah was saved. Noah’s drunkenness and curse Gen. 9:20-29. Babel tower is symbol of idoltry and human pride.

The patriarch: Gen.12-50. Gen. 12:1-25 the story of Abraham and Sarah; Gen.25:19-26:35 the story of Isaac and Rebeca; Gen: 27: 1-37the story of Jacob; Gen.37:2-50:26 the story of Jacob.

The call of Abraham: God’s command to leave his county to the Promised Land and his descendent will be the great nation. He is called the father of faith.

The covenant of Abraham Gen.17 sign of covenant is circumcision which is connected to the covenant to the Abraham that is set apart from other people.

The birth is Isaac and Hagar and Ismail was dispelled. Gen.21:1-21. Sacrifice of Abraham of his only son Isaac but God provided them a lamb.

Joseph and Jesus: Joseph is the saviour of Egyptian during femine and Jesus is the saviour of the human kind. Brother of Joseph was jealous and fellow Jews of Jesus is jealous to Him. Joseph and Jesus were sold. Bothe were falsely accused.

Important of patriachs: it builds  the crucial part of the book of Genesis. He left his country whic was promise to heirs. Jacob and his family went to Egypt.  Jacob died in Egypt.

Exodus

The word Exodus comes from Greek Word Exodos which means exit or going out.

Exodus is covenant between God and chosen people then liberation to Promised Land. Journey to Sinai and arrived and introducing to colt of Israelites.

The divisions of the Exodus

Ø  Israel in Egypt and exit 1:1-15:21

Ø  March from Egypt to Sinai 15:22-18:27

Ø  Israel at Sinai; covenant and laws 19-40

Detail Division: Oppression of the Israelites; commissioning of Moses; 1:1-7:7

Ø  Ten plagues and Passover 7:8-13:16

Ø  Liberation and departure 13:17-18:27

Ø  Sinaitic covenant 19-24

Ø  Introduction for building of the sanctuary/ authorization for worship/cult 25-31

Ø  Israel’s Apostasy and renewal of  the covenant 32-34

Ø  The execution of the instructions for the building of the sanctuary 35-40

I am your God who brought you from Egypt from slavery. You shall not any other God.20:2-3 God speaks to Moses, Moses speaks to people. You obey my commandment I am your God. The holy nation, 20, 1-17, the code of covenant 20, 22-23, 19, the rituals of Ex24,1-11, relationship between God and people. Israel is the holy nation and priestly reign. The sanctuary is the priesthood and altar. God reveal to Moses the plan of sanctuary. 25, 8-9, where God will abide. Ex 32-34 israelites do not respect fundamental law the table of stone. They worship the golden,  It is period of crisis. Moses intercede for them. Finally God become mercy to them34,6-7.

The renewal of covenant Ex.34

Sabath is Genesis and Moses:

God completed the work Gen.2:2; Moses ended work Ex40,33;

God lives with the people Ex40, 34-35, Israel need to recognizes God who led them.

The theological contribution of the book.

1.      Fight for justice 2:11-15

2.      God’s concern for people 2:23-25

3.      The hard heartedness of oppression

4.      Helplessness of leaders of liberation movements and the challenges and crisis they face

5.      God’s active involvement in human liberation

6.      The sinaitic covenant

7.      The legal/ ethical code and the cultic/ ritual cone 20,20:22-23:33.

 The book of Leviticus:

The book is the continuation of Exodus and location is in Sinai. Its Greek name is levitikon and hebrew is wayyiqra means and he called. It is the instructions for the priests and instruction by the priests. The priests and levites who serve at the temple.

Particular characteristic of Leviticus

1.      It has and oft- repeated instriction: “Be holy for I am holy.” (Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2;20:26z)

2.      The words Qadosh (holy) occurse about 150 times.

3.      Leviticus more than all other Old T. books, claims to be a divine word for the humankind because 17 of its 27 chapters begin with the formula and the lord said.

4.      This is the book of rituals and laws.

The division of the book. Kinds of scarifies Lev.1-7)

Ø  voluntary sacrifices Lev. 1-7) three types of voluntary sacrifce

1.      burnt offering: animal brought to the door of tent.

2.       Cereal offerings: cooked or   uncooked flour and oil with frankincense

No yeat but with salt. Only the memorial portion is to be burnt and the rest goes to the priest.

3.      Peace offering: 3:1-17

Ø  Fulfilment of the vows

Ø  Eaten by the donor in the feast

Ø  The breast and right leg goes to the priest

Ø  Only the inner part is to be burnt

Ø  It is for life proceeding normally

Ø  No sex limit for the animal

Ø  Allowed to slaughter anywhere

Mandatory sacrifice: lev. 4:1-6:7

1        The sin offering or purgation sacrifice : un intentionally sinned.

2        Sprinkling of blood removes impurity and cleans sin.

3        Seperates stipulations for the priests and community

Purgation procedure: accept responsibility and remorse, confess sins to the priest. Penalty was in purgation.

Guilt offering/ reparation sacrifice: 5: 14-6:7: trespassing of the holy things.  False clothes and acquisition of deceits.

Different types of sacrifice: ordination of priests (Lev.8=10).  The law of purity: (Lev.11-16) clean and unclean food; bat and pigs unclean. Childbirth and defilement ch.2 period semen etc unclean. The holiness code. Lev. 17-26. Sacrifices and blood; sanctity of sex. Sabbaical and jubilee year. Lev. 25. Land belong to God, redistribution to the original owner, laws only agricultural land, redeeming one’s lost land. Blessing and curse, lev 26:3-13.

Levitical decalogue and holiness of life: Lev:19. This is only priestly code. You shall be holy, for I the lord your God is holy. Cultic and laws are intermingle. ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ 19:18. To be honest in measuring of length, weight and quantity.19:35.

Various penalties for sins: Lev. 20 specific penalties offences and offences against family.

Capital punishment:  20: 1-5. Cursing parents, 20:9;/ homosexual act, 20:13;/ who take wife and her mother, 20:14;/ incestuous sexual relationship, 20:11-12, /sexual relationship with beast, 20:15, / excommunication for magic and divination, 20:6/

Law demands: obey to God for obedience protects expulsion from the land. God wants his people to be holy: the priestly office and priest is holy and is beyond man who is upright in conduct, clean ritually, representative to God, more holy than lay people and  called to be perfect.

What a priest cannot do. From touching of dead body. 21:1-3/ from self disfigurement 21:4-6/ from marrying harlots/ divorced women 21:7-8/ from marrying anyone other than virgins 21:14-15/ priest with blemish 21:17-24.

Unacceptable sacrifices: 22. Holy things. Gifts should be holy, outsiders are not allowed to eat holy things (such as married, non priest, and widow) defect animal cannot sacrifice.

The holy times Lev. 23. The feast of trumpets Lev.23:24/ the day of atonement Lev.23:7/ feast of tabernacles 23, 34/ the feast of passover Ex. 23: 14-17/

Main points of sabbatical year: God is only owner, jubilee year is to redistributed to its owner 25:29-31, redeeming lost land 36, recue own blood relation 37:54.

Insistence on cult,  on separation and on distinctive character of Israel is not without risk. A very fundamental feature of this book is its golden rule. ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Lev. 19:18:34/ Mtt.5:44.

  

The book of Numbers

Hebrew name of the book of numbers is midbar means in the wilderness. and Greek name is Arithmoi= the numbers. Two censuses of twelve tribes is in this book chap. 1 and 26, therefore it is called the book of numbers. This book is the story of israel in wilderness to the promised land.

Time and composition: During exilic period to Babylon.

Purpose of the book:  To  reach obedience to hte lord by the law teaching for new generation. To encourage them to trust to the promised land. To persuade them to worship God and to enjoy his savation.

Structure and division of the book : two parats 1. Num 1-25  speaks about generation and know the Exodus and Sinai. 2. 26-36 about new generation that take place first 40 years.

Divisions: A. Israel in Sinai and preparation to leave Sinai (1:1-10:10) walkin in the desert. B. journey from Sinai towards Moab 10:11-21:35) C.  Israel in the plan of Moab 22-36. Census and organization 1-4; the additional law 5-6; final preparation and departure 7-10:10) Different incident and more laws 10: 11-21; story of Balam 22-24.

Significance: to know how to walk with Yahweh who is present in the tent. First part is dedicated to the organization of tribe around tent (1,1-10; 10) and given various reponsibilities of the levites.. yaweh is ready to help His people. He punishes rebelion (11, 14; 16-17:20, 1-13;21,4-9;25). People rebel against God, Moses and Aaron. Sometimes God punishes personally. Aaron 12, Moses and Aason-20,1-13. Generation of the exodus is condemned to death in the desert for they refused Promised Land. Though Yahweh wrath with people, he made a generation of people, heirs, given Promised Land and showed mercy and angry are there too. Detail about worship, sacrifice, emphasize validity of priests, duty to God and people.

Message: Failures because of  sins of Israelites. When Israelite follows the instructions given by God to Moses, They manage undertaking.

Theological concept: the book is priestly form that provides religious practice and organization of postexilic Judaism. The book of number shows the priestly conviction. God blessed Israelites, the holy one, who lives with them. Atonement of human’s sin; reconciliation make possible to live in tabernacling God. Teaching of Number is Possible to be God’s people on the period of journey. 

Deoteronomy

Deoteronomy is known as second law. In Hebrew it is called D’barim and Greek is ‘Deuteronomion’. It is called because it’s ‘law code’ (chap.12-20) that is similar to ‘covenant code’ (Ex. 20:22-23:33). The book is considered the second law and repetition of the law. It alson retells Israelites past History. Remember failure that led in wilderness Deut. 1:19-46), journey via east Jordan Deut. 2-3, events mounts Horeb Deut. 4-5, 9-10, incident of Massah Deut. 6:15, Story of Manna Deut.8. Laws are given in the form of speeches of God to Moses.

The important themes: * Its concern for justice ( Deut. 16: 18-20; 17:8-13. *its call to love God above all else 6:4-5; *God’s love for Israelites and their election 7:6-8; 15; 14:2) * God is the focal point 1:31-33;2:7; 2:24-3:11; 4:31-37) Dangers of apostasy 13:1-18.

Division of Deuteronomy: # nucleus/ central of the law- Deut. 12-26. # Centralization Deut. 12-16. #First introductory speeches 1-4. # the second introductory speeches 5-11.# First concluding speech- 27-28. # second concluding speech 29-30. # Last event 31-32. # Songs of Moses 31-32. # blessings of Moses-33 # Death of Moses 34.

First  introductory speech: it gives a restrospective survey of the history of Israel from the departure of Horeb.

Second speech: 5-11. There is a repetition of Decalogue for the new generation. Most different  is sabbat law from Ex. 20 to Deut. 5:15.

Role of Moses as mediator: Rests of the commandment are developed  of decalogue. Ex. 20:18-20 and Deut. 5:23-31.

Central speech: hear Israel 5:1. Yaweh is God and one (4, 35,39,7:9, 1017)  summons to love God and fear God. To serve and keep His commandment. Warning worshiping strange God. Faith transmitting to next generation.

Theological and spiritual importance of the book: Israelite faith is One God who is creator and choose Israel  who is loving. Israel is holy people. Loving election of Israel and of law as Israel royal response to election.

Morality of  Deoteronomy: law of book moral perfomace. Enourmous conception. God loves them royal response to God. Response must be personal. One God, one people and one sanctuary.

Finally deep spirituality lies in the book that is to know God, to obey God, to surrender to God totally to love Him whole heartedly. To serve Him and have conversion and circumcision of heart. Fear of punishment and hope for reward. It is deeper relationship with God and with humanity. These increase our spiritual journey and faith.