The Five Books of Moses

John Stevenson, 2012

Course Objectives
Gain an appreciation for the books of the Pentateuch and their relevance both to the rest of the Old Testament message as well as to Christian ministry today. Exhibit an understanding of the flow of thought and major turning points in the books that make up the Pentateuch. Demonstrate a familiarity with the historical, cultural, and theological background of the Pentateuch. Gain an understanding of the key themes introduced in the Pentateuch and how they relate to the rest of the Biblical message.

Course Objectives

Identify geographical locations

Designate geographical & political entities

Trace the flow of Biblical history Biblical Cosmology Appreciate Jesus more Patriarchal system Assess apodictic law Gain an appreciation of linguistic studies from archaeological discoveries that will help us appreciate & enjoy the Bible more!

Papyrus

Parchment

Ostraca: Clay

Clay tablets

Torah
Pentateuch

Hebrew: Law, Instruction

Greek: Five-Part Book

Mosaic Authorship of Genesis

Moses was qualified to write the book of Genesis. The Style of Genesis reflects an Egyptian influence. The unity of the book of Genesis reflects a single author.

Hatti

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Hatti

Land Bridge

Mesopotamia DESERT

Egypt

Hittites

Assyria

Canaan

Babylon

Egypt

 The Coastal Plain Central Mountain Range Jordan Rift Valley

 The Coastal Plain Central Mountain Range Jordan Rift Valley

 The Valley of Jezreel

The Yarmuk River

Gilead

 The Valley of Jezreel

The Yarmuk River The Jabbok River
Gilead

 The Valley of Jezreel

The Yarmuk River The Jabbok River The Arnon River
Gilead

Moab

 The Kings Highway

The Way of the Sea (the Way of the Philistines)

Megiddo

Jericho

Climate of Canaan
Mediterranean Climate Dependent upon winter rains
Early Rains: October Later Rains: April

What are the Overarching themes of the Pentateuch?

Book of Genesis
Gives us the prologue - setting for the Pentateuch without Genesis we wouldnt understand why God cares for these people.

3 major journeys from

Egypt to Sinai Sinai to Kadesh Kadesh Moab

E-S-K-M (eskimos)
Egypt Sinai- Kadesh Barnea plains of Moab Law giving at SINAI KADESH PLAINS MOAB. SINAI Leviticus/ numbers 13 to 20 Kadesh they try to enter the land but fail.
God judges them and then reveals himself in LAWS Num. 15 When you enter the land Im giving you- shows gods faithfulness.

Plains of Moab:
Israelites dying in the wilderness from Kadesh to Moab In the plains of Moab they have a new generation...

Genesis Exodus
Leviticus Numbers

Traces the origins of Gods people from creation to Egypt

Relates Gods deliverance of Israel from Egypt and establishing His covenant
Sets forth the Laws of worship Relates the wilderness wanderings

Gives the Law to a new generation with special Deuteronomy emphasis to those entering the land

Pentateuch
partial fulfilment of the covenantal promise (blessing of the patriarchs ) 1.Posterity descendants
Dominant Genesis 12-50

2.Divine-human relationship
Dominant in Exodus and Leviticus

3.Land
dominant in Numbers and Deuteronomy

What is the Big Idea of the entire Pentateuch?

What is the Big Idea of the entire Old Testament?

Title for the Book of GENESIS

The Hebrew Title:
In the Beginning Greek Title: GenesiV - Beginnings

tyviareB. (BeReshyth);

These are the generations

Hebrew: tAdl.At hL,ae - Elleh toledoth
Ten sets History of account follows: These are the things that followed Adam
Genesis 2:4 11:26
5 Toledoth from Adam to Abraham

Israel

Abraham Genesis 11:27 50:26

5 Toledoth from Abraham to Israel

Toledot
generations, history, genealogy means THIS IS WHAT BECAME OF THE OWNER OF THE TOLEDOT.
Toledot of Terah terahs son Abraham... what became of the Toledot of Terah. Toledot of Jacob is more about Joseph Toledot of Esau- follows the story of the edomites...

There is an ALTERNATION
Between the
Narrative genealogy Narrative genealogy Narrative - Genealogy

STRUCTURAL OUTLINE GENESIS

Primeval History [Creation 1:1 2:3] Narrative #1 Toledot of the heavens and the earth (2:4- 4:26) Genealogy: #2 Toledot of Adam (5:1-6:8) Narrative #3 Toledot of Noah (6:9 9:29) Genealogy #4 Toledot of Shem, Han and Japheth (10:1-32) Narrative: Tower of Babel (11:1-9) Genealogy: #5 Toledot of Shem (11:10 11:26)

2. Patriarchal History
Narrative: Major Patriarch #6 Toledot of Terah (the Abraham Narrative) (11:27- 25;11) Genealogy: Minor Figure #7 Toledot of Ishmael (25:12-18) Narrative Major Patriarch: #8 Toledot of Isaac Isaac- Jacob Cycle (25:19 - 35:29) Genealogy: Minor Patriarchal Figure (Oldest Son) : #9 Toledot of Esau (36: 1 43) Narrative: Major Patriarch: #10 Toledot of Jacob Jacob Joseph Cycle (37:2 50:26)

CREATION:
Fundamental Questions in Hermeneutics
What did it mean to the original characters of the narrative? What did it mean to the author? What did it mean to the original recipients?

Moses

Israelites

Bible

Readers Today

CREATION
Its Context is the ancient Near Eastern Cosmologies (ANE cosmologies) Who is it written for?:
Not written for us re: science Moses - got time to write in Sinai and Kadesh Who lives in the land of canaan

Mono substance:
Everything, matter and material as well as spirit was all from ONE substance.

Important!!
Moses GOES OUT OF ITS WAY TO DISTINGUISH GOD FROM CREATION Even the Spirit of God is not part of the creation
He is not part or in the waters

THEOGENIES
Sun = Shemesh Moon = Yarich

Example: Babylonian Creation Account

Enuma Elish Seven Tablets World begins in chaos Marduk fights Tiamat Heavens and earth created from her body

Ennuma Elish
Tiamat engulfs world in a primal chaos.

Genesis Account
The world was unformed and unfilled.

Light comes from the gods. Marduk makes the stars of the zodiac and ordains the year.
Marduk makes man from the blood of Kingu.

God brings light into existence. God sets sun and moon for signs, seasons, days, and years. God creates man in His own image and likeness.

Ennuma Elish

Genesis Account

Moses is giving to us a refutation of the accepted mythos that was held in antiquity as he goes point by point to show that God is the true Creator of heaven and earth.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Elohim

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

bara

An initial act of creation. A summary statement of the entire chapter.

Theories of Creation
Supernatural versus Evolutionary. A Superficial Appearance of History. The Gap Theory.

Genesis 1:2
And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

Original Creation

Formless & Void

6 Days of Re-creation

Support

Objections

The verb hayeta in The normal rendering Genesis 1:2 can be of hayeta is was and translated became so indicates a state of that we could read that being. the earth became without form and void. Tohu wabohu Tohu wabohu (formless and void) (formless and void) are a destruction can just as easily which took place after describe an Gods original creation unconstructed state. (Jer. 4:23, Isa. 34:11).

Support

Objections

Isaiah 45:18 simply Isaiah 45:18 says that tells us that Gods God did not create the earth void (tohu) while intention for the earth in its completed form Genesis 1:2 says that was that it would not the earth was now be tohu, but rather that void. It is reasoned it might be inhabited. that the earth must The prophet is simply have come to be in stating the purpose of this manner after its creation. original creation.

Support

Objections

Darkness does not The darkness which always indicate evil. characterized the Both light and formless and void darkness existed upon condition is indicative the finished earth and of evil. it was still said to be good.

Theories of Creation
Supernatural versus Evolutionary. A Superficial Appearance of History. The Gap Theory. The Day/Age Theory.

Support

Objections

The word day yom The word day does not normally refer to is sometimes used in an extended period of the Scriptures to time when it appears describe a period of with a modifier (1st time longer than a 24 day, 2nd day, etc). hour period (the day of the Lord). 2 Peter 3:8 states that These days are clearly with the Lord one day defined in Genesis 1:5 when God calls the is as a thousand light day and the years. darkness night.

Support

Objections

The sun and the moon The very purpose of the sun was to rule are not created until over the day while the the 4th day. This moon was to rule over indicates that the the night. previous days are not literal.

Theories of Creation
Supernatural versus Evolutionary. A Superficial Appearance of History. The Gap Theory. The Day/Age Theory. Chaos theory

Genesis 1:2
And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

6 + 1 pattern 3 + 3 +1 pattern

Unformed
Day 1: Light Day 2: Water & sky divided
Day 3: Dry land & vegetation

Unfilled
Day 4: Light-bearers (sun, moon, stars) Day 5: Fish & birds to fill water & sky

Day 6: Land animals & man

Day 7: Sabbath Rest

Theories of Creation
Supernatural versus Evolutionary. A Superficial Appearance of History. The Gap Theory. The Day/Age Theory. Chaos theory Literal interpretation

Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light. (Genesis 1:3).

And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. (Genesis 1:4-5).

Textual Formula in Genesis 1

Gods creative statement: And God said... The fiat: Let there be... The creative act: And there was light... A declaration that the creation was good: God saw that it was good. The time limits of that creative period: And there was evening and there was morning... The numerical listing of that day: One day.

GOODNESS
Its repeated SEVEN times? WHY?

The Sabbath
Given as a memorial to the work of God in creation. Served as a memorial of Gods redemption. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. (Deuteronomy 5:15)

The Sabbath
Given as a memorial to the work of God in creation. Served as a memorial of Gods redemption. The Sabbath was designed to be a shadow of things to come and not as an end unto itself.

Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17).

Genesis 1:26-27
The God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27).

Genesis 1:28
God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth. In the Image of God Federal Headship Stewardship and a basis for Ecology

Created Kingdoms
Day 1: Light & Darkness Day 2: Division of waters into sky & sea Day 3: Dry land & vegetation

Created Kings
Day 4: Light-bearers to rule day & night Day 5: Birds to rule the sky and fish to rule the sea Day 6: Land animals & man as ruler

Creator King
Day 7: The King takes His Rest

Why are there two creation accounts?

Clue: what are the major differences?

CAINS DESCENT INTO SIN: (4:1 4:24)

Impiety Ander without just cause Jealousy Deception Murder Falsehood Self-seeking. Self pity Secular Polygamy Wanton violent destruction of human life Complete independence from God Climax (Moral Nadir)

Genesis 2:1-3
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Genesis 2:4
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.

~yhil{a/ hw"hy>

(Yahweh Elohim)

Genesis 2:5
Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

Genesis 2:5
Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground. No rain (corrected in verse 6). No man (corrected in verse 7).

Genesis 2:6
But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.

Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Adam

~d'a'

Adamah

hm'd'a]

Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Literally: breath of lives

Genesis 2:8
The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

The word edenu in Akkadian means garden or paradise.

Creation complete: Heavens & earth created; God finished His work (1-3) Man created: Formed from dust (4-9) Trees & Rivers in garden given names (9-14)

Genesis 2:9
Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers (Genesis 2:10).
Pishon (around the whole land of Havilah) Gihon (around the whole land of Cush) Tigris (east of Assyria) Euphrates

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. (Psalm 46:4).

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Creation complete: Heavens & earth created; God finished His work (1-3) Man created: Formed from dust (4-9) Trees & Rivers in garden given names (9-14) Man assigned task of guarding & keeping the garden (15) Forbidden fruit (16-17)

Genesis 2:18
Then the LORD God said, It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.

Verse 18 It is not good that man should be alone

Verses 19-20 Creation and naming of the animals

Verses 21-22 Creation of the woman

The need for The The providing a companion inadequacy of of the woman for the man the animals for as a companion this for the man companionship

Creation complete: Heavens & earth created; God finished His work (1-3) Man created: Formed from dust (4-9) Trees & Rivers in garden given names (9-14) Man assigned task of guarding & keeping the garden (15) Forbidden fruit (16-17) Man in need of a helper: not good to be alone (18) Animals in garden are given names (19-20) Woman created: Formed from rib (21-24) Creation complete: Man & woman naked & unashamed in presence of God (25)

Genesis 3:1-6

Genesis 3:7-24

Events leading up to the fall

Serpent introduced Temptation Sin

Results of the fall

Gods pointed questioning Curse of sin Coats of skin Banishment from the garden

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Indeed, has God said, You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:2-3
The woman said to the serpent, From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.

Genesis 3:4-5
The serpent said to the woman, You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

Genesis 3:8
They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:9
Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, Where are you?

Genesis 3:10-12
He said, I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself. 11 And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? 12 The man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.

Genesis 3:13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, What is this you have done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.

The man

Blames

The Blames woman

The serpent

Genesis 3:14
The LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you will go, And dust you will eat All the days of your life

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.

Seed of the Serpent

Seed of the Woman

Satan

Jesus Christ

His head bruised on the cross (A fatal wound)

His heel bruised on the cross (Humanity)

Seed of the Serpent

Seed of the Woman

Satan

Jesus Christ

His head bruised on the cross

His heel bruised on the cross

Seed of the Serpent

Seed of the Woman

Cain

Abel & Seth Enoch

Lamech

Noah Shem Abraham

Ham Canaan

Seed of the Serpent

Seed of the Woman

Abraham

Ishmael

Isaac

Esau

Jacob

Whose Seed are You?

Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.

Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.

Genesis 3:17
Then to Adam He said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.

Genesis 3:18-19
Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.

Genesis 3:18-19
Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.

Examples of Retributive Irony

The Serpent Satan More crafty than ...is now made any beast of the lower than all of the field... other animals.

Bruises Christ on ...is bruised on the the heel... head. The Desires to rule ...finds that he shall Woman her husband... rule over her. Man Made of dust ...is returned to who would rise to dust again. be like God...
Warren Gage

For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (Romans 8:20-21).

Genesis 3:20
Now the man called his wifes name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.

Examples of Redemptive Irony

The woman The Godman Who was tempted to sin... Will die on a cross... ...becomes the mother of all living. ...to bring life to many.

Genesis 3:21
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.

Taken by the shedding of blood Innocent substitutes Replaced fig leave of human righteousness

Genesis 3:22-23
Then the LORD God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever -23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.

Genesis 3:24
So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Adam
He has been banished from the garden.
Adam leaves the garden by the eastern route.

The People of Israel

They have departed from the garden of Egypt and are now in the Sinai Wilderness.
The Israelites also leave Egypt by the eastern route.

Water
Flaming Altar