CHAPTER 4CHAPTER 4
THE PENTATEUCH, THE PENTATEUCH, CREATION, COVENANT, CREATION, COVENANT,
AND THE EXODUSAND THE EXODUS
By Ave Maria Press, By Ave Maria Press, adapted by AHSadapted by AHS
JESUS CHRIST:JESUS CHRIST:GOD’S REVELATION GOD’S REVELATION
TO THE WORLDTO THE WORLD
The Writing of the The Writing of the PentateuchPentateuch
Traditionally, Moses has been named the Traditionally, Moses has been named the author of the Pentateuch.author of the Pentateuch.
However, scholarship shows that the However, scholarship shows that the Pentateuch reached its final form after Pentateuch reached its final form after
centuries of retelling, adapting, and centuries of retelling, adapting, and reinterpreting oral tradition.reinterpreting oral tradition.
Sources of the Sources of the PentateuchPentateuch
NOT A SCIENTIFIC NOT A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION OF THE EXPLANATION OF THE
UNIVERSEUNIVERSE
USED POPULAR USED POPULAR IMAGES TO CONVEY IMAGES TO CONVEY RELIGIOUS TRUTHRELIGIOUS TRUTH
YAHWIST—vivid, earthy YAHWIST—vivid, earthy style of writing with an style of writing with an
anthropomorphic view of anthropomorphic view of GodGod
ELOHIST—emphasis on ELOHIST—emphasis on prophesies; Abraham is prophesies; Abraham is
central figurecentral figure
DEUTERONOMIST—DEUTERONOMIST—emphasis on morality emphasis on morality
and the Law; highlights and the Law; highlights Moses’ speechesMoses’ speeches
PRIESTLY—census lists, PRIESTLY—census lists, genealogies, numbers, genealogies, numbers, dates, proper ways to dates, proper ways to
worshipworship
The Creation StoriesThe Creation Stories
BOTH REVEAL IMPORTANT TRUTHS ABOUT GOD, CREATION, AND HUMAN
BEINGS
The First The First Creation Creation
StoryStoryThere is only There is only
one God.one God.
God planned God planned creation.creation.
Everything that Everything that God made is God made is
good.good.
The Sabbath is The Sabbath is a special day of a special day of
rest and rest and worship.worship.
The Second The Second Creation Creation
StoryStoryPortray God as a Portray God as a potter who molds potter who molds
Adam’s bodyAdam’s body
Very intimateVery intimate
Creation of Eve from Creation of Eve from Adam’s rib shows the Adam’s rib shows the
equal dignity of equal dignity of women and menwomen and men
YHWH wants the YHWH wants the couple “to become couple “to become
one,” to enter into a one,” to enter into a close relationship close relationship that mirrors God’s that mirrors God’s
own relationship with own relationship with themthem
Why include two Creation Why include two Creation Stories in the Bible?Stories in the Bible?
Sin Enters the WorldSin Enters the WorldThe story of Fall explains The story of Fall explains why human beings are why human beings are
not always happy and do not always happy and do not live forever.not live forever.
The Serpent became the The Serpent became the symbol of evil.symbol of evil.
Sin comes from the free Sin comes from the free will of human beingswill of human beings
“Adam and Eve committed a personal sin, but this
affected the human nature that they would then
transmit in a fallen state.”
The The ProtoevangeliumProtoevangelium““I will put enmity between you and the I will put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your offspring and woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you hers; He will strike at your head, while you
strike at his heel.” (Gn 3:15)strike at his heel.” (Gn 3:15)
Covenant with AbrahamCovenant with Abraham
Relied solely on God’s fidelityRelied solely on God’s fidelity
This covenant was tested when God asked This covenant was tested when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, but the Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, but the
Lord’s messenger stopped the sacrifice.Lord’s messenger stopped the sacrifice.
Abraham is a model of faith.Abraham is a model of faith.
The Patriarch The Patriarch IsraelIsrael
Jacob secured his Jacob secured his father’s inheritance father’s inheritance over his twin brother over his twin brother
Esau.Esau.
God repeated the God repeated the covenant to Jacob in a covenant to Jacob in a dream on the road at dream on the road at Bethel; years later, Bethel; years later,
Jacob wrestled a Jacob wrestled a stranger who gave stranger who gave Jacob a new name, Jacob a new name, IsraelIsrael— “one who — “one who
contends with God.”contends with God.”
Included in Jacob’s Included in Jacob’s family were his twelve family were his twelve sons from whom came sons from whom came the Twelve Tribes of the Twelve Tribes of
Israel.Israel.
The Exodus and the The Exodus and the Giving of the LawGiving of the Law
Foundational event in the history of the Chosen Foundational event in the history of the Chosen PeoplePeople
The Prophet The Prophet MosesMoses
Central figure in Central figure in the Old the Old
TestamentTestament
God appeared to God appeared to Moses in a Moses in a
burning bush burning bush that was not that was not consumed by consumed by
the fire.the fire.
God instructed God instructed Moses to lead Moses to lead
the Chosen the Chosen People to People to freedom.freedom.
The The PassoverPassover
CENTRAL TO BOTH CENTRAL TO BOTH THE JEWISH AND THE JEWISH AND
CHRISTIAN FAITHSCHRISTIAN FAITHS
YHWH instructed the YHWH instructed the Chosen People to Chosen People to celebrate a sacred celebrate a sacred meal to remind of meal to remind of God’s deliverance.God’s deliverance.
Each Mass Each Mass commemorates commemorates
Jesus’ sacrifice and Jesus’ sacrifice and saving actions on the saving actions on the
cross and makes it cross and makes it present.present.
The Sinai The Sinai CovenantCovenant
““You shall be my You shall be my people, and I will people, and I will
be your God”be your God”
Bound God and the Bound God and the Chosen People in a Chosen People in a
personal loving unionpersonal loving union
Revealed God’s Revealed God’s special love and special love and mercy for themmercy for them
Stipulated how God’s Stipulated how God’s People were to People were to
respond to his loverespond to his love
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS SUMMARIZE THE LAW SUMMARIZE THE LAW
The Exodus and the The Exodus and the Giving of the LawGiving of the Law
Challenges in the DesertChallenges in the Desert
The people grew frustrated The people grew frustrated with Moses and made a with Moses and made a golden calf to worship.golden calf to worship.
Numbers records the Numbers records the “murmuring” of the People “murmuring” of the People
against Moses.against Moses.
It took forty years before It took forty years before the Chosen People could the Chosen People could enter the Promised Land.enter the Promised Land.
Other Themes from Leviticus Other Themes from Leviticus and Deuteronomyand Deuteronomy
Leviticus stresses the Leviticus stresses the theme of God’s holiness theme of God’s holiness and our need to worship and our need to worship
him with love.him with love.
Deuteronomy centers on Deuteronomy centers on God’s love of Israel and God’s love of Israel and exhorts the nation to exhorts the nation to
choose between obedience choose between obedience to God and the Law.to God and the Law.