PENTATEUCHHistorical Background of

the First Five Books of the Old Testament

Historical Background to Pentateuch• What is the Pentateuch?

• First five books of the Old Testament• Genesis• Exodus• Leviticus• Numbers• Deuteronomy

• Pentateuch: "pente" means five, "teuchos" means implement (scrolls)• Called the Torah• Written in Hebrew

Historical Background to Pentateuch• What is the Pentateuch?

• Torah is translated “law” in the OT, meaning to instruct, direct, or guide. • It probably has a wider meaning, by OT usage,

which includes all directives that come from God. In the NT torah, Greek nomos, can refer to either the Mosaic legislation (Rom 7:14) or a broad behavioral principle (9:31)

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Content of the Pentateuch

• Creation - God• Flood - God with Noah• Babel - God separates people• God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -

Chosen people through whom God will bless all nations

• Joseph and Egyptian captivity• Exodus to the Promised Land• Law given to Moses• Wilderness wandering to Promised Land

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Context of the Events of the Pentateuch

• Record’s God’s relationship to humanity in their historical context

• Describes God’s desire for humanity and various responses from humanity

• Reveals the nature of God• Records God’s laws to the Israelites• Historical events in the Pentateuch occur in the

ancient Near East

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Manuscripts for the Pentateuch

• Dead Sea Scroll are some of the oldest manuscripts of the Old Testament (2nd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.)

• Old Testament was later translated in Greek called the Septuagint (LXX) – 3rd century B.C.

Isaiah Dead Sea Scroll 100 B.C. 1QIsaa

Historical Background to Pentateuch• In what language was the

Pentateuch written?• Written in Hebrew and Aramaic

• Nash Papyrus (2nd Century B.C.)• Records Ten Commandments• רץ׃ 1 1 הא ת וא ים השמ ת א ים אלה א בר ית בראש

Nash PapyrusTen Commandments

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Who wrote the Pentateuch?

• Old Testament witness:• Moses was writing history of

God's deliverance of Israel (Ex. 17:14; Num. 33:2)

• Wrote down the commandments (Ex. 24:4, 34:27; Deut. 31:9, 24-26)

Nash PapyrusTen Commandments

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Who wrote the Pentateuch?

• New Testament witness:• Written by Moses (Jn. 7:19; Lk. 16:31; *Jn. 5:46)• Moses capable of writing it due to being educated

in Egypt (Acts 7:22)• O.T. inspired as well as Moses (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet.

1:21)• Jesus recognized Moses authorship (Matt. 8:4; Mk.

12:26; Lk. 24:24-27; Jn. 5:46)• New Testament writers recognized Moses as the

author (Acts 3:22; 15:21; Rom. 9:15; 10:19; Heb. 9:19)

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Who wrote the Pentateuch?

• Early criticisms of the writing of the Old Testament thought that Moses could not have written it because writing had not been invented• We now know writing was present before Moses’

time (~1525 – 1405 B.C.)• Hammarabi Law Code 18th century B.C.

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Who wrote the Pentateuch?

• The Sumerian civilization went into decline after its conquest by the Akkadians (2300 b.c.). In the 21st century B.C., however, there occurred a revival of Sumerian culture that produced a number of important literary works, including the first known written codified system of law. Today a rich collection of Sumerian material exists.

~3200 B.C. Sumerian ~2000 B.C. Sumerian ~1500 B.C. Akkadian

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Why study the Pentateuch?

• Reveals earliest history of the ancient near eastern world

• Reveals God’s creative work and mission to humanity

• Describes God’s relationship to humanity and his desire for humanity’s reconciliation to Him

• Indicates the historical background in which God initiated his mission

• Begins tracing God’s promise to Abraham that is fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, the Christ

• Provides the foundation for a Christian worldview

Historical Background to Pentateuch• Beginning and ending points of the

Pentateuch?• Begins with the creation of the world and ends

with Moses' death (Deut. 34:7). • Joshua becomes the leader of the Israelites.

Joshua is filled with the spirit of wisdom after Moses laid his hands on him.

2166

Abraham (2166-1991)

2066 Isaac (2066-1886)

2006 Jacob (2006-1859)

1915 Joseph (1915-1806)

1876 Egyptian Bondage - 430 years Ex. 12:30 (1876-1446) Birth of Moses (1527)

1446 Exodus & Wilderness Wandering (1446-1406) Mt. Sinai – giving of the law (1446) Tabernacle erected (1445) Arrive at Kadesh-barnea - Num. 20:1 (1444) Wilderness wandering (1448-1406) Plains of Moab - Moses address - Deut. 1:3, 5 (1406)

Timeline from Abraham to Promised Land