OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

The Pentateuch

1.) Structure of the Pentateuch-First 5 Books of the Old Testament; means “5 scrolls.”

1.) GENESIS 1-11 // THE HUMAN DILEMMA

2.) GENESIS 12 – DEUETERONOMY // THE DIVINE RESPONSE

IT’S MADE UP OF TWO SECTIONS

-Also known as the “Torah,” which means “teaching.”-Covers creation – 1450 BC.

2.) Formation of the PentateuchA.) Traditional View – Moses wrote it.

-Exodus 17:14, 24:4, Deut. 31:24-Well-educated in Pharaoh's household (Acts 7:22)-Considered the writer after his death

-Neh. 8:1, Mark 12:26, Luke 2:22, Acts 13:39

-Bible says he wrote it.

2.) Formation of the PentateuchB.) Higher-Critical View

-4 different sources/writers – “J,E,P, & D”-J = Jehovah writer // E = Elohim writer P = priestly writer // D = Deuteronomy writer

-Genesis 1 & 2 – start off as primary evidence

-Why do people believe this? Different names for God; duplicate narratives (Gen. 1 & 2); Different vocabularies; Different writing styles; Different theologies (ex. J shows more of a human God)

-Documentary Hypothesis

2.) Formation of the PentateuchC.) Modified-Traditional Approach

-This is why it seems there are 2 different writers.

-All in all? Moses maybe wrote 90% of the Pentateuch, but there was some he probably didn’t. Deuteronomy 34:5-12, Moses dies – did he write this? Numbers 12:3 – Would Moses write this about himself?

-Author is Moses.-Moses used different sources to write it himself.-Ex: He wasn’t even alive when the events of Genesis took place.

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

The Book of Genesis

Interpretive Issues

-Creation Myth: Enuma Elish (1100 BC)

1.) It’s relationship to other mythical stories.

-Main problems: 1.) polytheistic 2.) Gods are sexually created. 3.) Gods are given over to sin and selfishness. 4.) Humans have no dignity.

-Flood Myth: The Gilgamesh Epic (1600 BC)-Main problems: 1.) Reason for the flood 2.) 7 days here & 40 in Bible. 3.) Construction 4.) Reason for saving heroes is different.

Interpretive Issues

What do we say to “mythical” skeptics?

If Moses borrowed from these stories, he did a terrible job of it. If he didn’t borrow, then we know there really was a flood.

Interpretive Issues

Two Affirmations to make about Bible & science:

2.) Its relationship to science.

1.) They are compatible.2.) God’s purpose in Genesis was not science but theology.

Content of Genesis

1.) Primeval History (Gen. 1-11)

2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)

1.) Primeval History (Gen. 1-11)

-When did it happen? Around 4004 BC.

Creation

-Genesis 1:1-2:25 recounts the creation of everything that exists. It is the main focus here.-Seem to be 2 different stories.

1.) Primeval History

-The length of creation – how long did it take?

Some Issues in Creation History

-3 different ways to understand the word “day.”1.) Day = 24 hour period (Gen. 1:5, day/night)

2.) Day = era/age – could be 24 hours or a longer period of time3.) Day = literary device (Is Gen. 1 a poem?)

1.) Primeval History

-The use of the word “us” in 1:26-31

Some Issues in Creation History

-3 different ways to understand the word “us.”

1.) Heavenly court

2.) “Plural of majesty”

3.) Trinity – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit

1.) Primeval History

-The idea of the word “image”

Some Issues in Creation History

-Gen. 1:26 – Man made in God’s image.

1.) Physical similarities (Jesus = God in flesh)

2.) Spiritual Resemblance

3.) Functional idea

1.) Primeval History

-Chapters 2-3 – Rebellion in the garden with the first man and woman – Adam and Eve.

Humanity’s Rebellion

-Chapters 4-11 – Rebellion of the rest of the world.

-Starts with Cain and Abel. (Gen. 4)-Moves to the whole world. (Noah – Gen. 6)-The climax is Tower of Babel (Gen. 11)

2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)

1.) Abraham

This is divided to the patriarchs (fathers).

2.) Jacob

3.) Joseph

2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)

-His life is narrated in chapters 11-25.

Abraham

Significant Parts

-11:27-12:4 // He is called by God.

-15:1-21 // God makes a covenant with Abraham. Child and descendants promised.-22:1-14 // Abraham is asked to sacrifice his son, Issac.

2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)

-His life is narrated in chapters 25-36.

Jacob

-Has conflict with Esau, Laban, then God.

-God changed his name to Israel after Jacob wrestled with him for some time.-Has 12 sons – thus, the 12 tribes of Israel.

-He is the grandson of Abraham (son of Issac).

2.) Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50)

-His life is narrated in chapters 37-50.

Joseph

-Was a dreamer/prophet; interpreted dreams.

-Saw himself ruling in a dream and made his brothers mad. They sold him; faked his death.-He eventually does rule. He had purity (39:1-20), persistence (37:2), and providence of God working (50:15-20).

-He is a son of Jacob.

2 Themes of the Book of Genesis

-God created.

1.) The Sovereignty and Power of God

-God, himself, was not created. Always existed.-In the flood, we see he is in control of the world.-Also with Tower of Babel and Joseph’s story.

2.) Sin and Judgment

-Adam and Eve’s sin judged.

-Peoples’ sin in the flood account judged.

-Tower of Babel, Sodom/Gomorrah, Joseph’s bros.

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY

The Book of Exodus

The Book of Exodus

-It means “to go out.”

-Assumed in tradition that Moses wrote it.

-Most of the book is a story concerning him and the “exodus” of his people (the Israelites) from Egyptian captivity.

1.) The Dating of Exodus

A.) 15th century – based on 1 Kings 6:1.

B.) 13th century – based on extra-Biblical resources.

Weaknesses:

-Conflict with 1 Kings 6:1.

-Information and generalizations are changed.

2.) The Route of the Exodus

1.) NORTHERN

-Hebrews followed a strip of land south of the Great Sea coming into the northern area where Mt. Sinai was. -There would have been plenty of quail for them to eat this way – Exodus 16:13.

Three different options

-Would’ve come across Amalichites – Exodus 17.

2.) The Route of the Exodus

1.) NORTHERN – PROBLEMS W/ THIS ROUTEa.) God forbade this route because of the

Philistines in Exodus 13:17.

Three different options

b.) This area has impossible sand dunes to pass.c.) This area is where the Egyptians had much territory; it wouldn’t have made sense for the Israelites to walk into their domain.

2.) The Route of the Exodus

2.) CENTRAL

-Hebrews would’ve crossed the Sea of Reeds.

-Moses knew the Midianites, who were in areas along this route.

Three different options

-This area contained volcanic activity, which would explain events in Exodus 19:16-25.

2.) The Route of the Exodus

2.) CENTRAL – PROBLEMS W/ THIS ROUTE

a.) Midianites were nomadic; might not have been in this area at that time.

Three different options

b.) To say events of Exodus 19:16-25 are a volcano brings some problems.

-People can’t be that close to a volcano and live.

2.) The Route of the Exodus

3.) SOUTHERN

-This is the traditional belief.

-They cross the Red Sea (waters parted) down to the Sinai peninsula.

Three different options

-Deut. 1:2 implies it took 11 days to get from Sinai to Kadesh Barnee; works with this route.

-This area is known as Jebel Musa.

-We have inscription that says Jebel Musa is where God revealed himself to Israelites.

The 3 Possible Exodus Routes

3.) The Content of Exodus

1.) Israel in Egypt (Exodus 1-13)

2.) Israel in the Wilderness (Exodus 14-18)

3.) Israel at Sinai (Exodus 19-40)

4.) The Themes of Exodus

1.) The Presence of God

-God isn’t mentioned until Exodus 2:23.

-He’s with Moses as he keeps going to Pharaoh.-God’s presence was a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day as they traveled.-God told Moses to build tabernacle (and how).-It was built. Exodus ends with a cloud covering the tent and the glory of God filling it. They couldn’t go in.

4.) The Themes of Exodus

2.) The Covenant with the People

-First covenant was made with Abraham in Gen.-It’s carried to a 2nd stage in Exodus (19-24).

-In 19:1-6, he initiates the covenant as they came to Mt. Sinai.-In chapters 20-23, he gave them the substance and conditions of the covenant – the 10 Commandments.

QUESTIONS?

OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY