The First Five Books

History of the PentateuchPentateuch means five scrolls in GreekIt consists of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,

Numbers, and DeuteronomyThe Jewish name for these books is the Torah,

which means the Law. It is more than just the 10 Commandments.

Authorship is believed to be with Moses, supporting evidence for this occurs in Deut. 31:24-26

Other references include: Exodus 17:14; 23:3-4; 34:27 Num. 33:2; Deut. 31:9

History of the PentateuchAuthors from these books also give credit to

Moses for authorship: Joshua, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah

Authorship evidence is also found in the New Testament, such as Matthew 8:4, Luke 2:22, Mark 1:44, John 1:17 and many more books do as well.

As we know, Moses was Egyptian educated, he was being raised by Egyptian royalty to rule.

There are many Egyptian names, words, phrases, and references to plants and animal life as well as geographical notations.

Genesis- “In the beginning…..”Genesis- Greek for beginningGenesis can be divided into 3 erasThe first two are Creation and Failure, which

are covered in Chapter s 1-11The third is Promise, which begins in Chapter

12 with the call of Abram by God and ends with Jacob’s family safely dwelling in Egypt (1876 BC)

Moses is believed to have written Genesis while leading the people of Israel in the wilderness(1446-1406 BC)

Genesis- “In the beginning…..”In Creation God created for six days and

rested on the seventh day.Day 1- LightDay2- Water, SkyDay 3- Land, VegetationDay 4- Sun, Moon, StarsDay 5- Fish, BirdsDay 6- Animals, peopleDay 7- God rests

Genesis- “In the beginning…..”Eve is deceived by the Serpent(Satan) and

eats of the fruit and gives the fruit to Adam.Adam and Eve are banished from the Garden

of Eden.God promises a future deliverer (3:15)God covers their nakedness through a

sacrifice of an animal’s life. (3:21)Sin continues to spread throughout creation.Cain kills his brother AbelSeth is born and people begin calling on the

name of the Lord.

Genesis- “In the beginning…..”In the line of Seth, two notables: Enoch and

MethusalahEnoch was taken to heaven without dying.Methuselah was the oldest person in the Bible

(969)In the midst of wickedness, “Noah found favor in

the eyes of the Lord” (6:8)Noah builds an ark (boat) for the “Great Flood” or

Deluge and saves his family as well as some animals.

God promises to never destroy all flesh again and makes a covenant with Noah through a rainbow.

Genesis- “In the beginning…..”The messiah will end up coming from the line

of Shem, which is Noah’s son.After the flood, people build a tower (Tower

of Babel) to rival God.God destroys the tower and scatters the

people throughout the earth.Then in Chapter 12 begins the story of

Abraham.

Genesis- “Father of a Great Nation”God calls Abram (Abraham) to go to an

unknown land, where he will experience God’s blessing.

Abraham goes to Canaan with Sarai (Sarah), his nephew Lot and their herds.

Abraham and Lot’s herds grow too big and they separate.

God makes a covenant with Abram and tells him he will have a son from his own flesh. Sarai is barren and cannot have children.

Sarai convinces Abram to have a child with Hagar her maidservant.

Genesis- “Father of a Great Nation”Hagar has a son named Ishmael.God confirms his covenant with Abram and Sarai

by changing their names to Abraham and Sarah.The covenant is sealed with a blood covenant by

circumcision. All of the males of his household must be circumcised. (Abraham was 99 years old.)

Three angelic visitors come to Abraham and confirm God’s promise of Sarah having a child.

The visitors also tell him that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed.

Genesis- “Father of a Great Nation”Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed, but Lot and

his family are spared. (His wife turns to a pillar of salt.)

Isaac is born to Sarah; Hagar and Ishmael are sent away. (This begins the ongoing feud between Muslims and Jews up to present day).

God tests Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham shows his faith so that God will fulfill His promise.

Sarah DiesAbraham sends a servant to find a wife for Isaac,

the servant brings back Rebekah.

Genesis- “Father of a Great Nation”Abraham diesRebekah has twin boys, Esau and Jacob.Esau is born first and Jacob second (birthright).Jacob tricks Esau into giving up his birthright.Jacob then gets his father Isaac to bless him, Esau

threatens to kill Jacob and then Jacob runs away.Jacob goes to his Uncle’s house Laban.On the way to Laban’s house, Jacob has a dream

and God restates his promise that he made to Abraham.

Genesis- “Father of a Great Nation”Jacob marries Leah and Rachel. He has eleven sons by Leah, Rachel and their

maidservants.Jacob leaves Laban to return home.Jacob is met by Esau and they reconcile their

differences.Leah’s daughter Dinah is raped by Shechem.Dinah’s brothers Levi and Simeon kill every

male in the city of Shechem.

Genesis- “Father of a Great Nation”Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin, Jacob’s 12th

son.Jacob moves back to childhood home, Isaac dies.Esau moves away, his descendants become the

nation of Edom.Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers.Joseph goes to Egypt.Jacob is heart broken over the loss.Joseph is accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown

into prison.

Genesis- “Father of a Great Nation”Joseph interprets the pharaoh’s dreams and raised to

ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself.He saves the nation of Egypt from a famine.Joseph is reunited with his family as a result of the

famine.Joseph promises not to take revenge on his brothers.Jacob blesses all his sons in addition to Manasseh and

Ephraim (Joseph’s sons).Joseph prophesies that his people will return to the

Promised Land one day, and he makes his brothers promise that their descendants will bring his bones back with them.