Introduction to the pentateuch and historical books by robert jamieson. The term pentateuch is formed from two greek words. Genesis, exodus leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy b. In this highly regarded textbook, now issued in a second edition, david clines shows how the pentateuch, though composed of a rich array of diverse materials, can still be read as a unity. The jedp theory says that the books were written by several different authors after the death of moses, culminating in ezra, who supposedly compiled the writings in the 4th century b. The bibliography for the introduction to the pentateuch, as well as for genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy is presented at the end of this article. The theme of the pentateuch, second edition 9781850757924 by david j.
Genesis, exodus leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. Clines then provides an elaborate assertion of how the exilic or restoration jews would have seen their own story in the pentateuch and gods promise to them the latest edition of clines book includes an afterword in which clines defends or criticizes his work in the theme of the pentateuch. I cite david cliness questions presented last year at the international sbl meeting in. An important chapter explores the theological function of. Pentateuch means the first five books of the bible. The term pentateuch comes from the greek term pentateuchos meaning fivevolumed book after the jewish designation, the fivefifths of the law1 c. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading exploring the old testament. Theme of the pentateuch the library of hebrew bibleold. The word pentateuch comes from two greek words that mean five books or five scrolls. May 07, 2009 spent an engrossing hour last night in a classic book on the pentateuch torah by a renowned scholar, d. According to tradition, the books were written by the israelite leader, moses. Fretheim seeks to introduce the pentateuch to modern readers, stressing its continuing capacity to speak a word ofor aboutgod. As i gear up for more academic work in hebrew bible, i am working on getting a broad reading of.
Jewish tradition calls the five books torah teaching, law because of the centrality of the sinai covenant and legislation mediated through moses. It is a singular fact that many of the titles of the hebrew books are greek words. The pentateuch is important to jews because it chronicles creation through the jewish nations deliverance from egypt, and outlines gods instructions to israel. Clines focuses on interpretation as well as evaluation. This material constitutes a little over twenty percent of the old testament. The pentateuch, the name by which the first five books of the bible are designated, is derived from two greek words, pente, five, and teuchos, a volume, thus signifying the fivefold volume. The authors of the new commentary on the whole bible state that the education moses would have received as the adopted grandson of pharoh specially qualified him for the task of compiling and writing the pentateuch.
Theme of the pentateuch volume 10 of journal for the study of the old testament. The term pentateuch is composed of the two greek words, pente, five, and teuchos, which in later alexandrine usage signified book. Supplement series volume 10 of jsot supplement series, 10 volume 10 of the library of hebrew bibleold testament. Though the method of the book is holistic, the origin and growth of the theme is also explored using the. The first five books of the bible both hebrew and christian are foundational to all of scripture and rank as one of the most important portions of the word of god wolf 1991. An important chapter explores the theological function of the pentateuch both in the community for which the pentateuch was first composed and in our own time. The two chapters of part one provide an orientation to the critical study of the pentateuch and present a proposal for reading the pentateuch in terms of its rhetorical strategy. In our inquiries respecting the authorship of the pentateuch, we begin with the undisputed fact that it existed in its present form in the days of christ and. Originally the word was used as an adjective meaning a fivescrolled book. The message of the pentateuch southwestern baptist. The pentateuch was first used in the jewish torah, which in hebrew means instruction but is often translated in english as law van belkum, n. The theme of the pentateuch jsot, supplement series, 10 by clines, david j.
These books are often called the law, but in addition to legal materials they include poems, songs, and epic narratives about the people of god. Clines dates the final form of the pentateuch to the babylonian exile. A time chart of pentateuch books in chronological order. A guide to the pentateuch exploring the bible series book 1. Clines main contribution to the study of the pentateuch is his attempt to promote reading the pentateuch as a whole rather than the usual tendency of immediately carving it up according to various authors at different times and despairing of any central themes at all. Even though these books have been transmitted as five, they are, in fact, one book. Buy the theme of the pentateuch journal for the study of the old testament supplement s. As the pentateuch proceeds, each of these promises comes in turn to the.
Hyers claims that the former is a priestly account written around the time of the babylonian captivity, and that the latter is a yahwist. More accurately, both in origin and definition, the label torah hebrew can be applied since the old. In an article published by the national center for science education, conrad hyers argues that the accounts in genesis of the days of creation and the garden of eden were written at two different times, with two different purposes in mind. The outline of pentateuch books the hesitant prize fighter. The jews called it torah instruction which is often rendered in. Clines has 68 books on goodreads with 1112 ratings. As i ponder the postwellhausian quest for sources of the pentateuch, the myth of. They are usually referred by christians as the law of moses and to the jews as torah. This popular textbook regards the pentateuch as a litera.
They are simply the first 5 books of the old testament in the bible. These books, whose canonicity has never been called into question by the jews, protestants, or catholics, head the list of the ot canon. To me, this is a troubling chapter that undermines rather than adds to the message he works to support in the book. Which old testament book did jesus quote most often. The theme of the pentateuch journal for the study of the. What do we really want to know about the pentateuch.
The pentateuch, therefore, is an inspired, inerrant, authoritative document written by the man moses. The hebrew bible is divided into the law, the prophets, and the writings, which include poetry and history. Though the method of the book is holistic, the origin and growth of the theme is also explored using. A guide to the pentateuch offers a clear overview of the five books of moses, as well as an introduction to the historical and textual questions that modern scholarship has posed and the answers it has proposed. This popular textbook regards the pentateuch as a literary whole, with a single theme that binds it together. Identify the key message of each of the five pentateuchal books. This title is derived from pente,five, and teucos which, meaning originally vessel instrument, etc. The latest edition of clines book includes an afterword in which clines defends or criticizes his work in the theme of the pentateuch. The pentateuch introduces us to the central themes of both christian and jewish theology. The word pentateuch comes from a greek term meaning the five penta books. When most people say the word torah they either mean the whole jewish bible, the tanakh, the first five books of the bible, or all of the jewish teaching in general.
The pentateuch refers to the first five of the bibles old testament books and the first of five old testament sections. As a literary unit they provide the background for the ot as well as. The pentateuch consists of five books divided into 187 chapters. Theology and reading southwestern baptist theological. Chronologically the pentateuch covers the period of time from the creation to the end of the mosaic era. Pentateuch definition is the first five books of jewish and christian scriptures. Torah simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Thus, the book of isaiah is being interpreted holistically, with growing. In 2015, clines was awarded the burkitt medal by the british academy in recognition of his significant contribution to the study of the hebrew bible and hebrew lexicography. One would have to read the books of matthew, mark, luke, john, acts, romans, 1 corinthians, 2 corinthians, galatians and ephesians to read an amount equivalent in length to the pentateuch. Though the method of the book is holistic, the origin and growth of the theme is also explored using the methods of traditional source analysis. He believes that it addresses itself to the exilic community and inspires the reforms led by ezra and nehemiah. Cliness most popular book is the theme of the pentateuch.
The overarching theme is the partial fulfillment of the promises to the patriarchs. David clines argues that the promise of blessings to the patriarchs is a consistent thread that binds the five books together. He covers the ten commandments, the temple, the prophets, the book of job, the pentateuch, and david. I have been ordering books and updating my collection. The 10volume pentateuch history and origins collection contains the most important recent literature on the pentateuch. This grew out of the circumstance that the ancient hebrews were not accustomed to giving titles to their books, but when they were translated into greek, the translators, according to the custom in that language, gave titles to them. Pentateuch holman bible dictionary bible dictionary. The term applies to the first five books of the biblegenesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. It can also mean the continued narrative from all the 24 books, from the book of genesis to the end of. In the bible, the pentateuch is the first books of scripture. Taken from the book encountering the old testament by bill t.
You can find the best commentary on pentateuch for. The theme of the pentateuch the library of hebrew bibleold. It can most specifically mean the first five books pentateuch or five books of moses of the 24 books of the hebrew bible. The word pentateuch comes from two greek words that mean five books or five scrolls according to tradition, the books were written by the israelite leader, moses.
The theme of the pentateuch is the partial fulfillment which implies also the partial nonfulfillment of the promise to or blessing of the patriarchs. There is some discussion as to who is the author of the pentateuch. The theme of the pentateuch journal for the study of the old. Genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. In our inquiries respecting the authorship of the pentateuch, we begin with the undisputed fact that it existed in its present form in the days of christ and his apostles, and had so existed from the time of ezra. A number of times during his earthly ministry, jesus responded to questions with, it is written 7 times in matthew, 4 times in mark, 5 times in luke, 1 time in john.
A guide to the pentateuch exploring the bible series book 1 kindle edition by wenham, gordon j download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It is has long been called by the greek word pentateuch, derived from pente five and teuchos scroll or vessel. The books are made up of 5 scrolls, in the following table. For this second edition, the author has written a concluding chapter, suggesting how the theme of the pentateuch should be read in todays changing intellectual climate.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Buy a cheap copy of the theme of the pentateuch book by david j. The overarching theme is the partial fulfilment of the promises to the patriarchs. Clines s most popular book is the theme of the pentateuch. The pentateuch, or what came to be known as the torah or the book of the law, is regarded as the most authoritative and highly inspired of all the old testament writings, in large part because these books contain the laws given to the israelites by yahweh. The pentateuch greek for five books designates the first five books of the jewish and christian bible genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. The pentateuch is the law, and consists of five separate books. The pentateuch is often called the five books of moses. These books are genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy. David clines, the university of sheffield, sheffield institute of interdisciplinary biblical studies siibis, emeritus. The pentateuch, the torah, the law of mosesthese designations apply to the first five books of the bible, genesis through deuteronomy. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read theme of the pentateuch. Clines, 9781850757924, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The pentateuch includes the first five books of the biblegenesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy.
In the bible, we also read of many time when jesus quoted the truths of god from the hebrew scriptures, including. With regard to the historical location of the redactor, clines remains quite vague. Originally these books formed one continuous work, as in the hebrew. The theme of the pentateuch jsot supplement series, 10. The first five books of the old testament tell the story of creation, the fall, the patriarchs, the exodus, the deliverance of the law, and the journey to the promised land. The term pentateuch was first used by the hellenistic jews in alexandria. It denotes, therefore, the collection of five books. As i gear up for more academic work in hebrew bible, i am working on getting a broad reading of the field. The pentateuch consists of the first five books of the ot. The common jewish arrangement calls the first five books of the hebrew bible torah, law or teaching. The overarching theme is the partial fulfilment of the. Clines, the theme of the pentateuch jsot press, 1978. Creation, fall, flood and the tower of babel chapt 1224. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
As a literary unit they provide the background for the ot as well as the nt. The theme of the pentateuch the library of hebrew bible. The pentateuch is often called the five books of moses or the torah. Pentateuch, the, is the greek name given to the five books commonly called the five books of moses. What is the theme of the pentateuch according to david clines. For this second, enlarged edition, the author has written an epilogue reassessing the theme of the pentateuch from a more current postmodern perspective. The theme of the pentateuch jsot supplement series, 10 david j. These five books are the beginning of both the jewish and christian bibles.