The Torah-Pentateuch

The first five books of the Holy Bible are called the Pentateuch. Jews traditionally called these books the “Torah,” which is a Hebrew term that means “law” or “instruction.” The Torah consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), and biblical scholars believe that Moses wrote the Torah. The “Book of the Law” referenced in the Holy Bible usually refers to the book of Deuteronomy, specifically Deuteronomy chapters 5 through 26, spoken by Moses. Still, some scholars argue that the Book of the Law or the title “Law” means the entire Torah. The book of Genesis gives the story of God creating a good world as His sanctuary and appointing humans as His rulers, then the Original Sin of humanity with Adam and Eve’s betrayal of God and obedience to Satan (serpent), the world’s increasing violence and rebellion with Cain and Abel, Noah’s Great Flood, and then the Tower of Babel with scattering of humans in Genesis chapters 1 through 11. Genesis chapters 12 through 50 give the patriarchal period of Abraham and his family Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. The book of Genesis is important because Genesis shapes the rest of the Holy Bible with various covenant promises to bless all nations of the world through the Seed of a woman and Abraham and his descendants. Next, the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy give the story of Israel with Jacob’s twelve sons (Twelve Tribes of Israel) and Israel’s exodus (salvation) from Egyptian slavery, the Passover and parting of the Red Sea, the giving of the Mount Sinai covenant, the building of the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) where the Sovereign LORD God dwelt, the atonement and Holiness Code in Leviticus, Israel’s rebellion and unfaithfulness in the wilderness with the book of Numbers, and the giving of the Book of Law in Deuteronomy. The Torah teaches about the covenant relationship between the living Sovereign LORD God and His people Israel and this relationship is marked by listing various obligations and holiness standards such as the Ten Commandments, so Israel would be a royal priesthood and holy nation. In the Torah, the Sovereign LORD God transformed Israel into a holy nation with the command to live holy lives as He is holy. The Pentateuch also describes the Israel's journey from Mount Sinai and their wilderness wandering and judgment for 40 years due to their fear, rebellion, and lack of faith with trust in the living Sovereign LORD God to save Israel and deliver them safely into the Promised Land of Canaan. Deuteronomy describes the prophet Moses giving a new generation of Israel a covenant renewal with the Law of God to love and obey the Sovereign LORD God wholeheartedly and then the anointing of Joshua as Israel’s new leader to lead Israel into the Promised Land of Israel-Palestine. The Torah forms the foundation of the Holy Bible, including Christ Jesus’s hope and redemptive work of salvation and atonement for the world’s sins.  

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