old testament survey. old testament survey the pentateuch
TRANSCRIPT
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.