The Pentateuch (First 5 books, the Hebrew Torah)
Genesis
- about: beginnings—of the universe, of faith
- God makes the world and chooses a people group.
- Big stories: Creation, Noah, Abraham/Isaac/Jacob (a.k.a. Patriarchs), Joseph
- written by: Moses
- time: prehistoric, early civilizations
- “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31a
Exodus
- about: Moses, covenant
- God delivers His people from Egypt and makes a covenant with them.
- Big stories: the Exodus, Ten Commandments, golden calf
- written by: Moses
- time: 400 years after the end of Genesis
- “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2-3
Leviticus
- about: sacrifices, celebrations
- God sets up a system of sacrifices and celebrations for His people.
- Big stories: Levites as priests, lots of instructions on how to live
- written by: Moses
- time: same as Numbers
- “I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” Leviticus 11:45
Numbers
- about: census, wilderness
- God’s people refuse to enter Canaan, so God forces them to wander for 40 years.
- Big stories: 12 spies (Joshua & Caleb), water from a rock, Balaam’s donkey
- written by: Moses
- time: immediately after Exodus (Ex 40:17, Num 1:1)
- “The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Numbers 14:18a
Deuteronomy
- about: history, laws
- Moses reviews the whole story and reminds the people of God’s covenant and laws, then leadership transfers to Joshua.
- Big stories: Moses’ final speech, Joshua’s succession
- written by: Moses
- time: just before entering the Promised Land, after Numbers and before Joshua
- “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5
