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The Bible, God's Written Word
03 Five Books of Law
Also in this Issue:
01 The Bible as a Whole Click
02 The Old Testament as a Whole Click
3.1 Pentateuch
3.1.1 Traditionally
Pentateuch (Greek — pente, five; and teuches, book) is the name ascribed to the five books of law in the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament. There is good reason, however, for believing that even before the Septuagint Version was made (third century B.C.) the writings of Moses were recognized as fivefold. The Jews called them “the five-fifths of the law” or simply “the fifths.” It is probable that originally the whole was one, divided into five sections.
3.1.2 Textually
3.1.2.1 In Old Testament
The Law: Joshua 8:34; Ezra 10:3; Nehemiah 8:2,7,14; 10:34,36; 12:44; 13:3; 2 Chronicles 14:4; 31:21; 33:8.
The book of the Law: Joshua 1:8; 8:34; 2 Kings 22:8; Nehemiah 8:3.
The book of the law of Moses: Joshua 8:31; 23:6; 2 Kings 14:6; Nehemiah 8:1.
The book of Moses: Ezra 6:18; Nehemiah 13:1; 2 Chronicles 25:4; 35:12
The law of the Lord: Ezra 7:10; 1 Chronicles 16:40; 2 Chronicles 31:3; 35:26.
The law of God: Nehemiah 10:28,29
The book of the law of God: Joshua 24:26; Nehemiah 8:18
The book of the law of the Lord: 2 Chronicles 17:9; 34:14.
The book of the law of the Lord their God: Nehemiah 9:3.
The law of Moses the servant of God: Daniel 9:11,cf.v.13; cf. Malachi 4:4.
It will be noted how aptly these phrases characterize the Pentateuch. They stress its legislation, the Law; they indicate that it is in permanent form, the Book; they call attention to its human author, Moses; and they point to the Divine Author, the Lord, who is God.
3.1.2.2 In New Testament
The book of the law: Galatians 3:10
The book of Moses: Mark 12:26
The Law: Matthew 12:5; Luke 16:16; John 7:19
The law of Moses: Luke 2:22; John 7:23
The law of the Lord: Luke 2:23,24
3.2 Penman
The Pentateuch as it has come down to us in the Hebrew Bible is generally admitted to be a unity. Its unity was effected either by a single writer or, as many critics contend, by a single redactor or school of redactors. The traditional view, practically unchallenged until the rise of liberal criticism from the eighteenth century until the present, is that the Pentateuch was written by a single writer, that writer being Moses. This position was universally held by the ancient Jewish synagogue, the inspired New Testament writers, the Early Christian Church and by virtually all commentators, both Jewish and Christian.
The liberal JEDP theory, on the other hand, maintains that the Pentateuch was composed from a number of documents dating many centuries after the time of Moses, but containing Mosaic traditions. The Yahwist (J) document is placed about 850 B.C. The Elohist (E) about 750 B.C. and the combination of J and E in the seventh century B.C. with Deuteronomy (D) dated 621 B.C. and the addition of priestly (P) in the completed Pentateuch around 500 B.C. These documents, it is claimed, were used by a redactor (or redactors) who introduced the order and arrangement into the Pentateuch, as we now have it in the Hebrew Bible.
If Moses is not the author of the Pentateuch, history knows nothing of any other author. The documentary hypothesis is a child of modern, rationalistic, "higher criticism", which, dealing with the date, authorship, and authenticity of the Biblical books is much more likely to be subjective than "lower criticism", which is concerned with establishing the correct text of a document. Accordingly, much of the literature advocating the theory of late documentary sources for the Pentateuch is highly speculative and subjective, and arbitrarily sets aside the concrete objective facts of history and the testimony of the ancient manuscripts themselves, which overwhelmingly favor the Mosaic authorship. William Henry Green aptly speaks of the “unflinching intrepidity” and “veritable audacity” of the higher critics, who, in pushing their theory to its last results, place it “absolutely beyond the reach of the reductio ad absurdum argument; for the most preposterous conclusions are accepted without hesitation, and paraded as genuine discoveries.”
Since until comparatively recent times the practically universal view among both Jews and Christians has been that Moses was the author of the first five books of the Bible, the correctness of a tradition so ancient and universal is not only important in itself, but demands and merits the most careful scrutiny before it is abandoned in favor of some ingenious and highly plausible substitute. This is especially so when the rejection of the time honored position involves consequences that jeopardize any high and worthy view of the authority and credibility of the Bible as a whole.
3.2.1 Testimony of the Pentateuch
Exodus 17:14; 24:4-8; 34:27; Numbers 33:1,2; Deuteronomy 31:9,22
3.2.2 Testimony of Remainder of Old Testament
Joshua 1:7,8; 8:31,32,34;22:9;23:6; Judges 3:4; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6; 21:8; 23:25; 1 Chronicles 22:12,13; 2 Chronicles 23:18; 25:4;33:8; 34:14;35:12; Ezra 3:2;6:18; Nehemiah 1:7,8; 8:1,14; 13:1
3.2.3 Testimony of New Testament
Matthew 8:4;19:8; Mark 1:44;7:1O;10:5;12:26; Luke 5:14;16:31;20:37; 24:27,44; John 1:17,45;5:45-47;7:19-23; Acts 3:22;13:39;15:5-21; 26:22;28:23; Romans 10:5,19; 1 Corinthians 9:9; 2 Corinthians 3:15; Revelation 15:3
3.2.4 Testimony of Tradition
From evidence furnished by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which has been attributed to Moses up to the present time, it is plain that as early as the fifth century B.C. both Jews and Samaritans firmly believed that the Pentateuch was of Mosaic origin. The Jews of Palestine and of the dispersion were likewise unanimous in this conviction. Ecclesiasticus in the first half of the second century B.C. is the earliest apocryphal book to bear witness to the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch (Ecclesiasticus 45:5). The second book of Maccabees speaks of the “commandment of the law which was given us by Moses” (7:30). Both Philo and Josephus ascribe Mosaic authorship to the Pentateuch. Both the Palestinian and Babylonian Talmud view Moses with the greatest reverence as author and legislator. In all the lists of canonical Scripture set forth by the Church Fathers, the Pentateuchal books are given special place and often referred to as the “books of Moses.” Liberal "higher critics" cannot deny the antiquity and practical universality of the tradition that the Pentateuch is Mosaic in authorship. They confidently assert, however, that their documentary view is a modern discovery which shows the ancient tradition to be erroneous.
3.2.5 Testimony of Internal Evidence
If Moses did write the Pentateuch, he wrote it in the desert, as an eyewitness, as one familiar with Egypt, but unfamiliar with Canaan, and as one who would likely employ some archaic expressions. All of these internal evidences are abundantly represented in the Pentateuch.
3.2.6 Testimony of Teaching
Compared with later Scriptures in which the same truths are dealt with, such doctrines as the resurrection, the future state, the millennium, providential retribution, angels and the first and second advents of Christ, show clearly that the Pentateuch belongs to an earlier period of progressive divine revelation than the Psalms, the book of Job or the Prophets.
3.3 Purpose
3.3.1 Biblical
It has been astutely observed that you can describe the entire Bible in eight words once you distill it down to its basic divisions. These eight divisions parallel precisely the manner in which we will look at sections of Scripture (such as this study on Five Books of Law) before we deal with the individual books in those sections.
Divisions Descriptions
Old Testament
Law Foundation
History Explanation
Poetry Aspiration
Prophecy Expectation
New Testament
Gospels Manifestation
History Formation
Letters Exhortation
Prophecy Culmination
Law – Foundation In the law God lays down the foundation on which the superstructure of the succeeding Scriptures is built. The Pentateuch is the seed plot of the garden of Scripture. All major Bible themes have their roots in these first 5 Bible books. Just pause and ponder how much information about God and His working we’d be missing if the Bible began with Joshua, the sixth book.
The great foundation of the Bible’s first 5 books is the character of God and His plan for people. Those two things never change. God is revealed as always existing, all controlling, all powerful, everywhere present, all knowing, all holy, all righteous, all truthful, all loving and never changing. He is the epitome of perfection who never had an origination! In His basic essence, He can never change lest He cease to be God. And it is ever His nature to have fellowship with His creatures; He is never aloof. He ever reveals Himself and desires to be received. His moral principles never change; it’s always been His will that people love Him first and foremost, and their neighbors as themselves.
Love God first & best Love neighbor as self
God’s plan for people has always been no other gods or vain use of His name, honor parents; and avoid murder, adultery, stealing and coveting.
No graven images No adultery
No vain use of God’s name No stealing
Keep Sabbath No false witness
Honor parents No coveting
In every age, salvation has always been on the basis of God’s grace, received by human faith. It has never been God’s will for any to perish, but that all should come to salvation. From cover to cover, the Bible presents a consistent God with a continuous plan of good for people.
3.3.2 National
Purpose: to give a general view of the foundation of the Kingdom in the nation of Israel
Plan: GENESIS — Early History of the Nation
The call of Abram to be the father and founder of his nation
Growth from this individual into a family or household of many members
EXODUS - Inauguration of the Nation
Growth of household into a great multitude
Redeemed from slavery of Egypt
LEVITICUS - Spiritual Organization of the Nation
Arrangement of the sanctuary and the life of sanctity which God demands
NUMBERS - Political organization of the Nation
Organized into tribes, each one with its own head and place in the encampment and line of march
DEUTERONOMY- Recapitulation
3.3.3 Individual
Purpose: to set forth “the order of the experience of the people of God in all ages”
Plan: THE HUMAN SIDE
GENESIS Ruin - through the sin of man
EXODUS Redemption — by “blood” and “power”
LEVITICUS Communion — on the ground of atonement
NUMBERS Direction — guidance by the will of God
DEUTERONOMY Destination - through the faithfulness of God
THE DIVINE SIDE
GENESIS Divine Sovereignty — in creation and election
EXODUS Divine Power — in redemption and emancipation
LEVITICUS Divine Holiness — in separation and sanctification
NUMBERS Divine Goodness and Severity — judging, caring
DEUTERONOMY Divine Faithfulness — in discipline and destination
3.4 Plan
The narrative and the place of each of these five books will be seen in the following summary which can also be traced on the map.
3.4.1 Beginning of Nation - Genesis
This includes the time and pilgrimage of their great ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. They were sent to Egypt to multiply in that land of plenty and wisdom.
3.4.2 Egypt and the Exodus - Exodus 1 - 12
In Egypt, they prospered under the friendly Shepherd Kings until the restoration of the native dynasty, the “King that knew not Joseph.” The oppression was sent to make them disgusted with Egypt and its idolatry and will to leave it. The Plagues were each a blow at an Egyptian deity and showed them their Jehovah superior to all. The Passover is a type of Christ imputed in the sprinkled blood, and Christ imparted in the eaten lamb. In this strength they march out to liberty.
3.4.3 Journey to Sinai - Exodus 13-18
A mingled story of blessings and trials with much unbelief. The journey narrative tells of the bitter waters at Marah, the palm trees of Elim, murmuring and manna sent, murmuring again and water given, a victory over Amalek and the visit and aid to Jethro. All typify the course of the young convert’s experiences.
3.4.4 At Mount Sinai - Exodus 19- Leviticus
Here they were given the Law and consecrated with a covenant of blood. Here too was the dreadful apostasy and
worship of the Golden Calf, but here also was given and erected the Tabernacle. Leviticus was all given from the Tabernacle, showing the Offerings, the Laws of Holiness, and the Feasts, all in the Gospel order of Sacrifice, Sanctification and Satisfaction.
3.4.5 Journey to Canaan - Numbers and Deuteronomy
Numbers gives this. It is so called because of the numberings at the beginning and the close of the book and the journey. It also gives the arrangement of the Camp and March. The period was a sad one. They failed to enter at Kadesh and were turned back into the wilderness where they wandered in all forty years. This represents the state of a believer who refuses to enter the consecrated life of faith. All but two fell in the wilderness. Psalm 90 tells the sad story. There were many sins and rebellions.
Deuteronomy: This gives Moses’ farewell discourses at the Jordan just before entering Canaan. He reviews their blessings and gives some new laws and is very tender and anxious for them. It ends with the account of his death. Christ loved to quote from this book.
3.5 Principles
The most sacred thing in the nation was two tables of stone on which were written the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were accompanied by over six hundred other laws that emanate from them to apply to special conditions and acts. All of this legislation may be grouped in four areas.
3.5.1 Moral Laws
These apply to matters of right and wrong in conduct. They sometimes seem to us far below the standard of our day, but we must distinguish between the essential principles of right in the Commandments and their application to special matters. The latter had to be adapted to the age and state of the people. Some things were permitted that Christ amended when He came, as retaliation and divorce. Matthew 5:21,27,33. We must not judge the ethics of that day by our full gospel light and standards.
3.5.2 Civil Laws
These described not only the temporary camp life but the after life and government in Canaan. It was a carefully regulated system of government. It is the model of all modern government today. There were rulers elected by the people; the franchise was for all Israelites. This law was a written constitution. They had two houses of legislation, a popular and a limited body corresponding to our House of Representatives and Senate. They had homestead laws and sanitary laws. They had three great annual festivals besides the weekly sabbath. They had merciful laws for the poor and stranger. All this provided a condition most favorable for human life and welfare.
3.5.3 Ceremonial Laws
The Ceremonial Code includes the laws of the Tabernacle, the priesthood, the offerings, ceremonies and worship, and laws of personal cleansing and habits. These will be discussed more fully in a later lesson on the book of Leviticus.
3.5.4 Spiritual Laws
The whole Law is deeply spiritual. It is based, as Christ taught, on love to God and man. Love to God inspires the first three of the ten commandments and love to man the last seven. This is the right division of the Commandments, the Fourth Commandment belonging, as Christ tells us, to the human side of the Law, Mark 2:27. The Sermon on the Mount shows the spiritual application of the Law. Christ and His apostles based the gospel on the Law. Romans 7:14. Luke 24:27.
3.6 Preview - Readings in Genesis
Day 1: CREATION 1:1-5,26-31; 2:7-22
Day 2: FALL 3:1-24
Day 3: DELUGE 6:1-7;7:7-24;8:6-11;18-22;9:1-16
Day 4: BEGINNING OF LANGUAGES 11:1-9
Day 5: THE ABRAHAMIC CALL AND COVENANT 12:1-9;13:14-18;
Day 6: STORY OF JOSEPH 37:1-36;42
Day 7: JACOB’S FINAL BLESSING 49