Old Testament Survey: The Pentateuch

GENESIS (Greek: “ORIGIN,” “BEGINNINGS”/Hebrew: “ IN THE BEGINNING” (BERĀ·SHĒTH)

Author: Moses

Date of Authorship: 1450-1410 BC.

Setting: Creation of the universe, Death of Joseph; Moment of Creation, ca. 1700 BC

Key Figures:

• Adam and Eve, Satan
• Cain and Abel
• Noah and Family
• Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca, Jacob and Joseph

Thematic Breakdown:
* Creation (Genesis 1-2)

• Key Verses: Genesis 1:1 , 1:30

* The Fall (Genesis 3-5)

• Key Verse: Genesis 3:3-4

* The Flood (Genesis 6-11)

• Key Verse: Genesis. 6:5-8

* The Call (Genesis 12-50)

• Key Verse: Genesis 12:1-3

EXODUS (Greek: “GOING OUT”)
Author: Moses

Date of Authorship: 1450-1410 BC

Setting: Egypt, Desert; ca. 1700-1500 BC.

Key Figures:

• Moses and Aaron
• Pharaoh II

Thematic Breakdown:
* The Call Out (Exodus 1-13)

• Key Verse: Exodus 3:7-10

* The Wait (Exodus 14-18)

• Key Verse: Exodus 14:11-12

* The Call In (Exodus 19-32)

• Key Verse: Exodus 19:4-7

LEVITICUS (GREEK: “RELATING TO THE LEVITES”/HEBREW: “AND HE CALLED” (WAYIQRA)

Author: Moses

Date of Authorship: 1450-1410 BC

Setting: Sinai desert, areas surrounding Canaan; ca. 1500 BC.

Key Figures:

• Moses

Thematic Breakdown:
* Call to Holiness

• Key Verse: Leviticus 19:1-2
• Call to Holy Worship (Leviticus 1-17)
• Call to Holy Living (Leviticus 18-27)

NUMBERS (GREEK: “NUMBERS”/HEBREW: “IN THE DESERT [OF]” (BəMIDBAR)

Author: Moses

Date of Authorship: 1450-1410 BC

Setting: Sinai desert; ca. 1500/1490-1460/50 BC.

Key Figures:

• Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Eleazar
• Joshua, Caleb

Thematic Breakdown:
* Call to Order (Numbers 1-10)

• Key Verse: Numbers 2:34

* Trust Broken and Promise Delayed (Numbers 11-21)

• Key Verse: Numbers 14:31-34

* Recall to Order (Numbers 22-36)

• Key Verse: Numbers 26:3-4

DEUTERONOMY (GREEK: “SECOND LAW”/HEBREW: “SPOKEN WORDS” (DEVARIM)

Author: Moses (Likely Deuteronomy 1-32); Probably Joshua (Deuteronomy 33-34)

Date of Authorship: 1407/6 BC

Setting: East of the Jordan River; ca. 1407 BC, days before entering Canaan

Key Figures:

• Moses, Joshua

Thematic Breakdown:
* Call Again (Deuteronomy 1-29)

• Key Verse: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

* Call to Return (Deuteronomy 30)

• Key Verse: Deuteronomy 30:15-18

* A New Season (Deuteronomy 31-34)

• Key Verse: Deuteronomy 34:9