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Introduction

It is assumed that the name Pentateuch ", the first five books of the Old Testament, the Book of Law" (The Columbia Viking Desk Encyclopedia, 1964, p.1402) was first proposed in the letter of Elora a second-century gnostic , Ptolemy and passed into Christian use. These books are the law (Torah) or the Law of Moses by the Jews. (Everyman's Encyclopedia, 1978). It would be difficult to overestimate the role that the Pentateuch, in the course of biblical studies. In all likelihood, these first five books of the Bible - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy-control have been more than a single block, with the sole exception of the Gospels (Ritter and Tucker, 1985).

Origin

Pentateuch The word derives from the Greek pentateuchos "" Five-Volumed (Book) ", following the Jewish name" the five fifths of the law. "Jews call the Torah, the instruction, often in English law, as it is in the New Testament (Greek nomon; example, Matt. 5:17, Luke 16:17, Acts 7:53, 1 Cor. 9: 8). After Lasor, Hubbard and Bush (1982), the Pentateuch was "the most important division of the Jewish canon, and with an authority far beyond the sanctity of the prophet and writing "(p.54). They observe that the books of the Pentateuch not" books "in the modern sense of independent self-entry, but a targeted and structured, the as part of a larger unit, hence the term Pentateuch is not only convenient but necessary. However, this fact of the unity of the larger corpus, the traditional five-fold division is important, not only as a convenient reference to the material but also because it is clear drafting instructions establishing only these five books as a subdivision of real material. Despite the trademarks of real differences and complexity in the structure and origin, more primary and important is the overall unity of the the Pentateuch evidence. A careful reading of the Pentateuch will show next to a particular unit purpose, plan and arrangement, a variety - a complexity - that is equally remarkable.

Authorship

The traditional view, Halley (1962) is that "Moses wrote the Pentateuch much ... with the exception of a few verses at the close, on his death, and occasional interpolations by copyists Justification for the purpose "(p. 56). This is consistent with the view of children (1979). A modern critical view is that the composite work of scientists from various priests, through the eighth century BC, for partisan political purposes on the basis of oral traditions, the main Redactor of which are called J (for Jahweh / Lord, the personal name of God), E (for Elohim, a generic name for God), D (for Deuteronomic) and P (for priests). Each claims to be unique. However, this view is not from research or conclusive evidence, and intensive archaeological and literary research, many of the better arguments for the challenge Mosaic authorship "(The NIV Study Bible, 1984, p. 2). Jews and Christians alike have Moses to the author / compiler of the Pentateuch.

Content

The Pentateuch consists of the first five books of the Bible. It should be noted that the first sentence in the Hebrew text of Genesis 1:1 is bereshith [in (the) ab], which is also the Hebrew title of the book. The English title, Genesis, is of Greek origin and is derived from geneseos "Birth", "genealogy" or "history of origin. Genesis therefore adequately describes its content, since it is primarily a book about beginnings. "Exodus" is a Latin word derived from the Greek EXODOS, which means "Exit", "exit". Moses gets its name from the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint) means "in reference to the Levites. It concerns mainly the service of worship in the tabernacle, which was signed by the priests, the sons of Aaron, which many people from the rest of the tribe of Levi. Exodus gave the instructions for the construction of the tabernacle of Moses and the laws and regulations for worship are also references to ceremonial purity, moral laws, holy days, the Sabbath and the year of jubilee. The English name of the book Figures are from the Septuagint, and is based on the census lists in IT. The Hebrew title of the book (bedmidbar, "in the desert") is more describing their contents to be verified. It presents an overview of the thirty-eight years of Israel with the hiking in the desert after the founding of the Federation of Sinai. The word "Deuteronomy" (which means that the repetition of the Law "), the name of the last book of the Pentateuch, emerged from a translation error in the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate of a phrase in Deuteronomy 17:18, which means Hebrew copy of the law. " The error is not serious, since Deuteronomy is, in a certain sense, a repetition of the law.

In general, the unity of the Pentateuch, it must be stressed when it comes to the content. This is supported by an interest in the historical narrative, the backbone of the Pentateuch and the context in which the blocks were of legal texts. A note to this narrative, the central role and importance is the fact that the Old Testament events most frequently in the New Testament as the background and preparation for God in Christ is precisely the sequence of divine acts of the claim by Abraham the kingdom of David . Summaries or "confession" of this sequence of divine acts plays a central role in the Scriptures. The basic information Confessing God's saving actions on behalf of his people could be so described:

i. God chose Abraham's offspring (Acts 13:17; Josh.24: 3) and promised them the land of Canaan (Deut. 6:23)

ii. Israel was in Egypt (Acts 13:17; Josh. 24:5-7, Deut. 6:21 ff, 28:8)

iii. God sent Israel into Canaan, as promised (Acts 13:19; Josh.24 :11-13; Deut. 6:23, 26:9).

But this is the narrative backbone of the Pentateuch in miniature. The plan to unify the various elements form the building blocks of the Pentateuch includes: promises, election, salvation, covenant, law and land. It is realistic noted that "the one element, and are universally present in the center of this credos ... The exodus, which the Lord of the historic liberation and realization of his choice of Israel as his people "(Lasor, Hubbard, Bush, 1982, p. 55).

The Pentateuch has two major areas: Genesis 1-11 and Genesis 12 - Deuteronomy 34th The relationship between them is a question and answer, problem and solution, the idea is Genesis 12:3. This structure not only highlights the binding unit of the Pentateuch, but also shows that the structure is far beyond the Pentateuch itself. The end and fulfillment are beyond Deuteronomy 34 - actually about the Old Testament. It might be argued that probably does not work if the Old Testament laid down a decisive solution to the problem that is universal Genesis 11 / 1 so aptly portrays. The Old Testament does not actually arrive at full redemption. If the Old Testament ends, Israel is still searching for the final completion, when hope and promise has become fact. The timing of Genesis 10-11 and chapters 12ff., Is not only one of the most important places throughout the Old Testament, but one of the most important in the whole Bible. Here begins the story of salvation is waiting for the proclamation of the good news of God's redemptive new law in Jesus Christ, only to be found, the manner in which the blessing of Abraham will bless all families of the earth. The Pentateuch is indeed open for the rescue, the story began expects the completion of the son of Abraham (Matt. 1:1), which makes all men unto him (John 12:32) punctuating the alienation of man from God and from each other.

Purpose

The purpose of the Pentateuch was one of the leading in the realization of God, that He was the creator and sustainer of the universe and the ruler of history. There is evidence of God's saving action, the central story is the Exodus from Egypt. God invaded the consciousness of the Israelites, and revealed itself as a redeeming God. Knowledge of God as Redeemer subsequently led to the knowledge of Him as Creator; understanding of the Lord as the God of grace, therefore, invited to an understanding of how the god of nature, after taking control of the nature shown as in the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea and the food in the desert. It must be stressed that God's grace was evident not only in the exhibition and consultation, but also in the words of the Act and the initiation of the federal government. Israel's alleged promise of obedience, oath of fidelity to God and his will is her answer. You need to hurry, that this reply is a gift of God's grace. The Pentateuch, or even better on a host of inner unity of the revelation of God in history and its domination over the history and witness to Israel and disobedience answer. It is generally testimony of God Holiness, which "separates him from the men, and his kind of love that binds him to his words'" (New Bible Dictionary, 1962, p.909).

Topics

Although several themes could be identified between Genesis and Deuteronomy, unique, but interrelated, interwoven and are of inestimable value could be identified. These include selection, creation, fall / sin, Federal, Law, and emigration. Israel was God's elect. According to Stott (1988), the Bible is "sacred history - the story of God's dealing with a specific people for a particular purpose" (p.45). They were convinced that God had done for which no other nation (Ps. 147:20). Great thinkers of Greece (including Plato, Socrates and Aristotle) are not the focus, but rather focuses on the scriptures record men like Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and the prophets to whom the word of the Lord came, and Jesus Christ, God's word meat. Abraham has a call today important to us and should not something as an event of the past. Election - God's special choice of the individuals in the two main functions subsidiary; promise and responsibility. Abraham is promised descendants as the land of Canaan as his children inherited and promised a big name in the future. God's special favor was the other not only to Abraham and his family, but for all people through him (Galatians 3:29).

God's promise to Abraham, therefore, not for the selfish enjoyment of a selected few, but others might if they responsibly. There is no doubt that God is the election of Israel has to be a missionary. A covenant in the Hebrew context, all human relationships, and not a limited definition of "a question of legal documents and sealing wax in the modern spirit. This bond unites the people of the mutual obligations. Persons from whom the relationship with God, is in relation to fret. Covenant terms could be used by three unique opportunities in the Pentateuch:

i. God's promise never again to destroy the world with a flood (Gen. 9:9)

ii. God's promise to Abram (Gen. 15:18, 17:4)

iii. The Sinai Covenant with Moses and summarized in the "Book of the federal" (Ex.24: 4).

It should be recalled that the agreements were usually between equals, it is a religious relationship between the Creator and to a lesser partner. However, the theological significance of the pact must be stressed. Based on the initiative of God and a new revelation of the Creator, it is moral and ritual requirements of the people.

Taylor (1973) notes, realistic, "the" idea of law is of central importance for the Pentateuch and ... there's his name in the book as a whole "(p.124). In essence, refers to the Ten Commandments (Decalogue - Ex 20; Deut.5) and associates with the various collections of laws as:

i. The book of the Covenant (Ex 21-23)

ii. The Holiness Code (Lev. 17:26)

iii. The Law of Moses (Exodus 12:26)

Since Israel was a part of the eastern Mediterranean and common culture in the ideas and experiences of its neighbors, several similarities can be noted especially with the Code of Hammurabi. The differences, however, from Israel laws distinctiveness. They could be summarized as:

i. uncompromising monotheism (ie, over all, with the true God)

ii. Remarkable for slaves, foreigners, women and orphans (the underprivileged)

iii. Spirit of community on the basis of the covenant relationship of all Israel with the Lord

In a brilliant summary, Cornfeld (1961) noted that "Hebrew law from its earliest times are at a higher level moral and ethical postulates of human relationship that does not seem to be equal in other legislation in the Middle East" ( p.213). Israel must be a God because of his sense of moral and spiritual distinctiveness. The elaborate sacrificial system in general their performance in the solitary sacrifice of Christ - the perfect Lamb of God, the sins are not only forgiven, but for atonement all men forever (Hebrews 10:1-18).

The exodus is in the right perspective. In Exodus 1-12, the Jews consider it as a great saving of interference or violence, the subsequent generations reminisced. This wonderful act of God's intervention victory of the gods Showing total domination. Recalled annually in the feast of Passover, subsequent generations are reminded that they are the first members of a community graciously slave redeemed from the bondage. They were invited to this as a deterrent, especially if curses reward disobedience. The historical significance was final. God could repeat his first action. In Isaiah 51:9-11, Israel for a second exodus in exile in Babylon.

These issues are not submerged in the Pentateuch. Probably the only other issue (which is repeated in depressing regularity) is Israel's persistent and persistent sinfulness. Among other things, they were slow to accept Moses as a liberator, grumbled about the hardness and desired to "go back to Egypt." Not even Moses was immune and was punished, not allowed to lead God's people into the Promised Land.

Conclusion

Together, the five books trace the origin of Israel from the earliest times, through the patriarchs, then the Exodus and Sinai periods before the entry into Canaan, they also contain a lot of Legal Notice. God's answer to sin is always a mixture of the above and of mercy. In addition to the direct discipline of Adam and Eve, and the confusion of languages at Babel, God tempers justice with healing. It is therefore understandable that in spite of the people on the road, God of Abraham to the channel of grace and revelation for all mankind.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Childs, B. (1979). Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

The Columbia-Viking Desk Encyclopedia (1964). New York: Dell Publishing Co.

Cornfeld, G. (1961). Adam Daniel. New York: The Macmillan Company.

Everyman's Encyclopedia, vol. 1. (1979). London: Dent & Sons.

Halley, H.H. (1962). Pocket Halley's Bible Handbook: An Abbreviated Bible Commentary. Minnesota:
Zondervan Publishing.

Knight, D.A. and G.M. Tucker (1985). The Hebrew Bible and its modern interpreters. Minnesota:
Fortress Press.

Lasor, W.S., D.A. Hubbard and F. W. Bush (1982). Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form and
Background of the Old Testament. Michigan: Williams B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

The New Bible Dictionary (1962). London: The Inter-Varsity Fellowship.

NIV Study Bible "(1984). Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.

Stott, J. (1988). Understanding of the Bible. London: Scripture Union.

Taylor, J. (1973). The five books. In The Lion Handbook to the Bible. Herts: Lion Publishing.

AUTHOR SIGNATURE

Oliver L.T. Harding, who has his GCE O & A Levels from the Sierra Leone Grammar School and the Albert Academy, is currently Senior & Acting Librarian of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He is a part time lecturer at the Institute of Library, Information and Communication Studies (INSLICS), Fourah Bay College and the extension program at the Academy of Evangelical Theology (TECT) at Hall Street, Brookfields, Vice President of the Association of Sierra Leone Archivists, librarians and information scientists (SLAALIS), a member of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and a member of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP). His certificates, secular and sacred, include: a certificate and diploma from the Freetown Bible Training Center, an upper second class BA Hons. Master's Degree in Modern History (FBC), a post-graduate diploma from the Institute of Library Studies (INSLIBS, FBC) a masters degree from the Institute of Library, Information and Communication Studies (INSLICS, FBC) and a master's degree in Biblical Studies from West Africa Theological Seminary, a partner of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he won the prize for scientific excellence as the best graduate student in 2005. Oliver, a writer, musician and theologian, is married (the Francess) with two children (Olivia & Francis).

E-mail: oltharding@yahoo.com

Mobile: 232-2233-460-330