Old Testament Survey - Overview of the Pentateuch
The Pentateuch (Greek) means - 5 Rolls = Law of Moses
The Torah (Hebrew) means - Law = Law of Moses
The Pentateuch consist of 5 books:
Genesis - The book of the Origin of Man / Patriarchs / Beginning of Israel
Exodus - The way out of Bondage
Leviticus - Worship under a Levitical order
Numbers - the 2 Census & Organization of Israel’s wilderness wonderings
Deuteronomy - 2nd Giving of the Law
Genesis - Creation – Death of Joseph, 4004 BC – 1689 BC, 2315yrs
Exodus - From Joseph’s death –Tabernacle, 1706 –1490 BC, 216 yrs
Leviticus - Less than 1 year at Mt Sinai – 1490BC
Numbers - Mt Sinai – Plains of Moab, 1490 – 1451 BC, 39 yrs wilderness
Deuteronomy - 2 months at the Plains of Moab, 1451 BC
Authorship of Law Ascribed to Moses:
Moses would have easily had the past documents of the Hebrew history from the days of Jacob when he came to Egypt. (Gen 46:). He could have pulled the information for the genealogies to write part of the Book of Genesis from the information from the 10 Generation of Genesis.
Gen 2:4 – Generations of Heaven and earth Gen 11:27 – Generations of Terah
Gen 5:1 – Generations of Adam Gen 25:12 – Generations of Ishmael
Gen 6:9 – Generations of Noah Gen 25:19 – Generations of Isaac
Gen 10:1 – Generations of the sons of Noah Gen 36:1 - Generations of Esau
Gen 11:10 – Generations of Shem Gen 37:2 – Generations of Jacob
Old Testament Survey – Genesis
Genesis: Means the Beginning or Generation
The word Generation occurs in each of the 10 sections of the book of Genesis. (These are the generations of ?)
From the creation through the life of Joseph you see the loyalty of God to work with men by design to bring about a holy line of faithful men to set up the linage for his own son to come and redeem the seed of the women prophesied about in chapter
The Book of Genesis is divided into three Major sections:
The history of Creation (1:1 – 2:3)
Human Life before Abraham (2:4-11:26)
(Garden, Fall, Cain & Abel, Seth, Noah, Babel)
Beginning of Israel Nation (1:27-50:26)
(Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph)
1. The Creation Story – God Elohim Creates The Heavens and Earth & Man
Gen 1:1 – 2:4, God Elohim – Gods plural, Mighty God of Transcendent power. This speaks of the Godhead as a team creating the heavens and the earth.
Men always encounter God Elohim before they ever meet Jehovah or Yahweh.
Gen 2:4, The Lord God (Jehovah) the self-existent one came down to make man.
He shows himself not just as the God of all power and might but the lord of love and compassion who comes down in person to create his finest creation. He reveals himself as the caretaker and means for redemption when they fell.
The story of God’s plan to have a house and family (a people) through redemption, begins almost immediately in the garden.
Eve gets deceived by the serpent and denies Christ by eating from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil. The tree of life was Christ and she and Adam chose to eat from the tree of Pride and intellect. In this act Holy Creation dies and men gets thrown out of the garden. They denied the image they where made in which was after the heart of Christ. So they denied Christ himself. God’s people were separated from him. God begins Redemption right off after the fall of man. God comes looking for man and he has hidden himself (the fruit of Sin).
God rebukes the serpent, curses man and the ground with death, and prophecies the first prophecy of man’s redemption in Gen 3:15. Tells the women of her future seed that would bruise the head of the Devil which was afore shadowing of Jesus.
God Kills animals to cover the lives of Adam and eve for there sin. This was the second fore shadowing of the redemptive plan of Christ. Man’s sin would be covered at the price of blood
Rom 8:20-23
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
2. Life Before Abraham – 2000 years covered Gen 1-11
1. Adam & Eve and the fall of man
2. Cain & Abel (first two sons of Adam & Eve) Gen. 4
Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer. Abel was the first worshiper of God after sin and offered the first Lamb sacrifice to God telling of the redemption plan of God. Abel offered Sacrifices that cost him only labor. This is a picture
God would not except worship from Cain out of works
Received Abel’s offering of blood telling of Gods Grace and provision factor alone
Cain killed Abel and became the first murderer, Abel became God’s 1st Martyr
Cain’s linage was only recorded in the bible for 6 generations that his line was remembered no more. (The fruit of his life) out of 6 generations
Cain – Murderer – Lamech murderer (first polygamist to marry more than one wife, first to demand a blood revenge) out of 6 generations not one person is recorded to have walked with God.
3. Seth (3rd son of Adam & Eve) Gen. 5
Seth was born when Adam was 130 years old. Chosen to carry the line of God
10 generations of Seth’s family is named through out the bible.
His family was the founders of a worship life walking with God
His linage lead to Enoch, and finally on to Noah.
4. Noah and the flood (Genesis 6-8)
Noah lived where all creation had grown to hate God except him and his family alone. God repented that he makes man and wants to destroy them and decides to create again through Noah and his sons.
Noah at 600 years old builds an ark. It took Noah 120 years to build the ark
Ark – 75’ wide, 45’ high, 450’ long. It was three stories high and could accommodate about 43000 tons of weight. The present day cruise lines can only hold about 25000 tons.
Rain floods the whole earth. God limits the days of men to 120 years.
The ark is a picture of Christ himself. That all who remain holy are shut up in him and the alone are saved.
Gen 9-10
Noah receives the first covenant promise from God in the rainbow not to destroy men by a flood again
Noah’s family and his three sons and their families begin life all over again.
Sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth. (Ham is cursed, Shem is Christ line) Japheth- becomes the European countries
5. Tower of Babel – Gen 11
Languages and cities and races begin out of Noah’s sons. As they increase the join together in Shinar to build a capitol city and a tower to reach heaven.
God comes down and distorts the languages and scatters the peoples all over the face of the earth (so races are born).
This is Genesis 1 –11, 2000 years of mans history from approx 4004 –2100BC
3. Age of the Patriarch’s (8 generations after Noah) 2100BC – 1689BC about 315 years
From this point on in the bible, the focus turns from the events of the whole world (Human Race) and goes to the History of the development of a civilization. God begins to unfold in detail the plans of redemption 21 centuries before Christ.
1. Abraham – Gen 12 – 25
Abraham – God appears to Abram at age 75 and tells him to separate himself from the land of UR and his family.
Leaves for a land he knows not of- looking for a city who’s builder and maker is God.
Abraham 1st test famine and goes to Egypt out of the council of god, but god gives Abraham pharaohs stuff
Abram settles in the land of Hebron in the Promised Land and was the first to be called a Hebrew.
Abraham leaves lot for over crowdedness. And god reveals to Abraham his future possession of land
Fights king to recover Lot and recognized by King of Salem and Sodom
God cuts a covenant with Abraham and tells him of the bondage of his seed in Egypt for 400 years but that they would come out a mighty nation
Abraham gets impatient with God after waiting 10 years in Canaan since God told him he would have a son. Fruit of the flesh
At 99 God visits Abraham about Isaac and gets his name changed to Abraham.
Has Isaac 24 years after the original word of promise Isaac is born
Forced to sacrifice Isaac on the alter (God shows himself as Jehovah Jireh the lord our provider.)
Abraham had 4 major test in his life and walk with God
Leave home land
Leave all family (lot)
Ishmael
Sacrifice of Isaac
2. Isaac (Son of Abraham)
Isaac at 40 yrs old gets a wife named Rebecca
Rebecca is barren for 19 years, Isaac intercedes and god remembers her she has twin sons (Jacob & Esau)
Runs to Egypt just like Abraham in a famine and king Abimelech blesses him.
Blesses with Patriarchal blessing Jacob instead of Esau by the design of God
3. Jacob – Son of Isaac
Robs brother of birthright and steals his blessing then flees for his life.
Heads towards family’s house in Haran. On Journey he sleeps at a place called Bethel and has a vision from God. Now Bethel means the house of God. He gets saved at bethel and covenants with god to follow him
Works 7 years for Laban for Rachel and gets Leah first than works 7 more years to get Rachel.
Rachel is Barren but later has Joseph and Benjamin
Leah and concubine have 12 sons which become the twelve tribes of Israel.
Wrestles with God on the way to meet brother and his named is changed to Israel. He came to the end of himself and the surplanter is changed into a prince - Redemption was done. The nature change was announced.
4. Joseph (Son of Jacob) Gen 37
Has a dream from God about his future at 17
Brothers sale him into slavery into Egypt
Rules Potiphar’s house and gets thrown into prison
In prison for 14 years
Gives the baker and cupbearer prophecy – says remember me ( stating self confidence)
Two years later gets out before Pharaoh. Interprets dreams get positioned over Egypt
Saves Egypt from famine and Jacob’s family comes to buy food
Moves family to Goshen and provides for them. He is used by God to preserve the nation of God’s people.
Old Testament Survey – Exodus
Exodus – covers the time of Israel leaving Egypt 1706 – 1490 BC
Jacob’s family lived in the land of Egypt from about 2100 BC – 1580 BC ( 520 years)
They began to fear the success and size of Israel in the land. Began to set taskmasters over Israel and enslave them. (thus, Abraham’s prophetic word comes to pass) and they are enslaved for 400 years
1. Miraculous deliverance of Israel Exodus 1-13:16
Moses Taken in by Pharaoh’s daughter and nursed by own mother.
Hears of Hebrew customs and beliefs from mother and learns the education of Egypt in pharaoh’s house.
Gets a heart for the Hebrews and Kills an Egyptian. At age 40
Flees to Midian and marries and shepherd sheep learning the heart of a pastor until 80 years old
Has burning bush experience at Mt. Horeb (the place of death)
Returns to Aaron / Elders in Egypt
Goes to Pharaoh / 10 plagues
Blood – Nilus the River God
Frogs – Hegt, the God who helped Childbirth
Lice (gnats)– Geb, the God of the earth
Flies (Beetles)- Kehphera, the sacred (scarabaeid beetle)
Murrain – Apis & Hathor, the sacred Bull & Cow
Boils – Typhon, the evil eye God
Hail – Shu, the god of the atmosphere / Isis the goddess of life/ Seth protector of crops
Locust – Serapis, the protector from the locust
Darkness – Ra, the sun god
Death Angel – Ptah, the God of life
The 10th plague also began the first Passover for the Hebrew nation of Israel.
First Passover
Kill the lamb, eat the flesh, sprinkle the blood on door post
Gathered spoil from Egypt gold, silver, brass, linen’s
Exodus from Egypt – April 1450 BC – 11day journey took 40 yrs
Egypt - world
Cloud / Fire – leading of the spirit
Red Sea – baptism into the body / Christ
2. Miraculous Journey to MT Sinai Genesis 13:17-18:27
Chpt. 15 - came to Marah (bitter water)
Came to Elim
The wilderness was a place to show god’s supernatural provision. God was working Egypt out of the children of Israel.
God provided quail in the evenings and manna (bread) in the mornings (ate for 40 years).
Came to Rephidim (people cry for water, strikes the rock for water)
Jethro hears of Moses happenings and comes to meet Moses at Mt Horeb and gives him advise about leading the people. He wants to set in leadership
Captains of - 10-50-100-1000
4 Attributes of God seen:
Delivering power
Ability to provide
Divine Protection
Sustaining ability through leadership
3. Mt Sinai - Exodus 19-40:38
spent 1 year at Mt Sinai.
People Reject God and want Moses to speak for him
Moses goes to the top of the Mountain and gets the Decalogue
(10 commandments) & Pattern for the Temple (Moses waited 6 days and fasted and on the 7th day God spoke to him about the tabernacle and he spent 40 days getting the detailed blue print from God)
People make Golden calf
10 Commandments or Decalogue (Greek for 10 sayings) where given on two different tablets. 4 commandments on 1 and 6 on the other
1st tablet had 4 commands 2nd tablet had 6 commands
(Duties of a holy people) (Duties of men to his neighbors)
1. No other god’s 5. Honor parents
2. No images (Idols) 6. Don’t Murder
3. Don’t use name in vain 7. No Adultery
4. Remember Sabbath 8. Don’t covet neighbor’s stuff
9. Don’t steal
10. Don’t Lie (false witness)
3 orders of life where instituted
1. National / personal worship
2. Value of Human Life
3. Ceremonies (3)
Unleavened Bread, - holy walk with redeemer
First fruits, - to be started once enter the promise land - redeemed
Tabernacles (in gathering) – In memory of their pilgrimage
4. The Tabernacle
Had to be an Israelite to help with construction
Represented the doorway or way to approach God and worship him.
(See tabernacle of worship notes for a description of elements of the tabernacle and it’s make up)
The encampment of Israel:
Portrait of the Cross and the house of God
Once the tabernacle is set up. Moses orders the encampment by tribe around the tabernacle.
They where made to camp:
The Levites and the tabernacle (center) of camp
East side – Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
South Side – Reuben, Simeon, Gad
West side – Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin
North side – Dan, Asher, Naphtali
So they camped in the shape of a cross with the (House), or tabernacle in the center of the cross.
So this was the revelation given at Mt. Sinai to the Hebrews. Moral and civil laws and holy conduct for worship and life!
Leviticus-
The book of Leviticus is a book of Purification and Sanctification.
2. Leviticus’ theme was it told the Israelites they could have _Access to God.
3. Leviticus describes the Worship and Sacrificial system of Israel.
4. The Teachings of Leviticus link the Idea of Holiness to everyday life.
5. Three main aspects of Leviticus that we see in its symbolism’s?
1. God hates sin
2. With out Blood there is no Forgiveness
3. Holiness on the part of the worshiper
6. The 2nd Theme of Leviticus was its sacrificial duties telling Israel the way to have
Fellowship with God.
7. The 5 major Offerings of Leviticus are? What do they mean?
1. Burnt ( whole offering – Worship)
2. Grain ( Thanks offering for the fruit of Labor)
3. Peace ( Fellowship offering given on a joyous occasion) to atone
4. Sin ( guilt offering acceptance of Guilt for ignorant sins)
5. Trespass (Intentionally wronged someone)
NUMBERS
9. Numbers covers the two numberings of Israel?
10 the approximate size of Israel in the wilderness was 2 million
12. The General Time frame of Numbers is 39 years
13. How many times did the children of Israel complain in the wilderness? ___10_____
14. From what age and up did God declare would die and not enter Canaan? 20
15. Israel had to wonder for 40 years – 1 year for everyday the spies were in Canaan
16. Who where the only two people that entered Canaan from the original Israel nation?
1. __Caleb______________ 2.__Joshua
Deuteronomy
19. Deuteronomy was written for this reason to restate the Law to a new Generation
20. Deut. Covers approximately 2 months on the Plains of Moab
21. The Historical purpose of Deut is to provide a review of the nations History
22. The Doctrinal purpose of Deut. Was to renew the covenant between God and another Generation
23. The Book of Deut. Covers three main Topics of Israel they are?
1 Israel’s Past
2. Present
3. Future
24.What 4 main areas are re-covered to Israel by Moses in Deut.
1. Law
2. Ceremonies
3. Social duties to own family, friends, Israelites
4. Civil duties – to priest, strangers, soldiers
25. Moses Anointed Joshua as his successor his final act as the Leader of Israel
26. Moses died on MT Nebo
27. In Deut. Moses Prophecies Israel’s return from being scattered all over the world
to become a joined people and nation again. It came to pass In 1948 (3000 Years later)