A Brief Overview of the Pentateuch

The first five books of the Old Testament are known variously as the Pentateuch or Torah or the books of law. Although they contain the law given by God to the Jews, they are more properly books of history which, among other things, contain laws. The following table gives some key words and themes which help to summarize the basic contents of the Pentateuch.

The Five Books: Keywords, themes, how God is presented, and the main persons

Genesis: Origins, the beginning of sin, God is seen as sovereign (in charge), Abraham is the main person

Exodus: Leaving Egypt, redeemed from slavery, God is seen as powerful, Moses is the main person

Leviticus: Offerings to God, fellowship with God, God is seen as holy, the priests are central

Numbers: Wandering in the desert, guidance from God, God is seen as good and severe, Moses is the main person

Deuteronomy: The law is given again, the Promised Land is the goal, God is seen as faithful, Moses is the main person

The Contents of the Five Books:

Gensis: Creation and Fall

Exodus: Liberation

Leviticus: Instructions

Numbers: Unbelief and Judgment

Deuteronomy: Preparation for entering the Promised Land

To help put these ideas into a better context, here is a brief summary of each of the five books:

The book of Genesis is foundational to understanding the rest of the Bible. It gives the origin of all things and the basis for the corruption of all things. Genesis does not explain God; rather, Genesis assumes the existence of God and proceeds from there. In Genesis is the "seed plot" for the ongoing "plot line" of the entire Bible.

The book of Exodus not only gives the basics of God's law for Israel (the Ten Commandments are found in Exodus.), but also provides (through the Tabernacle [Israel's place of worship]) the setting and the rituals that serve as the means of reconciliation between God and the people when the people break God's laws. In Exodus, the Israelites are freed from slavery through God's intervention and then are told how spiritual liberation can be achieved.

The book of Leviticus not only expands on the laws begun in Exodus; it also elaborates on the role of the priesthood as mediators between God and the people of Israel.

The book of Numbers describes the exploration of the Promised Land, the decision on the part of Israel not to attempt to conquer the Promised Land (Canaan), and the subsequent punishment of 40 years of wandering. The book ends with a new generation of Israelites on the borders of Canaan. This time, as we discover in the book of Joshua, they will enter and conquer the land.

The book of Deuteronomy concludes the leadership role of Moses as he applies the laws of God to the new situations the people will face when they enter the Promised Land. The Israelites, who had wandered in the desert for 40 years, are about to begin a settled existence among nations who do not share their religious values nor their ways of conducting daily life.

Although parts of the Penteteuch may seem irrelevant and tedious to the modern reader, there is great value in gaining an overall grasp of these five books. They form a wonderful context in which to read and understand the rest of the Bible and, in many ways, to understand why people act the way they do.