- Titles, divisions, contents
The first 5 books of the Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, are known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers deal with history, both of humanity and of the Israelites. Leviticus and Deuteronomy are mostly legislation and religious laws.
- How the Pentateuch came to be written
Early Christians credited Moses with the composition of the Pentateuch, but modern scholars believe it was written by four different authors due to its varied writing styles. Because it has multiple authors, the Pentateuch contains many different versions of some stories. The authors are known as the Yahwistic, Elohistic, Deuteronomic, and Priestly traditions. The Yahwistic tradition is vivid, narrative, and often speaks of God in human terms. The Elohistic tradition is sober, flat, concerned with morals, and is careful to make clear distinctions between God and humans. The Deutonoronomic tradition is rhetorical and formulaic. Lastly, the Priestly code is concerned with organization, sacrifices, and formulaic.
- Relation of the narratives to history
In the Pentateuch, especially Genesis, facts are often presented in a mythological form. The Pentateuch also discusses the story of the patriarchs and the history of Israel as a nation. The history is written from a religious standpoint and each turning-point of the story is marked by divine intervention.
- The laws
Much of the Pentateuch is made up of laws, many of which were influenced by the cultures of neighboring groups at the time. For example, the Code of the Covenant was the legal code of a community and has many similarities to the Mesopotamian Codes. The Deutoronomic Code adapted laws to fit changes in the culture and economic life. The book of Leviticus contains some ancient laws such as the dietary laws and the regulations governing ritual purity.
- Religious significance
The religion of the Old Testament is based in history, which is part of why the Pentateuch is so important. In general, it is based on divine revelation to humans, interventions by God, and promises from God to humanity.
Anna Janzen 