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Introduction Old Testament Pentateuch Herbert Wolf

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Introduction Old Testament Pentateuch Herbert Wolf ———————————————— THINK AGAIN AN INTRODUCTION L STUDY NOTES STUDY NOTES L TO THE OLD TESTAMENT PENTATEUCH ———————————————— ———————————————— HERBERT WOLF PERSONA 1 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— CONTENTS THINK AGAIN Preface 1. Introduction L STUDY NOTES STUDY NOTES L The Fivefold Division of the Pentateuch The Unity of the Pentateuch The Impact of the Pentateuch on the Old Testament On the Historical Books On the Prophetic Books On the Poetic Books The Impact of the Pentateuch on the New Testament Quotations Typology The Theology of the Pentateuch God Man PERSONA Salvation The Messiah 2 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— Faith Atonement THINK AGAIN The Covenants The Samaritan Pentateuch The Literary Characteristics of the Pentateuch STUDY NOTES L The Significance of Moses 2. Authorship The Case for Mosaic Authorship Moses’ Qualifications Explicit Statements About Mosaic Authorship Possible Sources Used by Moses The Tablet (Toledoth) Theory Other Possible Sources Indications of Post-Mosaic Additions Alternative Views of the Formation of the Pentateuch Early and Medieval Periods PERSONA Reformation and Renaissance The Documentary Hypothesis Form Criticism 3 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— Tradition Criticism Rhetorical Criticism THINK AGAIN Recent Critical Approaches to the Pentateuch Canonical Criticism Structuralism STUDY NOTES L Conclusion 3. Genesis Title Purpose and Scope Literary Structure Problems in Genesis 1–11 The Nature of Genesis 1:1–2:3 The Meaning of “Day” in Genesis 1:1–2:3 Creation and Evolution Changes in Evolutionary Thought Since Darwin Theistic Evolution PERSONA The Age of Man The Identity of the “Sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 The Extent of the Flood 4 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— The Curse of Canaan The Tower of Babel THINK AGAIN The Beginnings of the Nation of Israel The Abrahamic Covenant The Historicity of the Patriarchs STUDY NOTES L The Near-Sacrifice of Isaac The Origin of the Twelve Tribes The Structure of the Joseph Narrative 4. Exodus Title Purpose and Scope Literary Structure Liberation Theology The Significance of the Plagues The Purpose of the Plagues The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart PERSONA The Pattern of the Plagues The Plagues as Natural Disasters The Plagues as Eschatalogical Forerunners 5 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— The Individual Plagues The Passover THINK AGAIN The Passover Lamb Feast of Unleavened Bread Regulations STUDY NOTES L Death of the Firstborn Crossing of the Red Sea The Date of the Exodus Key Biblical Numbers Egyptian Evidence Evidence from Jericho Evidence from Other Cities Evidence from Transjordan The Amarna Tablets The Numerical Size of Israel The Sinai Covenant PERSONA Theophany The Ten Commandments The Book of the Covenant 6 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— Covenant Ratification A Comparison with Other Ancient Law Codes THINK AGAIN The Tabernacle as God’s Dwelling Place 5. Leviticus Title STUDY NOTES L Purpose and Scope Literary Structure The Meaning of the Sacrificial System General Procedure The Burnt Offering The Grain Offering The Fellowship Offering The Sin Offering The Guilt Offering The Role of the Priests and Levites The High Priest PERSONA The Other Priests The Levites The Ordination of the Priests 7 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— The Death of Nadab and Abihu The Meaning of “Clean” and “Unclean” THINK AGAIN The Basic Distinction Clean and Unclean Food The Day of Atonement STUDY NOTES L Holy Living The Challenge to Obey 6. Numbers Title Purpose and Scope Literary Structure The Organization of the Tribes The Twelve Tribes Arrangement of the Tribes The Order of March Rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea PERSONA Report of the Spies Rebellion of the People Punishment Decreed 8 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— Forty Years in the Wilderness The Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram THINK AGAIN The Disobedience of Moses and Aaron Military Victories on the Way to Canaan The Wilderness Theme in Scripture STUDY NOTES L The Enigmatic Role of Balaam Balaam as Prophet Balaam’s Prophecies Balaam’s Deadly Advice Balaam’s Death and Legacy Preparation for the Promised Land The Inheritance Rights of Women Joshua’s Commissioning The Battle Against Midian Tribal Inheritance in Transjordan 7. Deuteronomy PERSONA Title Purpose and Scope Literary Structure 9 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— Preamble Historical Prologue THINK AGAIN Stipulations Blessings and Curses Witnesses STUDY NOTES L Deuteronomy as Exhortation The Centrality of the “Shema” The Covenant Curses: Paradigm for the Prophets Drought and Crop Failure Disease and Blindness Invasion and Captivity Disgrace Curse Reversals: The Promise of Blessing 1 PERSONA 1Wolf, H. (1991). An introduction to the Old Testament Pentateuch (1). Chicago: Moody Press. 10 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— PREFACE Anyone who attempts to do justice to the words THINK AGAIN of Moses is facing a challenging assignment indeed. How can one adequately explain the wonders of creation or God’s miraculous dealings with the Israelites? From Genesis to Deuteronomy we are introduced to the person and work of the God of STUDY NOTES L Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to the marvelous potential of man created in His image but all too quickly expelled from Eden and overwhelmed by sin. The Pentateuch is the story of how God restored mankind, lovingly and graciously redeeming them out of sin’s slavery and raising up a people through whom He would touch the whole world. Although this book does deal with these tremendous themes, I realize that I have only begun to understand Moses’ teachings and their implications for our day and age. During the years this manuscript was in preparation I have received help and encouragement from many quarters. The editorial staff of Moody Press has patiently worked with me and has seen this project through to the end, and I am particularly grateful for the strong support of Garry Knussman and Joe O’Day. I wish to thank the administration of Wheaton College and Graduate School for a sabbatical leave that enabled me to concentrate solely upon this book. PERSONA As the individual chapters were finished, the secretaries of the Department of Biblical, Theological, and Archaeological Studies faithfully typed them into the computer, and I am indeed grateful to Janet Seaberg, Jayne Christianson, and 11 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— Mary Lou McCurdy for all their help. Graduate assistants Peter Malvicini and Bill Pitkin have also contributed many hours of research and typing, THINK AGAIN without which the book could not have been completed. Similarly, I owe a great debt of gratitude to the students who over the years have taught me so much about these books through their perceptive comments in class and the papers that delved into L STUDY NOTES STUDY NOTES L many of the problem areas of the Pentateuch. Finally I would like to thank my wife, Clara, for allowing me to spend several summers working on this manuscript when I could have been painting or otherwise contributing to the upkeep of house and home. Her understanding and love continue to be an inspiration to all of my work, and she has taught me to appreciate why the Lord said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” But before I was united to my wife the Lord gave me two wonderful parents, who not only took me to church in infancy and put me under the teaching of God’s Word but also gave me an example of what a godly life was all about. To Gottfried Hermann and Melanie Seyfert Wolf I dedicate this book, thankful for their consistent walk with the Lord and for the way they impressed on me the commandments of the law about which I have tried to write (Deut. 6:7). PERSONA 12 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— THINK AGAIN 1 INTRODUCTION STUDY NOTES L The five books of the Pentateuch are foundational to all of Scripture and rank as one of the most important sections in God’s Word. Just as a knowledge of the four gospels is essential for understanding the New Testament, so the content of the Pentateuch is crucial to the rest of the Old Testament and for that matter the whole Bible.1 The four gospels tell us about the incarnation as the Son of God came to dwell among men. In Exodus 40:34–38 the glory of God fills the Tabernacle as the Lord dwelled among Israel to speak to them and to guide them in their travels. Even though we usually think of the wrath and power of God in connection with the Old Testament, Moses told Israel that God was near them whenever the people prayed to Him (Deut. 4:7). The Lord marvelously protected them from danger and revealed to them His laws and decrees, and even the pagan prophet Balaam had to admit that PERSONA The Lord their God is with them; 1 Samuel J. Schultz, The Gospel of Moses (Chicago: Moody, 1979), p. 1. 13 LIVING WORD AMI PENTATEUCH INTRODUCTION ———————————————— ———————————————— the shout of the King is among them. (Num. 23:21) THINK AGAIN God worked in a wonderful way in the family of Abraham, not only to make of that people “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:6) but also so that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12:3). Ultimately that blessing STUDY NOTES L came in the Person of Jesus Christ, who was the mediator of a better covenant than the one established by Moses, so that salvation might come to the whole world. THE FIVEFOLD DIVISION OF THE PENTATEUCH The first five books of the Bible are commonly referred to as the “Pentateuch,” a word derived from the Greek penta (“five”) and teuchos (a case for carrying papyrus rolls but in later usage the scroll itself).
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