From the creation of the cosmos through the preliminary conquest of
the Promised Land (Canaan)
General content of the individual books
Genesis - primeval and patriarchal history
Exodus - call of Moses, exodus from Egypt, and beginning of law
Leviticus - primarily laws for society and cult (worship)
Numbers - wilderness wanderings and preliminary conquest of land plus
additional laws concerning society and cult
Deuteronomy - last will and testament of Moses - summarizes history
and law and presents a new interpretation of the law for a new generation which will have
to apply it to a different life and place
Interpretation
Usually revolves around the promises to Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3 and
how those promises moved toward fulfillment
Elements to remember in interpretation
Story
A substantial portion of the Pentateuch is story - stories invite the
reader into a world and time different from the world and time of the reader
Not every element and detail of a story is significant - the story as
a whole has meaning - thus, the story must be read as a whole and not interpreted as a
series of details
Stories flesh out theology and make it applicable in real life
Law vs. legalism
Law does not necessarily mean legalism - although there are many
rules and regulations in the Torah, legalism or a legalistic faith was not the intended
response
The law is primarily grace
God gave the law to Israel because He loved Israel and wanted to
enjoy a relationship with Israel
The law provided a way for Israel to be related to God and for God to
be related to Israel
The law was not meant to terrorize or enslave Israel
The Torah is foundational
The Torah sets the stage for the rest of the Hebrew Bible, as well as
the New Testament - it defines Israel, God's relationship with Israel, and Israel's
relationship with God - it is to the Hebrew Bible what the Gospels are to the New
Testament
Jesus and the rabbis quoted extensively from the Torah - the church
today, like the synagogue today, cannot ignore the Torah