The Torah or Teaching

The first five books of the Old Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures) are called the Law or the Torah or the Teaching: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The names were added in the medieval period and were taken from the first word or phrase in the book in Hebrew or Aramaic. the whole collections is called the Pentateuch ("book in five parts").

These books are also called the 5 Books of Moses as Moses was originally presumed to be their author. However as you can see from Deuteronomy chapter 31:24-30, Moses was hardly able to write about his own death, nor would he have been present at creation as written in the first book, Genesis. Nevertheless, Moses is the one who stands behind the books as the chief teacher, and is you look closely at Deuteronomy you will see it contains four speeches by Moses.

Scholars who studied the Law found certain very interesting things. There were great classic story narratives, which make interesting reading still today. Then there were laws, poetry, historical descriptions of events, songs, and other forms. The variations of styles and other structural problems led them to conclude there was not just one author. They began to distinguish four different authors or editors who collected the teachings handed down by word of mouth for centuries before the books were compiled.

They have given these authors/editors names:

the first was termed the "Yahwist" source (cited as "J") since the name used in these passages for God is always "Yahweh." A second is called the "Elohist" (E) since in these passages the name for God is "Elohim." These are early sources or among the oldest texts. Another author/editor is called the "Priestly" (P ) author since these writings pertain to worship and/or have a certain defined form which dates them to the time time after the Exile. And finally there are the sections cited as the "Deuteronomic" author (D) mentioned above.

Read Genesis, chaper 1 thru to the first 3 or 4 verses of chapter 2. This speaks of Creation in a very poetic and structured form and ends with a summary statement that this was how heaven and earth were created. Then Genesis, chapter 2, verse 4b and following start all over again as if chapter 1 was not there. Chapter 1 is deemed to be written much later than chapter 2, and follows a structure built around the phrases: "God said...and it was so... and it was good." The details are put between these phrases. Scholars believe chapter 1 was written or edited by the Priestly (P) source. Chapters 2 (4b+) thru chapter 4 have a very different narrative style — more interesting — and these are believed to be the work of the J author.

It is difficult to date when parts of the Torah were written and when edited. Scholars work hard at it, and their theories vary. One of the oldest passages, however, is found in the book of Deuteronomy: chapter 26:4-10. This is a prayer of offering of the first fruits of the land, and it summarizes much of the story of the first five books — except the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. It may have been a prayer used in worship from very early time.

Some familiar passages in the Torah:

1) the creation account: Genesis 1:1--2: 4;

2) the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve (Genesis 3);

3) story of Cain and Able (Genesis 4)

4) the flood (Genesis 6 & 7)

5) Joseph and his brothers in Egypt (Genesis 37-45)

6) Moses' birth and the burning bush (Exodus 2 & 3)

7) the plagues in ancient Egypt (Exodus 7-11)

8) the Passover (Exodus 12)

9) crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14); and

10) the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:11-17 and Deuteronomy 65:6-21 — note slight differences)

Check out the Cecil B DeMille film, "The Ten Commandments" in this Easter season, and you will learn much of the story line of the Torah. Add "The Gospel of Matthew" or "Jesus of Nazareth" and you will have much of the Bible. Show the children these! Joseph+