The Pentateuch ( Torah) (Five Books) BY: REV. Imran Shuker
The Pentateuch first five books
1. The torah is the holiest and most beloved of the sacred writings of the Hebrews Jews because of the two reasons.
a. The events narrated talk about their origin and history.
b. It contains the body of the law that became normative in Judaism.
c. As in the past torah obtains a special status among the Jews even until now.
From torah to Pentateuch origin of terminology
Pentateuch is Greek adaptation of the Hebrew expression.
Hamishsha humshe
Na-torah (five fifth of the law)
Humas is a Hebrew name referring to a concept of number five.
P……
It’s from Greek word Pentateuch
Penta (five)
Teuchos (containers)
Five containers; indicating the written leather or papyrus rolls that were kept in receptacles.
Five books or rolls and their name
Greco –Latin names
Bereshit---- Gn
Shemot--- Ex
Wayikra ---- Lev
Bemidbar--- Num
Debarim---- Deu
Pentateuch as one unit
1. The biblical evidence supports the view that Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, belong together as a literary unit.
2. The OT refers to the Pentateuch when it uses phrases like the book of the law of Moses (2kg 14:6) or the book of the law, (Josh 1:8).
3. The NT refers to those books as “law” in the expression the law and the prophets (Lk 16:16).
Hebrew speaking Jews normally called the five books
The Law----Torah
The book of Moses
The Law of Moses
The book of the Law of Moses
The word of the Lord by Moses
Pentateuch as one book
1. Pentateuch must not be considered as five separate books for there is a continuity of the story.
2. Pentateuch spans history from the beginning of time down to pastels of the promises land.
3. Perhaps the limited size of ancient scrolls necessitated the division into the five book format.
When was name Pentateuch Used?
The five books of Moses as a designation of the Pentateuch was first used in the western church by St. Jerome. (347-420A.D)