SEMESTER 1
403 – Preview of the Pentateuch
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY I LESSON # 3
PREVIEW OF THE PENTATEUCH
INTRODUCTION:
1. In the previous lesson we looked at the books of the Bible in groups, touching writers, etc.
2. In this lesson, we will preview the first 5 books and see briefly what their content is to be.
3. This study should lend itself to a far better understanding of the books when we actually study them.
4. More than that, it should help to form your Bible into a structure of one book rather than sixty-six.
I. GENESIS – (WRITTEN BY MOSES)
1. The beginning time element is about 3892 B.C., about 5900 years ago.
2. The writing of the book probably took place about 3450 years ago (placing the writing of it in the last forty years of Moses’s; life).
3. The events recorded in Genesis cover roughly 2300 years.
4. It starts with man in a beautiful garden (in charge of God’s creation).
5. It closes in a coffin in Egypt.
6. Genesis means beginning, and is the book of the account of origin.
7. It covers the creation of all things in a precise and scientific order.
8. It reveals the fall of man, the judgment of God, and the grace of God.
9. It has the revelation of the saving seed, Jesus Christ.
10. Every Bible doctrine (basic) is found there, either in type or literally.
II. EXODUS – (WRITTEN BY MOSES)
1. This book accounts for the children of Israel “going out” of Egypt.
2. The time element of its beginning is about 1659 (depending on the time from Joseph’s death to the “new king”).
i. Chapters 1 and 2 cover something over 80 years.
ii. The remainder of the book covers only about 1 year.
3. In Exodus we find:
i. The coming out.
ii. The Red Sea crossing.
iii. The wilderness trek.
iv. The giving of the commandments.
v. The building of the tabernacle.
4. Essentially all of the Mosaic laws and ordinances are revealed in Exodus.
5. It closes with the testimony of God’s faithfulness in the pillar of cloud and fire.
III. LEVITICUS – (WRITTEN BY MOSES)
1. Is a book of details of offerings:
i. As they relate to the holiness of God.
ii. As they relate to access to God.
iii. As they relate to fellowship with God.
2. It was written during the same time as Exodus.
3. It is to Exodus what Genesis 2
is to Genesis 1.
IV. NUMBERS – (WRITTEN BY MOSES)
1. Is a book deriving its name from the numbering of Israel.
2. Historically it is a continuation of Exodus (Leviticus is contemporary with Exodus).
3. The Chief issue of Numbers is Israel’s rebellion and failure.
4. The chronological record in Numbers is:
i. From Sinai to Kadesh-barnea.
ii. The failure at Kadesh.
iii. The subsequent wilderness wanderings.
5. The thirty-third chapter summarizes the chronology of all the wanderings from Egypt to the Jordan River.
V. DEUTERONOMY – (WRITTEN BY MOSES)
1. Essentially a book of sermons to Israel.
i. It reproves, rebukes, and exhorts.
2. It summarizes their past failures.
3. It restates the law and gives stern warnings.
4. It predicts the future failures and judgments.
5. It prophesies God’s ultimate blessing on them.
6. It ends with the death and burial of Moses.