Foundations for Christian Leadership Old Testament Survey

Student Notes Session 2

THE LAW OF MOSES (GEN.-DEUT.)
GENESIS
Book of Beginnings

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session, the learner should be able to

1. State the general background of Genesis.

2. Give an overview of Genesis.

INTRODUCTION

The book of Genesis takes its name from the title given to it in the Septuagint (LXX), which is
derived from the heading of its ten parts “he biblos geneseos” [the book of generations] (2:4;
5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 37:2). The Hebrew title of the book is the initial
word “bereshith” translated as “in the beginning.”

The Hebrew word “toledot” or the Greek word “geneseos” (generations) has been traditionally
viewed as heading of a section.

This formula word for Genesis provides a starting point, combining narrative and genealogy to
move from the one point to the next. The meaning of the word has been referred to as “the
particulars about the man and [his] descendants.”

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Authorship and Date

Though the book of Genesis does not name its author, early and reliable tradition ascribed the
authorship to Moses. In spite of number of modern scholars who reject the Mosaic authorship,
the traditional view shows much to commend it.

The Old Testament abounds with both direct and indirect evidences linking the writing of
Genesis, as well as the rest of the Pentateuch, to Moses (Exo. 17:14; Lev. 1:1-2; Num. 33:2;
Deut. 1:1; Josh. 1:7; 1 Kgs. 2:3; 2 Kgs. 14:6; Ezra 6:18; Neh. 13:1; Dan. 9:11-13; Mal. 4:4). The
New Testament also provides various testimonies for the Mosaic authorship (Matt. 8:4; Mark
12:26; Luke 16:29; John 7:19; Acts 26:22; Rom. 10:19; 1 Cor. 9:9; 2 Cor. 3:15).

The early church held also to the conviction that Moses wrote the book. The first century
Jewish historian, Josephus, supports it, as well as the Jerusalem Talmud (Jewish Law
teaching).

Since Moses was “educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22), it is not improbable
to ascribe authorship to a man of his stature. He was providentially prepared to understand and
integrate, under the inspiration of God, all the available records, manuscripts, and oral
narratives. As a prophet who enjoyed the unusual privilege of unhurried hours of communion
with God on Mount Sinai, Moses was well equipped to record for all generations this magnificent
account of God's dealings with the human race and the nation of Israel.

Granting the Moses wrote Genesis, the date would be in the period of 1446 -1406 B.C. (see 1
Kgs. 6:1 and Judg. 11:26)

Purpose: To present the BEGINNINGS of everything except God who is always is

Theme: God’s sovereign CHOICE of a nation through whom He would bless all nations

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Foundations for Christian Leadership Old Testament Survey
Student Notes Session 2

OVERVIEW OF GENESIS

A. Primeval Period (Chap. 1-11)

1. The CREATION

2. The FALL

3. The FLOOD

4. The NATIONS

B. Patriarchal Period (Chap. 12-50)

1. ABRAHAM

2. ISAAC

3. JACOB

4. JOSEPH

CONCLUSION

God has blessed and still promised to bless the nation Israel. Over and over again this book
tells of God’s supernatural dealings in the lives of the patriarchs. If the people would recognize
that they owed their existence to sovereign election and blessings, they would respond in
obedience. The good news is, God is faithful to fulfill to His promise and those who are faithful
to Him may share in His blessings.

EXODUS
Book of Redemption

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session, the learner should be able to

1. State the general background of Exodus.

2. Give an overview of Exodus.

INTRODUCTION

The exodus (means “exit, departure or going out”) is the most significant historical and
theological event of the Old Testament because it marks God’s mightiest act in behalf of His
people, an act which brought them from slavery to freedom, from fragmentation to solidarity,
from a people of promise – the Hebrews- to a nation of fulfillment- Israel. To it the book of
Genesis provides an introduction and justification, and from it flows all subsequent Old
Testament revelation, a record which serves it as inspired commentary and detailed exposition.
In the final analysis, the exodus served to typify that exodus achieved by Jesus Christ for people
of faith so that it is a meaningful event for the church as well as for Israel.1

GENERAL BACKGROUND

1 Eugene H. Merrill, Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker
Book House, 1992 4th printing), 57-58.
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Foundations for Christian Leadership Old Testament Survey
Student Notes Session 2
Authorship and Date
Authorship is traditionally attributed Moses and could have been written in the period of 1446 –
1406 B.C. (see 1 Kgs. 6:1 and Judg. 11:26)

Purpose: To portray the BIRTH of Israel as the nation that would bring God’s rule on earth

Theme: REDEMPTION and Revelation

OVERVIEW OF EXODUS

A. Redemption NEED (1-2)

B. Redemption PREPARATION (3-4)

C. Redemption ATTEMPTS (5-11)

D. The REDEMPTIVE Act (12-14)

E. PRESERVATION in the Wilderness (15-18)

F. SPIRITUAL Redemption (19-40)2

The covenant between God and Israel established at Sinai is the most prominent event and the
most far-reaching theme in the Pentateuch.3

2 Notes from “Exodus” (FCL OT) by Prof. Eric Agustin.

3 John Sailhamer, The Pentateuch as Narrative, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992), 27.
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Foundations for Christian Leadership Old Testament Survey
Student Notes Session 2

a. Priesthood

b. Sacrificial System
.
c. Law

d. The Tabernacle

CONCLUSION

The book of Exodus is a connecting link between the origin of the people in God’s promise to
Abraham (Gen. 12:2) and the beginning of the theocratic kingdom under the leadership of
Moses. Israel was miraculously redeemed from slavery so that they might become “a holy
nation” (19:6).

LEVITICUS
Book of Holiness

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session, the learner should be able to

1. State the general background of Leviticus.

2. Give an overview of Leviticus.

INTRODUCTION
The book of Leviticus was referred to the Talmud as the “Law of the Priests,” and the “Law of
the Offerings.” Its Hebrew title is “Wayyiqra” (meaning “And He called”). The Septuagint title is
Leutikon, “that which pertain to the Levites.” From this word, the Latin Vulgate derived its name
Leviticus which was adopted as the English title. This title is slightly misleading because the
book does not deal with the Levites as a whole but more with the priests, a segment of the
Levites.

The book of Leviticus was the first book studied by a Jewish child. This book was referred to
about 40 times in the New Testament. This book contains extensive revelation concerning the
character of God – His holiness, love and grace, as well as substantial typological significance
of the Levitical sacrifices. It provides enormous lessons concerning the holy life God expects of
His peculiar people. Key concepts from the book of Hebrews cannot be evaluated properly
without a clear understanding of their counterparts in this book.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Authorship and Date

Authorship is traditionally attributed Moses and could have been written sometime after 1446
B.C. Additional evidences that warrant Mosaic authorship are as follows: 1) 56x in Leviticus
states that God imparted these Laws to Moses (see 1:1; 4:1; 6:1, 24; 8:1) and 2) Jesus ascribes
the Pentateuch to Moses (Matt. 8:2-4 cf. Lev. 14:1-4; Matt. 12:4 and Lev. 24:9

Purpose: To show Israel how to LIVE as a priestly kingdom and a holy nation as called
by God

Theme: HOLINESS before the holy Lord

OVERVIEW OF LEVITICUS4

4 Adapted from J. I. Packer, Merrill C. Tenney and William White, Jr. The Bible Almanac (Nashville,
Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1980) p. 561.
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Foundations for Christian Leadership Old Testament Survey
Student Notes Session 2
I. How One COMES to God (1-16)

A. The Laws of SACRIFICE (1-7)

B. The Laws of the PRIESTS (8-10)

C. The Laws of PURITY (11-15)

D. The Laws of the DAY OF ATONEMENT (16)

The Day of Atonement5. The tenth day of the seventh month was set aside as a day of public
fasting and humiliation. On this day the nation of Israel sought atonement for its sins (Lev.
23:27; 16:29; Num. 29:7). This day fell in the month equivalent to our August, and it was
preceded by special Sabbaths (Lev. 23:24). The only fasting period required by the Law (Lev.
16:29; 23:31), the Day of Atonement was a recognition of man's inability to make any
atonement for his sins. It was a solemn, holy day accompanied by elaborate ritual (Lev. 16;
Heb. 10:1-10).

The high priest who officiated on this day first sanctified himself by taking a ceremonial bath and
putting on white garments (Lev. 16:4). Then he had to make atonement for himself and other
priests by sacrificing a bullock (Num. 29:8). God dwelt on the MERCY SEAT in the Temple, but
no person could approach it except through the mediation of the high priest, who offered the
blood of sacrifice.

After sacrificing a bullock, the high priest chose a goat for a sin-offering and sacrificed it. Then
he sprinkled its blood on and about the mercy seat (Lev. 16:12,14,15). Finally the scapegoat
bearing the sins of the people was sent into the wilderness (Lev. 16:20-22). This scapegoat
symbolized the pardon for sin brought through the sacrifice (Gal. 3:12; 2 Cor. 5:21)

II. How One KEEPS IN TOUCH with God (17-27)

A. The Holiness of the People (18-20)

B. The Holiness of Priests and their Offerings (21-22)

C. The Holiness of Time (23-25)

D. Promises and Warnings (26)

E. The Holiness of Vows (27)

NUMBERS
Book of Wanderings

OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session, the learner should be able to

1. State a general background of Numbers.

2. Give an overview of Numbers.

INTRODUCTION

The title of Numbers comes from the first word in the Hebrew text, Wayyedabber (And He Said).
Jewish writings refer to it as Bemidbar (In the Wilderness) which indicates its content. In the
LXX it is Arithmoi (Numbers). The Latin Vulgate it is Liber Numeri (Book of Numbers). The
book contains many statistics such as tribal population figures, the totals of priests and Levites,
and other numerical data. It takes its name from the two numberings of the Israelites, first at
Mount Sinai and second from the plain of Moab.

5 Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

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Foundations for Christian Leadership Old Testament Survey
Student Notes Session 2
Numbers is actually a book of Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness. After a year passed from
exodus in Egypt Israel was only eleven-day journey away from the Promised Land but it had
become 40 years wilderness experience.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Authorship and Date

Authorship is traditionally attributed Moses and could have been written about 1406 B.C.

There are more than 80 times mentioned that “the Lord spoke to Moses” in Numbers (see 33:2).
The New Testament cites events from this book and associates them with Moses (John 3:14;
Acts 7:13; 1 Cor. 10:1-11; Heb. 3-4; Jude 11).

Purpose

1. To TRACE the history of Israel’s wandering from Sinai to Moab

2. To COMPEL obedience to Israel’s second generation by reminding them of the sins of
the first generation
3. To ENCOURAGE Israel to trust in the ongoing promises of Yahweh as they follow Him
into the Promised Land

Theme: CONSEQUENCE of disbelief and disobedience to the Holy God

OVERVIEW OF NUMBERS6

I. The EXPERIENCE of the First Generation in the Desert (1-25)

A. The Preparation for the Triumphal March to the Promised Land (1:1-10:36)

1. Setting apart the people (1:1-10:10)

2. Setting forth the people (10:11-36)

B. The Rebellion and Judgment of a Fearful People (11-25)

1. A cycle of rebellion and atonement and the record of death (11-20)

2. A climax of rebellion and hope and the end of their dying (21-25)

II. The PROSPECTS for the Second Generation to Enter the Promised Land (26-36)

A. The Preparation for the Triumphal March to the Promised Land, the Second
Generation (26-32)

B. A Review of the First Generation's Journey and Words of Warning and

Encouragement to the Second Generation (33)

C. An Anticipation of the Promised Land (34-36)

DEUTERONOMY
Book of the Second Law
OBJECTIVES: By the end of this session, the learner should be able to

6 Based on that proposed by Ronald B. Allen, Numbers, Volume 2 of The Expositor’s Bible commentary
Frank Gaebelein ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990), 693-699.
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Foundations for Christian Leadership Old Testament Survey
Student Notes Session 2
1. State the general background of Deuteronomy.
2. Give an overview of Deuteronomy.

INTRODUCTION
Deuteronomy has been called the “five-fifths of the Law” since it completes the five books of
Moses. The Jewish people have also called it Mishneh Hattorah (repetition of the Law) which is
translated in the Septuagint as To Deuteronomion Touto (This Second Law). It has also been
appropriately called the “Book of Remembrance.”

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Authorship and Date

Authorship is traditionally attributed Moses and could have been written about 1406 B.C. The
book itself mentions about 40 times that Moses wrote it (31:24-26 cf. 1:1-5; 4:44-46; 31:9). The
Old Testament attributes it together with the rest of the Pentateuch to Moses (Josh. 1:7; Judg.
3:4; 1 Kgs. 2:3; 2 Kgs. 14:6; Ezra 3:2; Neh. 1:7; Ps. 103:7; Dan. 9:11; Mal. 4:4). Jesus quotes it
attributing to Moses (Matt. 19:7-9; Mk. 7:10; Lk. 10:28; Jn. 5:45-47) and in 17 books of the New
Testament it is quoted more than 80x (Acts 3:22; Rom. 10:19).

Purpose: To cause the people to RENEW their commitment to obey the Lord by
impressing God’s Law upon them

Theme: A renewed CALL to obedience as a condition for God’s blessing

OVERVIEW OF DEUTERONOMY7
Deuteronomy follows the pattern of the vassal treaties typical of the 2nd millennium B.C. When a
king (suzerain) made a treaty with a vassal country the treaty usually contained six elements:1)
a preamble, 2) a historical prologue (a history of the king’s dealing with the vassal), 3) a general
stipulation (a call for wholehearted allegiance to the king), 4) specific stipulations (detailed laws
by which the vassal state could give concrete expression to its allegiance to the king), 5) divine
witnesses (deities called to witness the treaty, and 6) blessings and curses (for obedience and
disobedience to the treaty).

I. Preamble (1:1-4)

II. Historical Prologue (1:5-4:43)

III. Stipulations (4:44- 26)

IV. Blessings and Curses (27-30)

V. Successor to Moses (31-34)

DISCUSS

A. What is the recurring theme can we observe from the first five books of the Bible?
B. What particular lesson strikes us in these first five books?

7 Adapted from Jack S. Deere, Deuteronomy, Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, John F. Walvoord and
Roy B. Zuck, eds. (USA: SP Publications, 1985), p. 260.
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