The

Hebrew Scriptures

The Pentateuch and

the Historical Books
The St. Michael Prayer
 The Hebrew Scriptures:
What are they?
• The Hebrew Scriptures (commonly known as the
Old Testament) are a collection of 73 books
written over the span of about 1,000 years
• Instructional, Historical, Wisdom/Poetry, and
Prophetic
• The Hebrew Scriptures cover 3,500 years of
history from Creation to the building of the
Second Temple in Jerusalem
• Written in Hebrew, but also in Greek and Aramaic
 The Hebrew Scriptures:
Why do they still matter?

• They still matter because the Magisterium says they still matter (trust the authority
of the Catholic Church!)---they are canonical (i.e. officially part of our Bible, and
thus integral to our knowledge of God, and our faith)
• They still matter because our understanding of God as Creator, Redeemer, and
Sustainer is intimately connected to the story of God’s covenant with Israel
– “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law of the Prophets. I have come not to abolish them
but to fulfill them” (Mt. 5:17)
– The New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament is made manifest in
the New Testament
• They still matter because the New Testament says so!
– New Testament quotes the Old Testament over 1,000 times
– Only four New Testament books that don’t have a direct quote from the Old Testament
• They still matter because they tell us our history (does your family history start
when you arrived in America?)
 The Pentateuch
• The first five books of the Bible
• Attributed to Moses, but edited by four different sources
(traditions, with particular agendas) between the 10th
century BCE and the 6th century BCE:
– the J-E-D-P Hypothesis
• “Pentateuch” (Greek, “five books”), also known as the
“Torah” (Hebrew, “instruction, teaching”)
• The Pentateuch introduce Bible readers to God's divine
purposes and plans, and explain how sin entered the world
• In the Pentateuch we also see God's response to sin, and
His great desire for relationship with humankind
• Through it all we gain insight into the character and nature
of God
 Pentateuch (continued)

• Genesis: "origin" (Hebrew: Bereshit - "In the beginning")---includes Creation story, the three
patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), the Promise of Canaan

• Exodus: "going out" (Hebrew: Shemot - "Names") includes Moses, accepting the covenant God
offers at Mt. Sinai, the flight from Egypt, Ten Commandments

• Leviticus: "relating to the Levites" (Hebrew: Vayikra, - "And he called")---Holiness Codes,

Consequences of following and not following the Commandments

• Numbers: “numbering of the Israelites “(Hebrew: Ba Midbar - "In the wilderness")---Israel’s 40

years wandering in the desert, God’s faithfulness to them anyway

• Deuteronomy: "second law" (Hebrew: D'varim - "Words")---retelling of the covenant between God
and Israel, as the Israelites finally enter the Promised Land, Death of Moses, God’s laws are given
for protection not punishment
 Historical Books
• The historical books of the Old Testament cover the life
of the Jewish people from the time they entered the
Promised Land under Joshua (1451 BCE) to the time of
the Maccabees (150 BCE).
• 12 Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel,
Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First
Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
• The spiritual and political development of the Jews
• God’s providential care throughout, guiding and
nurturing His chosen people
 Images of God in the Pentateuch
• The God Who Creates

The God Who Provides

• The God Who Teaches

• The God Who Delivers

• The God Who Forgives

 The Ten Commandments
• 1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
What are some of the false gods our culture worships?
• 2. You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain. How do
Christians disrespect the name ‘Christian’ today?
• 3. Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day. Why does this still matter?
• 4. Honor your father and your mother. Consider why the role of father
and mother should be respected.
• 5. You shall not kill. What is the difference between killing and
murdering?
• 6. You shall not commit adultery. Reflect on the crucial need to protect
the marriage bond.
• 7. You shall not steal. What are popular forms of ‘stealing’ today?
• 8. You shall not bear false witness. How is this more than simply lying?
• 9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. Why is lust so deadly?
• 10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. Why is greed so deadly?