From Paradise to the Promised Land : An Introduction to the Pentateuch

by Alexander, T. Desmond

• ISBN13: 9780801025976
• ISBN10: 0801025974
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Baker Academic

Summary

Modern studies of the Pentateuch have too often focused on their origin rather than their actual content. By concentrating on the unifying elements, Alexander offers an in-depth look at this first section of the Old Testament, revealing the larger picture. With this accessible introduction he also identifies prominent themes and connections between the Pentateuch and the New Testament. (58)

Author Biography

T. Desmond Alexander is director of Christian training, Union Theological College, Belfast, and formerly lecturer in Semitic studies at The Queen's University in Belfast. He is the coeditor of the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology.

Table of Contents

Preface	xii
Abbreviations	xix
Maps and Diagrams	xxiii
Map: Ancient Near East, Egypt and Canaan	xxiv
Diagram: The Israelite Camp	xxvi
The Tabernacle	xxvii
Part 1 Pentateuchal Criticism
Introduction to Pentateuchal Criticism	3	(4)
Source Criticism	4	(1)
Form Criticism	4	(1)
Traditio-historical Criticism	4	(1)
Literary Criticism	5	(2)
The Rise of the Documentary Hypothesis	7	(24)
The Older Documentary Hypothesis	7	(2)
The Fragmentary Hypothesis	9	(2)
The Supplementary Hypothesis	11	(1)
The New Documentary Hypothesis	12	(2)
The Documentary Hypothesis of Graf, Vatke and Wellhausen	14	(2)
Models for Explaining the Composition of the Pentateuch	16	(1)
Distinctive Vocabulary	17	(2)
The Divine Names in Genesis	19	(3)
Doublets	22	(1)
Implications for the History of Israelite Religion	23	(7)
Conclusion	30	(1)
Going Behind the Documents	31	(11)
Form Criticism	31	(3)
Traditio-historical Criticism	34	(5)
The Limitations of Traditio-historical Criticism Illustrated	39	(3)
The Documentary Hypothesis Under Threat	42	(20)
Modifications to the Documentary Hypothesis	42	(11)
The J source	42	(3)
The E source	45	(3)
The D source	48	(2)
The P source	50	(3)
Alternatives to the Documentary Hypothesis	53	(8)
Winnett, Wagner, Redford and Van Seters	53	(3)
Rendtorff and Blum	56	(3)
Whybray	59	(2)
Conclusion	61	(1)
The Sinai Narrative -- A Test Case	62	(18)
The Narrative Framework of the Divine Speeches in 19:3--6 and 20:22--24:2	63	(6)
Exodus 20:22 and the Decalogue	69	(1)
Deuteronomistic Redaction and the Sinai Narrative	69	(4)
The Source Analysis of Exodus 19	73	(5)
Conclusion	78	(2)
The Future of Pentateuchal Studies	80	(17)
Looking to the Future	80	(3)
Why was the Pentateuch Composed?	83	(14)
Part 2 The Main Themes of the Pentateuch
An Overview of the Pentateuch	97	(4)
The Royal Lineage in Genesis	101	(13)
Summary	101	(1)
Introduction	101	(1)
The Structure of Genesis	101	(2)
The Chosen `Seed'	103	(2)
The Lineage of Adam	105	(6)
Conclusion	111	(1)
New Testament Connections	112	(2)
The Blessing of the Nations	114	(15)
Summary	114	(1)
Introduction	114	(1)
Creator and Creation in Harmony	115	(1)
In the Garden of Eden	115	(3)
Outside Eden	118	(2)
Abraham and the Blessing of the Nations	120	(2)
Blessing in the Remainder of Genesis	122	(5)
Conclusion	127	(1)
New Testament Connections	127	(2)
Paradise Lost	129	(14)
Summary	129	(1)
Introduction	129	(1)
The Creation of the Earth	130	(1)
The Garden of Eden as Sanctuary	131	(1)
Expelled from Eden	132	(1)
Cain -- a Restless Wanderer on the Earth	132	(1)
The Flood Narrative	133	(2)
Noah, a Man of the Soil	135	(1)
The Table of Nations	135	(1)
The Tower of Babel	135	(1)
The Abraham Narrative	136	(2)
The Jacob Story	138	(1)
The Joseph Story	139	(1)
Conclusion	140	(1)
New Testament Connections	141	(2)
By Faith Abraham ...	143	(14)
Summary	143	(1)
Introduction	143	(1)
Overview of the Abraham Narrative	144	(1)
The Divine Call of Abraham in Genesis 12:1--3	145	(1)
The Unconditional Promissory Covenant of Genesis 15	146	(1)
The Eternal Covenant of Circumcision	147	(2)
The Divine Oath in Genesis 22:16--18	149	(3)
Conclusion	152	(1)
New Testament Connections	153	(4)
Who is the Lord?	157	(13)
Summary	157	(1)
An Overview of Exodus	157	(1)
The Israelites in Egypt	158	(1)
The Lord Reveals Himself to Moses	159	(2)
Signs and Wonders in Egypt	161	(3)
The Sinai Covenant	164	(2)
Conclusion	166	(1)
New Testament Connections	166	(4)
The Passover	170	(6)
Summary	170	(1)
Introduction	170	(1)
The Amount of the Passover	171	(2)
The Purpose of the Passover Ritual	173	(1)
Conclusion	174	(1)
New Testament Connections	174	(2)
The Covenant at Sinai	176	(16)
Summary	176	(1)
Introduction	176	(1)
The Principal Covenant Obligations -- the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1--17)	177	(4)
The Detailed Covenant Obligations	181	(1)
The Legal Material of the Book of the Covenant (Ex. 21:1--22:20)	182	(1)
Moral Symmetry	183	(1)
The Sanctity of Life	183	(1)
Moral Imperatives (Ex. 22:21--23:9)	184	(1)
Instructions Concerning the Sabbath and Religious Festivals	185	(1)
The Reciprocal Nature of the Covenant	186	(1)
The Ratification of the Covenant	186	(1)
Rebellion in the Camp	186	(2)
Conclusion	188	(1)
New Testament Connections	188	(4)
Jesus and the Law	188	(2)
Paul and the Law	190	(1)
The New Covenant	190	(2)
The Tabernacle	192	(12)
Summary	192	(1)
Introduction	192	(2)
A Royal Tent	194	(2)
A Holy Tent	196	(4)
A Tent of Meeting	200	(1)
The Provision of Materials and Skilled Craftsmen	201	(1)
Conclusion	202	(1)
New Testament Connections	202	(2)
Be Holy	204	(12)
Summary	204	(1)
Introduction	204	(2)
Holy, Clean and Unclean	206	(4)
Holiness	210	(2)
Uncleanness	212	(1)
The Relationship Between Holiness and Uncleanness	212	(1)
Conclusion	213	(1)
New Testament Connections	214	(2)
The Sacrificial System	216	(11)
Summary	216	(1)
Introduction	216	(2)
The General Pattern for Animal Sacrifices	218	(1)
The Five Types of Sacrifices	219	(4)
The burnt offering (Lev. 1:2--17; 6:8--13)	219	(1)
The cereal offering (Lev 2:1--16; 6:14--23)	220	(1)
The peace offering (Lev. 3:1--17; 7:11--21)	221	(1)
The purification offering (Lev. 4:1--5:13; 6:24--30)	221	(1)
The reparation offering (Lev. 5:14--6:7; 7:1--10)	222	(1)
The Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:1--34)	223	(1)
The purification of the sanctuary	223	(1)
The scapegoat	224	(1)
The burnt offerings	224	(1)
Conclusion	224	(1)
New Testament Connections	225	(2)
Jesus Christ as a sacrifice	225	(1)
Jesus Christ as high priest	226	(1)
The Clean and the Unclean Foods	227	(8)
Summary	227	(1)
Introduction	227	(1)
The Food Regulations Summarised	228	(1)
The Function of the Food Regulations	228	(2)
The Rationale Behind the Clean/Unclean Classification	230	(1)
The Blood Prohibition	231	(1)
Conclusion	232	(1)
New Testament Connections	232	(3)
Towards the Promised Land	235	(7)
Summary	235	(1)
Introduction	235	(1)
Preparations for the Journey	236	(2)
The Role of the Levites	238	(1)
Further Preparations to Enter the Land of Canaan	239	(2)
Conclusion	241	(1)
New Testament Connections	241	(1)
Murmurings	242	(11)
Summary	242	(1)
Introduction	242	(1)
Murmurings Against the Lord	243	(3)
Challenges Against Those in Authority	246	(2)
Religious Apostasy	248	(1)
Destination -- the Promised Land	249	(1)
Conclusion	249	(1)
New Testament Connections	250	(3)
Love and Loyalty	253	(12)
Summary	253	(1)
Introduction	253	(2)
Deuteronomy and Ancient Near Eastern Treaties	255	(2)
Love the Lord	257	(4)
Be Loyal to the Lord	261	(1)
Conclusion	262	(1)
New Testament Connections	263	(2)
Why Israel?	265	(12)
Summary	265	(1)
Introduction	265	(1)
The Election of Israel	266	(5)
Israel and the Nations	271	(2)
Election and Responsibility	273	(2)
Conclusion	275	(1)
New Testament Connections	275	(2)
Conclusion	277	(4)
A Light to the Nations	277	(1)
A Royal Descendant	278	(1)
Beyond the Pentateuch	279	(2)
Recommended Further Reading	281	(7)
Selected Bibliography	288	(31)
Scripture Index	319	(18)
Names Index	337