The Pentateuch

By John S. Knox

Knox's Commentaries on the Bible present the books of the Bible in a systematic, yet straightforward manner. Readers are introduced to a broad investigation of the Old and New Testaments (including writings from the intertestamental period), providing the highlights of each book in the Bible as well as historical and cultural details to flesh out the stories and to provide deeper understanding. Big, small, and cross-testamental themes are investigated as are various scriptural approaches, explanations, and interpretations in tradition and postmodernity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: New Harbor Press
• Release date: Apr 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224570911

Book preview

Table of Contents

The Pentateuch

Who was Miriam?

Who was Aaron?

What is the Sabbath?

Pentateuch: Knox’s Commentaries on the Bible, Vol. 2

This commentary is dedicated to my beloved friend, mentor,

and brother in the Lord, Tim Tsohantardis,

who, though absent in the body, is never absent in our hearts.

"I am [YHWH] your God,

who brought you out of Egypt,

out of the land of slavery."

~ Exodus 20:2 (NASB)

Contents

Foreword by Keith L. Freedman

Acknowledgments 

1 The Pentateuch

2 The Book of Exodus

3 The Book of Leviticus

4 The Book of Numbers

5 The Book of Deuteronomy

6 Questions to Consider

Exodus Map

Bibliography  

Foreword

As a Bible college student and home Bible study teacher for over fifty years, I have the highest regard for the written Word of God.  Not only do I believe it is the greatest literary work of all time but also that it is man’s most valuable possession for it has the words of truth, of life, and of hope for fallen mankind.  The truth in the Bible is life-giving and life-changing.

The holy Scriptures, inspired by God Almighty, contain the comprehensive story of God, angels, and mankind.  They begin with the book of beginnings, Genesis, and end with the book of endings, Revelation.  Though written over a span of about sixteen centuries by thirty-two men, God’s Word is a congruent, ordered, and complete composition. 

The sixty-six books are grouped into sections to aid the Bible student in reading and handling God’s Word.  The Old Testament is divided into historical books (Genesis – Esther), imagery books (Job – Song of Solomon), and prophetical books (Isaiah – Malachi).  The New Testament is divided into historical books (Matthew – Acts), Pauline epistles (Romans – Philemon), general epistles (Hebrews – Jude) and closes with one prophetical book (Revelation).  The historical pages are informative, the imagery and prophetical books are inspirational, and the epistles are instructive.

One may easily observe and appreciate the sense and sequence of the Scriptures when reading from left to right, from beginning to end.  Each book is written with intention, having its own message yet one that is complimentary to the messages of the other books. 

God’s Word is definite.  God literally means what He says and says what He means.  The substance is true, the sequence is self-evident, and the story is heart breaking yet glorious in its conclusion.

The first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch, are written by and regarded as the books of Moses. Moses, however, does not appear in the narrative until the second book, Exodus.  The Pentateuch begins the historical section which has seventeen books.  These include Genesis to Esther. 

The book of Genesis provides a record of creation, Noah and the flood, the tower of Babel, and then an extended account of a separated family growing into the twelve tribes of Israel.  Genesis is the book of beginnings: it records the beginning of the world, of man, of sin in this world, of Satanic dominion in this world, and the beginning of the people of Israel.  The first book covers more of the story and time of the Old Testament than the other thirty-eight books do together.  It covers almost 1,900 of the 3,600 years represented in the Old Testament.

The second book, Exodus, picks up the story of this family 430 years later.  Because of a drought, the family had moved to Egypt where it stayed and their descendants became enslaved.  Over the course of time, the family—distinguished by twelve tribes—have increased to become a people of about three million.  This book records the events of the next year: the exodus from Egypt, the testing in the wilderness, the arrival at Mount Sinai, the contract with God, and the building of the tabernacle.

The contract between Israel and God is performance based.  If they remain obedient, the Israelites will become "a