MIQRA Institute of Biblical Studies
Reading Scripture, Hearing God
The Pentateuch
Sepharim 'al ha-miqra’: Books about the Scriptures (Pentateuch)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Clines, D. J. A. The Theme of the
Pentateuch. 2d ed. Sheffield, 1997 (176 pp.). Although
generally sympathetic with critical scholarship, this University of
Sheffield professor departs from mainstream critical agendas to assert the
legitimacy of treating the Pentateuch as a single literary work with a
unifying theme plot. Discerns the shape of the Pentateuch as “a movement
towards goals yet to be realized” (29) and sees the theme of the Pentateuch
as “the partial fulfillment–which implies also the partial
non-fulfillment–of the promise to or blessing of the patriarchs” anticipated
in Genesis 1-11, consisting in posterity (Gen 12-50), divine-human
relationship (Ex and Lev), and land (Num and Deut) (30).
Fretheim, T. E. The Pentateuch. Abingdon, 1996
(183 pp.). Responsible handling of the literary character, content, and
message of the Pentateuch by a veteran Lutheran scholar. Helpful
introductory chapters on how to read the Pentateuch, plus one chapter per
pentateuchal “book” covering nature and origin, narrative structure and
flow, and key themes and strategies. Lucid and engaging treatment, with many
rich insights. Excellent survey of the main substance of the Pentateuch for
college-level and up.
Kelley, P. H. Journey to the Land of Promise:
Genesis-Deuteronomy. Smyth & Helwys, 1997 (119 pp.). A short
primer for individual or group study by a recognized Baptist professor.
Provides an overview of the background, structure, movement, scope, and
basic message of the Pentateuch. Introductory-level survey.
Mann, T. W. The Book of the Torah: The Narrative Integrity of
the Pentateuch. John Knox, 1988 (180 pp.). Partially
successful attempt by former Princeton professor and now UCC pastor to read
the Pentateuch as an integrated story. Treats the Pentateuch as both a
composite document (standard critical view) and a unified narrative, but
focuses on the latter in order to delineate both the internal literary
cohesiveness of larger units and the narrative integrity of the whole.
Proceeds “book” by “book” through the Pentateuch, applying insights from
literary/narrative analysis to the respective texts. Some helpful material,
but nothing like the next.
Sailhamer, J. H. The Pentateuch as Narrative: A
Biblical-Theological Commentary. Zondervan, 1992 (522 pp.).
Our runaway favorite. Compositional analysis by a premier evangelical
scholar. Clearly the most ambitious attempt to trace the textual and
thematic strategy of the whole Pentateuch as a carefully constructed book.
Details how narrative, poetry, and legal material are woven into a single
literary fabric. Shows that the Pentateuch displays a twofold theological
strategy which (a) looks forward into the eschatological future to the
coming of a savior-king who will defeat Israel’s enemies and restore the
blessing God originally intended for all humankind “in the last days,” and
(b) demonstrates the failure of the Sinai covenant and engenders a hope in
the coming of a New Covenant. The Pentateuch therefore initiates a point of
view shared by the rest of the OT books and the NT.
Honorable Mention
Blenkinsopp, J. The Pentateuch: An Introduction to the First
Five Books of the Bible. Doubleday, 1992 (273 pp.). Serious,
scholarly, comprehensive guide to the critical study of the Pentateuch by a
distinguished Roman Catholic scholar.
Hamilton, V. P. Handbook on the Pentateuch. Baker,
1982 (496 pp.); Wolf, H. An Introduction to the Old Testament Pentateuch.
Moody, 1991 (276 pp.). Both conservative treatments of introductory and
critical issues surrounding the Pentateuch by Asbury and Wheaton College
professors, respectively. College and serious lay level.
