Pentateuch Podcast

Interpreting the Pentateuch

The Pentateuch, also known as the Torah, the Law of Moses and the first five books of the Bible, communicates both the law and the story that established Israel as a chosen people through whom “all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:3).” The character of God shines through the story as both a Lord of justice and a Lord of grace. In this series, Bible teacher Michael Brent guides listeners through an overview of the structure and thought of the Pentateuch, giving recognition to the important kingdom and covenant background of the Ancient Near East. While providing an overview, Michael also takes time to dig into significant passages with special concern to highlight often overlooked monuments of grace that communicate God’s love and mercy throughout.

Genesis
1. Genesis 1: Creation 1

This first lesson provides an introduction to the series and begins with the creation story of Genesis 1, considering three foundational questions that run through the Pentateuch: (1) Who is God? (2) Who are we? (3) And what’s our mission?

2. Genesis 2: Creation 2

In the second lesson of our Pentateuch series, we continue to follow the creation story as Moses focuses in on Adam and Eve and what he teaches us about work, covenant, intimacy, and gender.

3. Genesis 3-11: Fall, Flood, Nations

In the third lesson of our Pentateuch series, we consider closely the temptation and judgment of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 and then step back to take a broad look at the effects of sin on all humanity described in Genesis 4-11.

4. Genesis 12-15: Abraham 1

In the fourth lesson of our Pentateuch series, we consider two out of four essential covenant events in Abraham’s life: the promise made in Genesis 12:1-3 and the covenant cut in Genesis 15:1-21.

5. Genesis 16-22: Abraham 2

In the fifth lesson of our Pentateuch series, we consider Abraham as a model of faith and focus in on the second two essential covenant events in his life: the covenant sign in Genesis 17 and the covenant test in Genesis 22.

6. Genesis 23-35: Isaac and Jacob

In the sixth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we consider covenant renewal made with Isaac and with Jacob, giving focus to Jacob’s struggle through life as the son of believing parents who wrestles with God, grasping for blessing but unable to trust.

7. Genesis 35-50: Joseph and Judah

In the seventh lesson of the Pentateuch series, we consider God’s sovereign faithfulness to his covenant promise and how Joseph steps up as a positive participant in God’s plan.

Ancient Near East Digression 1
8. ANE Background Studies

In the eighth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we pause between Genesis and Exodus for one lesson to consider how ancient near eastern literature supports the unity and historicity of the biblical text while also providing insights into better interpretation.

Exodus
9. Exodus 1-4: Moses' Backstory

In the ninth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we move from Genesis our Kingdom Prologue to Exodus where Kingdom will be established. We focus in this lesson on the origin story and call of Moses.

10. Exodus 5-18: God Redeems Israel

In the tenth lesson of the Pentateuch series, God destroys the gods of Egypt, making his name known to the nations and redeeming the nation Israel out of bondage but not without cost.

11. Exodus 19-24: God Cuts Covenant

In the eleventh lesson of the Pentateuch series, we consider how God established covenant with Israel, looking closely at Moses’ role as covenant mediator, the form of the covenant as a suzerain-vassal treaty, and the ratification of the covenant by blood and oath.

12. Exodus 25-34: Rebellion in the Camp

In the twelfth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we come to the true climax of the book. The most insidious enemy resides within. God intends to dwell with his people, but while Moses is away Israel rebels, re-imagining the Lord as a golden calf.

13. Exodus 35-40: God Indwells the Tabernacle

In the thirteenth lesson of the Pentateuch series we consider the renewal of covenant with Israel after the sin of the golden calf, the symbolism of the tabernacle, and the incredible reality of God indwelling the tabernacle.

Leviticus
14. Leviticus 1-7, 23-27: Ritual

In the fourteenth lesson of the Pentateuch series we begin the study of Leviticus as a challenge to be set apart as holy for God as members of his covenant community.

15. Leviticus 8-10, 21-22: Priesthood

In the fifteenth lesson of the Pentateuch series we consider the priesthood sections of Leviticus and also consider the difficulty of three narrative passages describing God’s severe execution of the death penalty.

16. Leviticus 11-15: Ceremonial Purity

In the sixteenth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we address the ceremonial purity code categorizing the requirements, defining the meaning and function of the code, and asking, “Does any of this apply to me as a Christian?”

17. Leviticus 18-20: Moral Purity

In the seventeenth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we address the moral purity code of Leviticus considering the low bar of law as a code to govern civil society and the high bar of law as a call to moral perfection.

18. Leviticus 16-17: Day of Atonement

In the eighteenth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we focus in on the Day of Atonement, the central point to the book of Leviticus.

Numbers
19. Numbers 1-10: Preparing to Leave Sinai

In the nineteenth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we overview the book of Numbers and consider several legal passages in the Torah that seem to degrade women, beginning with the adultery test in Numbers 5.

20. Numbers 11-14: Israel Grumbles in the Wilderness

In the twentieth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we consider the grumbling of Israel through the middle section of Numbers and note principles of leadership modeled by Moses as he leads this contentious people.

21. Numbers 15-21: Moses Strikes the Rock

In the twenty-first lesson of the Pentateuch series, we consider the second set of four incidents of grumbling during the Israelite’s 40 years of wandering with a focus on Moses striking the rock and why God responded with such harsh punishment.

22. Numbers 22-25: Balaam Blesses Israel

In the twenty-second lesson of the Pentateuch series, we make the transition from the Grumbling Generation to the Second Generation with a concentrated look at the intriguing story of Balaam Blessing Israel, better known as Balaam and the donkey.

Ancient Near East Digression 2
23. ANE Parallels

In the twenty-third lesson of the Pentateuch series, we pause between the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy to consider the issue of biblical parallels with Ancient Near Eastern texts, such as the flood story from the Gilgamesh Epic and the creation narrative from Enuma Elish. How do we explain parallel accounts of events, ideas, and …

Deuteronomy
24. Deuteronomy: Form and Structure

In the twenty-fourth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we get a handle on the overall structure of Deuteronomy by considering how style, form, and structure are developed through the three literary devices of discourse by Moses, suzerain-vassal treaty, and chiastic parallelism.

25. Deuteronomy 4-11: Listen and Love

In the twenty-fifth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we consider the chiastic structure of the first theological exhortation section of Deuteronomy, chapters 4-11, and also consider the themes of exclusive faithfulness, self-awareness, and right motives in relation to the overarching theme of covenant obedience.

26. Deuteronomy 5:17-21: Ten Commandments - Love People

In the twenty-sixth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we follow Jesus’ lead in the Sermon on the Mount as a guide for understanding the Ten Commandments as a moral paradigm for the whole law. Our focus in this lesson is on the second half of the Ten Commandments.

27. Deuteronomy 5:1-16: Ten Commandments - Love God

In the twenty-seventh lesson of the Pentateuch series, we continue to follow Jesus’ lead in the Sermon on the Mount as a guide for understanding the Ten Commandments as a moral paradigm for the whole law. Our focus in this lesson is on the first half of the Ten Commandments with a focus on loving …

28. Deuteronomy 27-30: Listen, Love and Live

In the twenty-eighth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we examine the relationship between covenant obedience, covenant blessing, and covenant curse in the theological exhortation chapters of Deuteronomy 27-30 with a focus on the call to listen, love, and live.

29. Deuteronomy 12-26: King, Priest and Prophet

In the twenty-ninth lesson of the Pentateuch series, we complete our series, considering three aspects of deuteronomic law code with an emphasis on the laws for leadership found at the center of the book, the laws of king, priest, and prophet.