Wootton Rivers St Andrew’s Church
The Old Testament:
The Pentateuch
The Pentateuch
[from the Greek = “five Scrolls”]
The record of God’s dealings with humanity, from creation, through early contacts with those whom we now call Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to the establishment of Israel as a nation with their own land, laws and society. It spans a period over 600 years until about 1250 B.C.
God’s relationship was expressed in a series of covenants (binding agreements), with Noah and Abraham and established at Mt. Sinai through Moses.
These covenants were based on God’s initiative and made moral and ritual demands upon God’s people.
The record of God’s dealings with humanity, from creation, through early contacts with those whom we now call Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to the establishment of Israel as a nation with their own land, laws and society. It spans a period over 600 years until about 1250 B.C.
God’s relationship was expressed in a series of covenants (binding agreements), with Noah and Abraham and established at Mt. Sinai through Moses.
These covenants were based on God’s initiative and made moral and ritual demands upon God’s people.
The Old Testament: The History of Israel
Israel’s history is revealed in the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings and Chronicles.
The period covered extends from the time of Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, around 1400 B.C., to part way through the Israelites’ exile in Babylon, in the 6th century B.C.
It follows the kingship of Israel and in particular David’s dynasty, from the establishment of Israel as a nation in their own land, the building of the Temple under Solomon, as the worship centre, where worship was performed under God’s direction, using a priesthood specially consecrated.
The period covered extends from the time of Joshua leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, around 1400 B.C., to part way through the Israelites’ exile in Babylon, in the 6th century B.C.
It follows the kingship of Israel and in particular David’s dynasty, from the establishment of Israel as a nation in their own land, the building of the Temple under Solomon, as the worship centre, where worship was performed under God’s direction, using a priesthood specially consecrated.
The historical writings depict Israel’s contact with other nations around, and show how, when the people turned away from God’s laws, He ordered Nebuchadnezzar to lead a conquest against Israel and deport thousands of them into captivity in Babylon.
The Old Testament: Poetry, Wisdom and Literature
Poetry, most obviously found in the books of Job, (hailed as one of the world’s masterpieces of literature), Psalms, and Proverbs, is not segregated into a few poetical books, but breaks out in various contexts at moments of special importance.
Wisdom in the Old Testament, is the voice of reflection and experience – a searching out after the way God governs the world, and the reason for which humanity exists. As with poetry, wisdom literature spreads into many books.
Wisdom in the Old Testament, is the voice of reflection and experience – a searching out after the way God governs the world, and the reason for which humanity exists. As with poetry, wisdom literature spreads into many books.
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