Jon Gary Williams
Articles / Resources

A. The first Hebrew word in this book means "in the beginning" (Gen. 1:1)

B. Genesis contains several beginnings

1. Beginning of the material universe (1:1)
2. Beginning of the human race (1:26,27)
3. Beginning of the home (2:8-24)
4. Beginning of human sin (3:1-13)
5. Beginning of redemption (3:14,15)
6. Beginning of a new world (8:15-19)
7. Beginning of the different nations (11:1-9)
8. Beginning of the Hebrew (Israelite) nation (12:1ff)

A. Contains more history that any other book - at least 2500 years

B. It answers some of man's greatest questions

1. How did everything begin? (assumes the existence of God)
2. What is God like?
3. What is man? (his nature)
4. What is man's place in creation?
5. Why is man in a fallen state?
6. Is God concerned about man?

A. The beginning of history

1. Creation of the universe (1:1 - 2:3)
2. The place of man (2:4-25)
3. The entry of sin (3:1 - 4:26)

B. From Adam to Noah (5:1-32)

C. The sin and judgment of the old world (6:1 - 9:24)

D. The ancient families of mankind (10:1 - 11:32)

E. The story of Abraham (12:1 - 25:18)

F. The story of Isaac (25:19 - 26:35)

G. The story of Jacob and Esau (27:1 - 37:1)

H. The story of Joseph (37:2 - 50:26)

A. The word Exodus means "to go forth" or "leave"

B. The title Exodus was given because this book tells the story of the Hebrews going forth from the land of Egypt

C. This term is the origin of our English word "exit"

A. The first half of this book (chapters 1-18) deals with the Hebrew's bondage in and
deliverance from Egypt.

B. The second half (chapters 19-40) deal with the giving of the laws of Moses, the
priesthood, and the tabernacle.

C. Outstanding events.

1. Moses' birth and childhood (2:1-10)
2. The calling of Moses (burning bush) (3:2-5)
3. Plagues Egypt (7 - 12)
4. The passover (12:11, 12, 27)
5. Crossing the Red Sea (14:21-30)
6. Miraculous food (16:12-21)
7. Mt. Sinai and the ten commandments (19 - 34)
8. The priesthood (28 - 29)
9. The golden calf (32)
10. The tabernacle (35 - 40)

D. At least twenty-four events found in Exodus are referred to in the New Testament

A. Growth and bondage of Israel (Hebrews) (1:1-22)

B. Deliverance of Israel from Egypt

1. Moses in Egypt and Midian (2:1-22)
2. Israel's cry for deliverance (2:23,24)
3. Moses' calling (3 - 4)
4. Moses' confrontation with Pharaoh (5:1 - 7:13)
5. The ten plagues (7:14 - 12:20)
6. Israel leaqves Egypr (12:21 - 15:21)

C. From the Red Sea to the wilderness of Sinai (15:22 - 19:2)

D. Mt. Sinai, the ten commandments and other laws (19:3-31)

E. The golden calf and new tables of stone (32 - 34)

F. The tabernacle and its furniture (35 - 40)

A. This name was given this book because it deals with the priestly tribe of Levi.

B. It was sometimes called torath kohanim ("law of priests")

A. The significance of the priesthood is stressed

B. The importance of sacredness of worship is emphasized

C. The role of morality and cleanliness is dealt with

A. Different offerings made in service to God

1. Burnt, meat, peace, sin, trespass offerings (1 - 6:7)
2. Instructions to priests regarding offerings (6:8 - 7)

B. The consecration and service pf the priesthood

1. Consecration of the sons of Aaron (8)
2. The high priest Aaron and his sons (9 - 10)

C. Laws concerning clean and unclean meat (11)

D. Laws dealing with personal purity

1. Purification after childbirth (12:1-8)
2. Laws regarding lepers (13:9 - 14)
3. Laws regarding bodily discharge (15)

E. Laws pertaining to the annual atonement (16 - 17:9)

F. Laws relating to purity, holiness, justice (17:10 - 22)

G. Laws about feasts and special years

1. Feasts - passover, pentecost, tabernacles (23)
2. Lamps and table of shewbread (24)
3. The sabbath year and jubilee year (25)

H. Warnings concerning obedience and disobedience (26)

I. Laws dealing with vows (27)

A. This name was given to this book because of the two instances of the numbering of the people.

1. At Sinai (1:1-3)
2. In the plains of Moab after the forty years in the wilderness (26:1,2)

B. The Jews called this book be-midhar ("in the wilderness") since it discusses the Jews' wandering in the wilderness

A. The goodness of God is manifested

1. Guidance by a pillar of cloud and fire (9:15-23)
2. Miraculous food - manna and quail (11:6-9; 24-35)
3. Miraculous water (20:1-13)
4. Destruction of their enemies (21:1-3, 21-35; 31:1-54)
5. Healing - brazen serpent (21:4-9)
6. Cities of refuge (35:9-34)

B. The severity of God is manifested

1. Punishment due to murmuring (11:1-3)
2. Plague at Kibroth-hattaavah (11:31-34)
3. Miriam becomes leprous (12:1-16)
4. Death of those twenty-four years and older (14:26-39)
5. Smitten by the Amalekites (14:14-45)
6. Punishment due to sabbath breaking (15:32-36)
7. Death of karah, Dathan and Abiram (16:1-50)
8. Fiery serpents (21:4-9)
9. Punishment due to idol worship (25:1-15)

A. Preparation for the journey

1. Putting the camp ir order (1 - 4)
2. Cleansing the camp (5 - 6)
3. Worship and consecration in the camp (7 - 9:14)
4. Movement of the camp (9:15 - 10:10)

B. Journey toward the land of Canaan

1. Sinai to Kadesh Barnea - a time of unbelief (10:11 - 14)
2. The wilderness - a time of chastisement (15:1 - 19)
3. Kadesh to Moab - a new generation (20:1 - 22:1)

C. At the boarder of Canaan

1. Story of Balaam (22 - 25)
2. Preparation to enter Canaan (26:1 - 30)
3. Destruction and spoiling of the Midianites (31)
4. The tribes remaining east of Jordan (32)
5. A review of their journey (33:1 - 49)
6. Conquest and division of Canaan (33:50 - 34)
7. Cities of Levi, cities of refuge and laws on murder (35)
8. Laws on inheritance (36)

A. The name Deuteronomy means "second law"

B. This name was given because in Deuteronomy the ten commandments are repeated a second time (5:7-21) (the first time was in Exodus 20)

A. Deuteronomy is made up of three addresses of Moses and his departing remarks

B. This book covers a period of about two months (1:3)

A. Moses' first address

1. Reminder of what God has done (1 - 3:29)
2. Exhortation in view of what God has done (4:1 - 43)

B. Moses' second address

1. The covenant of faith (4:44 - 11)
2. Sundry laws - eating of flesh, idolatry, clean and unclean animals, tithing, bond-servants, feasts, the Levites portion, divination forbidden, false prophets, cities of refuge, murder, etc. (12 - 26)
3. Law recorded at Mt. Ebal, blessings and cursings (27 - 28)

C. Moses' third address

1. Israel exhorted to accept the covenant (29:1-13)
2. Punishment for disobedience (29:14-29)
3. Repentance and forgiveness (30:1-14)
4. The choice between life and death (30:15-20)

D. Moses' parting words and death

1. Joshua commissioned as Moses' successor (31:1-8)
2. Law to be read to Israel every seventh year (31:9-13)
3. God's charge to Moses and Joshua (31:14-23)
4. The law to be placed in the ark (31:24-29)
5. The song of Moses (31:30 - 32:47)
6. Moses permitted to see the land of Canaan (32:48-52)
7. Moses blesses the tribes of Israel (33)
8. The death of Moses (34)