The Pentateuch (or the Torah) consists of the first five books of the Bible and is a foundational scripture for millions of people, both Jews and Christians. In this book Paula Gooder and Brad Anderson provide a clear and accessible introduction for those beginning Bible study. Key themes such as creation and the flood, exodus and liberation, as well as covenant and law are presented and analyzed. These themes are explored in their ancient context and from the standpoint of contemporary concerns such as liberation theology, gender issues and ecology.For this new edition introductory sections on the five books of the Pentateuch have been expanded and supplemented, while recent developments in the quest for the origins of the Pentateuch have also been updated. A new chapter on academic approaches to the study of the Pentateuch has been added, along with a section on the 'afterlife' of the Pentateuch which focuses on its place in the history of interpretation, as well as in the arts and culture. Reading lists and references have been updated throughout to take account of the most recent scholarship.

PrefaceAcknowledgements IntroductionPart One: Getting to Know the Pentateuch1. The Pentateuch: Introductory Issues2. The Book of Genesis3. The Book of Exodus4. The Book Leviticus5. The Book of Numbers6. The Book of DeuteronomyPart Two: Thematic and Critical Explorations7. The Origins and Formation of the Pentateuch8. Academic Approaches to Reading and Studying the Pentateuch9. The Primeval History (Genesis 1-11)10. The Ancestral Narratives (Genesis 12-50)11. Moses and the Exodus Traditions (Exodus 1-5)12. 'The Law' in Exodus-Deuteronomy13. The Wilderness Wanderings14. The Reception of the Pentateuch: The Use, Impact, and Influence of the Five BooksBibliographyGeneral Index