Module 2: The Pentateuch

Hi everyone, and welcome to the second module for the Old Testament survey course. In this section, we'll be working through the first five books of the Old Testament, sometimes called the Pentateuch, or the Torah. This Module will first survey the Pentateuch as a whole, and then survey each of the five individual books.

Below you will find links to all the study material for this module.

Module Objectives & Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Place the Major OT people, events and books of the Pentateuch in a general chronology.
  • Explain the main message(s), organization, theme(s), and/or character(s) of the Books of the Pentateuch.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the character of God as revealed through His revelation in the history and literature of the Pentateuch.
  • Consider how God's revelation through the Pentateuch applies in the student's life and ministry.

Instruction Documents

In this section, you'll find links to the instruction documents for this module. There is an instruction document for an individual student studying on their own. And there is an instruction document for students working through this material with a group. Click the links below to access those documents.

Bible/Textbook Reading

In this section, you'll find links to the list of required Bible and textbook reading for this module. The student should read the assigned Bible portions and respond according to the instructions contained in the Bible Response Reflection or Discussion documents found below. The student may read the assigned portions of the Textbook before the lectures, or they may wait and read them after the lectures to serve as review, and to fill in any additional information the student may wish to know. Click the link below to access this document.

Bible Response Reflection Journal/Discussion

The student will choose one or more portions from the assigned Bible reading for this module and write a journal and/or discuss with their group based on that Bible passage. As you read from the Old Testament, let it be a devotional experience. Detailed instructions for this activity are given below. Click the link to see the instructions for individual journaling or the instructions for group discussion.

Lecture Videos

In this section, you will find the video lectures for the Pentateuch module. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Before each video, there is a link to a study guide for that lecture and a link to blank, fill-in notes for that lecture. Click each banner to open access to each video. There is also a link with each video if you prefer to watch on the Rumble or YouTube interface. In addition, there is a link to download the audio from the presentation for offline review. And after many of the lectures, there is a link to a summary sheet for the Bible book covered in that lecture. Click each link to access those documents.

Intro to the Pentateuch

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 2. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the banner to open the slide show.

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Review Slideshow
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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

It is highly recommended that the student recite these reviews out loud as an aid to memory. Some memory aids and tricks were mentioned in the Lectures for some of the summaries (e.g. SCRuB). The student should also brainstorm any shorthand memory aids to help them commit these review summaries to memory. The student should not just attempt to memorize the summaries, but also to use the summaries as a framework to understand and retain the nature and content of the Old Testament.

Course Material Response Reflection

The Student will choose one or more items from either the Video Lectures or the Course Textbook which stood out as personally significant to them. The student will then reflect and write on the item(s); how it/they challenged or added to their current understanding, and how their worldview, life, and/or ministry should be affected by their new understanding.

Detailed instructions for this activity can be found by clicking the link below:

Timeline - Step Two

The student will research and present an Old Testament Timeline in seven steps over the course of all seven modules.

Step Two of the Timeline should include the following information:

  • The events, characters, and Bible books for each of the five books of the Pentateuch.
  • These should be appropriately placed in the historical epochs as displayed in the previous step of this project.

If you are working through this material in a group, the group leader may choose for the Timeline to be constructed as a group activity during the group meeting time.

Detailed instructions for this activity can be found by clicking the link below:

Review Quiz

This section contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 2. By clicking the banner, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the banner to begin the quiz.

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Quiz for Module 2
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Review Quiz for Module 2

Here is a review quiz for the material covered in this module's lectures. Click the button next to the best answer for each question, or drag each term to its best definition. Then press the button at the bottom to see if your answers are correct.


The Patriarchs section of Genesis often makes a point about a character by contrasting with a different character.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
Which of these is NOT a section of the book of Exodus?

In the Desert

Sorry, see Lecture 12

At Sinai

Sorry, see Lecture 12

In Egypt

Sorry, see Lecture 12

On the Plains of Moab

Correct
Which best describes the main purpose of the tabernacle?

To demonstrate God's power

Sorry, see Lecture 13

To be the place of sacrifice

True, but not the MAIN purpose

To model purity

Sorry, see Lecture 13

To be the place where God is present

Good Job
Which is NOT an aspect of God's NAME revealed in Exodus?

He is powerful

Sorry, see Lecture 13

He is self-existent

Sorry, see Lecture 13

He is Father, Son and Spirit

Well Done

He is gracious and compassionate

Sorry, see Lecture 13
What was the tangible demonstration of God's approval of the tabernacle at its dedication?

The priests were filled with joy

Sorry, see Lecture 13

The sacrifices filled the altar

Sorry, see Lecture 13

A pillar of cloud filling the tabernacle

Well Done

A rainbow appeared over the tabernacle

Sorry, see Lecture 13

The people responded with praise

Sorry, see Lecture 13
Exodus emphasizes that every part of the tabernacle was built according to God's instructions

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 13
Moses welcomed his call from God when it was first given.

True

Sorry, Moses resisted his call and made excuses, see Lecture 12

False

Well Done
Which of these is NOT a part of the tabernacle?

Lampstand

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Ark of the Covenant

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Bronze altar

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Pulpit

Well Done
God's promises are sometimes tested by appearing to fail before they are eventually fulfilled.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
Which is NOT one of the key themes of Deuteronomy?

NO Idolatry

Sorry, see Lecture 16

Monotheism

Sorry, see Lecture 16

Love AND Fear

Sorry, see Lecture 16

Deliverance/Rescue

Good Job
The two facts (that God is just to punish sin, and that God is gracious to forgive sin) create a tension that is not fully answered until the New Testament.

True

Excellent

False

Sorry, see Lecture 13
Leviticus addresses the question "How can a holy God live with an unholy people?"

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 14
Which is NOT one of the ways that Deuteronomy is organized?

Geographical - by location

Well Done

Around three speeches of Moses

Sorry, see Lecture 16

A typical covenant pattern

Sorry, see Lecture 16
The Pentateuch teaches that God wants to be worshipped in an acceptable manner.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 14
Abraham travelled to each of the three areas of the Fertile Crescent.

True

Right on

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
Which is NOT one of the four Key events of the Prehistory.

Promise

Correct

Flood

Sorry, see Lecture 10

Nations

Sorry, see Lecture 10

Creation

Sorry, see Lecture 10

Fall

Sorry, see Lecture 10
The Torah was written to be a record of God's covenant with His people, giving them identity and structure as His people.

True

Well Done

False

Sorry, see Lecture 09
The name "Deuteronomy" means "second law".

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 16
What is the PRIMARY reason why Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years?

They did not trust God

Correct

They rebelled against the leadership of Moses

This is true, but not primary

Moses struck the rock with his staff, seeking water

This is true, but not primary

They grumbled about the food

This is true, but not primary

The spies lied to them and they believed the lies

This is true, but not primary
What are the two goals (sections) of Leviticus?

Right Sacrifice & Right Priesthood

Sorry, see Lecture 14

Festivals & Sacrifice

Sorry, see Lecture 14

Right Worship & Right Living

Well Done

Holiness & Sacrifice

Sorry, see Lecture 14

In the Desert & At Sinai

Sorry, see Lecture 14
Genesis chs. 12-50 are organized by the stories of the main characters.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11
God did not give the Law until AFTER He had rescued His people.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 13
The first temptation did not start as an outright lie, but disguised as an honest inquiry about God.

True

Excellent

False

Sorry, see Lecture 10.5
Which is NOT a part of the purpose why God gave the law?

To show how to become God's people

Good Job, they already were God's people by His grace

To show Israel Who is the Boss

Sorry, see Lecture 13

To point forward to Christ

Sorry, see Lecture 13

To form Israel's worldview

Sorry, see Lecture 13

To protect Israel

Sorry, see Lecture 13
Which is NOT one of the key themes of Exodus?

The NAME

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Deliverance

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Presence

Sorry, see Lecture 13

Election

Good Job
The Israelites wandered in the desert for years as a result of their disobedience and lack of faith.

True

Correct

False

Sorry, see Lecture 15
There are two possible dates of the Exodus that can be reconciled with the Biblical data.

True

Good Job

False

Sorry, see Lecture 12
Drag each event to its proper order, from earliest to latest.
First
Fourth
Second
Third
Fifth

Ten Plagues on Egypt

Giving of the 10 Commandments

Tower of Babel

Promise to Abraham

Report of the Spies, Unbelief, and Rebellion

Each of Abraham's descendants shares equally in the promise.

True

Isaac, not Ishamel, and Jacob, not Esau inherited the promise

False

Good job
God protected the promise, sometimes in spite of the 'help' of the patriarchs.

True

Yes

False

Sorry, see Lecture 11

Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains some questions for further thought and discussion from Module 2. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. These questions are generated from a larger group of possible questions, so they will likely be different every time you open this banner. You may reopen this banner to see different questions. Click the banner to view the questions.

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Discussion/Application Questions
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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

  1. What is Deuteronomistic theology? Define and give examples from the Pentateuch. Give examples from your own life. What difference does this make?
  2. What does the lecture mean when it talks about Abraham "helping" God with the promise? What are the results in the Biblical story? How does this concept apply in your own life?
  3. Describe the promises that God gave to Abraham. How are these promises fulfilled in the Pentateuch? How do these promises apply to modern Christians? What difference does it make for your life?
  4. How do the events of the Prehistory epoch help you to understand the nature and state of our world today? What difference does this make for your life?

Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the second module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on to the next module as soon as is convenience. The button below will take you to Module 3.