The Pentateuch, also known to Christians and Jews as the Law ( Torah in Hebrew), is the name given to the first five books of the Bible, Genesis deals with the origin of the world, of man and of the people of Israel. Exodus is an account of the epic journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. Leviticus deals with ritual holiness and worship. Numbers takes its name from censuses and lists of the Israelites. Deuteronomy, in three great discourses attributed to Moses, describes the later stages of the Exodus. Like the other volumes in the standard edition of the The Navarre Bible, prepared by members of the Faculty of Theology of Navarre University, this volume contains the full biblical text in the Revised Standard Version and the New Vulgate together with extensive commentaries. The commentaries, or notes, help to explain the doctrinal and practical meaning of the scriptural text, drawing on a rich variety of sources-Church documents, the exegesis of Fathers and Doctors, and the works of prominent spiritual writers, particularly St. Josemaria Escriva, who initiated the Navarre Bible project.

Contents: The Pentateuch and history -- How the Pentateuch was written -- Genesis 1-11 -- Genesis 12-50 -- Exodus 1:1-13:16 -- Exodus 13:17-40:38 -- Leviticus -- Numbers -- Deuteronomy -- Appendices on Festivals, Economic laws, Slavery.

When Jean Louis Ska's Introduzione alla lettura del Pentateuco was first published in Italy, it was quickly hailed as the most attractive and usable introduction to the Pentateuch to appear in modern times. Because of its strengths, it was soon translated into French. The English translation published by Eisenbrauns has been completely reviewed and updated (including the bibliography) by Ska. Among the book's many strengths are its close attention to the ways in which modern cultural history has affected Pentateuchal interpretation, attention to providing the kinds of examples that are helpful to students, presentation of a good balance between the history of interpretation and the data of the text, and the clarity of Ska's writing. For both students and scholars, many consider this book the best contemporary introduction to the Pentateuch.

Contents: Part One: Genesis -- Creation and the Fall (1-3) -- The sequence after Creation and the Fall (4-11) -- Abraham (11:26-25:11) -- Jacob (25:11-36:42) -- Joseph (37-50) -- Part Two: Exodus -- The emergence of Moses (1-6) -- Plagues, Passover, and the Exodus (18:27) -- Law and covenant (19-24) -- Tabernacle, the golden calf, and covenant renewal (25-40) -- Part Three: Leviticus -- The sacrificial system (1-7) -- Priestly ordination (8-10) -- Clean and unclean (11-15) -- The Day of Atonement (16) -- A holiness manifesto (17-27) Part Four: Numbers -- Preparations for departure from Sinai (1:1-10:10) -- From Sinai to Kadesh (10:11-20:21) -- From Kadesh to Moab (20:22-36:13) -- Part Five: Deuteronomy -- Remember the past (1:1-4:40) -- Be careful in the future (4:41-11:32) -- The laws of Deuteronomy (12-26) -- Blessings and curses (27-30; 31:1-6) -- Moses' farewell (31:7-34:12).

In exploring the major themes and issues of the Pentateuch, editors T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, with an international and expert group of scholars, inform and challenge through authoritative overviews, detailed examinations and new insights from the world of the ancient Near East. The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch is designed to be your first stop in the study and research of the Pentateuch, on which the rest of the Bible is built.

Contents: An apprenticeship on the Torah -- Introducing the Torah -- Genesis : in the beginning -- Macroview of Genesis -- The beginning (1:1-2:4) -- The garden and the exile (2:5-4:26) -- The flood and the nations (5:11) -- The Abraham narratives (12:1-25:18) -- The Jacob narratives (25:19-36:43) -- The sons of Jacob narratives (37:1-47:26) -- The last days (47:27-50:26) -- Exodus : these are the names -- Macroview of Exodus -- The river and the bush (1:4) -- The plagues and the sea (5:1-15:21) -- The wilderness and the mountain (15:22-24:18) -- The rebellion and the dwelling (25:40) -- Leviticus : and He called -- Macroview of Leviticus -- Sacrifice (1:7) -- Purity and worship (8:16) -- Holy living (17:27) -- Numbers : in the wilderness -- Macroview of Numbers -- The first generation at Sinai (1:1:10:10) -- Two generations in the wilderness (10:11-21:35) -- The second generation on the plains of Moab (22:36) -- Deuteronomy : these are the words -- Macroview of Deuteronomy -- The words (1:1-4:43) -- The ten words and the command (4:44-11:32) -- The rules and regulations (12:28) -- A view of the other side (29:34) -- Reintroducing the Torah.

As a chapter-by-chapter introduction to the Torah (the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Bible), this work provides a source for interfaith study of the Five Books of Moses; it provides a wealth of representative examples of the Torah in the Christian scriptures and in the rabbinic teachings of the midrash and the Talmud.

Contents: 1. The Torah in the Pentateuch: The Challenge and the Framing of the Question -- 2. The Historical Context: Prophetic Criticism of Written Law -- 3. The Mountain of God and Divine Law: The Way of Torah at Sinai -- 4. Moses as Institution? The Organizational Form of Israelite Law -- 5. The Book of the Covenant: The Supporting Foundation -- 6. Deuteronomy: The Formational Development -- 7. The Priestly Writing: The Necessary Transformation -- 8. The Pentateuch as Torah: The Way as Part of the Goal.