![]() But admitting that the Pentateuch was written by Moses, an important question arises, as to whether the books which compose it have reached us in an authentic form whether they exist genuine and entire as they came from the hands of their author. ![]() Indeed the references are so numerous, and the testimonies so distinctly borne to the existence of the Mosaic books throughout the whole history of the Jewish nation, and the unity of character, design, and style pervading these books is so clearly perceptible, notwithstanding the rationalistic assertions of their forming a series of separate and unconnected fragments, that it may with all safety be said, there is immensely stronger and more varied evidence in proof of their being the authorship of Moses than of any of the Greek or Roman classics being the productions of the authors whose names they bear. ![]() Secondly, there are the testimonies borne in various parts of the later historical books to the Pentateuch as a work well known, and familiar to all the people (see Jos 1:8 8:34 23:6 24:26 1Ki 2:3, &c.) Thirdly, frequent references are made in the works of the prophets to the facts recorded in the books of Moses (compare Isa 1:9 with Ge 19:1 Isa 12:2 with Ex 15:2 Isa 51:2 with Ge 12:2 Isa 54:9 with Ge 8:21, 22 compare Ho 9:10 with Nu 25:3 Ho 11:8 with Ge 19:24 Ho 12:4 with Ge 32:24, 25 Ho 12:12 with Ge 28:5 29:20 compare Joe 1:9 with Nu 15:4-7 28:7-14 De 12:6, 7 16:10, 11 compare Am 2:9 with Nu 21:21 Am 4:4 with Nu 28:3 Am 4:11 with Ge 19:24 Am 9:13 with Le 26:5 compare Mic 6:5 with Nu 22:25 Mic 6:6 with Le 9:2 Mic 6:15 with Le 26:16, &c.) Fourthly, the testimony of Christ and the Apostles is repeatedly borne to the books of Moses (Mt 19:7 Lu 16:29 24:27 Joh 1:17 7:19 Ac 3:22 28:23 Ro 10:5). First, there are the repeated assertions of Moses himself that the events which checkered the experience of that people were written down as they occurred (see Ex 24:4-7 34:27 Nu 33:2). For in relating the victory over the Amalekites, which he was commanded by divine authority to record, the language employed, "write this for a memorial in a book", (Ex 17:14), shows that that narrative was to form part of a register already in progress, and various circumstances combine to prove that this register was a continuous history of the special goodness and care of divine providence in the choice, protection, and guidance of the Hebrew nation. That Moses did keep a written record of the important transactions relative to the Israelites is attested by his own express affirmation. The Mosaic origin of the Pentateuch is established by the concurring voices both of Jewish and Christian tradition and their unanimous testimony is supported by the internal character and statements of the work itself. They constitute the groundwork or basis on which the whole fabric of revelation rests, and a knowledge of the authority and importance that is thus attached to them will sufficiently account for the determined assaults that infidels have made on these books, as well as for the zeal and earnestness which the friends of the truth have displayed in their defense. The numerous and oft-recurring references made in the later Scriptures to the events, the ritual, and the doctrines of the ancient Church would have not only lost much of their point and significance, but have been absolutely unintelligible without the information which these five books contain. They have always been placed at the beginning of the Bible, not only on account of their priority in point of time, but as forming an appropriate and indispensable introduction to the rest of the sacred books. ![]() In the later Scriptures they are frequently comprehended under the general designation, The Law, The Book of the Law, since, to give a detailed account of the preparations for, and the delivery of, the divine code, with all the civil and sacred institutions that were peculiar to the ancient economy, is the object to which they are exclusively devoted. ![]() The names they bear in our English version are borrowed from the Septuagint, and they were applied by those Greek translators as descriptive of the principal subjects-the leading contents of the respective books. At what time they were divided into five portions, each having a separate title, is not known, but it is certain that the distinction dates at or before the time of the Septuagint translation. Originally these books formed one continuous work, as in the Hebrew manuscripts they are still connected in one unbroken roll. PENTATEUCH AND HISTORICAL BOOKS by Robert Jamieson The Pentateuch, the name by which the first five books of the Bible are designated, is derived from two Greek words, pente, "five," and teuchos, a "volume," thus signifying the fivefold volume. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible BY ![]()
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