Purpose Of The Pentateuch

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Both Old Testament writers and even Jesus in the New Testament refer to the Torah as the Law of Moses. However, Gary Schnittjer does an excellent job broadening the understanding and purpose of the Torah by going back to the original meaning of the word. He says, “Tôrâ is better understood as ‘instruction’ or ‘teaching’” (Schnittjer 526). This opens up the purpose of the Pentateuch to be more than a list of rules and regulations, as I once believed it to be, and to become God’s instructions to teach humanity (and me) how to have relationship with God. This is key to understanding the purpose of the Pentateuch which begins with Adam and Eve living in perfect relationship with God—Shalom. But then that peace is broken by their rebellion against