Overview of the Books of the Bible - Old Testament: Genesis - Numbers

This overview looks at the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, called in Hebrew the Torah (תּוֹרָה, meaning "Instruction") or in Greek the Pentateuch (Πεντάτευχος, meaning "Five Books").  It is also called the Five Books of Moses.  These five Books are the first five Books of the Christian Holy Bible, The Old Testament.  These Books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

The book of Genesis introduces God, documents creation, the historical beginning of man, the fall of mankind, the great flood, the Tower of Babel and the scattering of mankind throughout the earth, and the beginnings of the Jewish peoples through a covenant with a man named Abraham.

According to Jewish and Christian traditions, the book was inspired by God and written by a man named Moses, approximately 1445 to 1405 years BC (Swaggart, nd).  The main characters are Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Laban, Rachel, Esau, and Joseph.

Exodus was also written by Moses approximately 1445 to 1405 BC (Swaggart, nd).  It documents the slavery of the Jewish people, Moses' petition to Pharaoh for Israel to leave Egypt, ten plagues on Egypt, the first Passover feast, the departure of the Hebrew people from Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, God feeding the Israelites, God instituting the Ten Commandments, and the building of the Tabernacle.  The main characters are Moses and Aaron.

Leviticus is a book that "pertains to the Levities".  It is like an instruction book to the Levi priests.  It was written by Moses approximately 1444 - 1440 BC (Barrick, 2004).  It is a book on holiness.

Numbers is from the Greek word Αριθμοί arithmoi that means "numbers" or the Jewish name Bəmidbar (or במדבר) which means "In the desert of" (or bəmidbar Sinai - "in the desert of Sinai").  It is an account of the Israelites journey through the desert, after they left Egypt, that lasted almost forty years.  In this book, the people are numbered twice, Moses appoints priests to help him govern the people, and spies are sent into the Promised Land, Canaan.

Deuteronomy is the fifth and last book written by Moses and speaks of the "second law".  It's Hebrew name is  Devarim (דְּבָרִים) which means "spoken words".  It contains Moses' speeches and instructions to the Israelites.

Reference:

Barrick, W. D. (2004).  The book of Leviticus.  Retrieved May 19, 2011 from http://www.drbarrick.org/Website%20Files/LeviticusIntro.pdf

Bratcher, D. (2004).  The book of Deuteronomy: Introduction and Overview.  Retrieved May 19, 2011 from http://www.cresourcei.org/deuteronomy.html

Holy Bible: King James Version - Jimmy Swaggart Commentary Edition, Heritage Publishers, TX

Wikipedia (2011).  Book of Numbers.  Retrieved May 19, 2011 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Numbers