Going Deeper March 2, 2026 - Feb 26, 2027

Numbers

Summary, Message, and Purpose

The Book of Numbers is primarily a narrative of the Israelites’ stay in the wilderness with some laws and regulations interspersed. The English title “Numbers” derives from the Septuagint name “Arithmoi” based on the two military censuses in chapters 1 and 26. The Hebrew title, Bemidbar, “In the Wilderness,” describes the geographical setting of much of the book - from the Wilderness of Sinai to the arid plains of Moab across the Jordan River to Jericho.

The principal character in the Book of Numbers is Yahweh, the God of Israel. God accomplished His will even when His people rebelled. He is holy and pure and requires such behaviour from those who claim Him as their God. This is the central theme of the Pentateuch and the book of Numbers. God promised Abram that he would produce a great nation through him (Genesis 12:2) and give his descendants the land of the Canaanites and Amorites (Genesis 15:1, 8-21; 17:8). The two censuses show God’s fulfillment of the first promise. The granting of territory to two and a half tribes in Transjordan is the beginning of the land fulfillment.

Author

Moses

Genre, Structure

The book consists of seven cycles of material, with the repetition of the following types of material: 1) A statement of the historical setting, 2) Reference to the twelve tribes of Israel and their respective leaders, 3) Matters related to the priests and Levites, and 4) Laws for defining the nature of the faithful community.

Historical Narrative. The book of the Pentateuch is primarily a narrative with portions of case law interwoven into a vibrant literary fabric.

Leviticus

Summary, Message, and Purpose

After the Israelites are constituted as a holy people by God, the book of Leviticus provides instructions for how they are to maintain their holiness morally and ceremonially.

The book’s name comes from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament), “relating to the Levites.” This third section of the Pentateuch deals primarily with the priests' duties and the Tabernacle's service, but it also contains other laws. Leviticus gives regulations for worship, laws on ceremonial cleanness, moral laws, and holy days.

The message and purpose of Leviticus must be studied in the context of the redemption of Israel from Egypt, the covenant made with Israel, and the building of the tent of meeting, or the Tabernacle. The book's heart is to instruct Israel in holiness so that the Lord might abide among them and bless them.

Author

Moses

Genre, Structure

Leviticus is a historical narrative which contains a collection of laws. These laws contained in Leviticus can be divided into two groups. First are the commands, or apodictic law. These are both positive commands (“You must...”) and negative commands (“You must not...”). The second type of law is casuistic law. These are case laws using an example of what to do if such and such happened (“If someone...”). Some scholars seek to divide the laws further, but there is no evidence the Israelites made such a distinction.

 Exodus

Summary, Message, and Purpose

The book of Exodus picks up where the Genesis narrative ended with the death of Joseph around 1805 BC. It jumps forward 300 years to show God at work to have such close fellowship with people that He is described as dwelling among them.

He rescued the Israelites in order to make Himself known, not only by the exercise of His power but also through an ongoing covenant relationship based on His capacity for patience, grace, and forgiveness.

Author

Moses

Genre, Structure

Exodus is chiefly a historical narrative, which includes the law. Recording the foundational event for the Israelite nation, the book of Exodus presents God’s dramatic and miraculous intervention to save His people from bondage in Egypt for the sake of establishing them as His covenant people.

The title Exodus is an anglicized version of a Greek word that means “departure,” in recognition of one of the book’s major events - the departure of God’s people from Egypt. It is considered part of the law, but it is more historical narrative than law as the book is structured around the life of Moses, establishment of the covenant, and the laws related to the tabernacle and the priesthood.

Genesis

Summary, Message, and Purpose

As a book of beginnings, Genesis presents God’s creation of the universe, humanity’s fall into sin, and God’s promise to bring blessing and restoration to His good but corrupted world through the family of Abraham. The book of Genesis is the great book of beginnings in the Bible. True to the meaning of its Hebrew and Greek names, Genesis permits us to view the beginning of a multitude of realities that shape our daily existence: The creation of the universe and the planet earth, the origins of plant and animal life, and the origins of human beings, marriage, families, nations, industry, artistic expression, religious ritual, prophecy, sin, law, crime, conflict, punishment, and death.

God is the sovereign Lord and Creator of all things. Evil and sin did not originate with God. Sin entered the world at a specific place and time, and it resulted in death, both natural and spiritual.

Genesis is also a narrative of relationships.

Author

Moses

Genre, Structure

Genesis is chiefly a historical narrative. From a narrative standpoint, God is the only true hero of the Bible, and the book of Genesis has the distinct privilege of introducing Him.

God is the first subject of a verb in the book and is mentioned more frequently than any other character in the Bible. The content of the first eleven chapters is distinct from the patriarchal stories in chapters 12-50. The primary literary device is the catchphrase: “These are the family records.”