From Paradise to the Promised Land

An Introduction to the Pentateuch

Fourth Edition

T. DESMOND ALEXANDER

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

© 1995, 2002, 2012, 2022 by Thomas Desmond Alexander

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Alexander, T. Desmond, author.

Title: From paradise to the promised land : an introduction to the Pentateuch / T. Desmond Alexander.

Description: Fourth edition. | Grand Rapid, MI : Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021042023 | ISBN 9781540963406 (paperback) | ISBN 9781540965240 (casebound) | ISBN 9781493434640 (ebook) | ISBN 9781493434657 (pdf)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible. Pentateuch—Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Classification: LCC BS1225.52 .A445 2022 | DDC 222/.1061—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021042023

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016

Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

To my mother, Margaret Alexander,

and in fond memory of

Robert and Janet Wallace

CONTENTS

Illustrations

Preface

Abbreviations

PART 1

The Main Themes of the Pentateuch

1. An Overview of the Pentateuch

2. God’s Temple-City

Introduction

The Earth as God’s Temple-City

The Garden of Eden as Sanctuary

Humanity’s Royal Status

The Great Betrayal

The Tower of Babel/Babylon

Summary

New Testament Connections

3. The Royal Lineage in Genesis

Introduction

The Structure of Genesis

The Chosen “Seed”

The Lineage of Adam

Summary

New Testament Connections

4. The Blessing of the Nations

Introduction

Creator and Creation in Harmony

In the Garden of Eden

Outside Eden

Abraham and the Blessing of the Nations

Blessing in the Remainder of Genesis

Summary

New Testament Connections

5. Paradise Lost

Introduction

The Creation of the Earth

Expelled from Eden

Cain, a Restless Wanderer on the Earth

The Flood Narrative

Noah, a Man of the Soil

The Table of Nations

The Abraham Narrative

The Jacob Story

The Joseph-Judah Story...