LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Observing the Text Assignment
Submitted to Professor Andrew Hillaker in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
BIBL 300
Pentateuch
by
Malcolm Short
Aug 25, 2022
Genesis 3:1-7
1. Make a list of as many observations about the text as possible, highlighting special words,
repetition, symbolism, metaphors, important figures/places/items, and other literary devices.
•The serpent was crafty.
•The Lord made the serpent.
•The serpent spoke to the woman.
•The serpent convinced the woman that she would not die if she ate from the tree.
•The serpent told the woman that she would be like God, knowing good and evil, if she ate
from the tree.
•The woman desired the fruit of the tree because it was good for food and desirable for
gaining wisdom.
•The woman ate from the tree and gave some to her husband, who also ate from the tree.
•Their eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked.
•The man and woman sewed fig leaves together and clothed themselves.
2. Provide a brief explanation of the historical context, answering the who, what, when and
where of the passage you are dealing with.
The significant people of the passage are the woman, the serpent, the man, and God. The serpent
convinced the woman that she would be like God if she ate from the tree of knowledge of good
and evil. She ate the fruit and gave it to her husband, who also ate it. Their eyes were opened,
and they felt shame. This occurred in The Garden of Eden at the beginning of the creation of the
world and its inhabitants.
3. Situate the Text in context. Provide a brief description of where this passage fits into the
context of the book. Answer, “what comes before it?” and “What comes after it?”
This text is positioned after the creation of the man and woman. The one flesh union of the man
and woman has been established, and the unit is to have dominion over God’s creation. Ross
summarizes the structure of the surrounding passages. “The section begins with a description of
the creation of Adam and Eve and traces their sin, God’s curse on sin, and the expansion of sin in
their descendants.”1 God’s judgment is upon the pair following their sins against Him. He curses
the serpent, the woman, and the ground, promising an uneventful death after a life of hardship.
The man and woman find themselves banished from the garden, thus, ending a life of harmonic
fellowship with God. Ross explains, “No longer at rest, mankind experienced flight and fear,
making his way in the world, surviving, and developing civilization.”2
Exodus 14:1-12
1. Make a list of as many observations about the text as possible, highlighting special words,
repetition, symbolism, metaphors, important figures/places/items, and other literary devices.
•God instructed the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth.
•Pharaoh would assume that the Israelites were lost and pursue them.
•God assured Moses that He would gain glory in the situation and the Egyptians would
know that He is Lord.
•Pharoah regretted his decision to release the Israelites.
•God hardened Pharoah’s heart, and he pursued the Israelites.
•He took all the chariots, horsemen, and troops to pursue the Israelites.
•The Israelites saw the Egyptians marching toward them and were fearful.
•The Israelites stated that it would have been better for them to die in the desert.
2. Provide a brief explanation of the historical context, answering the who, what, when and
where of the passage you are dealing with.
1 Allen P. Ross, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor
Books, 1985), 24.
2 Ibid., 24.
The significant people of this passage are the Israelites, Moses, the Egyptians, Pharaoh, and God.
The Israelites were released from slavery in Egypt following plagues from God after four
hundred years of captivity. They went into the desert near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the
sea. The Egyptians pursued them after their departure in hopes of recapturing them. Hannah
explains, “Pharaoh would attempt to enslave the people again and then God would demonstrate
His awesome power through another great judgment.”3 The Israelites grew fearful and wished to
return to Egypt.
3. Situate the Text in context. Provide a brief description of where this passage fits into the
context of the book. Answer, “what comes before it?” and “What comes after it?” This
passage follows an extensive list of plagues from God brought unto the Egyptian people
because of Pharoah’s hardened heart against the Israelites. After the last plague, Pharoah
released the Israelites from bondage. God led the people of Israel on a path around the desert
toward the Red Sea. Following the passage, Pharoah’s army is swept into the sea by a mighty
act of God through Moses, which kills the entirety of Pharoah’s army. The Israelites
continued safely on their path, feared the Lord, and trusted Him and Moses.
Leviticus 16:29-34
1. Make a list of as many observations about the text as possible, highlighting special words,
repetition, symbolism, metaphors, important figures/places/items, and other literary devices.
•The Lord spoke to Moses and created a lasting ordinance with him.
•God told Moses that no one is to do work on the tenth day of the seventh month.
•This ordinance applied to natives and foreigners among the Israelites.
3 John D. Hannah, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL:
Victor Books, 1985), 131.
•This day will be made for atonement and cleansing for the Israelites.
•The Israelites will be clean of their sins before God.
•God declared that the day is for sabbath rest.
•The anointed and ordained high priest is to make atonement.
•The priest must wear sacred linens.
•The priest must make atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting, the priests,
and the community.
•Atonement is to be made yearly for all of the Israelite sins.
•Moses carried out what God asked him to do.
2. Provide a brief explanation of the historical context, answering the who, what, when and
where of the passage you are dealing with.
The significant people in this passage are the Israelites, Moses, and God. The Israelites have
received instructions from God on how to sacrifice and cleanse themselves of their sins against
God. These instructions came shortly after Aaron and his sons became priests and began their
ministry. This passage falls in the period after the Israelites left Egypt but are now in the
wilderness, awaiting further instruction from God on entering the Promised Land.
3. Situate the Text in context. Provide a brief description of where this passage fits into the
context of the book. Answer, “what comes before it?” and “What comes after it?”
Several passages outlining the requirements for ceremonial cleansing for various ailments
precede this passage. In reference to the passage of study, Lindsey explains, “Apparently the
ceremonies were considered ineffective in themselves if they were not accompanied by genuine
penitence on the part of the people, who were to deny themselves…”.4 This sentiment continues
as the following passages explain dietary restrictions on blood, and the next chapter covers
unlawful sexual relations.
Numbers 14:11-19
1. Make a list of as many observations about the text as possible, highlighting special words,
repetition, symbolism, metaphors, important figures/places/items, and other literary devices.
•God questioned Moses about the Israelite’s mistreatment of Himself.
•The Israelites refused to believe in God despite the signs God has performed for them.
•God threatened to strike the Israelites down with a plague and destroy them.
•He offered to make Moses into a great nation, stronger than the Israelites.
•Moses told God that the Egyptians would hear about the offer and assume God killed
them because He could not fulfill His promises to place them in the Promised Land.
•Moses appeals to God’s words from Exodus 34:6-7 and asks that God forgive the sins of
the Israelites as He has done before.
2. Provide a brief explanation of the historical context, answering the who, what, when and
where of the passage you are dealing with.
The significant people in this passage are Moses, God, and the Israelites. After the continued
rebellion against God, the Israelites are in danger of God’s wrath. God presents Moses with an
opportunity to be made into a nation more substantial than the Israelites. Moses pleads with God
to ensure He gets the proper glory for the Israelites' deliverance from the Egyptians' hand. He
4 F. Duane Lindsey, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL:
Victor Books, 1985), 198.
asks that God forgives them and allows them to enter the Promised Land as a display of His
strength.
3. Situate the Text in context. Provide a brief description of where this passage fits into the
context of the book. Answer, “what comes before it?” and “What comes after it?”
The contents of the before passages cover the exploration and report of Canaan, the Promised
Land. The land was abundant in food and resources but was occupied by large people and tall
walls surrounding the city. Only two of the twelve men that explored the Land gave favorable
reports. The other ten discouraged the people of Israel and reported that the odds of claiming the
land were unfavorable.5 Joshua and Caleb displayed confidence that the Lord would deliver the
land and its people into their hands, but the people of Israel discussed stoning them and returning
to Egypt.6 This leads to God’s potential judgment in the passage of study. Merrill reminds us that
“God’s promises are sure and steadfast and He had promised to save Israel and give them
Canaan…it is obvious that His threat to destroy Israel and begin anew with Moses was as much
a test of Moses, the covenant mediator, as it was anything else.”7 God forgave the people of
Israel but banned all elders who had lived through the Exodus and experienced God’s signs and
miracles from entering the Promised Land. Their children, including Caleb and Joshua, would be
spared, but they would die in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
1. Make a list of as many observations about the text as possible, highlighting special words,
repetition, symbolism, metaphors, important figures/places/items, and other literary devices.
5 Eugene H. Merrill, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL:
Victor Books, 1985), 231.
6 Ibid., 231.
7 Ibid., 231–232.
•Moses appeals to the Israelites by giving them a choice of life and prosperity or death and
destruction.
•Moses commands the Israelites to love the Lord and obey Him.
•Moses makes clear that if they live in obedience to God, they will prosper when they
enter the Promised Land.
•Moses warns that they will be destroyed and will not live long in the Promised Land if
they are not obedient and worship other gods.
•Moses calls the heavens and earth as witnesses against Israel to uphold this standard.
•Moses encourages the Israelites to choose life so their children can live, and the tribes of
Israel can love God and listen to him.
•Moses reminds them that the Lord is their life, and he will give them the land sworn to
their ancestors.
2. Provide a brief explanation of the historical context, answering the who, what, when and
where of the passage you are dealing with.
The significant people in this passage are Moses, the Israelites, and God. Moses is sharing God’s
requirements for Israel. Before they enter the Promised Land, he warns them that they must
adhere to God’s words and commands to receive His blessings, or there will be repercussions.
Merrill summarizes, “Israel’s pledge to faithful adherence to the terms of covenant could bring
immediate and lasting reward. But disobedience would produce only judgment.”8 The Israelites
are nearing their end in the wilderness and must be prepared for Moses’ death, and their future in
the land promised to their fathers.
8 Merrill, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 71.
3. Situate the Text in context. Provide a brief description of where this passage fits into the
context of the book. Answer, “what comes before it?” and “What comes after it?”
The passages prior are more instructions from Moses on how the Israelites are to conduct
themselves as covenant partners with God. He reminds them of their previous experiences of
God’s power, authority, and provision. Moses encourages them to adhere to this covenant to
avoid the inevitable consequences. Merrill states, “If not, the time of judgment would come in
which the nations would question whether or not Israel was in fact the people of the Lord.”9 The
following passages are Moses’ words to Israel regarding his fate. He tells them that he is no
longer able to lead them because the Lord instructed him that he cannot enter the Promised Land.
He reminds them that God will lead them into the land and that He has chosen Joshua to succeed
him. Moses writes a song to remind them of their covenantal promises and a record of the law
for the coming generations.
Bibliography
Hannah, John D.. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton,
IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Lindsey, F. Duane. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures.
Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Merrill, Eugene H.. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures.
Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Ross, Allen P.. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL:
Victor Books, 1985.
9 Ibid., 71.
