What Are the First Five Books of the Bible Called?
The first five books of the Bible are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These five books are sometimes referred to as Pentateuch, as well as the books of the law, because they contain the Ten Commandments.
The first five books of the Bible are part of the Old Testament and were written by Moses, with exception of the final part of Deuteronomy, which outlines his death. They lay the foundation for the coming of Christ, as well as the creation of the nation of Israel.
Genesis outlines the creation of the world and God’s covenant with Abraham, in which God promises to bless the nations. Exodus follows the release of the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt, during which Moses parts the Red Sea.
In Leviticus, God calls the Levites to be priests and sets standards for worship and leadership. Numbers tells the story of the forty years that the Israelites wandered the desert as a punishment for disobeying God and worshipping false idols. Despite their unbelief, Numbers also shows God’s relentless care and pursuit of the Israelites.
Deuteronomy reveals the Israelite’s arrival to the promise land and the renewed covenant between God and the Israelites. At the end of Deuteronomy, Moses passes away and Joshua is appointed as the next leader of the Israelites.
