From Paradise to the Promised Land: An Introduction to the Pentateuch

You can read my full review here: spoiledmilks dot wordpress dot com/2015/02/28/review-from-paradise-to-the-promised-land/

Alexander says, "The present volumes seeks to (1) guide the reader through the maze of modern approaches to the Pentateuch, and (2) focus on the main themes of the Pentateuch, viewed as a unified literary work, by drawing on the best insights of recent research into Hebrew narrative techniques" (p xiii).

Part 1; Pentateuchal Criticism
Being an introduction, one should expect some discussion on Pentateuchal studies. Alexander spends six chapters going through the history of these studies, introducing the reader to source-, form-, Traditio-historical-, and literary-criticism, and bringing the reader's main focus to the Documentary Hypothesis.

While one should be aware (and probably expects) that these chapters are not an easy read, yet I actually found these first six chapters to be quite interesting, much more than I thought they would be. On the one hand, these chapters are quite detailed, showing the intricacies of PC and just what one would expect to find when sifting through scholarly work over the Pentateuch. Many (but not all!) large, scholarly works will be brimming with information on the legitimacy of the DH, and one should be aware of what they will find when they read those works.

Here Alexander does not side with the DH espousers, but shows criticisms against it and makes a good case (albiet a small case) against the DH.

Part 2; The Main Themes of the Pentateuch

This is where the book will become 'alive' for many readers. For though as interesting as reading about various criticisms and critiques of the Pentateuch may be, reading the very words Moses wrote is far more interesting (as it should be!). Here Alexander looks at a broad range of themes starting in Genesis and "ending" in Deuteronomy (they don't really 'end in Deuteronomy. The biblical authors pick up the themes and carry them on throughout the Old and New Testaments.

The Chocolate Milk

In looking at Pentateuchal themes, rather than being a collection of different sources, Alexander shows how the Pentateuch is a unified work and works that into the main themes of the Pentateuch. The final portion of each thematic chapter in Part 2 was the New Testament Connections section, which I always enjoyed reading. Alexander summarizes how a particular theme ('Be Holy') is seen in the NT and is fulfilled in some way in Jesus. What defiles a person is not what they eat, but what is inside of them (Mk 7.20-23).

The Spoiled Milk

One disappointment I had was that more of the Pentateuch wasn't covered. As important as the themes are (I never really thought much about a lot of the themes mentioned here and their impact on the Five Books of Moses), I think the name of the book may be a bit misleading. Perhaps I'm used to books like deSilva's An Introduction to the New Testament which looks at themes of the New Testament and summarizes each letter. While one book cannot do everything, I'm left wondering about much of what happens in the Genesis story after Abraham (though Alexander spends six chapters on Genesis, and does talk about Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph). Not to mention special laws in Leviticus (three chapters), or most of Deuteronomy (only two chapters are spent discussing this huge book).

The only criticism I have about the Old Testament Summary section was that it really wasn't a summary of how the theme is seen in the Old Testament, but more how it is seen either in that individual book ('Murmurings' in Numbers) or in the Pentateuch. Again, perhaps misnamed, but it seems like "Pentateuchal Summary" would be more apt.

[Special thanks to Trinity at Baker Publishing for allowing me to review this book! I was not obligated to provide a positive review in exchange for this book.]

This book was a good aid to deepening my understanding of the first five books of the bible and how it is the foundation to understanding the rest of the bible.

This book has helped me with the class i'm taking and it goes more in depth of what the Penteuch really means. I would highly recommend this book

Great reference type book with lots of metanarrative tie-in.

I used this book as a textbook for a class on the Torah. It works at a beginners level, but if you want to 'go deeper' it does that as well.

This is a textbook for my son.

Absolutely fabulous! This book does a tremendous job describing the travels of Moses and the Israelites. The parallels of their journeys through the Wilderness and the journeys that we face today are so eerie, yet, so relevant that it is a must read for all. "Thumbs-up" as Ebert would say.

Thorough reading and commentary of the Pentateuch.

i have recently immersed myself in the "hebrew roots" schema. chapter 8: "God's Temple-City motivated the purchase of the book. an initial reading of the chapter confirms my choice. i have every expectation that the balance of t. desmond alexander's volume will be equally if not even more compelling, in short a panoramic ALEPH and TAV of all things!!

Wonderful resource for learning about the events from the Pentateuch. I recommend this for future pastors or for those simply interested in increasing their knowledge.