WHO WROTE THE PENTATEUCH? by Abbie C. Morrow

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 24, 1900

WHO WROTE THE PENTATEUCH?

By Abbie C. Morrow

[By Abbie C. Morrow, in Word and Work.]

HIGHER CRITICS say, "The Pentateuch was written by unknown authors." God says, "Moses wrote this law." Deut. 31:9, 22, 24-26.

In explorations made in Egypt in 1891, extensive correspondence was discovered, written one hundred and fifty years before the time of Moses. This is God's answer in our day to the argument of the critics that writing was not known at the time of Moses.

When Joshua discomfited Amalek, the Lord commanded Moses, "Write this for a memorial in a book." Ex. 17:13, 14. Of all that the Lord spake to Moses in the mount He commanded, "Write thou these words." Ex. 34:27, 28.

In Leviticus fifty-six times it is said, or implied, that the law was given through Moses. Lev. 26:46; 27:34. Every chapter but one from the eleventh to the twenty-seventh begins, "And the Lord spake unto Moses."

The command concerning wine was given to Aaron that he might teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord had spoken to them "by the hand of Moses." Lev. 10:11.

In Numbers we have the numbering of the tribes, the order of their march, the work of the priests and Levites, and the halting and encamping of Israel during the forty years. "And Moses wrote their goings out." Num. 33:2.

Joshua was promised prosperity if he would do all the law which Moses commanded. Joshua 1:7, 8.

During the time of the judges the nations were kept "to prove Israel, . . . whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which He commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses." Judges 3:4.

Afterward we read that "Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the Lord given by the hand of Moses." 2 Chron. 34:14, margin.

Twice in his wonderful prayer does Daniel refer to "the law of Moses." Dan. 9:11, 13.

Ezra read to the people before the watergate from "the book of the law of Moses." Neh. 8:1.

Almost the last words of the Old Testament are, "Remember ye the law of Moses." Mal. 4:4.

The Pharisees, quoting from Deut. 24:1, ascribe its authorship to Moses. Matt. 19:7.

The Sadducees, quoting from Deut. 25:5, say, "Moses wrote" it. Mark 12:19.

Philip said to Nathanael, "We have found Him, of whom Moses . . . did write." John 1:45.

Peter, quoting from Deut. 18:15, declared, "Moses truly said." Acts 3:22.

Stephen ended his brief biography of Moses with the assertion, "This is that Moses" which prophesied of Jesus, and quoted Deut. 18:15, 18; Acts 7:37.

Paul testified concerning Jesus "out of the law of Moses." Acts 28:23.

Jesus declared, "Moses wrote of Me." John 5:46. In His answer to the Sadducees concerning the resurrection, He asked, "Have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him?" Mark 12:26; Ex. 3:6. And in the memorable walk to Emmaus, "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27, 44. And the first prophecy of Jesus, the Redeemer, is in Gen. 3:15.

Shall we stand with the "Higher Critics," and deny God's Word, and throw away our whole Bible as unworthy of trust, or stand with the true men of all ages, and acknowledge Moses as the author of the Pentateuch?

What about the last chapter of Deuteronomy, and such parentheses as Num. 12:3? These may have been added by Joshua. Does an author necessarily write the preface, or introduction, or appendix, or notes in his book? Bunyan's life is given in "Pilgrim's Progress," but no one denies the authorship of the book because that has been added.

Then God could have inspired Moses to write a prophetic history of his own death and burial. Let us always remember in dealing with apparent difficulties that if our Bible "had no depths beyond man's plummet it could not be a revelation of God," and rejoice that He who inspired the Book has promised to teach us "all things." John 14:26; 1 John 2:20, 27.