Biblical Passage in Pentateuch - Book Report/Review Example

Aside from its religious importance, the Pentateuch has been studied due to the historical context that is contained within. The history of the Israelites as God's chosen people are contained heavily in the five books and often, stories are located in a grey area between factual retelling and religious zeal. Among one of the greatly debated issues that arose from the bible is the purported escape of Israelites from Egypt and their journey in search of Canaan. In the following paragraphs, it can be seen that the passages to be discussed contain both historical and religious significance.

Chapters 19 and 20 of the Exodus book illustrate how the Decalogue or Ten Commandments were handed over to the people of Israel by God. The event was said to take place in the wilderness of Sinai on the third day of the third month of the Great Escape (Exodus) from Egypt. In chapter 19, God had spoken to Moses from the mountain top, and passages here stressed that the other Israelites were not allowed to come near Him. They were only able to view Him as the big, dark cloud hovering in the mountain top but other than that, they were not allowed to approach His presence. . In the following chapter (Chapter 20), God gave out the laws of the covenant that the Israelites have to follow in order for them to enjoy the continuity of God's blessings and protection.

Foremost of these commandments is Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). This law made it clear that the worship to another deity is not favorable to God. This law and other commandments related to it (those that caution on the devotion to multiple gods) were the foundations of monotheism or the belief in an only god. The first law is then followed by three more laws that define the relationship and proper worship of men to God. The second and third laws prohibit the construction and worship of carved images and the use of the name of God in vain while the fourth law declares the importance of the Sabbath or the seventh day of the week.

The latter is connected to the story of creation found in the book of Genesis. It was told that God worked for six straight days to fashion the universe with water, mountains and different forms of life. However, on the seventh day, he rested. This commandment about the holiness of the Sabbath or the seventh day was maintained even today. The celebration done was extended beyond the ancient way of reading the Torah - nowadays, masses are heard, especially during Sunday, and stories from the Old testament are read together with those found in the New testament.

The fifth commandment states that one should honor his father and his mother. This commandment emphasizes the family as part of God's design and also, it can be viewed as an extended metaphor that God uses for his relationship with his