Part 1: Pentateuchal Criticism1. Introduction to Pentateuchal Criticism2. The Rise of the Documentary Hypothesis3. Going behind the Documents4. The Documentary Hypothesis under Threat5. The Sinai Narrative--A Test Case6. The Future of Pentateuchal StudiesPart 2: The Main Themes of the Pentateuch7. An Overview of the Pentateuch8. God's Temple-City9. The Royal Lineage in Genesis10. The Blessing of the Nations11. Paradise Lost12. By Faith Abraham . . .13. Who Is the LORD?14. The Passover15. The Covenant at Sinai16. The Tabernacle17. Be Holy18. The Sacrificial System19. The Clean and the Unclean Foods20. Toward the Promised Land21. Murmurings22. Love and Loyalty23. Why Israel?24. The Pentateuch and the Biblical MetanarrativeRecommended Further ReadingIndexes

This new edition includes updated references and added material that reflect recent pentateuchal research as well as the author's refined judgments.Praise for previous editions"In this up-to-date and scholarly work, Alexander shows how the first five books of the Bible make sense and hang together. More than that, they lay the foundations of Christian theology so that no one can properly understand the rest of the Bible who has not come to terms with them. Alexander will be found to be a lucid and reliable guide to this vital part of Scripture."--Gordon J. Wenham, Trinity College, Bristol"Two virtues about From Paradise to the Promised Land have especially struck me. One is the comprehensiveness of the way it seeks to help us grasp the Pentateuch. The other is the way Alexander shows us how different themes hold these books together--themes such as the sanctuary, kingship, and the land. Both these features open up possibilities in grasping the Pentateuch as a whole."--John Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary"Desmond Alexander provides an introduction that considers the Pentateuch as a whole, both thematically and theologically. The Pentateuch is presented as a unity, yet the variety of topics within it receive substantial and penetrating treatment. It is the sort of study that many readers and their teachers have long wanted on this first section of the Old Testament."--J. Gordon McConville, University of Gloucestershire"There is no doubt that theology undergraduates and anybody who takes an interest in the riches of the Pentateuch are indebted to Alexander for providing us with a highly readable, informative, and at times even innovative book."--Michael Widmer, Themelios"[A] wealth of useful and accessible information on the Pentateuch. . . . This book is especially welcome as a solid introduction accessible to undergraduate students."--Eric W. Bolger, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

"There is no doubt that theology undergraduates and anybody who takes an interest in the riches of the Pentateuch are indebted to Alexander for providing us with a highly readable, informative, and at times even innovative book."--Michael Widmer, Themelios