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Because
the first books of the Bible are the foundation blocks of the whole Bible, the
critics have spent a lot of time and effort attacking these books. One of their
attacks has been centered on questioning the authorship of the books Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
The
following are some good, solid replies to the critics:
Pent
= five. Pentateuch = the first five books of the Bible.
1.
Each of the books, except Genesis says it is the work of Moses.
Ex.
12:1-28,20-24,25-31,34.
Lev.
1-7,8, 13,16,17-26,27.
Num.
1,2. 4, 6: 1 -21, 8: 1 - 4,5 - 22, ch. 15, 19,27: 6 - 23, ch.28,29,30 and
35.
Dent.
I - 33.
2.
Every chapter lists attributes such as its author, i.e. Moses, in either its
superscription or subscription.
3.
Moses grew up in Pharaoh's house, and was "learned in all the wisdom of the
Egyptians" Acts 7:22. His learning must have included writing. He would
have had access to several histories, since the Egyptians had extensive
libraries, and the Hebrews too had carefully preserved records of their origins.
Moses also had 40 years in Egypt in order to research things, and then another
40 years in the land of Midian to mull things over.
Qualifications
to write the Pentateuch.
1.
Moses was trained in the royal Egyptian court. That is, he was raised in a
cultural
atmosphere
of education and learning and high academic disciplines. From archeological
remains, even the women's toilet articles are inscribed, which shows a
wide-ranging use of literacy.
2.
Moses must have received, somewhere along the way, the records of God's earlier
encounters with the Hebrews (Abram, Isaac and Jacob), since he was their leader
and general. Not once was the charge ever brought against him that he was a
'stranger' to Israel, or a 'foreigner'. It was Moses himself who argued against
being the leader, and out of five excuses, not one of them was ignorance of the
Hebrew's past.
3.
Moses had an intimate knowledge of the land, climate, languages, customs and
religions of his time.
4.
Moses was motivated to write an accurate record, for the sake of the nation - to
give them moral and practical foundations. His record has been received
unanimously by millions of Hebrews, and later Jews, down the centuries, as an
account of integrity and accuracy.
New Testament confirmation of Moses' authorship: Mark 12:19, John
1:17,
Rom. 10:5, Luke 2:22, 20:28, John 1:45, 8:5, 9:29, Acts 3:22, 6:14, 13:39. 15:1,
21, 26:22, 28:23, 1 Cor. 9:9, 2 Cor. 3:15, Heb. 9:19, Rev. 15:3.
Jesus believed the Torah (The Law) was written by Moses Mark
7:10,
10:3 -5, 12:26, Luke 5:14, 16:29 - 31, 24:27. 44, John 7:19, 23. Especially see
John
5:45-47.
As with every attack on God’s Word, the critics have had to retreat, renounce their criticism, or wear themselves out fighting a lost cause. The Bible, like an anvil, has worn out many hammers.