Exploring the Old Testament Volume 1: A Guide to the Pentateuch aims to help students study the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Like other volumes in the EOT and ENT series, it is intended to give the student a primary resource to enable him or her to study the texts independently. It provides an introduction to each book, which includes a survey of the main trends in recent study of the book, and takes a look at some of the literary techniques used in the Pentateuch, including its numerous rhetorical devices. A basic commentary, pointers to theological interpretation and interactive panels are provided throughout the book, as well as an in-depth discussion of the composition of the Pentateuch, and its history. All Scripture quotations are taken from the New English Standard Version, (ESV) unless otherwise noted. Each chapter is supplied with lists of commentaries and other works, so as to open a range of critical and interpretative literature on the Psalms and Wisdom literature.