“Your righteousness is eternal righteousness, and your Torah is truth.” (Psalm 119:142, CJB)
King David
Most people have at least one person in their lives that touched them in either a unique or different way that influenced them to be different from that encounter on. As a Christian Bible teacher, I study a wide variety of commentators, theologians, and scholars. When I first taught the book of Genesis, I was dismayed by the large number of varied interpretations and commentaries on this first book of the Bible. That was until I discovered Dr. Henry Morris’ book, “The Genesis record: a scientific and devotional commentary on the book of beginnings.” His perspective in this commentary was not only refreshing and persuasive, it was unashamedly bold. During that first class I taught on Genesis many years ago, I regularly quoted him and used other material from the ministry he founded, the “Institute of Creation Research.” I am truly indebted to Dr. Morris and ICR as their willingness to stand for the truth, even in times of political correctiveness and other forms of corruption that have penetrated into many of our Christian institutions, each have greatly influenced me. As this type of standing for the truth needs to continue, my prayer is that the same type of willingness be found in my writings as well as continue by all modern Christian authors. Since I referred to many of my old lecture notes in writing this commentary, I am sure some of Dr. Morris’ ideas can be found here as well.
When a book as complex as the Bible is read, especially during the first time, many of the details may be overlooked. In this commentary we have added a number of notes that go beyond the normal exposition; we call them “Considerations.” Just as the name implies, these are things to consider while reading the Scriptural text and commentary. They are not in any particular order or ranking, but should be read along with the other text; please do not skip reading them. These considerations make this commentary unique and should provide guidance and further illumination to the various subjects.
Recently there has been a dangerous trend among churches. Many have been teaching and preaching that the Old Testament, God’s laws, and God’s people, the Jews, are no longer relevant, a concept that is not Biblical. Sadly, there are a number of Christians that either reject or ignore the Old Testament. While it is true that Jesus clearly stated that all authority had been given to Him (see Matthew 28:18), and that we should listen and follow Him, He never negates or counters the teaching of the Old Testament. In fact He actually teaches the opposite, as He taught from the Old Testament (the only Scripture available at the time) and stated equally clear that He came to fulfill the Old Testament law, not change it (see Matthew 5:17-20). If you believe the Old Testament is no longer relevant, please continue reading, as I think you will soon see and agree that these books are not only vital, but in fact, form the foundation upon which the entire Bible is built.Besides being obedient to God, my greatest motivation to write Biblical commentaries and to teach the Word of God, is essentially two-fold: First, to minimize Biblical ignorance; and secondly to help people break down intellectual barriers. The first issue can hinder Spiritual growth and the second one can effectively prevent someone from seeing or hearing the truth. While it is true that discernment of the truth regarding salvation comes from God, additional barriers to the truth (such as incorrect assumptions, presuppositions, and misguidance) can be effective in holding someone back from recognizing God’s plan for salvation. My prayer is simple: May God guide you as you read these pages. Regardless if you are a new believer or a mature servant of His, my desire is that you become closer to Him as a result of reading. And to be blessed with understanding just as the Israelites were when Ezra read the Torah to them, “They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.” (Nehemiah 8:8)
Dave Heywood
Rediscover the Bible Ministries, Inc.
I. Introduction
A. Why the Name?
B. A Few Words About the Words
II. The Book of Genesis
A. Introduction to Genesis
B. Commentary on Chapters 1 - 50
III. The Book of Exodus
A. Introduction to Exodus
B. Commentary on Chapters 1 - 40
IV. The Book of Leviticus
A. Introduction to Leviticus
B. Commentary on Chapters 1 - 27
V. The Book of Numbers
A. Introduction to Numbers
B. Commentary on Chapters 1 - 36
VI. The Book of Deuteronomy
A. Introduction to Deuteronomy
B. Commentary on Chapters 1 - 34
VII. Conclusion
VIII. Supplemental
A. Introduction to the Book of Hebrews
B. Commentary on Chapters 1 - 13
IX. Bibliography
X. Appendix
1. Literary Devices in the Bible
2. Joseph as a Type of Christ
3. Moses as a Type of Christ
4. New Testament Quotations from Torah
5. Radiological Dating
6. Power, Authority and the Scepter
AMP - Amplified Bible
CJB - Complete Jewish Bible
CSB - Christian Standard Bible (update of HSCB)
ESV - English Standard Version
GW - God’s Word Translation
HCSB - Holman Christian Standard Bible
ISV - International Standard Version
KJV - King James Version
LEB - Lexham English Bible
NASB - New American Standard Bible
NETS - New English Translation of the Septuagint
NIV - New International Version
NKJV - New King James Version
NLT - New Living Translation
NT - New Testament
LXX - Septuagint
OT - Old Testament
Introduction · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14
15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 28 · 29
30 · 31 · 32 · 33 · 34 · 35 · 36 · 37 · 38 · 39 · 40 · 41 · 42 · 43
44 · 45 · 46 · 47 · 48 · 49 · 50
Introduction · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14
15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · Intro to God's Law · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24
25 · 26 · 27 · 28 · 29 · 30 · 31 · 32 · 33 · 34 · 35 · 36 · 37 · 38
39 · 40
Introduction · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · Overview of Offerings
8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23
God's Appointed Times Prophetic Overview · 24 · 25 · 26
27
Introduction · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14
15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 28 · 29
30 · 31 · 32 · 33 · 34 · 35 · 36
Introduction · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14
15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 28 · 29
30 · 31 · 32 · 33 · 34
Torah Conclusion · Introduction to the Book of Hebrews
1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13
Everything a Christian Should Know About the Torah: A Commentary on the First Five Books of the Bible (and the Book of Hebrews) © 2021 by David A. Heywood. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted or verses marked ESV, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Verses marked AMP are taken from The Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA, 90631. All rights reserved.
Verses marked CJB are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources International. All rights reserved.
Verses marked CSB are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Verses marked GW or God’s Word are taken from GOD’S WORD. Copyright © 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Verses marked ISV are taken from The Holy Bible: International Standard Version. Copyright 1996-2011 The ISV Foundation, Yorba Linda, CA. Published by Davidson Press, LLC
Verses marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Public Domain.
Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
Verses marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ All rights reserved worldwide.
Verses marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Verses marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Verses marked The Message are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 19996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
All sections and chapter of this book were written using the following reverse interlinears as the primary source of the original Scriptural texts:
Old Testament
McDaniel, C. (2009). The English-Hebrew Reverse Interlinear Old Testament English Standard Version. Lexham Press. This reverse interlinear aligns the ESV Old Testament with the Lexham Hebrew Bible. Copyright 2009 Lexham Press.
New Testament
Schwandt, J. (2009). The English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament English Standard Version. Lexham Press. This reverse interlinear aligns with the ESV New Testament with the SBL Greek New Testament. Copyright 2009 Lexham Press.