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The Torah Story: An Apprenticeship on the Pentateuch

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While certainly profitable to others who do not fit this category, "The Torah Story: An Apprenticeship on the Pentateuch" is a textbook written with the undergraduate Bible student in mind. Its purpose is not to give an in-depth, verse by verse explanation of the Five Books of Moses (for which one should seek a commentary), but is meant instead to give the reader an understanding of how the Torah functions as a self-contained, five-part instructional story which lays a foundation for the rest of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) as well as the New Testament. It is written from the perspective of one who is a Christian and who is committed to the Torah as scripture (see p. 13). While this perspective should be obvious, a reading of this textbook will also show that Schnittjer is not afraid to raise difficult issues that come with studying the Torah, even issues he has no intention of answering for the student, nor necessarily always believing there to be such answers at our disposal ("For an apprentice of the scriptures to become skilled at her or his craft, it is necessary to know when to say, 'I do not know.'" p. 68).

As the back-cover description admits, "The Torah Story" only briefly touches on certain matters of debate such as dating and authorship (matters which the Torah apprentice will certainly encounter with further study). Rather, its chief concern is helping the student simply read the text as we have it. For this reason, the first chapter serves not only as an introduction to the textbook, but also as a sort of crash-course in reading biblical narrative. The apprentice will become familiar with older literary terms (cause to effect, climax, contrast, foreshadowing, etc.), be introduced to entirely new ones ("narralogic"), as well as come to appreciate better the relationship which exists (or is meant to exist) between the story and the reader.

After this and a second chapter which introduces the Torah itself, "The Torah Story" is divided into five parts, each part corresponding with the five books which make up the Pentateuch. Part One is comprised of 8 chapters which discuss the book of Genesis, Part Two is 5 chapters on Exodus, Part Three is 4 chapters on Leviticus, Part Four is 4 chapters on Numbers, and Part Five is 5 chapters on Deuteronomy. Following these, a concluding twenty-ninth chapter reintroduces the Torah by giving a broad summary of the entire story (having examined the trees, the forest is then looked at for what it is worth). This chapter also looks at the way the Torah is not only used by later biblical writers, but how it shapes the entire biblical story. In essence, here we have demonstrated how both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament can only be properly understood when placed within the context of the Torah story.

Each chapter assists the reader by opening with a "Getting Started" box including focus questions and terms which relate to that chapter, and an outline of the portion of the biblical text the chapter is concerned with. Each chapter also closes with an "Interactive Workshop" consisting of a chapter summary and questions for the beginning and advanced student, as well as suggested research project ideas and a select bibliography for those who wish to take "the next step" toward a deeper study of the things only touched on in the chapter. In addition, certain chapters also provide opportunity for the student to compare stories and themes found within the Torah with similar stories and themes found in our own culture, particularly in film. For example, following a look at the perspective of God's creation as found in Genesis 1, the reader is invited to compare this perspective with that found in the 1997 film "Contact" (see pp. 63, 71). These aides and opportunities for further study are what set "The Torah Story" apart from other introductions to the Pentateuch, making it a textbook ideal for today's undergraduate class and individual student.

I have read the Bible five times straight through and find myself reading it again thanks to Dr. Schnittjer's excellent textbook. Written for the Bible scholar, it is readable by the average student and will inspire those readers to dig into the Torah like no other book I have read. It is honest in its approach and thoroughly enjoyable. It will challenge and stretch the reader. The exercises at the end of each chapter and the guide points throughout each chapter stimulate learning and comprehension. This is a must read for anyone interested in the foundational chapters of the Bible. If you are not an apprentice when you begin this book, you will be by the time you have finished it.

This book is unlike any others I have read on the subject. Schnittjer's unique approach and scholarly insights make this book a must have for any serious student of the Word. You will NOT find it redundant with any volumes already in your collection.

This book is easy to use by anyone who wants to understand or teach the first five books of Moses. Outlines, charts, and easy to read but rich information pervade the text. I can't stop taking down notes to use in my teaching ministry!

This book is simply amazing. It is in a textbook format, but that makes it an easy read even if you are not taking an Old Testament History class. Dr. Schnittjer is well versed in OT History and Hebrew, so this book was a perfect fit for him, and he geared it to his students and their peers, not his colleagues. This book is very helpful!

Great book! Lots of info on the culture and practices of the ancient Hebrews. Can be a little repetitive at times but overall a good tool to help you study the Torah.

This is a great book! The Torah shape or Genesis shape of the scriptures is revealed well in this book. The Torah Story: An Apprenticeship on the Pentateuch

This is a great response to help postmodern people.

After having Dr. Schnittjer as a professor at Philadelphia Biblical University, I was extremely thrilled to obtain his book. It is one of the most amazing resources that I have ever read. It is not only an exhaustive resource but it is a visually pleasing book as well. What an amazing thing to have your life's work become a reality and be able to impact so many people's lives as Dr. Schnittjer has done!!

This book is a good place to start studying Torah from a Christian perspective. The Old Testament IS Torah but it is so much more. Christians minimize the need to know the OT because they are taught that the word "Torah" means "LAW" which is then taken in to our Western minds to mean "Rules and regulations that restrict my freedom to do what I want to do with my life." If you read that definition and you have a personal relationship with God, you suddenly realize that God doesn't want to restrict our lives at all! HE wants to be part of our lives, but to have HIM ---a holy God -- in the midst of our lives, we must endeavor to be holy and to know how to be holy, you have to read the instruction manual, as it was, on how to have HIM in your life...and that manual IS The Torah! The Torah isn't something to be ignorant of, or to just take out on Sunday, Torah---should be a living study of God in our midest! HE should be the one guiding our steps and we should be drawn to His Side daily to find out how HE wants us to do that. Where does HE need you to be on this day. So this book is a good first step in beginning to study these things. The LAW isn't bad at all! God doesn't make a mistake! God is the same--yesterday, today and forever! We just have to be RE-deemed...or as the prefix indicates---drawn back to HIM and to understand how we are to do that, we need to study the Old Testament within its context--of history, culture, language, geography, archaeology, and even politics of His Time. We need to see HIM within the Scriptures that HE spoke! All the Scriptures that HE spoke were from the Old Testament and they were presented within CONCEPTS and not taken out of CONTEXT! "A text without a context, is wrong!" Learn to read the words and to hear the words as His Audience would have heard them. So, this is a good first step to your studies.

The problem from the very beginning with Schnittjer's approach is that he is trying to analyze the Torah as one would any other work of literature. You simply cannot do that with the Bible. It is a holy book. It does not fit into any genre of literature. One cannot find literary devices in the same way you would in Shakespeare. Yes, there is foreshadowing and typology, but it occurs in a different way than what the author supposes. Schnittjer is trying to sound smarter than what he really is. If you want to study the Torah, purchase commentaries from authors who know much more about the subject matter itself. The questions at the end of each chapter are simply asinine. Even the statements made in the book itself left me asking time after time "what does that even mean?" You cannot ask the question of "why?" about any of God's choices regarding Israel because we have no right to ask why of God. I know what the author was trying to accomplish in his book, but he missed the point completely.