Your Family Tree Genealogy - Choosing the Correct Family Tree Charts For Your Family Search

How do you determine which type of family tree you want before you begin researching? Everyone putting together their family history is faced with certain choices. Who to include in the research? Where do I begin to research? These are all important questions that will determine the type of chart you decide to build.

When you are researching your family tree, you may just start out by finding out about grandparents and great grandparents but to find out who they really were and to find out those little, but important facts, you might want to consider broadening your research. There are several ways that you can do that, and below you'll find out about all the different charts that you can follow.

What is a family tree chart?
A family tree by definition is a diagram of someone's ancestry. So in essence it's a map or chart showing the members of a family, their relationship to one another and even the dates of birth, marriage and death. But a family tree is so much more than that. Or it can be. Depending on the type of tree you choose to create, it could include all the relatives, spouses and even friends and neighbors of a family.

Your Family Tree Genealogy - Choosing the Correct Family Tree Charts For Your Family Search

The types of Family Tree Charts
Mapping out your ancestry is a time consuming activity that involves close attention to detail and a desire to find the answers to those burning questions of who am I? And where did I come from? Before you begin, you need to know that not all charts are made the same.

Pedigree, Direct Lineage or Ascendant Family Tree Chart
The Pedigree Family Tree Chart is sometimes called a Direct Lineage or Ascendant Family Tree. This is perhaps the most common type and the one most people think of when referring to family trees. The pedigree chart begins with you (or a parent, or grandparent) and then follows a single bloodline or family name back through the generations as far back as you can go.

If you are researching your pedigree with both your mother's and your father's bloodline, your pedigree chart would start with you, then your parents would be listed, then both sets of grand parents would come next, then all four sets of great grand parents and so on.

If you are researching your father's surname and bloodline, the pedigree chart starts with you, then next on the chart would be your parents, then your father's parents, then your grandfather's parents and so on. In any case, the pedigree chart is the most common and is an excellent starting point for budding genealogists and for anyone interested in tracing their history and their direct bloodline.

Descendant Family Tree Chart
A Descendant Family Tree Chart is the opposite of the Pedigree Chart. This type of chart starts with an ancestral couple pretty far back in the family history and then lists the descendants of that ancestral couple generation by generation until the present. Usually the Descendant Chart is created after the Pedigree Chart is complete as a way to illustrate all known descendants of all lines of the family. The Descendant Chart can then become the outline for writing the family history.

Family Lineage Family Tree Chart
The family lineage family tree chart is similar to the pedigree chart but for one difference. In a family lineage chart, you would include the siblings of your direct lineage or pedigree. So you would include your aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles and so on. This gives a more complete picture of the family rather than just focusing on your direct bloodline.

Family lineage charts are very helpful in identifying your family members and helps to keep all your ancestors organized. It also is an excellent way to find out about relationships between members of your pedigree and their siblings which can lead to you finding out more interesting facts about your family.

Where to Start?
If you are just starting your genealogy search you might consider developing a Pedigree Chart before you get too deep into your research. One problem that novice genealogists encounter is they get excited about the research and end up losing track of who and what they are researching. Although the research always turns up interesting facts and stories, you might get frustrated that you wasted time or didn't get to the ancestors you had hoped to find in the time you allotted for research. If you keep track of names, dates and places of your direct family line on a Pedigree Chart, you are less likely to get confused and go off on searches you don't need to do.

Free Printable Family Tree Charts
Get started right away by downloading a free printable family tree chart. Then begin by filling in all the information you already know like your name, your parent's names, your grandparent's names and so on. Now you have the beginning of an excellent Pedigree Family Tree Chart and a guide for your research. Your first research step after filling out the chart as much as you can, is to interview your parents and grandparents if possible and don't forget that aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings are a good source of information too. Good luck and have fun!

Your Family Tree Genealogy - Choosing the Correct Family Tree Charts For Your Family Search
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Melanie Walters recommends that you visit ObituariesHelp.org to download Free Printable Blank Family Trees, free genealogy resources, guides to building a family tree, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning.

Melanie Walters is a writer and editor for http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ the complete online resource for obituaries, genealogy, sympathy and funeral help. Find newspaper obituaries listings; research your ancestry, genealogy and family tree. Plan funerals and write sympathy and condolence messages using free samples and guides.

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Some Examples of Family Trees

Maybe your heart is into creating a family tree but, the task might be overwhelming for you. Perhaps the family trees you have looked at in the past are so complicated you haven't even been able to follow them. If you stick to a template, creating a family tree is simple.

There is a lot more to genealogy then just finding out who your ancestors are, you must then get them into a logical order to have the whole thing make sense. Using a sample family tree as a model is a good idea. If you do a little research you will find internet sites that will give you options and ideas to personalized your own tree once you have obtained the information. This will illustrate where to place individuals' names and how to arrange your ancestry line as far back as you can trace.

Additionally, genealogy can be researched and prepared by professionals. Several sites are available where you can give them your photos or the names of the people you would like on your family tree and they will charge a fee to create it for you. This is a nice idea for a gift for someone for if you would like to display your family tree in your home. But, having someone else creates this masterpiece for you take the fun out of it. Part of the fun is filling out the names and dates yourself or with your family. genealogy templates are available online and will simplify the process of organizing your family information. It is real smooth to material out one of these charts with all of your own accumulation.

Some Examples of Family Trees

You can find this site obituarieshelp.org/genealogy_forms_downloads with plenty of forms which you can freely download. You can obtain a printable family tree chart at no cost here. There are places to put your relatives names, birthdays, spouses, and date of death. You can make your family data very compact and tidy with this chart which is very user friendly.

Everybodies genealogy is different, we find others are more decorative. thetreeconstruction.com/samples/family-tree-example This site offers family trees that you can buy and fill out on you own. On net we can get a better and fancier style of making family tree rather than make on you own. You will find many different variances between the sites on how the charts are laid out and you can pick the one that works best for your situation.

genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts/ig/genealogy_charts/family_tree.htm This site is an additional great source for charts for your family tree. Family tree is about creating a graph of from were you originate and following the link and making a tree.com: Genealogy information at your fingertips. They give/offer three different designs for you, and you have to choose from it. For those who don't have the best handwriting, these charts are an excellent alternative for recording information. You are able to download the chart from this site and fill it out on your computer. After that all you have to do is press print. There is no charge for this site.

Here is a site that also offers a wide variety of charts for you to record your family tree and any other important work sheets that you might need to research your family tree. familytreemagazine.com/freeforms This magazine about family trees has a great deal of valuable research information and tips. Bring your family together to create your family tree as a group activity. An excellent teaching tool for children to learn about their heritage.

Some Examples of Family Trees
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Ruby is a genealogy expert that helps others build their family Tree online. For more great information on genealogy and family tree examples [http://www.familytreesecrets.com/examples-of-family-trees/] visit [http://www.familytreesecrets.com]

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Condolence Letters - What to Say in Your Condolence Letter

Writing a condolence letter to a bereaved person gives you an opportunity to create a lasting memento. It also gives you a means of honoring the memory of the deceased and a chance to offer comfort and hope to the surviving family. In the age of emails, instant messages, text and social media, we rarely take time to write a personal letter. But when it comes time to write a condolence letter, we must pull out a pen and some paper and write a heartfelt message.

Components of Grief

The article will not discuss the grief process. I mention it here to provide a clearer understanding of grief and help you write a sincere and heartfelt letter. Once you receive news of death, whether of a loved one, friend or family member, it is hard to escape the feeling of grief that envelops you. Understanding the components of grief will help you to write a sincere and heartfelt condolence letter. Here are some of the components of grief.

Condolence Letters - What to Say in Your Condolence Letter

1. Shock at the loss
2. Denial that the loss occurred
3. Searching yourself for an answer
4. Bouts of anxiety
5. A bit of sadness
6. A touch of anger
7. Feelings of guilt
8. Preoccupation and forgetfulness
9. Contemplation before accepting the loss
10. Letting go and moving on

Effects of a Condolence Letter on Grief
The grieving person goes through all of the above emotions and more. Your condolence letter will help them get through the various stages and will help them long after the funeral and for months and even years to come. Coming to terms with the death of a loved one is a long slow process so your letter may be appreciated soon after the death and years later as well.

The most important reason for writing a condolence letter is so that the grieving person can read and reread the letter as many times as needed to help them cope with their loss. Realistically, you can't be there for the survivors every time they need support, but your condolence letter offers comfort even when you can't be there.

The Seven Parts of a Condolence Letter
A condolence letter can be as long or as short as it needs to be to say what you need it to say. But what should you say in a condolence letter? Here are seven important parts of a condolence letter that will help you organize your thoughts and get your sincere sympathy out on paper.

1. Acknowledging the Loss
In the opening sentences of your condolence letter, let the person to whom you were writing know how you heard the news. Use it to express your sadness and dismay about the loss.

2. Express your Sympathy
In this next section of your condolence letter, let the person you are writing to know how much you care. How you share in their grief and sorrow. Above all, be honest. If you knew the person who passed away, express your sadness and offer support to the bereaved. Give them comfort, letting him or her know they are not alone during this time.

3. Write About the Deceased
Mention things you know about the deceased that brought joy to others. Recount some pleasant experiences with the deceased. Maybe about sports or travel-related. Use humor as you see fit.

If you did not know the deceased personally, you might mention things you heard from others. This gives the bereaved comfort in knowing others appreciated his or her loved one.

4. Talk about Memorable Occasions Involving the Deceased
Here you can mention how the deceased had an impact on your life. This could be work-related, school or community events. Add a sense of humor when referring to these events. Remember, laughter is a good medicine and can cure a lot of ills.

5. Talk About the Qualities of the Person to Whom you are Writing
In this section of your condolence letter, offer reassurances to the bereaved to help to boost self-confidence. Sharing emotions of grief, anger, sadness, guilt and soul-searching can help to heal. Do not be afraid to mention the person's strength in overcoming difficult situations in the past. Remind the person you are writing to how resilient he or she was in conquering a difficult situation. Grief will not last forever.

6. Make an Offer to do Something for the Bereaved
Most letters of condolence include an offer of assistance. If you feel like assisting, say so. Even if you have no desire to assist, still write a condolence letter. We usually offer our assistance out of courtesy to someone who is grieving. Without thinking, we often say, "Let me know if there is anything I can do!" You have to realize, this can put pressure on the bereaved to ask for your assistance. It would be better to offer specific assistance, such as picking up the kids from school, answering the phones, greeting people as they visit or helping to sort the letters and card that are coming in. Once you offer your assistance, be sure to keep your promise.

7. The closing
Be thoughtful in how you end your condolence letter. It is the last thing the bereaved will read. This is the part of your letter, he or she will remember for a long time. Let your words reflect your true feelings. You could use, "love', yours truly',"best regards" or with deepest sympathy. You could choose a condolence phrase from the list below to end your letter.

o May the peace, which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you now and in the days ahead.
o May the comfort of God help you during this difficult time.
o We are thinking of you during this difficult time.
o Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel.
o Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are very close in every thought and prayer.
o You have my deepest sympathies on the death of your uncle.
o Oh, heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains.
o Our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow.
o I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you.
o I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.

It may take some time to write your condolence letter, but it is well worth the effort. You may not ever fully appreciate what your condolence letter can do for someone else until you feel the impact of a loss of a loved one. But know in your heart that your written words can offer the comfort that is often so hard to say.

A condolence letter is an excellent way to honor and remember the deceased. The process of writing the letter may even help you with your own grieving process and help you come to terms with the loss.

Condolence Letters - What to Say in Your Condolence Letter
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Melanie Walters recommends ObituariesHelp.org for Condolence Letters, sample letters of sympathy and condolence, written examples of eulogies as well as help with all aspects of funeral planning. Also download free genealogy resources and read about building a family tree.

Melanie Walters created http://www.obituarieshelp.org/ to be the complete online resource for sympathy, condolence, obituaries, funeral help and genealogy. Free Sample Condolence Letters are available online to help you write your own. Also find family tree templates, newspaper obituaries listings; plan funerals and write sympathy and condolence messages using free samples and guides.

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Example of a Family Tree and Some Variations

Many people are a bit confused when it comes time to begin the presentation of their research and aren't quite sure how to begin. They are seeking examples of a family tree to coordinate their research into something that's viewable and pleasing to the eye.  It should be noted that the various examples of charts and forms are regularly referred to by different names. One of the most common is the Ancestral Chart that is also referred to as a Pedigree chart, they are the same form and the names are interchangeable. There are many designs and variations, but the main difference is where you start and direction of the branching. There are many examples of family tree outlines and the four most common are outlined here.

The Pedigree Chart (also referred to as: Ancestral or Box Chart)

This is an example of a family tree in its most simplistic form and uses lines that branch out, without the graphics and added niceties that many other charts will use. This format is particularly important for recording the details of each generation in your research. Most entries on this chart will contain, date of birth and death, place of birth and death and marriage date.

Example of a Family Tree and Some Variations

The pedigree chart starts with you placed on the left side, in the middle of the page. To the right of "you" are placed the details of your mother and father. Then you enter your father's father and mother, and your mother's father and mother. Then you enter the parents of your parents' parents and keep going. Each Pedigree chart has a continuation reference number, and an individual reference number that allows you to link multiple charts together.

The Fan Chart

The fan chart derives its name from the hand held fan used by ladies of means in years gone by. In this layout your family name is centrally placed at the bottom, forming the handle of the fan. Your maternal ancestors fan out on one side of the chart while the paternal ancestors fan out on the other. As with most charts, date of birth and death, place of birth and death and marriage dates of each generation are recorded on blades of the fan.

The fan chart is an example of a family tree outline that lends itself to your artistic flair by adding a border style to the boxes or adding different colors for each of the paternal and maternal lines of you and your spouse, or perhaps different colors for gender. You are restricted only by your imagination.

The Bow-tie Chart

This example of a family tree outline shows both paternal and maternal ancestry on opposite sides of the bow. At the center of the bow are two squares placed side by side. In one you put your name, and in the other you put your spouse's name.  Next to your name you place two vertical squares, one above the other with a gap between.  Put your father's name in the top square and your mother's name in the bottom square. This is repeated for your spouse and extended for many generations. With added graphical flair, this can be an attractive way to present your research. Most other forms like the Pedigree and Fan charts display only one line of lineage, either yours or your spouses, here both sides are presented.

The Pyramid Chart (also referred to as: Tree or Inverted 'V' Chart)

This example of a family tree is the one that generally comes to peoples mind when they hear the term "Family Tree Chart". This family tree example presents the same data as we have seen in the Pedigree and Fan charts, it is merely the layout and orientation that has changed.

Here, you place yourself or your spouse at the top center of the page and your ancestors branch downwards. This is the format that is used in many historical family trees. This same format can be reversed with your or your spouse at the bottom and the early family members at the top, this is referred to as an Inverted Pyramid or Inverted Tree.

These examples of family trees are not the only formats available by any means, but the most common forms used in Genealogy. Each can have many variations by adding photos or changing the orientation. Adding photos will make it more eye catching and personal, whereas changing the orientation may make it easier to fit a page. Changing the bow-tie format for example to a vertical orientation would fit better on a page and is known as the "Hour glass".

Family tree research isn't at all difficult, although there are a few tips that will make things easier for those who are just getting started. I hope our examples of family trees get you motivated to start your own family history project and build up your own family tree.

Example of a Family Tree and Some Variations
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Mark J Butler has gained a great deal of knowledge over the years by researching and creating his own Family History. For more examples of a family tree, visit his website at http://www.TracingYourGenealogy.com/example-of-a-family-tree.

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The Pentateuch, Law of Moses or Torah

Introduction

It is believed that the name Pentateuch "the first five books of the Old Testament, the book of the Law" (The Columbia Viking Desk Encyclopaedia, 1964, p.1402) was first found in the letter of Elora of a second century Gnostic, Ptolemy and passed into Christian use. These books are called The Law (Torah) or the Law of Moses by the Jews. (Everyman's Encyclopedia, 1978). It would be difficult to overestimate the role that the Pentateuch has played in the course of biblical scholarship. In all likelihood, these first five books in the Bible - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy- have been subjected to scrutiny more than any single block, with the sole possible exception of the Gospels (Knight and Tucker, 1985).

Origin

The Pentateuch, Law of Moses or Torah

The word Pentateuch derives from the Greek pentateuchos "five-volumed (book)", following the Jewish designation "the five-fifths of the law". Jews call it the Torah, that is instruction, often rendered in English Law as it is called in the New Testament (Greek nomon; example, Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Acts 7:53; 1 Cor. 9:8). According to Lasor, Hubbard and Bush (1982), the Pentateuch was "the most important division of the Jewish canon, with an authority and sanctity far exceeding that attributed to the prophets and writing" (p.54). They observe that the books of the Pentateuch are not 'books' in the modern sense of independent self-contained entries, but were purposefully structured and intended as part of a larger unity; therefore the term Pentateuch is not only convenient but necessary. However, granted this fact of the unity of the larger corpus, the conventional five-fold division is important not simply as a convenient means of reference to the material, but because there is clear editorial evidence establishing just these five books as genuine subdivisions of the material. Despite marks of real disparity and complexity in structure and origins, far more primary and important is the overarching unity which the Pentateuch evidences. A careful reading of the Pentateuch will reveal, beside a definite unity of purpose, plan and arrangement, a diversity - a complexity - that is equally striking.

Authorship

The traditional view according to Halley (1962) is that "Moses wrote the Pentateuch substantially...with the exception of the few verses at the close which give an account of his death, and occasional interpolations made by copyists for explanatory purposes" (p.56). This is in consonance with the view of Childs (1979). A modern critical view is that of a composite work of various scholars of priests made about the eighth century B.C., for partisan purposes, based on oral traditions, the principal redactors of which are called J (for Jahweh/Yahweh, the personal name of God), E (for Elohim, a generic name for God), D (for Deuteronomic) and P (for priestly). Each is claimed to be unique. However, "this view is not supported by conclusive research or evidence, and intensive archaeological and literary research has tended to undercut many of the arguments used to challenge Mosaic authorship" (The NIV Study Bible, 1984, p.2). Jews and Christians alike have held Moses to be the author/compiler of the Pentateuch.

Contents

The Pentateuch consists of the first five afore-mentioned books of the Bible. It must be observed that the first phrase in the Hebrew text of Genesis 1:1 is bereshith [in (the) beginning] which is also the Hebrew title of the book. The English title, Genesis, is Greek in origin and is derived from geneseos 'birth', 'genealogy' or 'history of origin'. Genesis therefore appropriately describes its contents since it is primarily a book of beginnings. 'Exodus' is a Latin word from Greek exodos, meaning 'exit', 'departure'. Leviticus receives its name from the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint) meaning 'relating to the Levites'. It mainly concerns the service of worship at the tabernacle which was conducted by the priests who were the sons of Aaron, assisted by many from the rest of the tribe of Levi. Exodus gave the directions for building the tabernacle and Leviticus the laws and regulations for worship there including instructions on ceremonial cleanness, moral laws, holy days, the Sabbath year and the Year of the Jubilee. The English name of the book Numbers comes from the Septuagint and is based on the census lists found in it. The Hebrew title of the book (bedmidbar, 'in the desert'), is more descriptive of its contents. It presents an account of the thirty-eight year period of Israel's wandering in the desert following the establishment of the covenant of Sinai. The word 'Deuteronomy' (meaning the repetition of the law'), the name of the last book of the Pentateuch, arose from a mistranslation in the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate of a phrase in Deuteronomy 17:18, which in Hebrew means 'copy of the law'. The error is not serious however since Deuteronomy is, in a certain sense, a repetition of the law.

Generally, the unity of the Pentateuch must be stressed when discussing the content. This is created by an interest in the historical narrative forming the Pentateuch's backbone and framework and into which the blocks of legal texts have been placed. A clue to this narrative's central role and importance is the fact that the Old Testament events most frequently cited in the New Testament as the background and preparation for God's work in Christ are precisely that sequence of divine acts from Abraham's call through the kingship of David. Summaries or 'confession' of this sequence of divine acts plays a central role in Scripture. The basic details confessing God's saving acts on behalf of His people could be illustrated thus:

i. God chose Abraham his descendants (Acts 13:17; Josh.24:3) and promised them the land of Canaan (Deut. 6:23)

ii. Israel went down into Egypt (Acts 13:17; Josh. 24:5-7; Deut. 6:21ff; 28:8)

iii. God brought Israel into Canaan as promised (Acts 13:19; Josh.24:11-13; Deut. 6:23; 26:9).

This is but the narrative backbone of the Pentateuch in miniature. The plan that unifies the different elements forming the building blocks of the Pentateuch includes: promise, election, deliverance, covenant, law and land. It is realistically observed that "the one element universally present and central to these credos...is the Exodus, representing Yahweh's deliverance and the historical realization of His election of Israel as His people" (Lasor, Hubbard, Bush, 1982, p.55).

The Pentateuch has two major divisions: Genesis 1-11 and Genesis 12- Deuteronomy 34. The relation between them is one question and answer, problem and solution; the clue is Genesis 12:3. This structure not only elucidates the binding unity of the Pentateuch but also reveals that the structure began stretches far beyond the Pentateuch itself. The end and fulfillment lie beyond Deuteronomy 34 - indeed beyond the Old Testament. It could be safely asserted that probably no where does the Old Testament set forth an ultimate solution to the universal problem which Genesis 1-11 so poignantly portrays. The Old Testament indeed does not arrive at full redemption. When the Old Testament ends, Israel is still looking for the final consummation when hope shall be fulfilled and promise become fact. The juncture of Genesis 10-11 and chapters 12ff., is not only one of the most important places in the whole Old Testament but one of the most important in the entire Bible. Here begins the redemptive history that awaits the proclamation of the good news of God's new redemptive act in Jesus Christ; only then will be found the way in which the blessing of Abraham will bless all the families of the earth. The Pentateuch is truly open-ended, for the salvation history which commenced awaits the consummation in the Son of Abraham (Matt. 1:1) who draws all people to Him (John 12:32) punctuating the alienation of humanity from God and from one another.

Purpose

The purpose of the Pentateuch was a leading into the realization by God that He was the Creator and Sustainer of the universe as well as the Ruler of History. It testifies to God's saving acts, the central act being the exodus from Egypt. God invaded the consciousness of the Israelites and revealed Himself as the redeeming God. Knowledge of God as Redeemer subsequently led to a knowledge of Him as Creator; understanding the Lord as the God of grace consequently prompted an understanding as the God of nature after He displayed control over nature as evidenced in the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea and sustenance in the wilderness. It must be stressed that God's grace was evident not only in deliverance and guidance, but in the giving of the law and the initiation of the covenant. Israel's supposed pledge of obedience, oath of loyalty to God and His will is her response. One must hasten to note that this response is a gift of God's grace. The Pentateuch stands or better still possesses a rich inner unity recording God's revelation in history and His Lordship over history and testifying to Israel's response and disobedience. It generally witnesses to God's holiness which "separates Him from men, and His gracious love, which binds Him to them on His terms" (New Bible Dictionary, 1962, p.909).

Themes

Although several themes could be identified between Genesis and Deuteronomy, unique but inter-related, intertwined and invaluable ones could be identified. These include election, creation, fall/sin, covenant, law and exodus. Israel was God's elect. According to Stott (1988), the Bible is "sacred history - the story of God's dealing with a particular people for a particular purpose" (p.45). They were convinced that God had done this for no other nation (Ps. 147:20). Great thinkers of Greece (including Plato, Socrates and Aristotle) are not the focus but scriptural record concentrates on men like Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and the prophets to whom the word of the Lord came, and on Jesus Christ, God's Word made flesh. Abraham's call has a present day significance to us and should not be slightly regarded as an event of the past. Election - God's special choice of individuals- basically contains two subsidiary features; promise and responsibility. Abraham is promised descendants, given the land of Canaan as his children's inheritance and promised a great name in the future. God's special favour was to rest not only on Abraham and his family but to all men through him (Gal. 3:29).

God's promises to Abraham therefore were not for the selfish enjoyment of a selected few but could benefit others if used responsibly. It is incontrovertible that God's choice of Israel has a missionary purpose. A covenant, in the Hebrew context, covered all human relationships and not a limited definition of a matter of legal documents and sealing-wax in the modern mind. This bond united people in mutual obligations. Naturally, people's relationship to God should be expressed in covenant terms. Covenant terms could be used to describe three unique occasions in the Pentateuch:

i. God's promises never again to destroy the world with a flood (Gen. 9:9)

ii. God's promises to Abram (Gen. 15:18; 17:4)

iii. The Sinai Covenant established with Moses and summarized in the 'book of the covenant' (Ex.24:4).

It must be borne in mind that although covenants were generally between equals, religiously it denotes a relationship between Creator and a lesser partner. However, the theological significance of the covenant must be highlighted. Based on initiative of God and implying a new revelation of the Creator, it made moral and ritual demands upon the people.

Taylor (1973) realistically observes that "the idea of law is central to the Pentateuch and...it gives its name to the book as a whole" (p.124). It basically covers the Ten Commandments (Decalogue - Ex. 20; Deut.5) and associates with these various collections of laws classified as:

i. The book of the Covenant (Ex. 21-23)

ii. The Holiness Code (Lev. 17:26)

iii. The Law of Deuteronomy (Deut. 12:26)

Since Israel was part of the Eastern Mediterranean culture and shared in the ideas and experience of her neighbours, several similarities could be noted especially with the Code of Hammurabi. The differences however made Israel's laws distinctive. They could be summarized thus:

i. Uncompromising monotheism (that is relating everything to the one true God)

ii. Remarkable concern for slaves, strangers, women and orphans (the underprivileged)

iii. Community spirit based on the covenant relationship shared by all Israel with the Lord

In a brilliant summary, Cornfeld (1961) observed that "Hebrew law appears from its earliest times to stand on a higher ethical level and postulates moral human relationship which do not seem to be equalled in other Near Eastern Legislations" (p.213). Israel must approach God with a due sense of His moral and spiritual distinctiveness. The elaborate sacrificial system generally found its fulfilment in the solitary sacrifice of Christ - the perfect Lamb of God- through whom sins are not only forgiven but atonement made for all men eternally (Heb. 10:1-18).

The exodus must be put in proper perspective. Described in Exodus 1-12, the Jews view it as the great intervention or saving act of God which later generations reminisced. This miraculous intervention was God's act of victory of the gods displaying total supremacy. Recalled annually in the Feast of the Passover, subsequent generations were reminded that they were initially members of a slave community mercifully redeemed from bondage. They were encouraged to use this as a deterrent, especially when curses reward disobedience. The historical significance was definitive. God could repeat His initial act. In Isaiah 51:9-11, Israel looked for a second exodus while in exile in Babylon.

The afore-mentioned themes are never submerged in the Pentateuch. Probably, the only other theme (which recurs in depressing regularity) is Israel's obstinate and persistent sinfulness. Among other things, they were slow to accept Moses as their deliverer, grumbled about hardship and desired to 'go back to Egypt'. Not even Moses was immune and was punished by not being allowed to lead God's people in the promised land.

Conclusion

Together, the five books trace Israel's origin from the earliest times, through the patriarchs; then the Exodus and Sinai periods prior to the entry to Canaan; they also contain much legal instruction. God's response to sin is consistently a blend of judgement and mercy. Beyond the immediate discipline of Adam and Eve, and confusion of tongues at Babel, God tempers justice with salvation. It is understandable therefore that in spite of man's path, God called Abraham to be the channel of grace and revelation to all mankind.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Childs, B. (1979). Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

The Columbia-Viking Desk Encyclopedia (1964). New York: Dell Publishing Co.

Cornfeld, G. (1961). Adam to Daniel. New York: The Macmillan Company.

Everyman's Encyclopedia, Vol. 1. (1979). London : Dent and Sons.

Halley, H.H. (1962). Halley's Pocket Bible Handbook: An Abbreviated Bible Commentary. Minnesota:
Zondervan Publishing.

Knight, D.A. and G.M. Tucker (1985). The Hebrew Bible and its Modern Interpreters. Minnesota:
Fortress Press.

Lasor, W.S., D.A. Hubbard and F.W. Bush (1982). Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form and
Background to the Old Testament. Michigan: Williams B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

The New Bible Dictionary (1962). London: The Inter-Varsity Fellowship.

NIV Study Bible (1984). Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House.

Stott, J. (1988). Understanding the Bible. London: Scripture Union.

Taylor, J. (1973). The Five Books. In The Lion Handbook to the Bible. Herts: Lion Publishing.

The Pentateuch, Law of Moses or Torah
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AUTHOR SIGNATURE

Oliver L.T. Harding, who obtained his GCE O & A Levels from the Sierra Leone Grammar School and the Albert Academy respectively, is currently Senior & Acting Librarian of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He is a part time lecturer at the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS), Fourah Bay College and the Extension Programme at the Evangelical College of Theology (T.E.C.T) at Hall Street, Brookfields; Vice President of the Sierra Leone Association of Archivists, Librarians & Information Scientists (SLAALIS); a member of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP). His certificates, secular and sacred, include: a certificate and diploma from the Freetown Bible Training Centre; an upper second class B.A. Hons. Degree in Modern History (F.B.C.); a post-graduate diploma from the Institute of Library Studies (INSLIBS, F.B.C) a masters degree from the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS, F.B.C.) and a masters degree in Biblical Studies from West Africa Theological Seminary, affiliate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he won the prize for academic excellence as the Best Graduating Student in 2005. Oliver, a writer, musician and theologian, is married (to Francess) with two children (Olivia & Francis).

Email: oltharding@yahoo.com

Mobile: 232-2233-460-330

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