Book Review: Torah Story, 2nd ed. (Gary Schnittjer)

An apprentice was one who would begin studying under someone, say, a blacksmith. Often they knew very little of the trade, but as they watched how that blacksmith handled his tools, and as they were allowed to handle those same tools and hammer away at metal, they would learn the trade. They could make a living and provide goods for other people. How can we become better apprentices of the Bible? We do that through understanding the first five books of the Bible, the Torah. We may know many of the main stories, but if we’re honest we are probably a beginner apprentice, one who knows almost nothing about these books. What do they mean? How do they move the plot of Scripture? In light of the coming of Christ, how do these books shape us?

Gary Schnittjer, having just come out with the massive Old Testament Use of Old Testament, has updated his book, Torah Story. He writes what happens if we misunderstand these five books, saying, “Modern students who do not attend to Torah can only misunderstand songs of the psalmists, messages of the prophets, and teachings of the apostles” (1). So if you don’t understand these five books, you “can only misunderstand” the rest of the Bible. Perhaps Schnittjer is merely being rhetorical. It can’t be that bad, can it? But if it is, it is a scary thought.

Before exploring the five books of the Pentateuch, Schnittjer helps us understand how to read Hebrew literature, specifically narrative (ch 1). He reminds us about the importance of characters, setting, and plot. Yet narratives also end. Life is messy and often has loose ends, yet narratives definite conclusions (even if there are sometimes cliffhangers).

“Every element, every action, every word of a story makes sense in the light of where the narrative is going.” Aristotle

Scripture interprets our situation as people and explains a right view of life (7). We learn who we are in relation to Yahweh, the God of the universe, to each other, to the nations, and to the Messiah.

We need to read through texts multiple times to catch words or actions that we did not think were important before. Time can be compressed (such as the time it took for Noah to get off the ark, plant a vineyard, ferment the wine, and get drink, but it is compressed into two verses in Gen 9:20-21). Time can be extended considerably, especially as we get closer to when God will fulfill his promise of a son to Abraham. Twenty-four years pass between Genesis 12 and 17, but only one year passes from Genesis 17 to 21 when Isaac is born.

Schnittjer covers literary devices and patterns to help us understand what we are reading. He then gives you a case study on Lot and his two daughters in the literary artistry of the text as well as how to read intertextually.

Chapter Two, “Introducing the Torah,” is surprisingly short (8 pgs). A provides the settings, a brief paragraph on how these five books are connected, also showing how Deuteronomy 32:10–11 uses imagery of creation (Gen 1:2) and Sinai (Ex 19:4). This is one example of many that shows the unity of the Pentateuch. Schnittjer gives a paragraph on the point of each book and how they connect before leading us to the function of the Torah. Schnittjer writes, “The Torah does not speak despair to readers. It offers the story of the word of God… Torah is life” (27).

After this Schnittjer provides five sections, one one on each book of the Pentateuch using a literary-narrative approach. You could say a canonical approach, as he reads the Pentateuch as a complete text in relationship with the rest of the Bible. It does not stand on its own. The first chapter of each section offers a macroview of that book.

A few examples of Schnittjer’s literary-narrative approach should suffice. What did it mean for Adam and Eve to die, when in fact they didn’t die? The meaning can be seen by their situation before and after they broke the command. Schnittjer writes, “In this context death has relational significance. Death is separation or exile” (58). So when God said Adam and Eve would surely die in that day if they ate the fruit, he meant it! They did actually die. They were judged, clothed, and then exiled. Physical death came as well many years later. Schnittjer provides a table listing the five important relationships that were broken that day: those between humanity and God, self, creation, life, and humanity itself as society (man and woman). Verses are given from both Genesis 2 (when there was harmony) and Genesis 3 (when the separation occurred).

The sin stories, according to Schnittjer, are intentionally ambiguous as a way to “invite readerly study and conversation and to resist conclusive readings” (77). The sins of Cain (Gen 4), Ham (Gen 9), the scene surrounding the mysterious Nephilim (Gen 6:1–4), Aaron’s sons (Lev 10), David (2 Sam 24), and Moses and Aaron (Num 11) are all ambiguous. Why? Schnittjer believes this spurs us on to mine the Scriptures for its treasures, just as the wisdom literature tells us to do. If the answers were easy, we would stop putting forth the effort.

Schnittjer also surveys some historical matters, though not often. He brings up some historical matters like the early vs. late date of the exodus or how ancient Hittite Treaties can help us date the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. On the other hand, he doesn’t mention the possibility of gaps in the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 10, the debate over the scope of the flood (worldwide vs. local), nor how Noah fit all of the animals on the ark.

No, Schnittjer’s aims are more geared toward the literary artistry of the text offered visually through charts and tables. Here we see how some of the story themes in Genesis 1–5 are repeated in Genesis 7–11; how God separated realms in Days 1–3 and filled the realms in Days 4–6; how Abraham’s sojourns in Egypt are echoed in Israel’s sojourns there; parallels between Mt. Sinai and the tabernacle’s levels of holiness; and many more.

This volume is (and is intended to be) a textbook. It looks and feels like a textbook. Each chapter ends with an Interactive Workshop.

As you can see, there is a chapter summary, key terms you could ask students to explain, challenge questions, advanced questions, ideas for a research project, and, though not pictured here, a bibliography for further reading. Throughout each chapter you will find tables, maps, pictures, and illustrations further helping students understand the text.

Recommended?

While I do not like textbooks (they remind me too much of high school), this is the best textbook I’ve ever owned and read, and I wish I could have had something like this in high school (even though it’s geared more toward seminary or college students). This is a biblical work by a scholarly evangelical who desires that students will know, grapple with, and love God’s word. In order to do that they must understand it, and Gary Schnittjer proves himself very capable of showing us that Scripture both can be and was meant to be understood. There is a separate 160-page workbook as well with guided exercises. This comes highly recommended.

Lagniappe

• Author: Gary E. Schnittjer
• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: ‎Zondervan Academic; Second edition (April 18, 2023)

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