This concise commentary on the Pentateuch, excerpted from the Fortress Commentary on the Bible: The Old Testament and Apocrypha, engages readers in the work of biblical interpretation. Contributors from a rich diversity of perspectives connect historical-critical analysis with sensitivity to current theological, cultural, and interpretive issues. introductory articles describe the challenges of reading the Old Testament in ancient and contemporary contexts, relating the biblical theme of "the people of God" to our complex, multicultural world, and reading the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, followed by a survey of "Themes and Perspectives in the Torah: Creation, Kinship, and Covenant." Each chapter (Genesis through Deuteronomy) includes an introduction and commentary on the text through the lenses of three critical questions: The Text in Its Ancient Context; The Text in the Interpretive Tradition; The Text in Contemporary Discussion. The Pentateuch introduces fresh perspectives and draws students, as well as preachers and interested readers, into the challenging work of interpretation.