Bible Encyclopedias
Pentateuch

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

'PENTATEUCH,nvnn (the five-fifths of the Torah, or Law), and applied to the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). The several books were named by the Jews from their initial words, though at least Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy had also titles resembling those we use, viz. ?'Ins trim, a'-npBn won (Aµ,uEO"cpEKWbety, Origen, in Eus., E. vi. 25), and nron n3rvv. The Pentateuch, together with Joshua, Judges and Ruth, with which it is usually united in Greek MSS., makes up the Octateuch; the Pentateuch and Joshua together have recently been named the Hexateuch. On the critical questions arising from the Pentateuch or Hexateuch, see Bible and the articles on the several books.

Bibliography Information
Chisholm, Hugh, General Editor. Entry for 'Pentateuch'. 1911 Encyclopedia Britanica. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​bri/​p/pentateuch.html. 1910.