Abstract:
Both the structure of the overarching literary blocks in the Pentateuch (primarily
containing either narrative or legal material) and the unfolding of its story line
attest to the fact that the legal sections in the Pentateuch are subsumed under the
narrative material. In light of the flexibility of the concept of "theme", the article argues that the theme of the Pentateuch can be expressed by the idea of i1"n.
The narrative sequence of the Pentateuch is reviewed from this angle to show that
the general theme is manifested in specific parts of the text. The interrelationship
between the motifs of divine providence ("Gospel") and obedience demanded from
humans ("Law") demonstrate both the meaning ofi1"n and the presence of this theme throughout the Pentateuch.
