The now traditional jewish name for the book, these are the names we. Aug 11, 2020 that verb in hebrew means to distinguish make distinct. The book of exodus has been exceedingly influential in american history and culture. On the one hand was an oppressed nation of slaves and on the other the most powerful nation in the middle east, if not the world. These are important because they are essential to life. Moses was the most important person in all these events. Epsc exodus volume 2 thought this is still the distinguishing presence among believers. Speak unto the children of israel, that they turn and encampthe israelites had now completed their three days journey, and at etham the decisive step would have to be taken whether they would celebrate their intended feast and return, or march onwards by the head of the red sea into the desert, with a view to a.
The egyptians hardly saw israel as a divine blessing, though they did not want to let go of their slave labor. Date and occasion given moses authorship of exodus, we should date the book after the exodus event c. Book of exodus, session 1 introduction the book of exodus is the second book of the torah or pentateuch, the first five books of the old testament. Note both the format of the exegesis and the way the exegesis concentrates on the relevance of each section to our specific question. Unlike many contemporary scholars, he believes it is possible to distinguish exodus e from exodus j. Through the strength of yahweh and being guided by moses, the people of israel crossed. And jethro, moses fatherinlaw, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to god exodus 18.
Guided by moses they travel through the desert to mount sinai, where yahweh promises them the land of canaan as a reward for their devotion. The exodus clearly plays a central role in judaism. In genesis, god promised abraham a great nation from which all nations of the earth will be blessed gen 12. Chapter 3 turns to the book of exodus where estelle summarizes the essential motif as follows.
We attach significance to some materials, such as gold, silver, and jewels, because they are relatively rare, and hard to come by. This chapter was written some time after the exodus, probably when moses put together the portions of the book toward the end of his life. The most popular bible verses from the book of exodus. For christians, the ramifications of the book of exodus reach far beyond the torah. The biblical narrator finds it necessary to supply an explanation for this curious situation, saying. The book of exodus opens and closes with israel at work.
Additionally, in remarks addressed to his son helaman, alma consciously linked the exodus from egypt with lehis journey alma 36. The book of exodus chapter 2 the first 40 years of the life. Archaeology and the book of exodusexit from egypt bible. Moses worked as a shepherd while living with his fatherinlaw, a life and occupation quite different from the. I will take you as my people, and i will be your god ex. It takes the story of the israelites from their presence in and oppression by egypt up to the reception of the divine law that occupies the entire book of leviticus and much of numbers. Hamilton emphasizes hebrew men and children being thrust out of egypt, rather than just allowed to leave. For instance, in an important speech, king limhi referred to the israelites escape from egypt and, immediately thereafter, drew a parallel to lehis departure from jerusalem mosiah 7.
The book of exodus is a narrative of the sacred history of israel from the. The events of the book of exodus span from sometime after joseph had died and a new egyptian king came to power who did not know joseph, to the setting up of the tabernacle at israels encampment at mount sinai. It is a book of faith, about faith, and directed primarily to those with faith. The book often referred to as the book of names, discusses the different names god takes and the various ways god reveals himself to the israelites. It tells a story about israelites being delivered from slavery, involving an exodus from egypt through the hand of yahweh, the leadership of moses, revelations at the biblical mount sinai, and a subsequent divine indwelling of god with israel. Exodus chapter 3 explained discover books of the bible. Exodus is the second book of the pentateuch the five books of moses, and its where we find the stories of the ten plagues, the first passover, the parting of the red sea, and the ten commandments. A critical and exegetical commentary on exodus 118 volume 1. Therefore, from time to time, there will be concepts and exegetical material which will be repeated, because there was no overall editing done once all of this material was combined. Durham considers the historical evidence for israels presence and flight from egypt, the call of moses, egypts plagues, and the significance the abundance of. The book of exodus is the story of god rescuing the children of israel from egypt and forging a special relationship with them. Andrews university an exegetical analysis of gods i. The exodus in american history and culture reception history.
In the book of exodus, however, egypt was an oppressive place where israels growth raised the specter of death. The book of exodus is the second book of the bible. Exegesis on exodus 3 with special reference to the character of god. The book of exodus is the second book of the torah or pentateuch, the first five books of. The book of exodus is separated into two main halves. Exodus of the israelites from egypt, which will be discussed in the exposition. Mar 18, 2015 in hebrew the name of the book is called these are the names, because the book starts by listing the names of the patriarchs and their descendants in egypt. God released them from oppressive work under the ungodly king of egypt and led them to a new kind of.
At the onset, the israelites are at work for the egyptians. All those who were descendants of jacob were seventy. Exodus tells the story of the god who rescued his people out of egypt because of the promise he had made to abraham. Exodus 14 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. Even if the hebrews had found egypt a paradise, the lord would still take them out of the egypt.
The lord spake unto moses or had spoken before what is related in the foregoing chapter, if not also before the three days darkness. It has memorable charactersmoses, aaron, miriam, zipporah moses wife, and the. This month shall be to you the beginning of months that is, the first and principal month of the year. Michaels college 20 abstract this thesis examines exodus 4. Exodus chapters 118 free bible commentary in easy english.
I believe scholars, too, will benefit from alexanders work. However, it also contains issues that are theologically problematic for readers, especially concerning the actions of god. The book of exodus chapter 2 the first 40 years of the. The book of exodus begins with the account of their bondage in egypt and tells how, through divine providence, the prophet moses was raised up to lead them out of captivity through gods power.
The divine name yhwh, emphasizing god as one who effects and controls reality is highly significant in the context of these chapters. He said, i am the l ord, and i will bring you out from the forced labor of the egyptians and rescue you. In exodus god set the israelites free from bondage. Best commentaries and books on exodus logos bible software. Exodus is also where the reader comes to understand the nature of yhwh. The torah mentions the exodus from egypt again and again. And the lord spake unto moses and aaron in the land of egypt, saying, verse 1. The basic concepts which are discussed in exodus 34. The message, characters, and themes of the book of exodus in. Exodus 14 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Exodus is organized as a bifid, meaning that its information is divided into two major divisions.
It is a mitzvah to recall the fact that gd took our forefathers out of egypt and freed us from bondage each day. Jan 26, 2021 the deliverance from bondage was a crucial event in the 1875 b. Now i know that the lord is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from the egyptians. It has been accepted for inclusion in global tides by an authorized administrator of pepperdine digital commons. It is necessary first to gain a general idea of the book to be studied. The book of exodus describes the departure of the israelites from egypt, an event distinguished by a mighty struggle between two unequal opponents. The exodus pattern in the book of mormon religious.
It frames an agenda that embraces all of gods work in the bible. Book of exodus yale divinity school yale university. Bible commentary on exodus 118 with bible text in easyenglish. The book of exodus opens with the names of the sons of israeljacob, and reminds us that the number of jacobs family that entered egypt originally was only seventy 1. The exodus pattern in the book of mormon religious studies. This incorporates 2 previous studies done in the book of exodus. Exodus was not salvation for the hebrews, but to fulfil the covenant between god and abraham et al. For the migration of the israelites from egypt, see the exodus.
Exegetical analysis exodus and 14 essay 2888 words. The introductory material is an uptodate scholarly analysis of various historical and exegetical issues surrounding exodus. Book of exodus, session 1 introduction yale divinity school. He keeps his covenant to the patriarchs, he reveals himself as i am, and he shows his power as the deliverer of his people, breaking the power of egypt in the plagues. The hebrew title for the book of exodus is taken from its first words. The ancient egyptians were famous or infamous for their proud. Exodus tells the story of israels escape from slavery in egypt and forty years they spent in the desert on their way to the land god had promised them catholic youth bible, 20041. Speak unto the children of israel, that they turn and encampthe israelites had now completed their three days journey, and at etham the decisive step would have to be taken whether they would celebrate their intended feast and return, or march onwards by the head of the red sea into the desert, with a view to. The book of exodus is a narrative of the sacred history of israel from the sojourn in egypt to the completion of the tabernacle in the wilderness. However, it also contains issues that are theologically problematic for. Exegesis, holy bible, old testamenthebrew bible, exodus, political climate. This is an important pursuit, for no other event is as basic to the fabric of both testaments and yet it is challenging. Through the strength of yahweh and being guided by. Exodus 1 sets the stage for this great drama which is central to the old testament.
It then mentions the deaths of joseph and his brothers 1. The book of exodus describes how the israelites flee slavery in egypt through the might of yahweh, their god who has chosen the israelites as his people. Now a new king arose over egypt, who did not know joseph. The message, characters, and themes of the book of exodus. This passage is one of the most important theological texts in scripture, because it is the only place where god actually described himself. The story of the hebrew exodus from egypt is only found in the penteteuch. The book takes its name from the central event of israels departure from egypt, recorded in the book s first fifteen chapters. Believers should be different from all other people because of gods presence within, as the temple of his holy spirit.
It is also important to consider jethros reaction upon reuniting with moses after the israelite escape from egypt. The statements that these instructions were given in the land of egypt, and that they were given to moses and aaron, are important. It tells the story of the israelites suffering as egyptian slaves, their deliverance known as the exodus, and their early days in the journey to the promised land of canaan. The exodus from egypt is a focal point of ancient israelite religion. The septuagint translators gave the book this title because of the major event in it. It was used earlier in the book of exodus to stress the separation between the hebrews and the egyptians because of gods grace to his people 8. Andrews university an exegetical analysis of gods i am.
The book of exodus begins in chapter 1 with a brief recital of the plight of israel in their long period of servitude in egypt. The story of the exodus from egypt is of fundamental importance, both in the old testament and beyond. In process of time the king of egypt died according to st. Those who read the book of exodus without faith, though they will inevitably profit from their reading, will not understand its message. By the books end, they have finished the work of building the tabernacle according to the lords instructions exod. Now these are the names of the children of israel who came to egypt. For its ancient compilers the whole of exodus was theological. Isaiahs new exodus in mark biblical studies library. Rikki watts important book argues persuasively that mark has been profoundly influenced by the book of isaiah, and that his gospel reflects, in particular, the expectations expressed in chapters 4055, where remembrance of the exodus from egypt has been transformed into hope for a new exodus. In the end, israels deliverance at the red sea cost pharaoh and his people many lives. He was placed in charge of preparing egypt for the fa.
God rescued his people from egypt, because he controls history. The interpretation of the text is difficult in places, due to the use of ancient idiomatic expressions, and the vast cultural divide that separates the early hebrews from later commentators. However, much of this material was thrown together without careful editing. These volumes invite comparison even as their respective subtitles set expectation for intertextual and biblicaltheological analyses of exodus. Thus, the chapters of exodus express a great dramatic moment in israels life with yahweh 1. I have seen the custom of the king of egypt in our time as well. Exodus is the second book of the old testament following the book of genesis.
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