BOOK OF EXODUS
AND MOSES
Exodus picks up where Genesis left off –
Joseph brings Hebrews to Egypt to live in
safety from the famine.
Then two things happened (Ex. 1: 8-14)
• New pharaoh who “did not know Joseph”
• Hebrews increased in number and were
perceived as a threat/opportunity
LITERARY STRUCTURE OF EXODUS:
• 1:1-12:36 – Israelites in Egypt
• 12:37-18:27 – Israelites in the wilderness
• 19:1- 40:30 – At Mt. Sinai – the covenant
Book of Exodus chronicles the making of
Israel the people into God’s Chosen
people.
Like Creation epic, Exodus is referred to
often throughout Israelite literature,
theology and culture
MOSES
• Next to God, the main character in the Exodus
story
• Humble beginnings (like a lot of Old Testament
characters). A Hebrew raised in an Egyptian
home.
• Early salvation was by the very hands that were
persecuting his people – & Moses struggled with
this conflicted identity
MOSES
• Ex. 3:1 - 4:17
Theophany of the burning bush. God appears to
Moses & calls him to tell Pharaoh to let God’s
people go. Moses offers four excuses.
• 3:14 – “I AM WHO I AM”
– God shares God’s personal name with Moses.
– In Hebrew, YHWH (Hebrew has no vowels).
– Was never spoken out loud in Hebrew circles
out of reverence.
THE PLAGUES (Ex. 7:8-11:10)
• Plagues were God’s way of forcing Pharaoh’s hand.
• First six plagues could be associated with annual
flooding of Nile River. A chain reaction of natural
events interpreted through the eyes of faith.
• #1 – Nile changes to blood (7:14-24). Possibly a
blood-red algae.
• #2 – Frogs (7:25-8:15) – common event when the
Nile flooded - frogs died and carcasses rotted.
THE PLAGUES (Ex. 7:8-11:10)
• #3 – Gnats/Mosquitoes (8:16-19) – probably bred in
the stagnant pools of flooded water
• #4 – Flies (8:20-24) – more than likely attracted to
rotting frogs.
• Pharaoh relented a bit here, promised God’s
people freedom, but later recanted.
• #5 – Livestock disease (9:1-12) – Grazing probably
took place where dead frogs were.
• #6 – Human boils (9:11) – From flies
THE PLAGUES (Ex. 7:8-11:10)
• #7 - Hailstorm and lightning (9:13-26). Rare but it
can happen.
Pharaoh tries to compromise here, saying that only
the men could leave.
• #8 – Locusts (10:12-20) – a variety of grasshopper
that plagued Africa and the Eastern countries.
• #9 – Darkness (10:21-29) – probably a severe
sandstorm blocking the sunlight.
• #10 – Death of the first born Egyptian children
(11:1-10)
THE PASSOVER (Ex. 12:1-32)
• Celebrated by Hebrews during 10th plague.
Lamb’s blood on doorpost signified Death to.
“pass over” the house.
– Vss. 1-11 – Instructions for Passover preparation
– Vss. 14-20 – Instructions for continuing
Passover celebration into the future
– Vss. 21-28 – Moses relays instructions to people
– Vss. 29-33 – Pharaoh finally relents
• Purpose of Passover was/is to re-live Exodus
events from one generation to the next. A family
festival – intended to be celebrated within the
community.
THE EXODUS
• Exodus 12: 29-42 – The journey begins!
Hebrews mobilize pretty fast.
• How many? Ex. 12:37. 3 million too large a
number. Translation of “thousands” can
mean other things – probably closer to 25,000
- 30,000.
• Exodus would last 40 -/+ years – an entire
generation.
• Searching for the “Promised Land”
• So where did they go?
PARTING OF THE RED SEA
Not only are God’s people delivered across
waters, but the receding waters vanquished
their enemies.
A “root experience.”
Some question as to what actual body of
water was crossed.
“Red Sea” – too far.
Yam Suph in Hebrew
Better translation “Reed Sea,” a reference
to marshy waters at north end of Gulf of
Suez (Lake Manzaleh).
AROUND
HERE…
PROBABLY
NOT HERE
PARTING OF THE RED SEA
Two accounts:
1. Narrative (Chpt. 14)
2. Poetry (Chpt. 15)
Note complaints in 14:11ff – would become
common throughout Exodus narrative:
– 15:22-26 Brackish water
– 16:2-3 Longing for fleshpots in
Egypt
– 17:2-7 No water
GOD PROVIDES
NO FOOD (16: 1-36)
• People complain (vss. 2-3)
• God provides manna & quail (vss. 13ff.)
Manna – a “white flaky substance.” We
don’t know what it was (bug secretion,
sap from tree?)
Hebrew word means “What is it?”
NO WATER (17: 1-7)
• People complain (vs. 3)
• God commands Moses to strike a rock with
his staff & water comes out of the rock.
COVENANT AT MOUNT SINAI &
TEN COMMANDMENTS
God established covenant with Israelites:
“If you will obey my voice and keep my
covenant, you shall be a treasured
possession out of all peoples.” (19:5)
A “holy nation” (19: 5-6) - meant they were set
apart for a specific divine purpose.
TEN COMMANDMENTS:
1. No other gods (20:2)
2. No idols (20:4)
3. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain (20:7)
4. Remember the Sabbath (20:8)
5. Honor father and mother (20:12)
6. You shall not murder (20:13)
7. You shall not commit adultery (20:14)
8. You shall not steal (20:15)
9. No false witness (20:16)
10. Don’t covet anything that belongs to your
neighbor (20:17)
The Covenant Code (Ex. 20;22-23:33)
• Laws designed for agricultural society.
The Priestly Code (Leviticus)
• Concerned with proper worship.
• Ark of the Covenant, where Ten
Commandment tablets were stored.
• Outlined Tabernacle and “Holy of Holies,”
where Ark was kept.
Deuteronomic Code (Deuteronomy)
• Discovered during reign of King Josiah.
• A restatement of the law; “modernizing” of the
law to fit & reflect a changed situation.
EXODUS 32 – THE COVENANT BROKEN
• Moses up on Sinai, the people make a
golden calf. Moses is so upset when he
returns, he throws two tablets down &
breaks the ten commandments!
• Moses’ prayer of intercession (vs. 7-14).
Talks God out of destroying God’s people –
evokes the covenant God made (vss. 13ff)!!
• Reflects a common theme throughout
Israel’s history – the temptation to dilute
the religion of Yahweh with the popular
religions of the time.
IN CLOSING
