What makes Exodus special?
The name "Exodus" comes from
the Greek word meaning "exit" or "the way out." Those who wrote the
Greek version of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) named the book
EXODUS to emphasize how God chose Moses to lead the Hebrew people out
of slavery in Egypt. The Hebrew title of the book means "These are the
names," a phrase that appears in Genesis 46:8 and lists the names of
some of Israel's ancestors. This title emphasizes how EXODUS continues
the story of God's people, begun in GENESIS - The Pentateuch.
Why was Exodus written?
EXODUS
describes two key events in the history of the people of Israel. The
first event is the exodus from Egypt. It begins with the birth of
Moses, who, though born a Hebrew, is raised as an Egyptian prince. Only
later does he leave such comfort and to obey God's command to free his
own Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. The exodus story includes a
description of the great disasters (often called "plagues") that God
sent upon the Egyptian people in order to force their king to let the
people of Israel leave Egypt. The dramatic escape from Egypt includes
the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. All future generations would
remember the exodus as the great example of God's saving help.
The
second key event in the book occurs at Mount Sinai, where God gives
Moses and the people the Ten Commandments and the laws that are to
guide how they will worship and live together as God's people. Also
included were instructions for making the sacred tent and its
furnishings and the priestly clothes. The agreement God made with the
people at Sinai was built on the promises God had first made to Abraham
(EXODUS 33:1-3; see also GENESIS 12:1-3; 17:1-8). But in order to
receive God's promised blessings, the people had to be loyal to God
alone and follow God's commands (23:20-33).
What's the story behind the scene?
According
to 1 KINGS 6:1, the exodus from Egypt occurred 480 years before the
fourth year of King Solomon's reign. Solomon ruled from about 970 to
931 B.C. That would mean that the exodus occurred around 1446 B.C.
However, 480 may be a symbolic number for twelve generations (40 years
x 12). The small amount of historical evidence that exists (the name
Rameses in 1:11) seems to point to Sety I and Rameses II as the
Egyptian kings at the time of Israel's slavery and escape from Egypt.
This would date the exodus shortly after 1300 B.C.
How is Exodus constructed?
The following outline divides the book into three major sections, based primarily on the location of events.
Moses leads the people out of Egypt (1:1-13:16)
- Troubled times for Israel and Moses (1:1-2:25)
- God chooses Moses (3:1-4:31)
- The God of Israel versus Egypt's king (5:1-11:10)
- Passover and the exodus (12:1-13:16)
Moses leads the people in the desert (13:17-18:27)
- Escape through the sea (13:17-15:21)
- God provides water and food (15:22-17:7)
- Victory in battle and the appointment of judges (17:8-18:27)
Moses and the people at Mount Sinai (19:1-40:38)
- God gives Moses the Law (19:1-24:18)
- God gives instructions for worship (25:1-31:18)
- The people rebel, but God remains faithful (32:1-33:23)
- God's instructions are carried out (34:1-40:38)
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