Gateway Overview – Exodus
September 28, 2014
Exodus is perhaps the most important book in the OT. It preserves the memory of foundational
events, not only for the life and faith of ancient Israel in OT times, but also for the life and faith
of the new Israel [the Christian church] witnessed to in the NT. Exodus emphasizes the cardinal
salvation experience of the Jewish people in the departure event, and in the subsequent giving
of the Law that cements their covenantal relationship with God. Within its pages lie the central
dogma of the Jews.
The book of Exodus is the second book of the Torah/Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible).
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Genesis can be seen as the prelude to Exodus. The basic human problem of
estrangement from God and one another. Relates the emergence of the earliest Hebrew
families. Joseph cycle explains how the Hebrews came to live in Egypt.
Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy are extended descriptions of the formation of Israel’s
life (primarily in terms of cultic practice), before it arrives at Canaan (the Promised
Land).
The books of Joshua through II Kings describe the conquest of the land through the
Israelites’ Exile from it.
Structure of Book of Exodus – there are many ways to look at it!
Chapters 1-6: enslavement of Hebrews, birth and early life of Moses to his flight to Midian and
God’s call to return to Egypt to lead his people to freedom.
Chapters 7-15: the plagues against Egyptians, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea by the
Hebrews.
Chapters 16-18: Journey through the wilderness to Mt Sinai
Chapters 19-40: Covenant with God, including both cultic and ethical commandments. The
Golden Calf – breaking the covenant -- and the renewed covenant.
Chapters 1-15 tell the story of freedom from, and chapters 16-40 tell the story of freedom to.
Liberation from slavery is followed by liberation to accomplish a new thing. The people are still
servants, but the change of masters makes all the difference. Israel was forced to serve
Pharaoh, but freely chooses to serve God.
Chapters 1-15 tell the story of leaving the city where Pharaoh reigns and enslaves the Hebrews,
forcing them to construct his empire.
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Chapters 16-40 tell the story of arriving at a mountain where God reigns and creates the people
of Israel, who construct a portable tabernacle where they worship God.
Literary Elements
Like the rest of the Pentateuch, Exodus contains different literary “sources.”
The Documentary Hypothesis:
1. J, the Jahwist tradition, composed in Jerusalem c. 950 BC. Uses of “Yahweh” as personal
name for God, prior to Exodus 3. Anthropomorphizes God, who protects and delivers
Israel and destines Israel to rule over its neighbors. LORD = YHWH
2. E, the Elohist tradition, composed in Northern Kingdom, c. 850 BC. Uses generic name
for deity, “Elohim.” God is more impersonal, working through dreams, prophets and
angels.
3. D, the Deuteronomic tradition, written in Jerusalem, c. 550 BC (the Exile). Emphasizes
that consequences stem from previous actions. The Exile is the result of Israel’s lack of
faithfulness to the covenant. In the Pentateuch, D is only found in the Book of
Deuteronomy, but it extends into Joshua, Judges and Kings.
4. P, the Priestly code, c. 600-400 BC. Partly duplicates J and E, but stresses the priesthood.
Includes many lists, especially genealogies, dates, numbers and laws. Portrays God as
interested in ritual: e.g, circumcision, the dietary laws, the plan for the tabernacle.
In Exodus 1-19, J, E and P are woven together.
In 20-24 and 32-34, J and E are found.
In 25-31 and 35-40, P alone.
This can help explain why there are duplications or different versions of the same story; why
one minute we’re reading a fascinating narrative and the next we’re deep in a boring list of
measurements. It can help us understand why God is portrayed in so many different ways and
be attentive to the theological purpose behind those different portrayals.
An interesting factoid: the book of Exodus contains what is probably the oldest part of the
Bible, the Song of Miriam, 15:21. It is likely the original response of the Hebrews to their
liberation from Egyptian slavery.
The Historical Questions
The spectrum of scholarly opinions about whether the events described in Exodus are
historically accurate range from “It’s basically fiction” to “It’s all true.” Clearly there are no
eyewitness accounts. On the other hand, isn’t it plausible to think that the contours of the
main events can still be seen?
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Extra-biblical references
 The cities of Pithom and Ramses (Exo 1:11) have been revealed through archeological
digs as used for storage in the 13th C BC.
 The first extra-biblical reference to the people of the OT is a commemorative pillar,
dated c. 1220 BC, that bears the name “Israel.” This implies that the Hebrews were now
in Canaan/the Promised Land.
On the other hand, Mt. Sinai has never been definitively located. It is traditionally identified
with a mountain in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula. See maps at the back of study
Bibles.
Two examples of scholarly disagreement:
Here are “the basic facts” - Moses was born to a Hebrew family in Egypt and was brought up
under the influence of Egyptian culture. Identification with his people led him to an act of
violence which forced him to flee across the Sinai peninsula to the Land of Midian. Under the
influence of a profound religious experience, attributed to Yahweh, he returned to Egypt to
rally his people and lead them out of their bondage. They fled amidst unusual natural
phenomena, and, although pursued by Egyptian soldiers, were able to pass safely through a
large body of water. Having once realized their freedom, by faith they understood that the
presence and power of God were involved in the event.
Murray L. Newman
Bible Briefs. Exodus: study guide from Virginia Theological Seminary
It is impossible to discern what historical events lie behind the book of Exodus. In the absence
of a consensus…it is best to read Exodus as…a story, though never forgetting that it has a prehistory, and that…it is the definitive story of the establishment of Israel as a people freed from
human tyranny who became slave to their own loving God.
The New Oxford Annotated Bible
Theological Themes
Liberation – the primary theme of the chapters we’re studying and using in worship.
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The Exodus is the most important event in Jewish history. It is a root experience, basic
for their understanding of God. God’s liberation is remembered annually at the
Passover holiday.
African-American Christian tradition also sees God’s nature as primarily liberating. God
is the One who brings the people out of bondage.
For all Christians, the resurrection can be understood through the lens of Exodus: as the
“freedom event” that changes history and identity.
Law/Covenant – the primary theme of chapters 16-40.
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At Sinai, the ancient Hebrews are brought into a special relationship with God. The
proclamation of the Law (primarily the Ten Commandments, but also the hundreds of lesser
commandments that follow it) makes a covenant, a binding relation whereby God and Israel are
intimately, profoundly, and non-negotiably committed to each other.
You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and
brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you
shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine,
but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that
you shall speak to the Israelites. Exo 19:4-6
For Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus institutes a new covenant, the covenant of
reconciliation.
In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant
in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 1 Corinthians 11.25
In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against
them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. II Cor 5:19
Other themes:
Call – God calls Moses to lead the people out of slavery. In the same way, God called Abraham
to journey to a new place, and called Jeremiah and Isaiah to proclaim God’s judgment and
mercy. The pattern continues in the New Testament: Jesus calls his disciples, Paul is called by
God on the road to Damascus.
Presence – Exodus is concerned with the structure (actual and institutional) that will ensure
God’s continuing presence in the midst of Israel.
Memory – See Question #1, “In-depth Study” of the Small Group Agenda.
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