Exodus Introduction
Introduction
The title Exodus is carried over from the title in the Greek Septuagint Bible, without translation. Exodus in Greek means “departure” or “a way out.” It is a word still seen on signs in Greece to this day for “exit.” The exit or departure referred to by this title is the miraculous escape of the Israelite tribes from what had become for them, long after the time of their favored ancestor Joseph, a situation of forced slave labor. A key verse in the first chapter (1.8) reports the shift in power to a Pharaoh who “knew not Joseph,” and who set the Israelites under cruel taskmasters to enforce their labors. It is possible that this power shift occurred when the Egyptians of the Eighteenth Dynasty regained control of the Nile Delta region from the interloping Hyksos rulers, a Semitic people who had invaded and gained control of the Delta between 1700 to about 1580 b.c.
The narrative of Exodus reports that God had heard the despairing outcry of the oppressed people, and began to work on their behalf through the leadership of Moses, an Israelite who had been raised in the royal court. Moses was forced to flee for his life after he killed one of the violent taskmasters. While hiding out in the Sinai region he encountered God in the numinous burning bush (3.2). With a promise of divine help, God instructed him to return to Egypt and demand of Pharaoh that he “let my people go” (5.1). After many false starts Moses finally won the freedom of his people and permission to leave Egypt and return to that land long ago promised to the Israelites' ancestor Abraham, a land none in this distant generation had ever seen. The Pharaoh grudgingly gave his approval for the Israelites' departure only after enduring a long series of devastating plagues. When he finally yielded, it happened suddenly just as the Israelites were celebrating Passover, which at that time was an agricultural festival at which sacrifices were made for the health of the flocks. But from that point on the meaning of Passover took on a radically new meaning for the Hebrew people—a festival of liberation and freedom, of an exodus from enslavement.
On the way to the Promised Land, God appeared to Moses at Mount Sinai, giving him the Ten Commandments and inaugurating with Moses and the people a covenant relationship with promises of mutual faithfulness between God and the people. Exodus concludes with lengthy instructions for constructing the ark of the testimony (covenant) and the moveable tabernacle (tent) for worship of God.
Outline
The Hebrew People Suffer in the Land of Egypt (1.1-22)
Moses' Birth, Early Life, and Call to Serve God (2.1—4.31)
Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh and God Sends Ten Plagues (5.1—11.10)
The Passover and the Hurried Departure from Egypt (12.1—15.21)
Moses Leads the People through the Sea to Mount Sinai (15.22—18.27)
God Makes a Covenant with the People and Gives the Ten Commandments (19.1—24.18)
Instructions for the Religious Life of the People: The Tabernacle, Its Furnishings, and the Ark of the Covenant (25.1—40.38)
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Exodus Introduction: KJVAAE
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.
Exodus About this book
About this book
The title “Exodus” comes from a Greek word meaning “going out”, and this book tells how the Lord set his people Israel free from slavery and brought them out of Egypt.
The book of Exodus teaches that the Lord is the one true God and the ruler of all creation. And when the Lord decides to do something, no one can stop him.
Exodus can be divided into three parts. Most of the events in the first part (1—13) take place in Egypt, where the people of Israel had been made slaves by the king. The Lord heard their cries for help and chose Moses to set them free. Moses was an Israelite who had been adopted by an Egyptian princess.
When Moses demanded that the Israelites be set free, the king refused. And so the Lord told Moses to bring ten disasters on Egypt. These disasters have often been called “the ten plagues”. Finally, the king let the Israelites leave Egypt.
The second part of the book (14—18) includes events that happened while the people of Israel were on their way to Mount Sinai, God's holy mountain. The king of Egypt quickly changed his mind about setting them free, and he ordered his army to capture them. But the Lord protected Israel and destroyed the Egyptian army. Then, as the Israelites travelled through the desert, the Lord provided food and water for them.
The final part of Exodus (19—40) takes place at Mount Sinai, where the Lord appeared to Moses. The Lord gave him the Ten Commandments, as well as laws for worship, sacrifice, and everyday life, and instructions on making the sacred tent and its furnishings, the altars, and the priestly clothes. But this part also tells how the people made an idol and disobeyed the first of the Ten Commandments:
I am the LORD your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves. Do not worship any god except me.
(20.2,3)
A quick look at this book
1. The people of Israel become slaves (1.1-22)
2. Moses is born and grows up (2.1-25)
3. God sends Moses to speak to the king of Egypt (3.1—6.30)
4. The first nine disasters (7.1—10.29)
5. The last disaster and the first Passover (11.1—13.22)
6. The people cross the Red Sea (14.1—15.21)
7. Moses leads the people to Mount Sinai (15.22—18.27)
8. The Ten Commandments and other laws (19.1—24.18)
9. Instructions for the sacred tent, its furnishings, and the sacred chest (25.1—27.21)
10. Instructions for the priests, sacrifices, and the Sabbath (28.1—31.18)
11. The people make an idol (32.1-35)
12. The Lord makes promises, renews his agreement, and gives more laws to Israel (33.1—35.3)
13. Offerings and gifts for the sacred tent and the priestly clothes (35.4—36.7)
14. Skilled workers make the sacred tent and its furnishings (36.8—38.31)
15. The priestly clothes are made (39.1-31)
16. The sacred tent is set up (39.32—40.38)
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012