Exodus

Who Wrote the Book of Exodus It is attributed to Moses. “Higher Criticism” has denied Moses is the author of the Pentateuch.

Dating the Book of Exodus 1440 BC – date based upon internal evidence (1 Kings 6:1). 1290 BC – date based upon archaeological information. However, some discoveries have supported the earlier date.

Outline God Delivers Israel 1-18 The Law 19-24 The Tabernacle 25-40

Exodus 1-2 Genealogy 1:1-6 Bondage in Egypt 1:7-22 Birth and Childhood of Moses 2:1-10 Moses Flees to Midian 2:11-25

Exodus 3-6 God calls Moses to return to Egypt. Identifies Himself as the “I AM.” Moses offers excuses – God offers help. Pharaoh increases the workload of the Israelites. God assures Moses He will deliver the children of Israel.

The Ten Plagues - Exodus 7-12

The Ten Plagues - Exodus 7-12 “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go?” (Ex. 5:2).

The Ten Plagues - Exodus 7-12 “Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord” (Ex. 12:12).

1. Water Turned Into Blood Exodus 7:14-25 The Nile River was worshiped as a god. God made the object of their worship loathsome to them (v. 18). Pharaoh had commanded the male children born to the Hebrews be cast into the river (Ex. 1:22).

2. Frogs Exodus 8:1-15 Heqet was a frog-headed deity; goddess of childbirth, creation, and grain germination. Pharaoh’s magicians could not remove the frogs.

3. Lice Exodus 8:16-19 One who was infected with lice was considered impure. This plague halted all religious practice in Egypt.

4. Flies Exodus 8:20-32 This plague demonstrated God’s power over Beelzebub, the god who was said to protect Egypt from swarms of flies and other insects. Goshen was spared from the swarms of flies (v. 22).

5. Death of Livestock Exodus 9:1-7 Apis, a sacred bull, was an object of their worship. Hathor, goddess of beauty, love, joy, was represented by a cow.

6. Boils Exodus 9:8-12 Furnace was a brick kiln (NASV, ESV) - a source of agony to the Children of Israel. The magicians with Pharaoh realized they were powerless before the God of Moses and withdrew themselves from aiding Pharaoh in the confrontation (v. 11).

7. Hail Exodus 9:13-26 Nut, the goddess of the sky, could not prevent the hail. Isis and Seth, gods of agriculture, could not protect the crops.

8. Locusts Exodus 10:1-20 Servants of Pharaoh proclaim “Egypt is destroyed” (v. 7). The locusts devoured all vegetation that had not been destroyed by the hail.

9. Darkness Exodus 10:21-29 Demonstrated God’s power over Ra, the sun god of Egypt. Considered one of the most powerful and important gods of Egypt. Pharaoh himself was believed to be the embodiment of Ra.

10. Death of Firstborn Exodus 11:4-8, 12:29-30 Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead. Selket, the god who guarded life. Renenutet, cobra goddess and guardian of Pharaoh.

Effect of Plagues Upon Egyptians They were tortured by the very things they worshiped. Moses and the Children of Israel gained favor in the eyes of the people of Egypt. Many of them were able to realize there is no god like the God of Israel (Ps. 86:8).

Effect of Plagues Upon Egyptians They were tortured by the very things they worshiped. Moses and the Children of Israel gained favor in the eyes of the people of Egypt. Many of them were able to realize there is no god like the God of Israel (Ps. 86:8). The Plagues were the first exposure of the false religion of idolatry. The great “I Am” defeated every god of Egypt in the most dramatic way possible. How ironic that the nation which had its beginning with the exposure of the futility of idolatry would be plagued by this sin for centuries!

Exodus 12-18 Departure from Egypt 12:31-42 Passover Regulations 12:43-51 Unleavened Bread and Firstborn Regulations 13:1-16 Red Sea Crossing 14 Song of Moses 15 Manna and Water 16-17 Jethro’s Advice 18

The Ten Commandments Exodus 20:1-17

Circumstances Regarding the Giving of the Ten Commandments - Ex. 19 The Ten Commandments were the means by which Israel entered into a covenant relationship with God (vs. 3-6). They agreed to obey God’s voice (vs. 7-8). They consecrated themselves (vs. 9-11). Commandments given in a very dramatic manner (vs. 16-19). The people feared God (20:18-19).

The Ten Commandments First four commandments dealt with their relationship with God. Remaining commandments dealt with their relationship with their fellow man.

The Law The altar 20:22-26 Slaves 21:1-11 Personal Injury 21:12-36 Theft 22:1-4 Property Damage 22:5-6 Dishonesty 22:7-15 Immorality 22:16-17

The Law Civil and Religious Obligations 22:18-23:9 Ceremonial Laws 23:10-19 Conquest of the Land 23:20-33 Covenant Ratified 24:1-8 Glory of the Lord 24:9-18

The Tabernacle Instructions for Building Tabernacle, Furnishings, and Priestly Garments (25-31) Golden Calf Incident (32-34) Work Completed (35-40)

Criticism Against the Book of Exodus

Criticism Against the Book of Exodus “The truth is that virtually every modern archaeologist who has investigated the story of the Exodus, with very few exceptions, agrees that the way the Bible describes the Exodus is not the way it happened, if it happened at all.” Rabbi David Wolpe, 2001

Why aren’t there historical records of the Exodus events among the artifacts of ancient Egypt?   The Egyptians were notorious for a “policy” of never recording events that would embarrass a monarch or the nation as a whole. Records of the Hykos rulers were erased. Pharaoh Thutmosis III destroyed virtually all records relating to a previous ruler, whom he despised. Pharaoh Akhenaten  If they tried to erase these portions of their history, why would we expect them to keep records of the most devastating defeat their army, economy, and gods suffered?

Why isn’t there any archaeological evidence of the Exodus in the wilderness, where the children of Israel spent 40 years? They lived as nomads in tents. They did not construct permanent structures. Anything they left behind would have been lost in the sands of the desert over the past 3,000 plus years!

Limits of Archaeology Many critics who doubt the historicity of the Exodus share a problem: over-reliance on what archaeology can prove. Archaeology is, in fact, a limited and imperfect area of study in which the interpretation of findings, as archaeologists readily admit, is more of an art than a hard science.

Limits of Archaeology little of what was made or written in antiquity survives to this day few of the ancient sites have been surveyed and a number have not even been found probably fewer than 2 percent of the known sites have been meaningfully excavated few of these have been more than scratched; and only a fraction of the fraction that have been excavated have been published and data made available to the scholarly world. Edwin Yamauchi, “The Stones and the Scriptures,” 1972: chapter 4

Importance of the Book of Exodus

Importance of the Book of Exodus Exodus is the fount and origin of the national life, law and organized religion of Israel. The psalmists and prophets repeatedly referred to Israel as the nation God had delivered from Egypt.

Importance of the Book of Exodus Has been called the gospel of the Old Testament. It is a detailed record of God’s efforts to redeem the physical nation of Israel, as the Gospel is a record of God’s effort to redeem spiritual Israel – the church.

Importance of the Book of Exodus “The exodus is the most significant historical and theological event of the Old Testament because it marks God’s mightiest act in behalf of his people...To it the Book of Genesis provides an introduction and justification, and from it flows all subsequent Old Testament revelation...In the final analysis, the exodus served to typify that exodus achieved by Jesus Christ for people of faith, so that it is a meaningful event for the church as well as for Israel” Biblical historian Eugene Merrill

Importance of the Book of Exodus Jesus and the “I Am” (John 8:58; Matt. 22:32). Jesus and the manna (John 6:49-51). Christ is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7). Paul spoke of Red Sea crossing (1 Cor. 10:1-2). Stephen and author of Hebrews spoke of the events from Exodus (Acts 7:17-44; Heb. 11:23-29).

Importance of the Book of Exodus Exodus teaches us about God. The holiness of God. A God who remembers His promises. A God who acts to bring about His will. A God who hears the plight of His people. A God who is greater than the gods of men. A God who expects faith and obedience from His people.