Overview of the Bible: Exodus

 

Overview of the Bible: Book of Exodus

Title: English: Exodus – leaving of Egypt          Hebrew: Sh’mot – the names (of)  

Date of writing: 1446 – 1406 BC

Date of Narrative: about 1600 – 1444 BC

Structure: Following structure adapted from Keil and Delitzsch [K&D] I:416-417

	Part I 1:1 – 15:21	Part II
1	Israel in Egypt, 1 – 2	March from the Red Sea to mountain Sinai, 15:22 – 17:7
2	Call of Moses, 3 – 4	Gentiles: Amalek (enemy) and Jethro (friend), 17:8 – 18
3	Mission of Moses to Pharaoh, 5 – 7:7	Establishment of the Covenant, 19 – 24:11
4	Negotiations between Moses and Pharaoh, 7:8 – 11	Arrangement of the Sanctuary – Tabernacle, 24:12 – 31
5	Consecration of Israel as the covenant nation	The rebellion of Israelites and the renewal, 32 – 34
6	Exodus of Israel, 12 – 13:16	The building of the Tabernacle, 35 - 39
7	Passage of Israel through the Red sea, 13:17 – 15:21	Consecration of the Tabernacle, 40

1. A. 1 – 6, Preparation of Israel for Exodus

2.  B. 7 – 10, 9 plagues

3.    C. 11 – 18, Exodus and arrival to Sinai

4.       D. 19 – 24, Covenant 

5.    C’. 25 – 31, Plan for Tabernacle

6.   B’. 32 – 34, Golden calf

7. A’. 35 – 40, Building and consecration of the Sanctuary

Main themes:

* Life under pressure, ch. 1-2

* Faithfulness of God, ch. 2:24 – 4 (2:24 to 3:6)

* Sanctuary, ch. 25 – 40; the setting undergoes three stages: forming (25-31), filling (35-39), “lighting”/glorification (40).  

* Both Tabernacle and the desert are the reflections on the Firmament (2 day of Creation motive)   

Main Characters:

Pharaoh(s), Moses, Aaron, people of Israel - Shiphrah and Puah (ch. 1), Jethro    

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Exodus as a theme – Ps. 90, 106, Lk. 9:30 (ESV “departure”, Greek “exodus”)

Songs of Moses and Israel – Num. 21:16-18; Deut. 32; Rev. 15:3-4

Sanctuary – 1 Kings 6 – 8, The structure of John   

Lutheran teaching:

Sacraments: [Private] Confession – Smalcald Articles, 3:VIII, based on Ex. 3:2-15  

The Law of God – Small and Large Catechism, part I, based on Ex. 20

Theology of worship – Ap. of Augsburg Conf., XXIV (XII):35, based on Ex. 29:38-39 

Lutheran hymnody:   

Ex. 3-4 & 33-34 – Swiftly pass the Clouds of Glory (LSB, 416)

Ex. 12:5 – A Lamb goes Uncomplaining Forth (LBS, 438)  

Relevancy of the Book:

The Book of Exodus tells us that God is faithful always – when the people of God undergo suffering, He sends His servants to support them and resist the evil.

Also, the structure of traditional church buildings follows/resembles the structure of the Tabernacle (Ch. 25 – 31).   

Memory verses:

3:14-15 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” And He said, “Say this to the people of Israel, I AM sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

15:11 Who is like you, o LORD, among the gods? Who is like, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?