Schema della sezione

    • 7.1 Overview

      • Exodus: Literary, historical and theological introduction

    • 7.2 Comment

      The book of Exodus is the second book of the Pentateuch. It tells the story of Israel’s multiplication in Egypt, about the oppression of Israel by the Egyptians, and how God led Israel out of Egypt through the wilderness. After arriving at Mount Sinai, God makes a covenant with Israel. The Decalogue (Ten Commandments) are part of this covenant, as well as other laws and instructions. Israel breaks the covenant during the golden calf incident, so it must be renewed by God through Moses mediation. The narrative culminates, when God descends from the top of Mount Sinai to the mobile sanctuary, which is built according to God’s instructions. The book of Exodus can be structured as follows:

      1. Israel in Egypt: God versus Pharaoh (1:1–15:21)
      2. “On the Road” Through the Wilderness (15:22–18:27)
      3. Israel at the Mountain of God: Covenant and Worship (19:1–40:38)

    • 7.3 Literature for individual study

      Rendtorff, The Old Testament, 10–14, 88–94, 139–144.

      7.4 For further reading

      Kaminsky and Lohr, The Hebrew Bible for Beginners, 65–75.

    • 7.5 Biblical texts for the final exam

      Students are expected to have read the whole book of Exodus. However, emphasis during the exam will be on the following sections:

      Exod 2:1–10 (Moses’ Birth)

      Exod 3:1–4:17 (Moses’ Call)

      Exod 7:1–12:42 (The Plagues, Passover, Exodus from Egypt)

      Exod 14:1–31 (Crossing the Sea of Reeds)

      Exod 19:1–19 (Sinai Theophany)

      Exod 20:1–17 (Decalogue)

      Exod 21:1–11 (The Case of a Hebrew Slave)

      Exod 24:1–11 (Ratification of Sinai Covenant)

      Exod 32–34 (The Golden Calf and the Covenant Renewal)

      7.6 Verifying comprehension

      1. What are the main sections of Exodus?
      2. How does the Exodus narrative explain the name “Moses”?
      3. The story about Moses’s call speaks about “this mountain (Exod 3:12), by which is meant (choose the correct answer(s)):

        a) Mount Sion, as a city of a future Davidic king b) Mount Hermon, as a boundary of the Promised Land c) Sinai/Horeb, as a place of worship, to provide a “sign” for Moses.

      4. Give at least five of the “plagues” against Egypt.
      5. What are the words, by which Moses encourages the Israelites on the shore of the Sea of Reeds, as the pharaoh’s army is approaching?
      6. According to Exod 19, how were the Israelites to prepare for the Sinai theophany? What were the outer characteristics of the theophany?
      7. What is the reason for keeping the sabbath according to the Exodus version of the Decalogue? What other biblical text can be found behind this explanation?
      8. What is the so-called “Book of Covenant” in Exodus?
      9. What were the main parts of the covenantal ritual in Exod 24? What kind of extraordinary event took place after the ritual?
      10. What was the difference in the situation of a Hebrew male slave versus the Hebrew female slave according to Exod 21:1–11?
      11. What was the role of the Levites during the golden calf episode?
      12. After the golden calf incident Moses asks God for something (Exod 32–33)… What is it?
      13. What happens at the end of Exodus?

    • 7.7 Enjoying biblical interpretation

      Graham Davies is an Old Testament scholar from Cambridge. In the following chapter he presented a nice reflection on the book of Exodus. Read it and write three ideas you have found most important. Write a question or a critical point with regard to the main argument of Moberly's interpretation.

      Davies, Graham I. “The Theology of Exodus.” In In Search of True Wisdom: Essays in Old Testament Interpretation in Honour of Ronald E. Clements, edited by Edward Ball, 137–52. JSOT Supplement Series 300. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999.

    • Davies, Graham I. “The Theology of Exodus.” File
    • Exodus - outline File