What do you really need to know about the exodus?
- A threat drives the people of God from their home.
- There is an assault upon the Woman and her seed by the Serpent.
- Deception is used to outwit the Serpent.
- God’s people are enslaved.
- God blesses his people while plaguing their oppressors.
- God intervenes to save his people.
- The Serpent shifts blame and accuses the righteous.
- God humiliates the false gods.
What does the Bible say about Exodus?
Exodus 21:7-11 ESV / 2,424 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her.
What do Muslims believe about the Exodus story?
exodus in islam The story of the Exodus holds a special place in Islamic traditions, with Moses playing a key role as one of the most prominent prophets of God in the Quran. Known in Arabic as Musa, Moses is described in the Quran as a “pure, a messenger, a prophet” [19:51] with the ability to intercede on behalf of God and directly speak ...
Did the exodus really happen?
The Israelite enslavement in Egypt and the Exodus took place during the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt, which would be the eleventh twelfth and thirteenth dynasties. This period came to an abrupt end when the Hyksos, foreign Asiatic invaders, swept in and rapidly took over Egypt, ruling for the next 400 years.
How did YHWH show his faithfulness and power?
At the Exodus from Egypt (13th century bce ), YHWH showed his faithfulness and power by liberating the Israelites from bondage and punishing their oppressors with plagues and drowning them in the sea . At Sinai he made the Israelites his people and gave them the terms of his….
What is the title of the book of Shemot?
The Hebrew title of the work is Shemot (Names). Chapters 1–18 narrate the history of the Egyptian bondage, the Exodus from Egypt, and the journey to Mount Sinai under the leadership of Moses. The second half of the book tells of the Covenant that was established between God and Israel at Sinai and promulgates laws for the ordering of Israel’s life.
What does Exodus mean?
Exodus (in the Greek, Latin, and English versions) means “a going out ,” referring to the seminal event of the liberation of Israel from Egyptian bondage through the wondrous acts and power of God. The book celebrates and memorializes this great saving event in song….
What is the book of Exodus?
Exodus, the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt in the 13th century bce, under the leadership of Moses; also, the Old Testament book of the same name. The English name of the book derives from the Septuagint (Greek) use of “exodus” to designate the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage ...
What does "exodus" mean in Greek?
Exodus(in the Greek, Latin, and English versions) means “a going out, ” referring to the seminal event of the liberation...
What is the J strand in Exodus?
The J strand, so called because it uses the name Yahweh (Jahweh in German) for God, is a Judaean rendition of the sacred story , perhaps written as early as 950 bce.
What is an encyclopedia editor?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
What is the story of the Exodus?
It tells a story of Israelite enslavement and departure from Egypt, revelations at biblical Mount Sinai, and wanderings in the wilderness up to the borders of Canaan. Its message is that the Israelites were delivered ...
What is the Exodus in the Bible?
For the second book of the Bible, see Book of Exodus. For other uses, see Exodus (disambiguation). The Exodus ( Hebrew: יציאת מצרים, Yeẓi’at Miẓrayim: lit. 'Departure from Egypt') is the founding myth of the Israelites.
How many Israelites were in the desert?
The Book of Numbers further states that the number of Israelites in the desert during the wandering were 603,550 , including 22,273 first-borns, which modern estimates put at 2.5-3 million total Israelites, a clearly fanciful number that could never have been supported by the Sinai Desert.
What did early Christians see in the Exodus?
Early Christians saw the Exodus as a typological prefiguration of resurrection and salvation by Jesus. The narrative has also resonated with non-Jewish groups, such as the early American settlers fleeing persecution in Europe, and African Americans striving for freedom and civil rights.
How many plagues were there in the Exodus?
The psalm's version of the Exodus contains some important differences from what is found in the Pentateuch: there is no mention of Moses, there are only seven plagues in Egypt, and the manna is described as "food of the mighty" rather than as bread in the wilderness.
Where did the Israelites come from?
The consensus of modern scholars is that the Torah does not give an accurate account of the origins of the Israelites, who appear instead to have formed as an entity in the central highlands of Canaan in the late second millennium BCE from the indigenous Canaanite culture. Most modern scholars believe that the story of the Exodus has some historical basis, but contains little material that is provable.
Where did Moses go to get the Promised Land?
Moses, in Midian, goes to Mount Horeb, where Yahweh appears in a burning bush and commands him to go to Egypt to free the Hebrew slaves and bring them to the promised land in Canaan. Yahweh also speaks to Moses's brother Aaron; they both assemble the Israelites and perform signs so that they believe in Yahweh's promise. Moses and Aaron then go to the Pharaoh and ask him to let the Israelites go into the desert for a religious festival, but the Pharaoh refuses and commands the Israelites to make bricks without straw and increases their workload. Moses and Aaron return to the Pharaoh and this time ask him to free the Israelites. The Pharaoh demands for Moses to perform a miracle, and Aaron throws down Moses' staff, which turns into a tannin (sea monster or snake) (Exodus 7:8-13); however, Pharaoh's magicians are also able to do this, though Moses' staff devours the others. The Pharaoh then refuses to let the Israelites go.
What is the story of the Exodus?
[1] The salient features of the story are that the Israelites had been enslaved by the Egyptians and forced to work as builders. Eventually, a leader named Moses, sent by his god, YHWH, brought the Egyptians to their knees with a series of plagues, left Egypt with his people, and headed for Canaan.
What is the history behind the Exodus?
Exodus: The History Behind the Story. The Elephantine Stele and the Great Harris Papyrus both describe Pharaoh Setnakhte’s war against the Levantine usurper Irsu in 1186 B.C.E. Reading these accounts together with Manetho’s story of the war against Osarseph offers us a possible historical context for what eventually became the Bible’s story ...
What is the difference between Manetho and the Exodus?
The biblical story seems very different from that of Manetho: Manetho describes a failed Levantine military campaign against Egypt whereas the dominant image of Israel in the exodus story is of miserable slaves coerced into forced building labor in Egypt who manage to escape (see, e.g., Exod 14:5).
What is Pharaoh afraid of?
[7] . Whatever the phrase means, Pharaoh is afraid that the Hebrews living in Egypt will join with an outside group in a military campaign against Egypt. This is just what Manetho describes as having happened.
Where did the Hyksos come from?
Manetho’s story has two parts. First, he tells of a group called the Hyksos, who came from Canaan. They overran Egypt, were driven out, went back to Canaan, and ultimately settled in Jerusalem. In other words, the Hyksos are the Israelites/Jews in Manetho’s thinking. [3]
When did Moses leave Egypt?
Moses and his men lost, were expelled from Egypt, and left for Canaan. This also gives us a specific year for this exodus, 1186 B.C.E., the second year of Pharaoh Setnakhte’s reign.
Was Moses a man of great importance in the land of Egypt?
Moreover, Moses himself was a man of great importance in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s officials and in the sight of the people. Egyptians Afraid — Scripture describes how the Egyptians were afraid of the Israelites and hoped they would leave:
Why does the Book of Exodus matter?
Why the Book of Exodus Matters For Your Life. Exodus comes from a Greek word meaning “exit” or “departure.”. The Exodus happened around either 1240 or 1440 BC. Tradition holds that Moses wrote the book of Exodus. Though scholars speculate and debate, there is no good reason to deny that Moses wrote the book.
What was the name of the deliverer of the people of Egypt?
This deliverer was named Moses, and Moses was given the task of leading his people out of Egypt to the promised land, the land of Canaan. This event was called the Exodus. Exodus reveals the God who saves his people. From Exodus we come to understand that God is actively involved in history. He hears prayer.
How many plagues did Pharaoh bring to the Israelites?
He brought plague after plague upon the Egyptians until Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites leave. It took twelve plagues for Pharaoh to admit defeat. As Moses and the Israelites began to leave, Pharaoh, still unwilling to admit defeat, changed his mind.
What was the story of the Israelites?
The story begins with Israel as an oppressed people in Egypt. Israel was a foreign people who came to Egypt during a great famine. The pharaoh welcomed them. Years went by. A new pharaoh ascended to the throne, and this pharaoh was unaware of the history of all Joseph did to help Egypt. The pharaoh grew worried by the size of Israel’s population, so he decided to do two things. The first was to force the Israelites into slave labor. The second was to mandate the killing of all newborn male children. It was into this situation that Moses was born.
What does Exodus teach us?
He saves, but God does things in his own way, in his own time, and for his own glory. Exodus teaches us what we should expect from God. Exodus gives us reason to trust God in difficult times. Exodus shows how God is at work to save the world from sin, death, and the devil.
What is the significance of Exodus?
Many themes in Exodus are taken up in the New Testament and displayed in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
What was the pattern of salvation?
The Pattern of Salvation. After God saved his people from Egyptian bondage, he began to prepare the world for a salvation from greater slavery. Through the Mosaic Law and Israel’s temple worship, God brought his people into a loving relationship to prepare them for the coming Messi ah.
What is the theme of Exodus?
Key themes in Exodus. Exodus is all about God making Israel his own. God rescues the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whom he made some important promises to back in Genesis ). Then, he gives them his expectations—a list of dos and don’ts.
Who wrote Exodus?
The whole Torah is a carefully, intentionally edited work. Moses is traditionally credited as the human author of the Old-Testament book of Exodus. This is because Exodus is part of the Torah, which is known as the Law of Moses. That doesn’t necessarily mean Moses penned every single word of this book—but since Moses is the main human character in these books, and since Moses is the one receiving directives from God, the books are usually attributed to him. (You can learn more about the authors who wrote the Bible here .)
What promises did God make to Abraham?
God has already made his promises to Abraham: his descendants would be a mighty people, they would possess the land of Canaan, and through them the whole earth will be blessed by God. While in Genesis we see God working through a family, in Exodus we see God working with an entire nation.
Why did God make a covenant with Israel?
God makes a covenant with the nation of Israel and the generations to come: because He rescued them from Egypt, Israel is to observe His rules. God speaks the Ten Commandments directly to the whole nation of Israel, and He relays specific ordinances to Moses on the mountain. And the people agree to it!
Where does Exodus pick up from Genesis?
Act 1: Prologue. (Exodus 1–2) Exodus picks up where Genesis leaves off: the young nation of Israel is in Egypt (they were invited by Joseph, the one with the famous coat). A new Pharaoh notices the Israelites multiplying, and enslaves them.
What did Pharaoh do to Israel?
Pharaoh enslaves the nation of Israel, commits genocide, and is generally a huge jerk.Pharaoh is worshiped as part of the Egyptian pantheon: a lesser god laying an illegitimate claim to God’s people.
What is the second book of the Pentateuch?
Exodus is the second book of the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses ), and it’s where we find the stories of the Ten Plagues, the first Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, and the Ten Commandments. The book gets its name from the nation of Israel’s mass emigration from Egypt, but that’s only the first part of the story.
What is the exodus from Egypt?
So, one has to be careful as to how the word is used in a particular theological context. “The exodus is simultaneously the escape of the Israelites from Egy pt, and the events surrounding the exodus, like entering the Promised Land.”.
What is the exodus in the Old Testament?
That is the first thing that is obvious, right on the surface of the text. “The exodus is the reconstitution of the Israelites, making them a nation.”. The second thing that is stunning is how the exodus controls a great deal of the discussion of the entire rest of the Old Testament.
What is the Passover?
The Passover, of course, is what takes place at the time of the exodus. The people of God are instructed to sacrifice the Passover lamb and then put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and the lintel. Those in the house are safe, but everywhere else families lose their firstborn son.
What is the Sinai Covenant?
So, this is not only an exit from slavery and from Egypt; it is reconstituting the people with a new covenant — the Sinai covenant or the Mosaic covenant or the Law covenant as it is variously called — and gaining entrance into the Promised Land and the beginnings of their pilgrimage as a nation.
What is the lesson of the Bible about the Israelites?
In 1 Corinthians 10:1–11 and Hebrews 3:7– 11 we discover that the people of God at the time of the exodus, the Israelites, constitute a kind of moralizing lesson for us. “They escaped from, but they did not get into,” that is, God rescued them from the land of slavery.
Where is Jesus transported in the Bible?
And this, we are told, fulfills the word, “out of Egypt I called my Son,” referring to Hosea 11:1. And what is being established there is what might be called an Israel typology. The ultimate Israel is Jesus himself.
Did the Exodus reconstitute Egypt?
And before they become a nation, they end up in Egypt at the time of the famine where, in the providence of God, Joseph provides all the food they need until hundreds of years later they are enslaved and they have never been a nation. So, the exodus reconstitutes them, as it were, but this time making them a nation.
How did the Exodus impact the world?
As free people relive the Exodus, it turns memory into moral dynamic. The experience of slavery that breaks and crushes slaves does not destroy free people. It evokes feelings of repulsion and determination to help others escape that state.
What did the Exodus do to the Jewish people?
The Exodus transformed the Jewish people and their ethic. The Ten Commandments open with the words, “I am the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Having no other God means giving no absolute status to other forms of divinity or to any human value that demands absolute commitment. Neither money nor power, neither economic nor political system has the right to demand absolute loyalty. All human claims are relative in the presence of God. This is the key to democracy.
Why do Jews celebrate Passover?
Yet when Jews observe Passover, they are commemorating what is arguably the most important event of all time — the Exodus from Egypt. If for no other reason than the fact that the Exodus directly or indirectly generated many of the important events cited by other groups, this is the event of human history.
What is the most important event in history?
Periodically, scholars survey historians’ opinions as to what is the most influential event of all time. In recent decades, the Industrial Revolution has often appeared at the top of the list. For the politically oriented, not uncommonly the French Revolution wins; for Marxists, the Russian Revolution. Christians often point to the life and death of Jesus as the single most important event of history. For Muslims, Mohammed’s revelations and his hegira [exile, 622 CE] have a similar transcendental authority.
What is the liberator in the Exodus?
The liberator is dialectical materialism, and the slaves are the proletariat–but the model and the end goal are the same. Indeed, directly revived images of the Exodus play as powerful a role as Marxism does in the worldwide revolutionary expectations.
What was the morality of the Exodus?
Exodus morality meant giving justice to the weak and the poor. Honest weights and measures, interest-free loans to the poor, leaving part of the crops in the field for the stranger, the orphan , and the widow , treating the alien stranger as a native citizen — these are all applications of the Exodus principle to living in this world.
What is the purpose of the family in the Seder?
In the seder ritual, the family also acts as the transmitter of memory. The past is not excised but becomes an active part of the lives of the participants. Parents tell the story to children. At the same time, the children are not merely dependent. They ask questions and participate in the discussion.
What is the story of Exodus?
The story of Passover is traditionally told over the Passover Seder and is sprinkled with lots of singing, reclining, wine drinking and gefilte fish-eating. The tale depicts the Jewish people's enslavement in Egypt and their eventual escape, and is told with the help of a guidebook called a Haggadah.
What decree did Joseph and the Pharaoh issue?
He later issued a decree to drown all newborn Israelite boys in the river.
What did Moses hear when he was tending his flocks?
He responded by reaching out to Moses. While tending his flocks one day, Moses heard a voice coming from a flaming bush. The voice identified itself as God and told Moses to go and save his people, and to tell the Pharoah to "Let My people go, so that they may serve Me.".
Why did Joseph's family come to Egypt?
Joseph was able to predict an oncoming famine, which gave the Pharoah time to prepare and save his people. Because of his deed, when Joseph's family came to Egypt they were invited to stay and live in peace for a number of generations. The descendents of his family came to be known as the Israelites.
Is Passover a tradition?
The story of Passover is a tradition handed down from one generation of Jews to the next through reading the Haggadah, and is often paired with a speech relating the story of Exodus to recent news events or national affairs. In this way, the story is kept alive and relevant to the current day. Request Reprint & Licensing, Submit Correction ...
Who was Moses' brother?
Moses set off with his brother, Aaron, and appealed to the Pharaoh who refused to listen and worsened the conditions for the Israelites.
Who put their baby in the basket?
One Hebrew couple, Yocheved and Amram, put their baby son in a basket and placed it in the Nile, hoping that he would escape death. The baby was quickly discovered by the Pharaoh's daughter and adopted. The princess named the boy Moses, or "he who was drawn from the water.".
Overview
The Exodus (Hebrew: יציאת מצרים, Yeẓi’at Miẓrayim: lit. 'Departure from Egypt') is the founding myth of the Israelites whose narrative is spread over four books of the Torah or Pentateuch, namely Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The majority of modern scholars date the composition of the Torah to the Middle Persian Period (5th century BCE). Some of the traditions contributing t…
Biblical presentation of the Exodus
The story of the Exodus is told in the first half of Exodus, with the remainder recounting the 1st year in the wilderness, and followed by a narrative of 39 more years in the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, the last four of the first five books of the Bible (also called the Torah or Pentateuch). In the first book of the Pentateuch, the Book of Genesis, the Israelites had come to live in …
Modern scholarship
Scholars classify the Exodus as the founding myth of the Israelites, recounted in the Book of Exodus. It tells a story of Israelite enslavement and eventual departure from Egypt, revelations at biblical Mount Sinai, and wanderings in the wilderness up to the borders of Canaan. Its message is that the Israelites were delivered from slavery by Yahweh their god, and therefore belong to him by cove…
Religious and cultural significance
Commemoration of the Exodus is central to Judaism, and Jewish culture. In the Bible, the Exodus is frequently mentioned as the event that created the Israelite people and forged their bond with God, being described as such by the prophets Hosea, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The Exodus is invoked daily in Jewish prayers and celebrated each year during the Jewish holidays of Passover, Shavuot, and Suk…
See also
• Book of Joshua, the continuation of the narrative in the conquest of Canaan
• Ipuwer Papyrus
• List of films related to the Exodus
• Moses in Islam
External links
• Old maps showing the route of the Exodus, The National Library of Israel, Eran Laor Cartographic Collection