What has been said in the book of Genesis also applies to Exodus. In Genesis, Moses depended on God’s revelations and possibly on his ancestors’ accounts. At the same time, he could primarily write down the happenings of Exodus to Deuteronomy by his view and experience under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (compare Ex. 17:14; Deut. 31:22,24).
In the New Testament, Moses is mentioned several times as the author of Exodus (for example, Luke 20:37; Mark 7:10).
Between the happenings at the end of Genesis and the beginning of Exodus, there are nearly 300 years.
Purpose of Writing
In the book of Exodus, we find no longer exclusively the dealings of God with the individuals mentioned. We are coming to know a redeemed people of God. The origin and redemption of God’s earthly people, Israel, are described. Israel is delivered from slavery in Egypt and is led on to the way into the promised land of Canaan. Therefore, Exodus is the book of redemption. Its landmarks are the Passover and the passage through the Red Sea (see explanation in 1 Cor. 5:7; 10:1-2).
After the exodus from Egypt, the people of Israel received the law of Jehovah and erected the tabernacle of the congregation according to His command. Through that, the new relationship between the people and Jehovah was fixed:
God was now dwelling amidst His people
Israel was able to approach God and to worship Him (using the offerings)
the Glory of the Lord was typically revealed.
The epistles to the Romans and Galatians can be compared with the Book of Exodus, their subjects being redemption and the relation of the Christian to the law.
Peculiarities
a) Typology
The book of Exodus is especially rich in typical teachings. The following is of importance: Egypt is a picture of this present world (Gal. 1:4). The Red Sea is a picture of the death and resurrection of Christ and of the death of the old man with Christ (Rom. 6:6). The stay in the desert describes the earthly circumstances in which the believer has to stand the test (John 17:14-15).
b) Date of Exodus out of Egypt
Most of today’s scholars date the exodus of Israel in the 13th century BC, that is, in the time of the 19th Dynasty (Ramses I. to Merenphthah, under whose reign the name of Israel is first mentioned in Egypt). This late date leaves much too little time for the period of land conquest and for the judges’ time. The different indications of time in the Bible also would be untrustworthy (see Jud. 11:26; 1 Kings 6:1; Acts 13:20). But if we take the Biblical indications, the time of the exodus can be dated to the year 1446 BC approximately.
Overview of Contents
I. Exodus 1-13: Israel in Egypt
Chapter 1 Israel’s Oppression
Chapter 2 Moses’ Birth, Upbringing, and Flight to Midian
Chapter 3 God reveals Himself to Moses as Jehovah (Jahwe) at (Mount) Horeb
Chapter 4 God’s Commission to Moses
Chapter 5 Moses speaks to Pharaoh
Chapter 6 God encourages Moses; Pharaoh hardens his heart
Introduction to Exodus
40 chapters
Author and Time of Writing
What has been said in the book of Genesis also applies to Exodus. In Genesis, Moses depended on God’s revelations and possibly on his ancestors’ accounts. At the same time, he could primarily write down the happenings of Exodus to Deuteronomy by his view and experience under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (compare Ex. 17:14; Deut. 31:22,24).
In the New Testament, Moses is mentioned several times as the author of Exodus (for example, Luke 20:37; Mark 7:10).
Between the happenings at the end of Genesis and the beginning of Exodus, there are nearly 300 years.
Purpose of Writing
In the book of Exodus, we find no longer exclusively the dealings of God with the individuals mentioned. We are coming to know a redeemed people of God. The origin and redemption of God’s earthly people, Israel, are described. Israel is delivered from slavery in Egypt and is led on to the way into the promised land of Canaan. Therefore, Exodus is the book of redemption. Its landmarks are the Passover and the passage through the Red Sea (see explanation in 1 Cor. 5:7; 10:1-2).
After the exodus from Egypt, the people of Israel received the law of Jehovah and erected the tabernacle of the congregation according to His command. Through that, the new relationship between the people and Jehovah was fixed:
The epistles to the Romans and Galatians can be compared with the Book of Exodus, their subjects being redemption and the relation of the Christian to the law.
Peculiarities
a) Typology
The book of Exodus is especially rich in typical teachings. The following is of importance: Egypt is a picture of this present world (Gal. 1:4). The Red Sea is a picture of the death and resurrection of Christ and of the death of the old man with Christ (Rom. 6:6). The stay in the desert describes the earthly circumstances in which the believer has to stand the test (John 17:14-15).
b) Date of Exodus out of Egypt
Most of today’s scholars date the exodus of Israel in the 13th century BC, that is, in the time of the 19th Dynasty (Ramses I. to Merenphthah, under whose reign the name of Israel is first mentioned in Egypt). This late date leaves much too little time for the period of land conquest and for the judges’ time. The different indications of time in the Bible also would be untrustworthy (see Jud. 11:26; 1 Kings 6:1; Acts 13:20). But if we take the Biblical indications, the time of the exodus can be dated to the year 1446 BC approximately.
Overview of Contents
I. Exodus 1-13: Israel in Egypt
II. Exodus 14-18: Israel’s Journey to Mount Sinai
III. Exodus 19-24: Covenant and Giving of the Law at Sinai
IV. Exodus 25-31: Commandments for the Sanctuary and the Priesthood
V. Exodus 32-34: Israel’s Exodus and the Grace of God
VI. Exodus 35-40: The Building of the Sanctuary
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