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Bible Commentaries
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Israelites Oppressed in Egypt; Population Grows.Chapter 2
Moses' Birth, Adoption, and Flight to Midian.Chapter 3
God Calls Moses from the Burning Bush.Chapter 4
Moses Returns to Egypt with Signs.Chapter 5
Pharaoh Rejects Moses; Israelites' Labor Increases.Chapter 6
God Reaffirms His Covenant with Israel.Chapter 7
Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh; First Plague.Chapter 8
Plagues of Frogs, Gnats, and Flies.Chapter 9
Plagues of Livestock Death, Boils, and Hail.Chapter 10
Plagues of Locusts and Darkness.Chapter 11
Final Plague Announced: Death of Firstborn.Chapter 12
Passover Instituted; Firstborn Egyptians Killed.Chapter 13
Consecration of Firstborn; Israel's Exodus Begins.Chapter 14
Parting of the Red Sea; Israelites Escape.Chapter 15
Moses' Song of Victory; Bitter Water Sweetened.Chapter 16
God Provides Manna and Quail.Chapter 17
Water from the Rock; Amalek Defeated.Chapter 18
Jethro Advises Moses on Leadership Structure.Chapter 19
Israel at Mount Sinai; God's Covenant Prepared.Chapter 20
The Ten Commandments Given by God.Chapter 21
Laws Regarding Servants, Violence, and Restitution.Chapter 22
Laws on Property, Restitution, and Social Justice.Chapter 23
Laws of Justice, Sabbaths, and Festivals.Chapter 24
Covenant Ratified; Moses Ascends Mount Sinai.Chapter 25
Instructions for the Ark and Tabernacle.Chapter 26
Detailed Plans for the Tabernacle Structure.Chapter 27
Instructions for the Altar and Courtyard.Chapter 28
Priestly Garments Designed for Aaron and Sons.Chapter 29
Consecration Ceremony for Priests Outlined.Chapter 30
Altar of Incense and Atonement Money.Chapter 31
Bezalel and Oholiab Appointed; Sabbath Rest.Chapter 32
The Golden Calf; Moses Intercedes.Chapter 33
Moses Seeks God's Presence; Sees His Glory.Chapter 34
New Tablets; Moses' Radiant Face.Chapter 35
Sabbath Regulations and Tabernacle Contributions.Chapter 36
Construction of the Tabernacle Begins.Chapter 37
Building of the Ark, Table, and Lampstand.Chapter 38
Making of the Altar and Courtyard.Chapter 39
Priestly Garments Completed; Tabernacle Finished.Chapter 40
Tabernacle Set Up; God's Glory Fills It.
Book Overview
by Arend Remmers
Author and Time of Writing
What has been said to the book of Genesis also applies to Exodus. In Genesis Moses depended on the revelations of God and possibly on the accounts of his ancestors while he was mostly able to write down the happenings of Exodus to Deuteronomy by his own view and experience under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (compare Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 31:22; Deuteronomy 31:24).
In the New Testament Moses is mentioned several times as 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 individuals mentioned. We are coming to know a redeemed people of God. The origin and redemption of God's earthly people Israel is described. Israel is delivered from the 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 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2).
After the exodus out of Egypt the people of Israel received the law of Jehovah and erected the tabernacle of congregation according to His command. Through that the new relationship between the people and Jehovah were fixed:
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God was now dwelling amidst His people
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Israel was able to approach God and to worship Him (by means of the offerings)
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the Glory of the Lord was typically revealed.
The epistles to the Romans and Galatians can be compared with the Book of Exodus, there 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 (Galatians 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 (Romans 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 conquest of the land and for the time of the judges. The different indications of time in the Bible also would be untrustworthy (see Jude 1:12; 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 |
| Chapter | 7 | 1st Plague: Water turned into blood |
| Chapter | 8 | 2nd Plague: Frogs; 3rd Plague: Lice (Gnats), 4th Plague: (Dog-) Flies |
| Chapter | 9 | 5th Plague. Very grievous Murrain ; 6th Plague: Boils; God hardens Pharao's heart; 7th Plague: Hail |
| Chapter | 10 | 8th Plague: Locusts; 9th Plague: Darkness |
| Chapter | 11 | Announcement of the 10th Plague and of Israel's Exodus |
| Chapter | 12 | Institution of the Passover and Killing of all Firstborn in Egypt |
| Chapter | 13 | Sanctification of the Firstborn of Israel and Beginning of the Exodus |
II. Exodus 14-18 : Israel's Journey to Mount Sinaï
| Chapter | 14 | Jehovah saves Israel at the Red Sea |
| Chapter | 15 | The Song of Redemption |
| Chapter | 16 | The Manna (John 6:31-59) |
| Chapter | 17 | The Water out of the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4); Battle against Amalek |
| Chapter | 18 | Jethro's Advice for Moses |
III. Exodus 19-24 : Covenant and Giving of the Law at Sinaï
| Chapter | 19 | The Covenant of Jehovah with Israel |
| Chapter | 20 | The Ten Commandments |
| Chapter | 21 | The Law - Personal Rights |
| Chapter | 22 | The Law - Rights of Property |
| Chapter | 23 | The Law - Rights in Social and Religious Life |
| Chapter | 24 | The Covenant is concluded |
IV. Exodus 25-31 : Commandments for the Sanctuary and the Priesthood
| Chapter | 25 | The Heave-Offering; the Ark of Covenant, the Table and Candle-stick |
| Chapter | 26 | The Tabernacle |
| Chapter | 27 | The Altar of Burnt Offering and the Court of Tabernacle |
| Chapter | 28 | Holy Garments for the Priests |
| Chapter | 29 | Hallowing of the Priests and the Continual Burnt Offering |
| Chapter | 30 | The Golden Altar of Incense; the Brazen Laver; the Oil of Holy Ointment and the Incense |
| Chapter | 31 | Bezaleel and Aholiab |
V. Exodus 32-34 : Israel's Departure and the Grace of God
| Chapter | 32 | The Golden Calf and the Broken Tables of Testimony |
| Chapter | 33 | Moses as Mediator |
| Chapter | 34 | The Second Law |
VI. Exodus 35-40 : The Building of the Sanctuary
| Chapter | 35 | The Heave-Offering |
| Chapter | 36 | The Building of the Tabernacle |
| Chapter | 37 | The Ark of Covenant; the Table; the Candle-stick and the Altar of Incense |
| Chapter | 38 | The Altar of Burnt Offering and the Court |
| Chapter | 39 | The Holy Garments for the Priests |
| Chapter | 40 | The Setting-Up of the Tabernacle |
Arend Remmers
