The title exodus comes from the septuagint, which derived it from the primary event found in the book, the deliverance from slavery and exodus or departure of the. The exodus narrative not only became an instrument of hope for the enslaved, but also allowed them to make sense of their situation and provided a blueprint for their deliverance. This explanation of the book of exodus, the second book of the bible, will demonstrate that the bible is not only powerfully relevant to todays issues, but completely consistent with rational thought. The book of exodus is the story of god rescuing the children of israel from egypt and forging a special relationship with them. The book of exodus is the second book of the bible and describes the exodus, which includes the israelites deliverance from slavery in egypt through the hand of yahweh, the revelations at biblical mount sinai, and the subsequent divine indwelling of god with israel. Moses was the author of the book of exodus exodus 17. And the bible does say to give disciplineeven fathers were to give their. Tx001030 1content the book of exodus saint marys press. Book of exodus overview insight for living ministries. It has memorable charactersmoses, aaron, miriam, zipporah moses wife, and the. Although god liberated the hebrews from slavery in egypt, slavery is not universally prohibited in the bible. You probably remember abraham s covenant with god from genesis.
Core christianity why the book of exodus matters for your life. It was written to record the events of israels deliverance from slavery in egypt. Baker writing in the book the humanisation of slavery in the old testament argues that the term punished in verse 20. The covenant is more than just an agreement between god and the israelites. This summary of the book of exodus provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of exodus.
Retelling the biblical book of exodus through the eyes of children. From birth, the prophet was followed by acts of god that led moses to become the savior of the enslaved hebrew nation. Moses became one of the first liberators in the history of man. Slavery and the exodus experience oxford scholarship. The second book of moses called exodus geneva bible. This type of slavery, referred to as chattel slavery was forbidden in israel exodus 21. Exodus is a latin word derived from greek exodos, the name given to the book by those who translated it into greek. The book of genesis ends with the story of jacob going down to egypt with his family. God rescues and delivers his people as he guides them into the unfamiliar desert. When you buy a hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.
The book of exodus is mainly about a liberator named moses. The book of exodus does not even incorporate one journal entry, one trial transcript, or one eyewitness account of the slavery endured by the israelites in egypt. The book of exodus tells the story of the central theological event for the ancient israelites. Exodus is the second book of the pentateuch the five books of moses, and its 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. The book of exodus teaches that the lord is the one true god and the ruler of all creation. Spread over the books of exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy, it tells the myth of the enslavement of. Why the book of exodus matters for your life the story of exodus. On virtually every page, you will discover how the text relates to the contemporary world and to your life. Aug 05, 2016 the exodus is simultaneously the escape of the people of god, the israelites from egypt, the land of slavery they exit out of slavery into the promised land. Ten plagues and a betrayalhow moses freed the israelites. Leviticus goes further if your kinsman under you continues in straits lit.
The exodus became the paradigm not only for freedom from physical slavery, but also for political freedom, spiritual freedom, and. The second book of moses called exodus the argument after that jacob by gods commandment genesis 46. Exodus 21 revised standard version rsv the law concerning slaves. The second book of the pentateuch is called exodus, from the greek word for departure, because its central event was understood by the septuagints translators to be the departure of the israelites from egypt. Watch our overview video on exodus 118, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Slavery in this context was at least intended to be a social welfare system to protect ones self from their own encumbering debt or abject poverty sometimes called indentured servitude. The enslavement is presented in the bible as a crucible that forged the nation of israel. If the biblical dictates regarding slavery, including the regulations found in exodus 21. Exodus relates the story of freedom for gods people from slavery and the beginning of national identity. The biblical story about the israelites enslavement in egypt and eventual liberation by god became significant in postbiblical judaism as evidenced by the numerous paraphrases, allusions to, and creative adaptations of it in ancient jewish writing. The book of exodus details gods call to the people of israel to get up and leave their position of slavery in egypt. Abraham and the idol shop there are a bunch of old jewish legends that fill in some holes in the bible.
The book of exodus consists mainly of two genres, narrative history and laws. And in many ways, exodus is the covenant bookits the rules, the history, and the contract all wrapped up into one you probably remember abrahams covenant with god from genesis. The biblical book of exodus tells the story of the children of israel and their liberation from slavery in egypt. The exodus in american history and culture reception history. The law concerning slaves now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them. The new leadership in egyptfeeling threatened by jacobs descendants, who have increased greatly in sizeembarks on a campaign to subdue the israelites, forcing them into slavery and eventually decreeing that all hebrew boys must be killed at birth. May 27, 2018 the title exodus comes from a greek word meaning going out, and this book tells how the lord set his people israel free from slavery and brought them out of egypt. Deuteronomys legal treatment of slavery is more humane than the parallel laws in exodus, and more practical than those in leviticus.
Jan 16, 2020 nachmanides a thcentury spanish rabbi in his introduction to the book of exodus, claims that jewish people were not fully redeemed from their slavery when they left the bondage of egypt. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her. The title exodus comes from a greek word meaning going out, and this book tells how the lord set his people israel free from slavery and brought them out of egypt. The book is strategically important to both old testament history and a proper understanding of hebrew customs and institutions. The book of exodus is the second book of the bible and describes the exodus, which includes the israelites deliverance from slavery in egypt through the hand. In contrast to slavery in the united states, which generally forbade marriage among slaves, the regulations in exodus aim to preserve families intact. Exodus 21 rsv the law concerning slaves now bible gateway. Exodus records more miracles of god than any other book in the old testament. This article looks at the life and times of the prophet moses, who led the hebrew slaves out of egypt and received the ten commandments from.
Kenneth chelst makes the biblical story of the exodus clear by his very readable, comprehensive, respectful, and thoughtprovoking comparisons and analysis of the biblical and africanamerican slavery experiences, their freedom, and the aftereffects that lasted for many generations. When coming to talk about how slaves are to be treated exodus 21. Its themes are a major part of the psalms and the old testament prophetical books. This is the ateam thats ready to set the israelites free from the bonds of slavery in egypt and high tail it for the desert. He was able to eventually free the slaves that were being used as slaves to build monumental building in the land of egypt. The first chapter of exodus tells how the 70 members of jacobs s clan evolved into a large people, cruelly enslaved by the kings of egypt. Freedom and slavery in the book of exodus, sample of essays. The english name of the book derives from the septuagint greek use of exodus to designate the deliverance of the israelites from egyptian bondage and their safe.
The english name of the book derives from the septuagint greek use of exodus to designate the deliverance of the israelites from egyptian bondage and their safe passage through the sea of reeds traditionally mislocated as the red sea. Conversely, the exodus narrative can be a powerful tool for engaging in a deeper understanding of the africanamerican experience from slavery to emancipation. The new leadership in egyptfeeling threatened by jacobs descendants, who have increased greatly in sizeembarks on a campaign to subdue the israelites, forcing them into slavery and eventually decreeing that all hebrew boys must be. This account, more than any other, represented their understanding of gods concern for them. Taken from a literal point of view, it is an epic tale of oppression, deliverance, and freedom that any historian would drool over. Slavery, the book of exodus and metaphorical truths youtube. The nook book ebook of the exodus and emancipation. Many themes in exodus are taken up in the new testament and displayed in jesus life, death, and resurrection. The storyline of the exodus, of a people fleeing from a humiliating slavery, suggests elements that are historically credible. By appropriating the narrative of exodus the slaves did more than simply try to understand their situation and their past. The key personalities include moses, miriam, pharaoh, pharaohs daughter, aaron, and joshua.
Exodus is the second book of the pentateuch the five books of moses, and its where we find the stories of the ten plagues, the first passover, the parting of the red sea, and the ten commandments. Spread over the books of exodus, leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy, it tells the myth of the enslavement of the israelites in ancient egypt, their liberation through the hand of their tutelary deity yahweh, the revelations at biblical mount sinai, and their wanderings in the wilderness up to the borders of canaan, the land their god has given. Mar 26, 2010 conversely, the exodus narrative can be a powerful tool for engaging in a deeper understanding of the africanamerican experience from slavery to emancipation. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Why does the bible allow slave owners to beat their slaves. Slavery was permissible in certain situations, so long as slaves were regarded as full members of the community gen. And when the lord decides to do something, no one can stop him. In order to get them up to par on a working level, they may require discipline. Outline of the book of exodus israel enslaved in egypt exodus 1.
On the road, itll rain fire, bread, and commandments. Jan 02, 2020 if the biblical dictates regarding slavery, including the regulations found in exodus 21. The book of exodus is not a condemnation of slavery. The book of exodus has been exceedingly influential in american history and culture. The book of exodus begins more than four hundred years after joseph, his brothers, and the pharaoh he once served have all died. Normally, it is only tales of glory and victory that are preserved in narratives from one generation to the next. Its hebrew title, shemoth names, is from the books opening phrase, these are the names. The exodus is simultaneously the escape of the people of god, the israelites from egypt, the land of slavery they exit out of slavery into the promised land.
Slavery, the book of exodus and metaphorical truths craig reed tcr. And in many ways, exodus is the covenant bookits the rules, the history, and the contract all wrapped up into one. This explanation of the book of exodus, thesecond book of the bible, will demonstrate that the bible is not only powerfullyrelevant to todays issues, but completely consistent with rational thought. In gods timing, the exodus of the israelites from egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for abrahams descendants genesis 15. Summary of the book of exodus the story of the bible. Laws about slavery in exodus biblical hermeneutics stack. Exodus, the liberation of the people of israel from slavery in egypt in the th century bce, under the leadership of moses. It has its own quirks, subtleties, and superweird moments.
Exodus is the fruit of dennis pragers forty years of teaching the bible to people of every faith, and no faith. When you acquire a hebrew slave, he shall serve six years. Nachmanides a thcentury spanish rabbi in his introduction to the book of exodus, claims that jewish people were not fully redeemed from their slavery when they left the bondage of egypt. The story begins with israel as an oppressed people in egypt. This particular one fictionalizes an encounter abraham had with his father in their family idol shop. To the texts concerning slavery in exodus and deuteronomy, i will now add the laws of manumission in leviticus 25. It gives a record of the exodus of the israelites from egypt which signified the end of a period of oppression for abrahams offsprings and the commencement of the fulfillment of the covenant promised to abraham. Introduction to the book of exodus learn religions.