Exodus.
Name. The name Exodus means a going out or departure.
Subject The subject and key-word of the book is redemption (3:7, 8;
12:13 etc.), particularly that half of redemption indicated by
deliverance from an evil plight. It records the redemption of the
chosen people out of Egyptian bondage, which becomes a type of all
redemption in that it was accomplished (1) wholly through the power of
God, (2) by a means of a deliverer (3) under the cover of blood.
Purpose. At this point Old Testament history changes from that of the
family, given in individual biographies and family records, to that of
the nation, chosen for the divine purposes. The divine will is no
longer revealed to a few leaders but to the whole people. It begins
with the cruel bondage of Israel in Egypt, traces the remarkable
events of their delivery and ends with a complete establishment of the
dispensation of the Law. The aim seems to be to give an account of the
first stage in the fulfillment of the promises made by God to the
Patriarchs with reference to the place and growth of the Israelites.
Contents. Two distinct sections are usually given by students: the
historical, included in chapters 1-19 and the legislative, comprising
chapters 20-40. The first section records: the need of deliverance;
the birth, training and call of the deliverer; the contest with
Pharaoh; the deliverance and march through the wilderness to Sinai.
The second gives the consecration of the nation and the covenant upon
which it was to become a nation. The laws were such as to cover all
the needs of a primitive people, both moral, ceremonial and civic with
directions for the establishment of the Priesthood and Sanctuary.
Exodus and Science, Scientific research has gone far toward
establishing the truthfulness of the Exodus record, but has brought to
light nothing that in any way discounts it. It has shown who the
Pharaoh of the oppression and Exodus was (Rameses. II, the Pharaoh of
the oppression and Merenpth II, the Pharaoh of the Exodus.) and has
discovered Succoth. It has shown that writing was used long before the
Exodus and has discovered documents written before that period. It has
thus confirmed the condition of things narrated in the Bible.
Analysis.
I. Israel in Egypt, 1:1-12:36.
1. The bondage, Ch. 1.
2. The deliverer, Chs. 2-4.
3. The contest with Pharaoh, 5:1-12:38.
II. Israel Journeying to Sinai, 12:37-18: end.
1. The exodus and passover, 12:37-13:16.
2. Journeying through Succoth to the Red Sea, 13:17-15:21.
3. From the Red Sea to Sinai, 15:22-18 end.
III. Israel at Sinai, Chs, 10-40.
1. The people prepared, Ch. 19.
2. The moral law, Ch. 20.
3. The civil law, 21:1-23:18.
4. Covenant between Jehovah and Israel, 23:20-24 end.
5. Directions for building the tabernacle, Chs. 25-31.
6. The covenant broken and renewed, Chs. 32-34.
7. The erection and dedication of the Tabernacle, 35-40.
For Study and Discussion. (1) The preparation of Israel and Moses for
the deliverance. (2) The conception of God found in Exodus: (a) As to
his relation to nature, (b) As to his relation to his enemies, (c) As
to his relation to his people, (d) As to his nature and purposes. (3)
The conception of man found in Exodus. (a) The need and value of
worship to him, (b) His duty to obey God. (4) The plagues. (5) The
divisions of the decalogue: (a) Those touching our relation to God.
(b) Those touching our relation to men. (6) The different conferences
between Jehovah and Moses, including Moses' prayer. (7) The current
evils against which the civil laws were enacted and similar conditions
of today. (8) The character of the different persons mentioned in the
book: (a) Pharaoh, (b) Moses, (c) Aaron, (d) Jethro, (e) Magicians.
(8) Amalek, etc. (9) The Messianic teachings of the book-here study
(a) the sacrifices, (b) the material, colors, etc., of the Tabernacle,
(c) the smitten rock, (d) Moses and his family.
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