The key personalities include moses, miriam, pharaoh, pharaohs daughter, aaron, and joshua. It was written to record the events of israels deliverance from slavery in egypt. The hebrew name of this fifth book of the pentateuch is devarim. The second school of thought views the main message of the bible from a much different perspective. Why the book of exodus matters for your life core christianity. This book covers the exodus of the nation of israel out of egypt through their journey to the promised land. The book recounts israels beginning as the covenant people of god through the mosaic law, and the establishment of the tabernacle as the theocratic center of. The purpose of the book of exodus is to give a history of gods dealings with the nation of israel particularly connected with the coming out of egypt. Dec 19, 2014 in the book of exodus, on the other hand, moses is utterly fascinated by god and drawn ever deeper into union with gods mind and purpose. The book of exodus describes how the israelites flee slavery in egypt through the might of yahweh, their god who has chosen the israelites as his people. The larger format enhances both individual and group study. 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. Core christianity why the book of exodus matters for. Gods main purpose in delivering the people of israel out of egyptian.
The latter half of the book is a detailed description of the tabernacle, the central meeting and worship center of the israelites, and the ordination of the sons of. When looking at the book of exodus, the question becomes as with all books for what purpose did moses write this book to the children of israel. The second half of exodus marks the point at which, and describes the process through which, gods theophany becomes a permanent presence for israel via the. Genesis to deuteronomy exodus exodus is the second book of the bible and the second book of the five books of the law, or the pentateuch. The book of exodus continues the story of the redemptive history that god began in the.
Most people will say that moses wrote exodus through deuteronomy to prepare the people of israel to enter the promise land, but always exclude genesis from this purpose believing it to be written to describe the story of creation alone. The book recounts israels beginning as the covenant people of god through the mosaic law, and the establishment of the tabernacle as the theocratic center of worship, and israels meeting place with yhwh. Exodus summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of exodus for bible study or sunday school lessons. The book of exodus records the history of israels enslavement to pharaoh and their freedom through a deliverer that god raised up. Why is humanity now in an alienated relationship with god. Leon uris magnificently portrays the birth of a new nation in the midst of enemiesthe beginning of an earthshaking struggle for power.
Carol meyers, in her commentary on exodus, suggests that it is arguably the most important book in the bible, as it presents the defining features of israels identitymemories of a past marked by hardship and escape, a binding covenant with god, who chooses israel, and the establishment of the life of the community and the guidelines for sustaining it. To affirm the divine authority of moses leadership and of covenant law and worship regulations. The exodus is a pattern that can be broken down into many stages. The english name of the book derives from the septuagint greek use of exodus to designate the deliverance of the israelites from egyptian bondage. Perhaps the greatest of all points paul makes in this book is the fact that it is by grace you have been. The book covers a period of approximately eighty years, from shortly before mosess birth c. The book of exodus was written between 1440 and 1400 b. Summary of the book of exodus exodus is the second book of the bible and the second book of the five books of the law, or the pentateuch. Against impossible odds, but with the help of god, hebrew people left egypt and spent forty years wandering in the wilderness, before. To understand why god desired to dwell in israels midst, we must consider the book of exodus within the larger framework of redemptive history. Exodus in greek means way out, this book indeed describes the way out god made for the children of israel to be set free from there bondage in egypt it is a book of redemption. However, since much of the book focuses on the monumental covenant between god and his people, including the ten commandments and instructions for the building of the tabernacle or tent or dwelling so god can dwell with his people, relaying the origin of this covenant may be the main purpose of the book of exodus. Its themes are a major part of the psalms and the old testament prophetical books. The exodus narrative is fascinating literature, but it creates certain obstacles for modern readers.
God rescues and delivers his people as he guides them into the unfamiliar desert. Core christianity why the book of exodus matters for your life. Besides these, there were also purposes specified in the scriptures, but the central point of exodus is that israel came out of egypt, because she had a date in the wilderness, she came out to meet the lord. This introduction to the book of exodus will help you better understand gods purpose in the book and. A lot goes down in exodus, so lets break it down into five sections.
Yhwh was faithful to that election as evidenced by his deliverance of israel from egyptian bondage. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. What was the purpose of the book of genesis answers. The book of exodus shemot, one of the books in the bible, tells us about these events. The deliverance from egypt is not the first example of the exodus pattern in the bible. Published in 1958, it begins with a compressed retelling of the voyages of the 1947 immigration ship exodus the book has been widely praised as successful propaganda for israel.
The book of exodus is the second book of the law in hebrew scripture, and. So, its fair to say that exodus can be outlined in many ways. The most popular bible verses from the book of exodus. This introduction to the book of exodus will help you better understand gods purpose in the book and gain a more unified perspective on the. Tradition holds that moses wrote the book of exodus. The bible tells us that the exodus of israelites out of egypt was one of the greatest epic adventures in history. The message of the book of numbers, is universal and timeless. God is faithful and powerful enough to carry through on his promise to deliver his people from pharaoh and the gods of egypt. Published in 1958, it begins with a compressed retelling of the voyages of the 1947 immigration ship exodus. Words, drawn from the opening phrase in the hebrew text. 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.
It reminds believers of the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged, for numbers is the book of the service and walk of gods people. God rescues the descendants of abraham, isaac, and jacob whom he. The book of exodus consists mainly of two genres, narrative history and laws. The book of exodus details gods call to the people of israel to get up and leave their position of slavery in egypt. More than anything else, the tabernacle was gods dwelling place among his people. The exodus was a declaration of gods good purpose for his. Exodus is a historical novel by american novelist leon uris about the founding of the state of israel. Exodus, the liberation of the people of israel from slavery in egypt in the th century bce, under the leadership of moses. Gods main purpose in delivering the people of israel out of egyptian oppression was so that he might dwell among them. But, still, it was not first and foremost a place for priestly sacrifices. Book of exodus overview insight for living ministries.
Besides these, there were also purposes specified in. The purpose of the book may be expressed as tracing the rapid growth of jacobs descendants from egypt to the establishment of the theocratic nation in their promised land. The authors main purpose was to write about how the yearly festival of purim started and to make people remember the saving of the jewish people during king xerxes reign. When looking at the book of exodus, the question becomes as with all books for what purpose did moses write this book to the children of. Exodus is a book of redemption in which god delivers his people out of bondage and brings them into a special relationship with himself. It is the passover sacrifice pesah to the lord, who passed over the houses of the israelites in egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the egyptians exodus 12. Exodus records more miracles of god than any other book in the old testament. In exodus we witness god beginning to fulfill his promises to abraham, isaac, and jacob. The exodus experience was the defining moment in the history of the children of israel. The story of the exodus is anticipated in various ways. Introduction to the book of exodus learn religions. 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. In the book of exodus, on the other hand, moses is utterly fascinated by god and drawn ever deeper into union with gods mind and purpose. The book shows both the start of the festival and why it should continue to be celebrated.
More than anything else, the tabernacle was gods dwelling place among his. The book of exodus is the second of five parts which comprise what scripture calls the book of moses. Oct 15, 2019 the bible tells us that the exodus of israelites out of egypt was one of the greatest epic adventures in history. The name deuteronomy comes from the septuagint greek title deuterono.
It shows the human agents involved, moses and aaron particularly. Summary of the book of exodus the story of the bible. Discover the most popular exodus bible verses in this collection of. From the standpoint of the exodus genesis, therefore was written from the standpoint of. These readers agree that salvation is certainly very important, but it is only part of a much greater message. Exodus is a latin word derived from greek exodos, the name given to the book by those who translated it into greek. In gods timing, the exodus of the israelites from egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for abrahams descendants genesis 15. So transformed was he after one encounter that his face. The book also reveals gods providential control over men and nations to bring about his desired end. The purpose of the tabernacle daily reflection the. Thomas schreiner shares 10 important things you should know about the. We might also think of the tabernacle as the place in which sacrifices were offered to the lord. 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. Exodus is an international publishing phenomenonthe towering novel of the twentieth centurys most dramatic geopolitical event.
The book of numbers was written between 1440 and 1400 b. All these questions are answered with the writing of the book of genesis. The exodus illustrated israels election by god as his covenant people who would mediate the blessings of god to the rest of the world who were yet in spiritual bondage. Israels redemption from egypt by yhwhs great power, through moses, gods appointed deliverer. What is the purpose of the book deuteronomy in bible. Overview of the book of exodus third millennium ministries. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible. Based on the revised standard version second catholic edition, this volume leads readers through a penetrating study of the book of exodus using the biblical text itself and the churchs own guidelines for understanding the bible. Moses was the author of the book of exodus exodus 17.
Within modern biblical studies, there has been an strong consensus that an exodus as described in the book of exodus did not occur. The books of leviticus and deuteronomy also delineate the law. It vividly displays gods faithfulness in keeping and developing the covenant made with abraham. Although the descendants of jacob multiplied in egypt and were under the oppression of the king of egypt, the lord delivered them out of their bondage by raising up a deliverer, moses, demonstrating his power upon the egyptians to such an. Large format, featuring large text size and additional margin space for personal annotations. Exodus is the second book of the old testament following the book of genesis. But the basic structure and content of the book isnt difficult to discern when we remember the books original purpose. 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 main theme in exodus is god remembering his covenant with abraham. First, it tells how the lord liberated israel from egypt to fulfill his covenant with the fathers. The first and initial purpose of the exodus is for gods people to come out of egypt. This was surely true, and a key element of the tabernacles purpose. 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.
There may be two purposes for paul having written the book of ephesians. 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. We see his miraculous interventionthe plagues, the parting of the red sea, the pillar of fire by night and the pillar. The israelites are right where we left them in genesis, hanging out in egypt and multiplying. The book of exodus begins more than four hundred years after joseph, his brothers, and the pharaoh he once served have all died. 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. But then a new pharaoh comes to power, and he starts enslaving the israelites. He will be faithful forever to his own character and covenant. In the exodus out of egypt yahweh took a downtrodden group of canaanite slaves and formed them into his holy covenant nation, making them the vehicle of.
The book ends with the completion of the tabernacle. Though scholars speculate and debate, there is no good reason to deny that moses wrote the book. It demonstrates the power of god and the stubbornness of pharaoh. The second and final purpose is to enter the promised land that was promised by the lord to his people forever.
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. The purpose of genesis may be different than you think. That bigger message goes far beyond the mancentered focus of salvation to embrace the purpose of all time and space. Exodus plays a crucial role in setting the stage for later events of the bible to unfold. A second major element of the book is the covenant revelation at sinai. 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 numbers essentially bridges the gap between the israelites. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Nov 28, 2012 this matters because what else did moses write.
The purpose of the tabernacle daily reflection the high. When god delivers israel from egypt in the book of exodus, they are walking in the. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject. If so, we can say that moses obeyed god, whose purpose was to inform the hebrew people of their glorious. The book of numbers also covers some of the same time period as the book of exodus.
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