9 Exodus, Sinai, and The Law

Exodus, Sinai, and the Law
DC Bible
Where it fits
Genesis told the story of
creation, the origin of evil,
and God setting a plan in
motion to deal with the
problem. It ends with the
patriarchs prospering in
Egypt under Joseph.
Exodus picks up in Egypt

Sailhamer, Pentateuch as Narrative
400 years later with a very
different situation.
Genealogy a repetition of Gen 35.23ff.
Fulfilled promised to Abraham - a nation

How do we know to would come from him
read them together? Linguistic connection to creation (1:7)
Sophisticated literary patterning clues us Connection to Genesis in the flood -

into the connections between Genesis destruction by drowning threat, savior
and Exodus
(Moses) placed in an “ark” ‫ תֵּ בָה‬covered
in resin and pitch and floated
How do we know to
read them together?
Sophisticated literary
patterning clues us into
the connections
between Genesis and
Exodus
Sailhamer, Pentateuch as Narrative, 243

The exodus event became foundational
As a historical basis for covenant: “I am the Used by Joshua to call to faithfulness (Josh
Lord your God, who brought you out of the 24:5-7), made other nations afraid of Israel (1
Sam 4:8), used as a source of hope (Ps
land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” Dt.
77:14-20), used to confront Israel with
5.6 unfaithfulness (Micah 6:4), and source of hope for
deliverance from Babylon (Isa 43:16-17;
It would later be the justification for much of 51:10-11) [Bruegg, Fretheim 96-97]
their ethical system (e.g. you were slaves, so
do not oppress others-Exod 23:9). Jesus’ ministry is patterned on it: baptism
(through the sea); testing in the wilderness (40
It would be a key aspect of Israel’s history days)
during the period of the Exile; helping them to
weather the exile and give hope of a new
exodus.
Major themes at work
Genesis is about: Exodus is about:

beginnings (‫ )בראשית‬of the Presence, the power and
world, of humanity’s plight, and sovereignty of God, the election
of covenant promises with the of Israel, and formally
ancestors establishing the covenant
relationship.
Who is YHWH?
Central
Why should we obey
Questions Him?
in the book of Exodus
How can a holy God be
in Israel’s midst?
The Exodus Event
Ex. 1-15
The central
questions of the
narrative:
“Who is YHWH?”
“Why should I
obey?”
Gustave Dore “the Empyrean”

A Savior is Born - Exod. 1-2
Where is God??? - A strange absence of God (in
terms of mentions or explicit activity) - A question of
PRESENCE
Lack of specific details - Names are left out.

Asiatic captives building temple of Amon at Thebes under
Clever narrative - 1:10 Pharaoh says “let us be Thutmose III, 15th c. BCE, tomb of the vizier Rekhmara
wise”, but the narrative shows him to be a fool.
Irony in the narrative: The more the king tries to

thwart God’s promise and plan, the more the people
multiply.
Role of women - In the first chapters, the heroes are

all women: Moses’ mother, sister, the midwives,
pharaoh’s daughter.
What is Your name?- Exod. 3
Introduced to the theme of HOLINESS
Given the Divine Name (sort of) - ‫יהוה‬

- The “I am/will be” is both an answer
and a refusal to answer.
- Highlights the theme of
PRESENCE. The Being and
activity of YHWH cannot be
separated.
What if they do not believe? -
Exod. 4
Who is being convinced? Moses?
Hebrews? Egypt? - Yes.
Miracles are not enough
● signs demonstrate power, lots of gods
and magicians had power.
Themes of SOVEREIGNTY and
ACCOMODATION
● “No” is not an acceptable answer, but
YHWH will work with the one called.
Them’s fightin’ words - Exod. 5-6
Exod. 5:2 - And Pharaoh said, “Who is YHWH,
that I should heed His voice to send off Israel? I
do not know YHWH, nor will I send off Israel.”
● Pharaoh believed YHWH’s existence, but not
His authority
How would the pharaoh describe

what is going on?
The Showdown - Exod. 7-10
Targeting Egyptians’
whole understanding of
existence
Ma’at was the concept
that creation existed in a
balanced system.
Pharaoh was responsible
for maintaining ma’at.
Who is YHWH?
The plagues increase in
intensity and in threat to
human life.
As the plagues escalate,
YHWH distinguishes
between people and
gives chances to escape.
Ritual Pause - 11:1-13:16
A mixture of narrative and ritual instruction
here
Focus on correct practice and some elements
are unexplained
● (e.g. roasting not boiling the meat). We
assume they knew why.
The Passover would not only be one of the
most significant events in Israel’s history, but
provides an understanding of Christ’s death.
The death of the firstborn and the
sea - 12:29-14:31
Israel was YHWH’s “firstborn” (4:22) -
Pharaoh had enslaved and murdered.
The final plague would target the “firstborn”.

- Note that it targeted everyone, regardless of
socio-economic status or species. Ritual
obedience was required.
Just as Pharaoh drowned Israel, so YHWH

would drown Egypt.
Dating the exodus and dating Exodus
The Exodus Event The Book of Exodus
Early Date - 1 Kgs 6:1 places the exodus 480 years Early Date - dating the writing of Exodus to Moses
before Solomon’s reign (c.967 BC), which places it (Moses was told to write in Ex 17:14; 24:4; 34:4,27-29)
around 1450 BC if the numbers are accurate.
Source Critical Date(s) - divides the text into JE and P,
Late Date - A moderate solution is to date it in the 13th placing JE in the monarchy and P in the post-exilic
c. and propose a smaller group left than the 600,000 period. OR arguing the whole composition is a
stated in the Bible. This fits better with the building of post-exilic document.
“Pithom and Rameses” in 1:1 and the destruction-layers
found in Israel/Palestine. Date? - acknowledge that, regardless of its composition
history, the book is a current whole and must be read
No Date - Minimalist scholars reject the historicity of the that way. Its themes speak to generation after
exodus event altogether. generation of reader.
Historicity of the This is not necessarily bad news.
1. ANE nations do not make a
Exodus habit of recording defeats.
There is very little direct 2. An enslaved people.
evidence for the exodus event. 3. They were a nomadic people.
4. Still much undiscovered.
There is no evidence against it.
5. The desert does not preserve.
There is some evidence that
makes it plausible:
Historicity of the 1. Many Levitical names are
Exodus 2.
Egyptian
It is known that a Western
Asiatic/Semitic people were in
There is very little direct
evidence for the exodus event. Egypt (Hyksos)
3. The cities Pithom and Raamses
There is no evidence against it. were built/rebuilt in 13th c. under
Rameses II (cf. Ex 1:11)
Stela of Merneptah
13th c. BCE possible
earliest mention of
“Israel” as a nation. The
absolute latest date for
exodus and wilderness is
early-mid 13th c.
(Kitchen On Reliability 206-7)
Law
How to Read Law
OT law has nothing to do with
salvation.
Law is good, because people are not.
Measure and evaluate by ancient
standards, not ours.
It is a guide for how to think like God
Law exists within a covenant
God rescued His covenant people out of
Egypt as an act of divine grace (before
any law).
The Law stipulates the expectations for

the maintenance of the covenant
relationship.
Exodus 19 and 24
Types of Law
Casuistic vs. Apodictic
Casuistic = “If… then…”
Apodictic = “Thou shalt not…”
Albrecht Alt claims that apodictic

law was unique to Israel. Why
might this be the case?
Law Structure in the Pentateuch
Sailhamer, Pentateuch as Narrative, 47.

The Decalogue (i.e. “Ten Commandments”)
Base of the law and oft-referenced (e.g. Ex. 31:18; Deut.
4:13; 5:22; 9:9; Hos. 4:1ff.; Jer. 7:9ff.; Psalm 50, 81)
Why these? They seem to be

comprehensive/representative
Where are the punishments? In the covenant-making

context, violation risks the covenant itself.
Reiterated (and slightly expanded) in Deuteronomy 5.

The Book of the
Covenant
Exodus 20:22-23:33
Slave Laws - Ex 21:2-11
Slavery is not good, but is an
accepted reality of ANE.
Serves as the debt system (not

chattel slavery as in America).
Most of the laws are meant to protect

from abuses of the slavery system.
e.g. 21:7-11 was meant to prevent
practices (like this) that would leave a
woman vulnerable and unprotected
Personal Injury Laws - Ex 21:12ff
lex talionis - “eye for eye” (21:24-25) is

meant to limit violence. Forgiveness is still an
option.
Motivation matters little (21:18-19)
Responsibility for prevention (21:28-34)
It is ‘fair’ (21:35-36)
Property Rights - Ex. 22:1-14
Theft has heavy fines - 2X→5X what was

stolen.
Justice should be carried out by the

community if possible (22:2-4).
There is a tension between intention and

responsibility. You must care for what you
borrow.
Sundry Laws - Ex 22:16-23:9
Care for the vulnerable is a high priority;

grounded in the exodus and their covenant
with YHWH (22:21-27).
Sorcery, cursing, bestiality, etc. are

outlawed.
Justice must be upheld, no matter the cost

or the person (23:1-9).
Discussion
How do we talk about law in

the church?
What is the role of law for the

believer in Christ?

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Exodus, Sinai, and the Law

Exodus picks up in Egypt

Fulfilled promised to Abraham - a nation

Sophisticated literary patterning clues us Connection to Genesis in the flood -

Sailhamer, Pentateuch as Narrative, 243

Genesis is about: Exodus is about:

Gustave Dore “the Empyrean”

Lack of specific details - Names are left out.

wise”, but the narrative shows him to be a fool.

Irony in the narrative: The more the king tries to

Role of women - In the first chapters, the heroes are

Given the Divine Name (sort of) - ‫יהוה‬

How would the pharaoh describe

The final plague would target the “firstborn”.

Just as Pharaoh drowned Israel, so YHWH

The Law stipulates the expectations for

Albrecht Alt claims that apodictic

Sailhamer, Pentateuch as Narrative, 47.

Why these? They seem to be

Where are the punishments? In the covenant-making

Reiterated (and slightly expanded) in Deuteronomy 5.

Serves as the debt system (not

Most of the laws are meant to protect

lex talionis - “eye for eye” (21:24-25) is

Motivation matters little (21:18-19)

Responsibility for prevention (21:28-34)

Theft has heavy fines - 2X→5X what was

Justice should be carried out by the

There is a tension between intention and

Care for the vulnerable is a high priority;

Sorcery, cursing, bestiality, etc. are

Justice must be upheld, no matter the cost

How do we talk about law in

What is the role of law for the

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