Exodus 1

OGC

‹ Previous Exodus — All Chapters Chapter 2 ›

BIBLE STUDY TEXTBOOK SERIES EXPLORING EXODUS

by Wilbur Fields

EXPLORING EXODUS is a chapter-by-chapter study of Exodus. To guide you in the exploration of Exodus, five layers of help are provided:

A set of QUESTIONS on each chapter is provided. These may be used for group or individual study. Almost all the questions can be answered from the Bible.

Several OUTLINES on each chapter follow the questions. These are designed to help you in teaching the material, or to assist you in gaining quick comprehension of the Chapter s.

Extensive NOTES on the Bible text and related material are given. These notes are introduced by questions which should draw the mind to the point of the passages under consideration.

These notes are comprehensive. They have been prepared after consulting commentators with many points of view. The Hebrew and Greek texts of Exodus are referred to very often. The Bible text used is the quite-literal American Standard Version (1901).

Numerous photographs, charts, and original MAPS are included.

Several SPECIAL STUDIES on such topics as the Ten Commandments, the Red Sea, and the Sabbath Day are given in the introductory sections and at various places in the text.

We present this book with many prayers that it will help you to explore Exodus with joy and to discover its innumerable blessings.

INTRODUCTORY SECTION I LET’S EXPLORE EXODUS!

Consider the greatness of Exodus. Nearly all the foundations of which JEWISH life is builtthe Ten Commandments, the historic festivals, the leading principles of civil laware contained in the book of Exodus.[1]

[1] J. H. Hertz, The Pentateuch and Haftorahs (London: Soncino, 1969), p. 205.

The importance of Exodus is not confined to the Jews alone. CHRISTIANS recognize the events in Exodus as having been written by way of example for our learning (1 Corinthians 10:11). The bondage in Egypt illustrates our former bondage in sin. Moses is like unto Jesus Christ in many respects (Deuteronomy 18:15; Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37). Israel’s deliverance across the Red Sea was a baptism unto Moses and illustrates our baptism into Christ (1 Corinthians 10:2; Galatians 3:27). Israel’s failures in their wilderness journey were recorded that we might not fall into the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11). The tabernacle, which is so prominent in Exodus 25-40, was a figure for the time present (Hebrews 9:9).

The greatness of Exodus radiates benefits and life-changing truth to ALL HUMANKIND. From no other book have men learned so much of the character and work of the LORD God, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth;. and that will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7). From no other book has mankind learned laws more beneficial, comprehensive, and succinct than the ten commandments in Exodus.

INTRODUCTORY STUDY II

Themes of Exodus: REDEMPTION AND NATIONHOOD

The theme of REDEMPTION sums up much of the history and message of the book of Exodus. Numerous authors (e.g., Pink, Van Dooren) have felt that this term was a good one to express the theme of the book.

The theme of REDEMPTION, or redemption followed by God’s leading, is stated in the book of Exodus itself:

I will REDEEM you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgment: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God (Exodus 6:6-7).

Thou in thy lovingkindness hast LED the people that thou hast REDEEMED (Exodus 15:13). (This statement strikes us as a key verse in Exodus.)

He hath sent REDEMPTION unto his people; He hath commanded his covenant for ever: Holy and reverend is his name (Psalms 111:9).

What does REDEMPTION mean?

The Hebrew verb (ga-‘al) translated redeem in Exodus 6:16; Exodus 15:13 means to free by avenging or buying back.

The Greek word (lutroo) translated redeem in Exodus 15:13 in the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) means to release on receipt of a ransom.

The Greek word (ruomai) translated redeem in Exodus 6:6 means to draw to one’s self.

Thus, REDEMPTION basically means a buying back, but its meaning has been broadened to mean releasing or deliverance generally.

Christians have REDEMPTION in Christ from God (Ephesians 1:7). To understand the way God REDEEMED Israel from Egypt will help us understand the nature of our redemption.

For example, though Israel was redeemed from Egypt with mighty miracles and God’s special favor, still out in the wilderness they suffered countless hardships and tests and temptations. Similarly, though we have been wondrously and miraculously redeemed from sin and from impossible burdens, still we must face many tribulations, tests, and temptations. We are not promised immediate deliverance from all difficulties.

The development of the theme of REDEMPTION in Exodus can be outlined as follows:

Need for redemption (chs. 1-6)

Might of the redeemer (chs. 7-11)

Method of redemption (chs. 12-18)

Duties of the redeemed (chs. 19-24)

Provisions for the redeemed (chs. 25-40) (Adapted from Arthur Pink, Gleanings in Exodus [Chicago: Moody, n.d.] p. 8.)

NATIONHOOD

VARIOUS AUTHORS HAVE SELECTED THE TOPIC OF ISRAEL’S BECOMING A NATION AS THE THEME OF EXODUS. THEY HAVE WORDED IT IN VARIOUS WAYS.

The Making of a Holy Nation. See Exodus 19:6. We have used this heading on the end sheets of this book (the pictures inside the covers). Israel became God’s holy nation when God provided them a leader (Exodus 1-6), liberation (Exodus 7-12), leading (Exodus 13-18), laws (Exodus 19-24), and divine worship (Greek, latreia) (Exodus 25-40).

The commencement of Israel as a covenant nation. (G. L. Archer, A Survey of O.T. Introduction [Chicago: Moody, 1964] p. 209.)

The beginning of a separate national existence. As Genesis records the beginning of religious life in Israel, so Exodus records the beginning of national life. (John Raven, Old Testament Introduction [New York: Revell, 1910], p. 136.)

From a Family to a Nation. When Jacob Israel came into Egypt, he came only as a large family (Exodus 1:15). But in fulfillment of the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2), Israel became a nation. This transformation was effected by stages: a. Population; b. Liberation; c. Legislation; d. Organization. All of these stages can be observed in Exodus.

EXODUS-CHAPTER TOPICS

INTRODUCTORY SECTION III NAMES and OUTLINE of Exodus

The NAMES of the book of Exodus

In the Hebrew Bible it is called Shemoth, meaning names. This is taken from the opening words of the book, We-’elleh shemoth, which mean These are the names.

In the Greek Bible (Septuagint, or LXX) it is called Exodos, meaning going out or departure. This word actually appears in the Greek of Exo 19:1: In the third month of the departure (Gr., exodos) of the sons of Israel.. This name applies more accurately to the first half of the book than to the second half.

The Latin Bible used the title Exodus, a slightly-changed form of the Greek title. In our English Bibles we have used the Latin title.

OUTLINE(S) OF EXODUS

We can outline the book of Exodus according to the PLACES where the events occurred.

ISRAEL IN EGYPT; Chs. 1-13 (Exodus 1:1 to Exodus 13:16)

Population growth and bondage; Ch. 1.

Preparation of Moses; Chs. 2-6.

Plagues; Chs. 7-11.

Passover and departure; Chs. 12-13.

II.

ISRAEL FROM EGYPT TO SINAI; Chs. 13-18 (Exodus 13:17 to Exodus 18:27).

Deliverance at the Red Sea; (Exodus 13:17 to Exodus 15:21).

Journey to Sinai; (Exodus 15:22 - Ch. 17).

Visit of Jethro; Ch. 18.

III.

ISRAEL AT SINAI; Chs. 19-40.

Law (covenant) given; Chs. 19-24.

Tabernacle instructions; Chs. 25-31.

Rebellion and renewal (golden calf); Chs. 32-34.

Tabernacle construction; Chs. 35-40.

We can outline Exodus according to the EXPERIENCES shared by God’s people Israel. Exodus itself emphasizes the theme of God’s doings with His PEOPLE. (Note Exodus 3:7; Exodus 5:1; Exodus 6:7; Exodus 7:4; Exodus 15:13; Exodus 19:5-6.)

GOD’S PEOPLE DELIVERED; Chs. 1-13 (Exodus 1:1 to Exodus 13:16)

II.

GOD’S PEOPLE LED; Chs. 13-18 (Exodus 13:17 to Exodus 18:27)

III.

GOD’S PEOPLE MADE A COVENANT NATION; Chs. 19-24.

IV.

GOD’S PEOPLE RECEIVE TABERNACLE INSTRUCTIONS; Chs. 25-31.

GOD’S PEOPLE SIN (golden calf); Chs. 32-34.

VI.

GOD’S PEOPLE CONSTRUCT THE TABERNACLE; Chs. 35-40.

Detailed OUTLINE of EXODUS

GOD’S PEOPLE DELIVERED; Exodus 1:1 to Exodus 13:16.

Jacob’s family in Egypt; Exodus 1:1-7.

Afflictions upon the children of Israel; Exodus 1:8-22.

Labor; Exodus 1:8-14.

Genocide; Exodus 1:15-22.

Early life of Moses; Exodus 2:1-25.

Birth and adoption; Exodus 2:1-10.

Rejection and flight; Exodus 2:11-15.

Moses in Midian; Exodus 2:16-22.

God’s knowledge of Israel; Exodus 2:23-25.

Call of Moses; Exodus 3:1 to Exodus 4:17.

The burning bush; Exodus 3:1-6.

God’s commission to Moses; Exodus 3:7-10.

Objections by Moses; Exodus 3:11 to Exodus 4:17.

(1)

Who am I? Exodus 3:11-12.

(2)

What is thy name? Exodus 3:13-22.

(3)

They will not believe. Exodus 4:1-9.

(4)

I am not eloquent. Exodus 4:10-12.

(5)

Send someone else. Exodus 4:13-17.

Moses-’ return; Exodus 4:18-31.

Obedience tested during return; Exodus 4:18-26.

First meeting with Israel; Exodus 4:27-31.

Confrontation with Pharaoh; Exodus 5:1 to Exodus 11:10.

Failure of first request; Exodus 5:1-5.

(1)

Pharaoh refuses; Exodus 5:1-5.

(2)

Burdens increased; Exodus 5:6-14.

(3)

Israelites-’ appeal rejected; Exodus 5:15-21.

(4)

Moses-’ remonstrance and the Lord’s reply; Exodus 5:22 to Exodus 6:1.

Prelude to successful action; Exodus 6:2 to Exodus 7:13

(1)

Reassurance for the people; Exodus 6:2-9.

(2)

Command to return to Pharaoh; Exodus 6:10-13.

(3)

Review of fathers-’ genealogies; Exodus 6:14-27.

(4)

Commission to Moses renewed; Exodus 6:28 to Exodus 7:7.

(5)

Second meeting with Pharaoh (rods to serpents); Exodus 7:8-13.

Plagues; Exodus 7:14 to Exodus 11:10.

(1)

River to blood; Exodus 7:14-24.

(2)

Frogs; Exodus 8:1-15.

(3)

Lice (gnats); Exodus 8:16-19.

(4)

Swarms (flies); Exodus 8:20-32.

(5)

Death of animals; Exodus 9:1-7.

(6)

Boils; Exodus 9:8-12.

(7)

Hail; Exodus 9:13-35.

(8)

Locusts; Exodus 10:21-29.

(9)

Darkness; Exodus 10:21-29.

Passover; Exodus 11:1 to Exodus 12:33.

Warning of the last plague; Exodus 11:1-10.

Instructions for the passover in Eygpt; Exodus 12:1-13.

Direction for passover in future; Exodus 12:14-20.

The passover kept; Exodus 12:21-28.

Death of firstborn; Exodus 12:29-33.

The departure (exodus); Exodus 12:34-42.

Three final directives; Exodus 12:43 to Exodus 13:16.

Who may eat the Passover; Exodus 12:43-50.

Keep the ordinance of unleavened bread; Exodus 13:3-10.

Sanctify the firstborn; Exodus 12:51 to Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:11-16.

II.

GOD’S PEOPLE LED: Exodus 13:17 to Exodus 18:27.

The route of the journey; Exodus 13:17-22.

Victory at the Red Sea; Exodus 14:1 to Exodus 15:21.

Encampment by the sea; Exodus 14:1-4.

Pursuit by the Egyptians; Exodus 14:5-9.

Fear and reassurance; Exodus 14:10-14.

The Lord’s exhortation; Exodus 14:15-18.

The angel’s protection; Exodus 14:19-20.

Deliverance across the sea; Exodus 14:21-22.

Destruction of the Egyptians; Exodus 14:23-31.

Song of triumph; Exodus 15:1-21.

(1)

By Moses and Israel; Exodus 15:1-19.

(2)

By Miriam; Exodus 15:20-21.

Experiences in the journey; Exodus 15:22 to Exodus 18:27.

Bitter waters (Marah); Exodus 15:22-26.

Springs of Elim; Exodus 15:27.

Food (manna) provided; Exodus 16:1-36.

(1)

Murmuring; Exodus 16:1-3.

(2)

God’s promise; Exodus 16:4-12.

(3)

Quails sent; Exodus 16:13.

(4)

Manna given; Exodus 16:14-21.

(5)

Manna and Sabbath; Exodus 16:22-30.

(6)

Memorial of the manna; Exodus 16:31-36.

Waters of Meribah; Exodus 17:1-7.

War with Amalek; Exodus 17:8-16.

Visit of Jethro; Exodus 18:1-27.

(1)

Reunion with family; Exodus 18:1-12.

(2)

Jethro’s advice to appoint Judges 18:13-27.

III.

GOD’S PEOPLE MADE A COVENANT NATION; Chs. 19-24.

Preparations for the covenant; Exodus 19:1-25.

Instructions to the people; Exodus 19:1-15.

Coming of the Lord upon Mt. Sinai; Exodus 19:16-25.

The Ten Words; Exodus 20:11-17.

The book of the covenant (rules for the covenant people); Exodus 20:18 to Exodus 23:33.

Ritual regulations; Exodus 20:18-26.

The covenant ordinances; Exodus 21:1 to Exodus 23:19.

(1)

The Hebrew slave; Exodus 21:1-11.

(2)

Capital offenses; Exodus 21:12-17.

(3)

Injuries and non-capital offenses; Exodus 21:18-32.

(4)

Property rights; Exodus 21:33 to Exodus 22:17.

(5)

More capital offenses; Exodus 22:18-20.

(6)

Care for the poor and needy; Exodus 22:21-27.

(7)

Reverence to God and rulers; Exodus 22:28-31.

(8)

Justice and goodness to all; Exodus 23:1-9.

(9)

The sacred seasons; Exodus 23:10-19.

Promises about conquering the land; Exodus 23:20-33.

The covenant ratified; Exodus 24:1-18.

Call to worship; Exodus 24:1-2.

Covenant sealed with blood; Exodus 24:3-8.

Leaders eat with God; Exodus 24:9-11.

Moses called onto the mount; Exodus 24:12-18.

IV.

GOD’S PEOPLE RECEIVE TABERNACLE INSTRUCTIONS; Chs. 25-31.

An offering to be taken; Exodus 25:1-9.

Ark and mercy-seat; Exodus 25:10-22.

Table of showbread; Exodus 25:23-30.

The menorah (lampstand); Exodus 25:31-40.

Tabernacle curtains; Exodus 26:1-14.

Tabernacle boards (Exodus 26:15-25) and bars (Exodus 26:26-30).

Veil (Exodus 26:31-35) and screen (Exodus 26:36-37).

The altar of burnt-offering; Exodus 27:1-8.

Court; Exodus 27:9-19.

Oil for lamp; Exodus 27:20-21.

Garments of priests; Exodus 28:1-43.

First directions; Exodus 28:1-5.

Ephod; Exodus 28:6-14.

Breastplate; Exodus 28:15-30.

Robe of ephod; Exodus 28:31-35.

Golden plate; Exodus 28:36-38.

Coat; Exodus 28:39.

Coats, girdles, turbans; Exodus 28:40-41.

Linen breeches; Exodus 28:42-43.

Consecration of priests; Exodus 29:1-37.

The continual burnt-offering; Exodus 29:38-46.

Altar of incense; Exodus 20:1-10.

Atonement money with censuses; Exodus 30:11-16.

Laver; Exodus 30:17-21.

Anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-33) and incense (Exodus 30:34-38).

Tabernacle workmen; Exodus 31:1-11.

The Sabbath; Exodus 31:12-17.

IV.

GOD’S PEOPLE SIN BUT ARE RENEWED; Chs. 32-34.

Sin; Exodus 31:18 to Exodus 32:29.

Calf made and worshipped; Exodus 31:18 to Exodus 32:6.

God’s anger and Moses-’ prayer; Exodus 32:7-14.

Moses-’ anger; Exodus 32:15-20.

Moses and Aaron; Exodus 32:21-24.

Three thousand slain; Exodus 32:25-29.

God and Israel in tension; Exodus 32:30 to Exodus 33:23.

Moses-’ prayer for forgiveness; Exodus 32:30-35.

Jehovah withdraws His presence; Exodus 33:1-6.

Jehovah and Moses; Exodus 33:7-11.

Moses prays; Exodus 33:12-17.

(1)

For God’s acceptance of the nation; Exodus 33:12-17.

(2)

To see God’s glory; Exodus 33:18-23.

Renewal of covenant; Exodus 34:1 to Exodus 35:3.

New tablets; Exodus 34:1-4.

God proclaims Himself; Exodus 34:5-9.

Terms of the covenant; Exodus 34:10 to Exodus 35:3.

GOD’S PEOPLE CONSTRUCT THE TABERNACLE; Exodus 35:4 to Exodus 40:38.

Call for offering of materials; Exodus 35:4-8.

Call for workmen; Exodus 35:10-19.

Abundant offering; Exodus 35:20-29.

Workmen commissioned; Exodus 35:30 to Exodus 36:7.

Curtains made; Exodus 36:8-19.

Boards (Exodus 36:27-30) and bars (Exodus 36:31-34) made.

Veil (Exodus 36:35-36) and screen (Exodus 36:37-38) made.

Ark and mercy-seat made; Exodus 37:1-9.

Table made; Exodus 37:10-16.

Menorah (lampstand) made; Exodus 37:17-23.

Altar of incense made; Exodus 37:25-29.

Altar of burnt-offering made; Exodus 38:1-7.

Laver made; Exodus 38:8.

Court made; Exodus 38:9-20.

Sum of materials used; Exodus 38:21-31.

Priests-’ garments made; Exodus 39:1-31.

Work finished and presented to Moses; Exodus 39:32-43.

Erection of tabernacle; Exodus 40:1-33.

Directions from God; Exodus 40:1-15.

Rearing up the tabernacle; Exodus 40:16-33.

Glory cloud fills the tabernacle; Exodus 40:34-38.

INTRODUCTORY SECTION IV WHO WROTE EXODUS?

We believe that Moses was the author of the entire book, except for possibly a few lines that may have been added by Joshua or someone else living shortly after Moses-’ time. (Note Exodus 16:35.)

EVIDENCE THAT MOSES WAS THE AUTHOR OF EXODUS:

Testimony in the book itself.

Exodus 17:8-16 (the story of the attack by Amalek) is said to have been written by Moses. See Exodus 17:14.

Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:32 (the book of covenant ordinances) is said to have been written by Moses. See Exodus 24:4.

Exodus 34:10-26 (the ordinances of the renewed covenant) was written by Moses. See Exodus 34:27.

Numbers 33:2 says that Moses wrote their (Israel’S) going out according to their journeys by the commandment of Jehovah. While this may apply primarily to the brief record in Numbers 33, it may also apply to the record of their journey in Exodus 12-19.

From these passages, which are the only ones specifically ascribed to Moses in the book, we can project (extrapolate) Mosaic authorship to the entire book, because the book is a unit and tells a continuous story.

Testimony in other parts of the Old Testament.

Joshua 8:31As it is written in the book of the law of Moses, (referring to Exodus 20:25).

Joshua 8:32He wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses.

Joshua 23:6Do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses.

Judges 3:4which he commanded their father by (Heb., by the hand of) Moses.

1 Kings 2:3Keep his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses.

1 Kings 8:56which he promised by (Heb., by the hand of) Moses.

2 Chronicles 25:4As it is written in the law in the books of Moses.

2 Chronicles 35:6According to the word of the Lord by (Heb., by the hand of) Moses (concerning the Passover).

Ezra 6:18As it is written in the book of Moses.

Nehemiah 10:29which was given by Moses (Heb., by the hand of Moses).

Malachi 4:4Remember ye the law of Moses my servant.

Testimony of the New Testament.

Mark 7:10Moses said, Honor thy father and mother.

Mark 12:26Have ye not read in the book of Moses? (referring to Exodus 3:6)

Luke 24:44All things. which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. (By these expressions Jesus referred to the entire Old Testament.)

John 1:17The law was given through Moses.

John 5:46-47For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me (Jesus); for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Compare also these passages, which attribute other parts of the Pentateuch to Moses: Matthew 8:4; Matthew 19:7; Matthew 22:24; Mark 1:44; Luke 2:22; Luke 16:29; Luke 20:28; John 7:19; Acts 3:22; Acts 26:22; Romans 10:5; Romans 10:19; 1 Corinthians 9:9.

Testimony of ancient Jewish writers.

From the Jewish Talmudic tract Baba Bathra, 14b-15a:

Who wrote the Scriptures?Moses wrote his own book and the portion of Balaam and Job. Joshua wrote the book which bears his name and [the last] eight verses of the Pentateuch. (The Talmud was put into writing in the second and third centuries after Christ.)

From the Jewish Talmudic tract Aboth (Fathers), chap. I:

MISHNAH: 1. Moses received the Torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua. The commentary (Gemara) on the term Torah says, Scripture and its complementary Oral Instruction, with special reference to the latter.

Josephus, Against Apion, 1, 8.

(Of our books) five belong to Moses, which contain his laws and the traditions of the origin of mankind till his death. (Josephus wrote about 80 A.D.)

The view that Moses was author of Exodus was the unanimous view of Bible writers and the ancient Jews. So strong and consistent was this testimony that even those who do not accept Moses as the author of the whole book will credit him as being the author of parts. There were very few men living in ancient times who had the knowledge, the training, the literary skill, the time, and the motivation to write such a marvelous book as Exodus. As a participant and eye-witness of the events, Moses had the necessary knowledge. Having been educated in all the wisdom of Egypt, he had adequate training and literary skill. Because he was with Israel for forty years during the wilderness wanderings, he had abundant time to write. Being a man fully dedicated to God and to the people of God, he had the motivation necessary for the big task of writing this book and also the other books of the Pentateuch. Most important of all, the Spirit of God motivated him and assisted him. How many other men of ancient times (or modern either!) possessed this combination of qualities needed by any author of a book like Exodus?

II.

CRITICAL[2] THEORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORSHIP OF EXODUS:

[2] The term critical has unfortunately come to have a bad connotation to many people. The term is derived from the Greek word meaning to judge. All students of the Bible must form some judgments concerning the Biblical text; so in a way all Bible students are critics. However, so many Biblical critics have expressed skeptical, negative, views about the Bible, that the very expression Bible critic has become synonymous to many with destructive critic.

Martin Noth expresses the view of the majority of Old Testament critics in the following statement:

The intensive work on the Pentateuch which has been carried on by scholars for many generations has shown that the completed Pentateuch. as it now stands in the Old Testament, cannot be explained as the work of one author and that the attribution of the Pentateuch to Moses as author, of which we find traces only after the Old Testament period, does not hold true.[3]

[3] Martin Noth, Exodus (Phila.: Westminster, 1962), p. 12.

Those who reject the Mosaic authorship of Exodus and the rest of the Pentateuch maintain that at first the stories and other parts of these books were stories about real or imaginary people and events, which were transmitted orally over a long period.[4]

[4] Roy L. Honeycutt, Jr., Exodus, in Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 1 (Nashville: Broadman, 1969), p. 308. (This particular edition of the Broadman Bible Commentary was withdrawn from publication and sale by the Southern Baptist Convention because of the liberalism expressed by certain of its authors.)

These oral (word-of-mouth) traditions were shaped by usage in worship centers throughout the era of conquest and settlement.[5]

[5] Honeycutt, ibid.

Supposedly the oral traditions clustered themselves into collections of traditions at different placesShechem, Jerusalem, Hebron Gilgal, or other places, so that in time different sections of what we now have in Exodus were chiefly known primarily in specific areas. Thus (according to the theory) there developed a body of traditions at one place about the exodus event; at another place a group of traditions about the wilderness wanderings; at yet another area a collection of traditions about the Sinai events. The sections about the covenant (Exodus 20-23) and the tabernacle (25-31, 35-40) were also independently circulated.[6]

[6] Ibid., pp. 309-311.

The first author who wrote some of the traditions down is commonly called J. The -Jahwist,-’ i.e. the author of this particular narrative stratum in the Pentateuch, is probably to be dated in the time of David or Solomon.[7] He is thought to have lived in the southern kingdom (Judah). Sections of Exodus attributed to J include Exodus 1:8-12; Exodus 4:1-16; and many others.

[7] Noth, op. cit., p. 14.

The next author is called E, (because he used the Hebrews name -elohim for God, rather than Jehovah). He is usually placed after J in time, and located in the northern kingdom. The question whether J or E is the earlier is disputed; E is usually taken to be the less ancient, but this cannot be proved for certain.[8]

[8] Noth, op. cit., p. 15.

Some time near the fall of the northern kingdom the writings of J and E were combined into a single work, often called JE.

Skeptical critics assume that the book of Deuteronomy was written during the latter years of the kingdom of Judah. It is often associated with the reformation of Josiah in 621 B.C., although many now date it back to the time of Hezekiah (about 700 B.C.) The Deuteronomistic writers supposedly also added many moralistic insertions into other books (Judges, Kings, Exodus, etc.). The initial D is often applied to the Deuteronomistic author(s).

During or after the Babylonian exile (586-536 B.C.) priestly writers added a great amount of written material to the JE and D material that came to them. The priestly writers specialized in ceremonial and ritualistic writings, in statistics, genealogies, and introductory expressions (these are the generations of.). Most of the book of Leviticus is attributed to P, as is the material about the tabernacle and related matters in Exodus. The priestly writers supposedly rewrote much of the history which they found in JE to promote their own priestly privileges and position.[9]

[9] See Noth, op. cit., p. 16.

Some time after the Babylonian captivity JE, D, and P were combined into what we now know as the Pentateuch, or Torah. This leaves Moses out of the picture.

These separate sources only exist in the minds of the critics who believe in them. The oldest Bible manuscripts we have betray no trace of J, E, D, or P.

No two critics who dissect the Old Testament into these sources come up with quite the same analysis. They have broad agreement, but when it comes to assigning particular passages to particular sources, every critic has his own analysis.[10]

[10] For examples of way that Exodus is divided up verse by verse (or in larger units) and attributed to J, E, or P, see S. R. Driver, An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (New York: Meridian, 1958), pp. 22-42; and W. O. E. Oesterly and Theodore H. Robinson, An Introduction to the Books of the Old Testament (New York: Meridian, 1958), pp. 36-37.

We do not accept the source theories about the origin of the Pentateuch. In our commentary we frequently refer to the critics-’ views of various passages. When these views are weighed, they are found to be unproven speculations based upon an unwillingness to accept the supernatural inspiration of the Bible.

For further study of the critical theories, see Edward J. Young, An Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1963); or Gleason L. Archer, Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago, Moody, 1964); or Merrill F. Unger, Introductory Guide to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1951).

If you desire to check some books favoring the source (documentary) analysis of the Old Testament, see James King West, Introduction to the Old Testament (New York: Macmillan, 1971), Martin Noth, Exodus (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1962); S. R. Driver, An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (New York: Meridian, reprinted 1958).

INTRODUCTORY SECTION V THE DATE OF THE EXODUS

By the date of the exodus we are referring to the date of Israel’s departure from Egypt, rather than the date of composition of the book of Exodus.

THE EARLY DATE FOR THE EXODUS1446 B.C.

The exodus from Egypt occurred 480 years before the start of Solomon’s temple, in the fourth year of king Solomon. See 1 Kings 6:1. The reign of Solomon is dated 970-931 B.C. by Edwin R. Thiele,[11] and 961-922 by Wm. F. Albright.[12] Using Thiele’s dates, Solomon’s fourth year would be 966 B.C. Adding 480 years to this gives us, 1446 B.C. This figure could be a year or two off, depending on whether a part of a year is to be regarded as a whole year when adding up the totals. But the 1446 B.C. figure should be regarded as extremely close to the date. It is the date adopted in this textbook. 2. According to Judges 11:26, three hundred years (which we accept as a round number) elapsed between Israel’s conquest of the land east of Jordan and the time of Judge Jephthah. Between the time of Jephthah and the reign of King David (1010-970 B.C.), several events occurred: the judgeships of Samson, Eli, and Samuel, and the reign of King Saul. The time span of these events is somewhat uncertain, but it probably was sixty to eighty years. If we start at 1010 B.C. (David’s reign), and go back sixty (or more) years to Jephthah, and then back 300 years to the conquest of the land east of Jordan, and then back forty more years for the wilderness wanderings, we have a total of 400 years, and are back to 1410 B.C. This is quite close to the statistic in 1 Kings 6:1.

[11] Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965), p. 55.

[12] The Biblical Period from Abraham to Ezra (New York: Harper, 1963), p. 53.

If we date the exodus as late as 1290 B.C. (which many do), there is simply not enough time between 1010 and the exodus for all the events to have occurred, if we take the scriptural statistics literally at all.

The 1446 B.C. exodus date allows time for the events in the period of judges. If we add up all the periods whose lengths are given in the book of Judges, we get a total of 410 years! All Bible students admit that there is some overlapping in the periods. The scripture itself indicates this. (See Judges 10:7; Judges 15:20.) If we adopt the early date of the exodus, we find enough time for all of the events in the period of judges, when we have allowed for some overlapping. If we date the exodus as late as 1290, so much overlapping and telescoping of time is required that there is at least a fifty percent adjustment needed!

Queen Hatshepsut (1501-1480 B.C.)[13] ruled at the correct time to be a possible candidate as the daughter of Pharaoh who saved the baby Moses. If the exodus was in 1446 B.C., Moses was born in 1526 B.C., eighty years before. Hatshepsut would then have been a youthful daughter of Pharaoh, not yet queen. We feel that she was the woman referred to, but there is no way to be certain.

[13] Using the dates of Siegfried J. Schwantes, A Short History of the Ancient Near East (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965). His dates are used for all the Egyptian kings mentioned in this article.

Thutmose III (1502-1448 B.C.) fits well as the Pharaoh of the oppression.

He came to power very near the time when Moses fled to Midian (about 1486 B.C.). Thutmose III was both step-son and son-in-law of Hatshepsut, and was a bitter rival to her during the latter part of her reign. He made seventeen military campaigns into Canaan and Syria.

His personality (militaristic and bragging) fits well as the pharaoh of the oppression.

A model and a painting of slaves making bricks comes from the time of his reign.[14] Compare Exodus 1:14.

[14] Merrill F. Unger, Archaeology and the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1964), p. 122 (picture); D. J. Wiseman, Illustrations from Biblical Archaeology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 1958), pp. 42, 44, 45.

He died shortly (one or two years) before Moses returned to Egypt from Midian. See Exodus 4:19; Exodus 2:23.

Amenhotep II (1448-1422 B.C.) fits well the Pharaoh at the time of the exodus.

The dates agree. Amenhotep II seems to have been unable to carry out any invasions or extensive military operations after his fifth year.[15] Perhaps this was caused by the Red Sea disaster.

[15] G. L. Archer, Jr., Survey of Old Testament Intro. (Chicago: Moody, 1965). pp. 215, 217, 204-207.

His personality fits well. He was strong, athletic, and insufferably boastful.[16] See pp. 132-133 in this book.

[16] Ancient Near Eastern Texts (Princeton Univ. Press, 1955), p. 244.

He was succeeded by a non-firstborn son, Thutmose IV.[17] All the firstborn of Egypt died at the passover time.

[17] Schwantes, op. cit., p. 86. G. L. Robinson. Bearing of Archaeology on the Old Testament (New York: American Tract Society, 1944), p. 54.

The chief problem with adopting Amenhotep II as pharaoh of the exodus is that Exodus 14:28, Psalms 136:15, and other passages seem to say that the Pharaoh perished in the sea. This is a problem. See notes on Exodus 14:28.

The fact that there were eleven generations from Aaron (Israel’s first high priest) to Zadok (a priest in the time of king David, about 1000 B.C.) surely places the date of Aaron (and therefore also the death of the exodus) back as far as 1400 B.C. Even in the time available after that date, there would have been hardly forty years available for each generation. See 1 Chronicles 6:3-8.

CHART OF KINGS OF EGYPTIAN EIGHTEENTH DYNASTY (Double lines indicate marriage.)

Observe that neither Thutmose I, nor Thutmose II, nor Thutmose III actually had royal blood, but their wives and daughter did.

The fact that Israel could subdue almost all the land east of the Jordan river in only two battles (at Jahaz and Edrei; Numbers 21:23-24) shows that this area was sparsely populated at the time near the exodus. Archaeological surveys have shown that this was the case between 1850-1300 B.C.,[18] which would include the time forty years after the exodus. After 1300 B.C. it became more heavily populated. (It is incorrect to allege, however, that this area had NO settled population before 1300 B.C. See p. 27.)

[18] Nelson Glueck, Rivers in the Desert (New York: Farrar, Straus, and Cudahy, 1959), pp. 10, 11.

The Amarna letters (clay tablets sent from kings in Canaan to the Egyptian kings around 1400-1375 B.C.) tell of great alarm in Canaan because they were being invaded. Among the invading peoples, they mention the -Apiri (also spelled Habiri, Habiru, -Apiru, Hapiri, Khapiri). This name may very well refer to the Hebrews.[19] If the -Apiru invasion was, even in part, the Hebrew invasion, then we would need to date the exodus some forty-five or fifty years before the Amarna letters, which would give us a date quite close to 1446 B.C.

[19] Wm. F. Albright, From the Stone Age to Christianity (Garden City, New York: Anchor, 1957), p. 240, says that the name Hebrew may perfectly well reflect an adjectival form -Apiru.

It is remarkable that among all the letters sent to the Egyptian king Akhenaton (at Amarna), there are no letters from Jericho, Shiloh, Mizpah, Gibeon, Hazor, or Shechem. These places had probably either been conquered already by the Habiri (as the Bible indicates), or had already allied themselves with them.[20]

[20] G. L. Robinson, op. cit., p. 58. John Garstang and J. B. E. Garstang, The Story of Jericho (London: Marshall, Morgan, and Scott, 1948), p. 126.

One of the Amarna letters from the Egyptian envoy in north Palestine contains this note to the reigning Pharaoh: Let my lord the king recall what Hazor and its king have already had to endure.[21] Hazor was one of the cities destroyed by Joshua. (Joshua 11:10-13)

[21] Sir Charles Marston, The Bible is True (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1937), p. 145.

The king of Megiddo wrote one of the Amarna letters, saying that he was being attacked by one Lab-‘ayu, ruler of Shechem. He asks for reinforcements. Lab-‘ayu also wrote, protesting his innocence, Lab-‘ayu is said (by his enemies) to have turned Shechem over to the -Apriu.[22] This may explain how the Israelites could conduct their big mass meeting at Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerezim without interference from the Canaanites.

[22] Chas. F. Pfeiffer, Tell El Amarna and the Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1963), p. 50. Biblical Archaeologist, Feb. 1960, p. 19. G. E. Wright, Shechem (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1964), p. 18.

The identification of the Habiri of the Amarna letters has caused much controversy. Some say they were the Hebrews. But the Habiri spoken of seem to have been a much more inclusive group of people than just the Hebrews, although the Hebrews were probably regarded as Habiri by the Canaanites. Consult the Biblical Archaeologist, Feb. 1960, for a detailed discussion. See also G. E. Wright, Biblical Archaeology (Phila.: Westminster, 1962), p. 75.

A destruction layer at Hazor in nothern Israel is dated about 1400 B.C. (close of the Late Bronze I period). This is probably the debris of the destruction referred to in Joshua 11:11; Joshua 11:13. This would fit very well with the 1446 exodus date.[23]

[23] Bibliotheca Sacra #129 (1972), pp. 42-46; (Reprinted in the Bulletin of the Near East Archaeological Society, #2, 1972, pp. 8-17). See Yigael Yadin (and others), Hazor II (Jerusalem: Magnes Press, 1960), plate CXVI for many illustrations of LB I pottery from Hazor. See also Hazor III-IV, plates CCXL-CCLIII for similar material.

At Hazor there are three destruction layers on the plateau (or enclosure) below the tell (acropolis). One is the 1400 B.C. destruction. The next above it is from the end of Late Bronze II A, and is probably the destruction by the Egyptian king Seti I, 1318 B.C. The third is LB II B (1300-1260/30 B.C.), and is possibly the destruction debris caused by the battle of Deborah and Barak (Judges 4:2; Judges 4:24).

The discovery of a jar handle bearing three very ancient Hebrew letters (found at the ruins of Raddana, a site about ten miles north of Jerusalem) has led Dr. Y. Aharoni of Tel Aviv University to date the Hebrew occupation of this site as no later than 1300 B.C.[24] The letters resemble the Proto-Sinaitic inscriptions found in the Mt. Sinai area, and dated approximately 1500 B.C.

[24] Y. Aharoni, Khirbet Raddana and its Inscription. Israel Exploration Journal #21, pp. 130-135.

If the Hebrews were at Raddana in 1300 B.C., this forces the exodus back to near 1400 (counting the years of wandering, the years of conquest, and the occupation during the period of judges). This is much nearer to the 1446 date we have proposed than it is to other suggested later dates. The excavators of Raddana, Dr. Joseph Callaway and Dr. Robert E. Cooley, do not concur with Aharoni’s conclusion, and maintain that the site of Raddana was first occupied about 1200 B.C., and that it was probably occupied by non-Israelites, who had a sophisticated architecture that was destroyed and later crudely rebuilt by Israelite invaders about 1100 B.C. (Information from personal correspondence with Robert E. Cooley.) The Biblical information gives a rather definite date for the exodus. The archaeological data, though valuable, seems incomplete, inconclusive, and contradictory.

II.

THE LATE DATE FOR THE EXODUS1290 B.C.

Because of some conclusions from archaeology, most scholars do not accept the 1446 B.C. date that we have proposed for the exodus. Most date it around 1290 B.C.[25] Some, like Joseph Callaway, have proposed dates as low as 1100 B.C.

[25] Many of the arguments for a late date or against the early date can be read in J. A. Thompson, The Bible and Archaeology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962), pp. 55-63; Jack Finegan, Light from the Ancient Past (Princeton Univ. Press, 1974), pp. 117-121; K. A. Kitchen, Ancient Orient and the Old Testament (Chicago: Inter-Varsity, 1966), pp. 52-72. Rebuttals to most of their arguments can be found in Gleason Archer, Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago: Moody, 1965), pp. 214-223.

Those dating the exodus late generally regard the great notorious king Raamses II (1301-1234) of the Egyptian nineteenth dynasty as the pharaoh of the oppression, and his son Merneptah (1234-1220 B.C.) as the pharaoh of the exodus. Others regard Seti I (1317-1301 B.C.) as the pharaoh of the oppression and Raamses II as the pharaoh of the exodus.

We feel that the very lack of certainty and unanimity among advocates of the later dates shows the weakness of the view. Merneptah in his fifth year of reign prepared a stele (an upright inscribed stone monument), which contains boastings about his victories (real or unreal). In this stele he mentions Israel. (It is the only such stele known that actually names Israel. He writes (in part).

Carried off is Ashkelon; seized upon is Gezer;

Yanoam is made as that which does not exist;

Israel is laid waste, his seed is not.[26]

[26] From Ancient Near Eastern Texts (translation by John A. Wilson) (Princeton Univ. Press, 1955), p. 378.

If Israel was in its land, and had suffered a raid by Merneptah in his fifth year (1230 B.C.), the exodus could not have been later than about 1280.[27]

[27] Some recent scholars have held that the word on the Merneytah stele usually translated Israel may not actually mean Israel, but refers to a town, possibly Jezreel. If so, then the Merneptah stele would not by itself prove Israel as a nation was settled in the land by that time. J. H. Hertz, Pentateuch and Haftorahs (London: Soncino, 1969), p. 395.

One of the principal arguments for the later date of the exodus is the mention of Raamses in Exodus 1:11. This name of a city is thought to link the exodus to Raamses II, rather than to the XVIII dynasty kings like Thutmose III.[28] Some authors have asserted that the name Raamses just does not appear before the nineteenth dynasty of Egypt.

[28] Finegan, op. cit., pp. 118, 119.

Admitted: We have no definite proof outside the Bible that the city which was called Raamses or Per-Raamses, or any other city in the area, was called by that name before the nineteenth dynasty. It was the royal residence city in the Egyptian delta during the XIX and XX dynasties, when eleven kings wore the name of Raamses.

Nonetheless, we now know that the name Raamses was certainly used before the XIX dynasty, and there is no conclusive proof that it was not used as a city name then, as the Bible says it was. Pierre Montet says that the founder of the XIX dynasty, Raamses I, belonged to a family of the eastern delta, where for generations all the men had been called Seti or Raamses.[29] Gleason L. Archer, Jr. documents the appearance of the name Raamses (with the slightly variant spelling Ramose) as the name of a nobleman during the XVIII dynasty (time of Amenhotep III).[30] Also Donovan Courville gives the Sothis list of the kings of Egypt, which lists at least six kings that preceded the Hyksos who had the name Raamses in various forms.[31]

[29] Lives of the Pharaohs (Cleveland: World, 1968), p. 164.

[30] Mimeographed article, Dec. 1973. [31] The Exodus Problem, Vol. I (Loma Linda: Challenge, 1971), pp. 118-122.

Genesis 47:11 says that the Israelites settled in the land of Rameses during the time of Jacob. The use of the name Rameses here might be a later name applied to the site before it was actually called that. But it could very possibly indicate that the area was called by that name way back in the time of Jacob, about 1875 B.C.

A problem for those who assume that Exodus 1:11 refers to a city called Raamses existing in the time of Raamses II is that Raamses II did his building right in Wadi Tumilat (Goshen), where the Israelites lived. But the Egyptians and the Israelites were not mixed together.[32]

[32] Archer, op. cit., pp. 218-219.

Another argument for the late date is the view that there were NO settled habitations east of Jordan in Moab, Ammon, Edom, or Gilead in the fourteenth century. Therefore the exodus could not have occurred near then, because the Bible relates that the Israelites encountered these peoples.[33]

[33] Nelson Glueck, River Jordan (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1968), pp. 41, 101, 102, 104.

As stated in this article (I, 7), there were indeed very few residents east of Jordan in Moses-’ time. But the discovery of a small temple at Amman, Jordan, and large family tombs at Amman and Naur,[34] dated before 1400 B.C., shows that the area did have a population in the time of Moses, as the Bible indicates.

[34] G. Lankaster Harding, The Antiquities of Jordan (New York: Crowell, 1959), p. 17. See also Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, p. 167.

An argument against the early (1446 B.C.) date is that the capital of Egypt during the XVIII dynasty was at Thebes, and not up in the delta. Thutmose III did not build buildings in the delta area, where Israel lived, and therefore he could not be the pharaoh of the oppression.[35]

[35] Finegan, op. cit., p. 118.

Rebuttal: Though the capital was indeed at Thebes far to the south, Thutmose III calls himself Lord of Heliopolis (which was in the delta). His son Amenhotep II was born at Memphis, near the delta. Thutmose III erected two granite obelisks at Heliopolis.[36] It is hardly conceivable that the densely populated delta region would not be developed by the XVIII kings, since it was the gateway to their conquests in Canaan and Syria.

[36] Archer, op. cit., p. 215.

A frequently-used argument for the late exodus date is that the remains of Palestinian citiesLachish, Debir, Jericho, Hazor, Aiprove that the conquest was later than 1400 B.C., and hence the exodus was later than 1446.[37]

[37] J. A. Thompson, op. cit., p. 59.

Lachish was apparently destroyed about 1230 B.C. But this was not the work of Joshua, who destroyed the inhabitants of Lachish, but not the city itself. (Joshua 10:31-32; Joshua 11:13). The 1230 destruction may be the work of Merneptah.[38]

[38] Archer, op. cit., p. 220.

Debir. Tell Beit Mirsim, SW of Hebron, was formerly thought to be the site of Debir. It was destroyed about 1220 B.C. This could have been the result of Merneptah’s raid, but was certainly not part of the Israelite conquest referred to in Joshua 10:38-39 and Judges 1:11-13. No destruction of the site accompanied the Israelite slaughter of the inhabitants.

More recent researches have quite convincingly indicated that Tell Beit Mirsim was not the ancient site of Debir. More likely Debir was the site now known as Tell Rabud, five miles south of Hebron.[39]

[39] A. F. Rainey, The Location and History of Biblical Debir. Newsletter of the Near East Archaeological Society, Winter 1974.

Jericho. The excavations of John Garstang at Jericho (1930-36) seemingly proved that City IV of Jericho was destroyed about 1400 B.C., which would confirm the Biblical exodus date. Double walls were found fallen, and these were thought to be the walls that fell in Joshua’s time. However, subsequent excavations by Kathleen Kenyon indicate that the walls Garstang thought fell in 1400 B.C. were actually from the Early Bronze period five hundred years earlier; and the two walls were themselves not even contemporary.[40] There is an obvious destruction and burn layer at Jericho. This layer has usually been dated about 1580 B.C., at the end of the Canaanite Middle Bronze II period, and attribued to an Egyptian attack in Palestine following the expulsion of the Hyksos from Egypt. But the evidence that the Egyptians destroyed Jericho or other Palestinian cities then is very weak. More probably the Middle Bronze culture in Palestine continued until Joshua conquered Canaan about 1400 B.C. The walls of Jericho that Joshua destroyed have probably been visible all along, but the remains have been dated wrongly.[41]

[40] See Charles Pfeiffer, Biblical World (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1966), pp. 308, 309.

[41] John Bimson, Redating the Exodus and Conquest (Sheffield, England; Univ. of Sheffield, 1981), pp. 110-132.

Hazor. The excavators of Hazor have maintained that the destruction layer there dated after 1300 was that of the Israelite conquest.[42] This is an unnecessary conclusion, because there is at Hazor another destruction layer dated about 1400. (See p. 23.)

[42] Y. Yadin, and others, Hazor II (Jerusalem, 1960), p. 165.

Ai. Excavations have been made at a large mound named Et-Tell located twelve miles north of Jerusalem since 1933 because this has generally been regarded as the location of Ai. But no remains have been found there that can be dated between 2300 and 1200 B.C.[43]

[43] Journal of Biblical Literature, Sept. 1968, p. 314.

At any place where people have ever lived in Palestine broken pieces of pottery can be found and dated by their forms. If Et Tell is the location of Ai, why are there no remains there datable to near 1400 B.C., when Joshua destroyed Ai?

The author of this book has been involved in excavations at a small mound named Khirbet Nisya ten miles north of Jerusalem. (The excavation director is Mr. David Livingston.) Khirbet Nisya lies on the east side of a high hill, just as the Bible says Ai did (Genesis 12:8). There pottery from the Canaanite period (Middle Bronze II), Israelite (Iron age), Persian, and other periods has been found, the very periods in which the Bible indicates Ai was inhabited. (Note Isaiah 10:8; Ezra 2:28). No remains from these periods have been found at Et-Tell. We think Nisya will prove to be the true site of Ai, and the historical precision of the Bible will be demonstrated again.[44]

[44] The Exodus Problem, Vol. 1 (Loma Linda: Challenge, 1971), pp. 70-73, 77.

Another objection is that the Habiri who captured(??) Jerusalem about 1400 B.C., and who are named in the Amarna letters, could not have been the Hebrews, since the Hebrews did not capture Jerusalem.[45]

[45] Finegan, op. cit., p. 118.

Rebuttal: Neither the Amarna letters nor the Bible declare that the Habiri/Hebrews captured Jerusalem, but only that they threatened it.[46] The fear of the king of Jerusalem, as indicated by Joshua 10:1-2, is similar to that expressed by Abdi-Khepa, king of Jerusalem in the Amarna letters.

[46] Charles Pfeiffer, The Biblical World (Baker, 1966), p. 36.

Yet another objection to the early date is that Joseph (son of Jacob) does not fit into the Hyksos period by the early dating.[47]

[47] Finegan, ibid.

There is absolutely no proof that Joseph lived during the Hyksos period. Joseph came into Egypt during the Egytian Middle Kingdom (before the Hyksos), and the later Hyksos kings were probably persecutors of the Israelites, not allies.[48]

[48] Archer op. cit., 215, 204-207.

Another argument against the 1446 B.C. exodus date is that the 480 years in 1 Kings 6:1 cannot be regarded as expressing the precisely literal chronology that we Western-world people expect our statistics to express.[49]

[49] James Moyer, Date of the Exodus (Springfield, Mo.: Duplicated notes, 1974).

Those holding this view allege that the authors of the Old Testament generally dealt in round numbers. For example, the four hundred years in Genesis 15:13 refers to the same period described as 430 years in Exodus 12:40. Also the number forty occurs seven times in the book of Judges (Judges 3:11; Judges 5:31; et al); the number twenty appears three times (Judges 4:3; et al); eighty appears once (Judges 3:30).

It is further argued that the Israelites did not keep precise statistics up until the time of the monarchy (about 1000 B.C.), and neither did her neighboring nations.

The statistics and generations of the Old Testament are said to show schematization very often. This term means that in giving statistics and lists of names the authors often gave some approximate number that could be easily remembered or associated with another similar group. Thus in the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1), the generations are schematized into three groups of fourteen generations, although this required omission of some known names.

By this argument the 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1 could be interpreted to mean twelve generations (or tribes) of approximately forty years each, but it would not be the precise number.

In reply to these arguments we observe that the ancient Egyptians, as far back as 2500 B.C. were meticulous record keepers. At least seven very long genealogical lists are known, each spanning many generations.[50] One list covers about 600 years, and another some 1300 years, naming sixty generations of the family and at intervals giving the names of contemporary kings.

[50] K. A. Kitchen, Transmission of Family Records for Long Periods, Tyndale House Bulletin, April 1960, pp. 14-18.

Inasmuch as Moses grew up in Egypt and was trained in the ways of the Egyptians, it is reasonable to assume that his approach to statistics and family records would be like that of the Egyptians.

As for the use of round numbers, it simply is not true that all Old Testament statistics are round numbers. Very many are obviously specific. For example, Judges 3:8 gives eight; Judges 3:14 has eighteen; Judges 6:1 reads seven. Even the multiples of ten may be the actual numbers, and not approximations. We surely agree that the Old Testament gives some round numbers; but it is wrong to assume that all numbers are questionable because some are round.

Likewise, schematization may have been employed in a few cases. But this is not adequate cause to assume that it was used in every list of names or every statistic. What may appear to us to have been schematized may have been a reality. For generations scholars had difficulty trying to harmonize the numbers given in the books of Kings concerning the years the various kings reigned. Many gave it up as hopeless. When Edwin R. Thiele began his study of the numbers associated with the Hebrew kings, he began with the assumption that the numbers might be correct when they were understood as the ancient people wrote them.[51] His investigations demonstrated that the numbers were correct. It was our lack of understanding of them that caused the problems. We should look upon the statistics in the scriptures with the same kind of respect that Jesus had for the scriptures generally.

[51] The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings, pp. v-vii.

INTRODUCTORY SECTION VI

ISRAEL’S ROUTE (JOURNEY) FROM EGYPT TO SINAI

SEE Numbers 33:5-15; Exodus 12:38 to Exodus 19:1)

GENERAL PRINCIPLES guiding us in our attempt to trace Israel’s route:

MANY UNCERTAINTIES CONFRONT ANYONE WHO TRIES TO TRACE ISRAEL’S ROUTE PRECISELY. A CHECK OF COMMENTARIES AND ATLASES WILL SHOW HOW EXTREMELY VARIED ARE THE PROPOSED ROUTES. SEVERAL PRINCIPLES HAVE HELPED US TO DECIDE WHAT WAS THEIR PROBABLE JOURNEY ROUTE.

All Scriptural information about Israel’s travels must be accepted as accurate and final authority. Our Lord Jesus said that the scriptures cannot be broken (John 10:35).

Israel’s journeys had to be through places where they had LOTS of room. With 603, 550 men (Numbers 2:32) and a probable total population of over two million, their total encampment area would probably cover six miles square (36 square miles).[52] Even in this much area there would be over 50,000 people in every square mile.

[52] J. W. McGarvey, Lands of the Bible (Nashville, Tenn.; Gospel Advocate, 1966), pp. 346-347.

The natural geographic features of the Red Sea and the Sinai peninsula are presently very similar to those that existed in the time of Moses. The wadies[53] between the granite mountains of Sinai are in the same places that they were long ago. The traffic routes in Moses-’ day passed through the same valleys that modern caravans follow.

[53] A wady is a usually-dry brook-valley. They flow with water during the occasional winter rains.

The Red Sea, or Sea of Reeds, occupied in Moses-’ time almost exactly the same bed it now occupies. There is no indication that any neck of water once connected the Bitter Lakes with the north tip of the Gulf of Suez. Archaeologist Wm. F. Albright tells of finding an archaeological site inhabited in the fifteenth century B.C. (the very time of MOSES!) which lies only a little over a hundred meters from the Red Sea shore, and is less than five meters above the present average Red Sea level.[54] Obviously the shore line of the Red Sea is now about where it has been for 3500 years. (See note, p. 43.)

[54] Exploring in Sinai with the Univ. of Calif. African Expedition, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 109 (Feb. 1948), p. 15.

We do not regard the encampments named in Numbers 33:5-15 as necessarily all being just one day’s journey apart. In fact, we are told that it was a three days-’ trip from Pihahairoth to Marah, although this trip is presented as just one stage (Numbers 33:8). Probably the encampments are only the more prominent locations they passed through, or their longer stopover points.

II.

SITES (or stages) IN ISRAEL’S JOURNEY

From Rameses to Succoth (Numbers 33:5).

Most scholars now locate Rameses at Tanis in the northeast Nile delta area.[55] Another site that has been proposed is at modern Qantir (bridge), which is fifteen miles south of Tanis.[56] We have selected Qantir as the site of Rameses on our map, because it is nearer the Land of Goshen (Wadi Tumilat area), where Israel’s main populaton lived, than Tanis is.

[55] Rameses, Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible.

[56] Ibid.

Succoth, meaning booths or temporary dwellings, is probably the hill ruin named Tell Maskhuta[57] near the eastern end of Goshen, about ten miles west of Lake Timsah.

[57] G. Ernest Wright, Biblical Archaeology (Phila.: Westminister, 1962), p. 61.

From Succoth to Etham (Numbers 33:6).

The site of Etham is not yet identified. Numbers 33:6 says it is in the edge of the wilderness. We therefore feel that to reach Etham, Israel must have travelled on eastward a few miles beyond Lake Timsah (probably passing just south of Timsah), going into the Sinai peninsula just east of the present Suez canal. The fact the Wilderness of Etham is the same area that is also called the Wilderness of Shur (Numbers 33:8; Exodus 15:22), and that we know that Shur lay just east of the delta of Egypt in the Sinai wilderness, confirms our belief that Etham was somewhere southeast of Lake Timsah.

From Etham to Pihahairoth (Numbers 33:7).

To reach Pihahairoth Israel had to turn back. (The Hebrew verb may simply mean turn, as well as turn back.) Many interpreters seem to overlook this command about turning.[58]

[58] Wright, op. cit., pp. 61-62, presents a map suggesting that Israel turned to the north, and there crossed the southern tip of Lake Menzaleh, which he identifies as the Reed Sea (Red Sea). This is much too far north for Israel to have reached Marah in three days (Exodus 15:22-23). Wright identifies Marah with -‘Ain Hawwarah, as we do also. Wright’s map of Israel’s proposed travel route shows Israel travelling along the east side of the Bitter Lakes, as does ours.

We feel that Israel travelled southward after they entered into the Sinai desert, travelling along the east side of the Bitter Lakes, toward the Gulf of Suez. There is hardly room along the west side of the Bitter Lakes for a mass of people as great as Israel to have passed through, because mount Shuberavith and mount Ginefah lie only about three miles from the west shore of the Bitter Lakes. Having gone on south of the Bitter Lakes, Israel was then instructed to turn back and encamp before Pihahairoth (Exodus 14:2). Since back to the Hebrews often meant west, a turn to the west would fulfill this command. A westward turn would bring them to the northwest side of the Gulf of Suez tip.

Pihahairoth is said to have been between Migdol and the sea, and before (east of?) Baal-zephon (Exodus 14:2). The name Migdol means tower. We suggest that the tower may have been on one of the summits of Mt. Atakah, just west of the Gulf of Suez tip only four or five miles.[59]

[59] International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. III, p. 2936, says. Migdol must be Ras -Atakah, or some other high point.. We agree.

Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible says that Pihahairoth cannot now be identified with any known town or city in the east delta region (emphasis ours). It seems to us that the obvious reason for this is that Pihahairoth was NOT in the Delta area, but at the north tip of the Suez Gulf. The meaning of Pihahairoth is not certain, but the Egyptologist A. H. Gardiner said that it may mean the house of Hathor. Hathor was the Egyptain cow-goddess, the mother principle of deity, who provided nourishment for the soul in the other-world.

Baal-zephon means Lord-of-the-North. The name seems to refer to a Canaanite idol in Egypt, or one of the places which bore its name. The location of Baal-zephon is not known.[60] G. E. Wright[61] tells of a Phoenician letter which associates a place called Baal-zephon with Tahpanes (Jeremiah 43:7-9), also called Daphnae. This is located between Lake Menzaleh and Lake Timsah. Possibly one place called Baal-zephon was that far north of the Gulf of Suez, but the Biblical Baal-zephon seems to have been near the north tip of the Gulf of Suez, only three days-’ journey from Marah. See notes on Exodus 14:1-2.

[60] Baal-zephon is placed by Josephus (Antiquities II, xv, 1) on the Red Sea. We do not know what his authority was for doing this, but we feel he was correct.

[61] Op. cit., p. 62.

From Pihahairoth (Hahairoth) across the sea (Numbers 33:8).

We are persuaded that Israel crossed the Red Sea, or Sea of Reeds (Weeds), near the north tip of the Gulf of Suez. See map. The distance across the sea there would be about four miles, and the greatest water depth about twenty feet. God may have blown the path dry across the sea a mile wide, or even wider. Concerning the problem of what sea is meant by the Red Sea, or Reed Sea, see the following Introductory Section VII. We feel that these are two names for the same body of water.

An alternate spot on the Gulf of Suez where Israel may have crossed lies about five miles south of our proposed crossing point. Here they would enter the sea from the sandy cape Adabiya. This is just south of the hump on the west coast of the Gulf of Suez-’ tip. This cape has features that would make it an ideal crossing place. The sea is about six and a half miles across at this point, and has a gently sloping sand bottom both into it and out of it on the east side. The greatest water depth there is about thirty feet.[62]

[62] This is the crossing-place proposed by J. W. McGarvey, op. cit., p. 441ff.

However, it seems to us that the corridor to reach this cape is too narrow for all the Israelites to have passed through without requiring too much time and trouble. There is less than one-half mile between the sea and the steep slopes of Mt. Atakah to the west. This very narrow level passage between sea and mountain would really be a bottle-neck for Israel.

Near the place of Israel’s exit on the east side of the sea are the -Ayun Musa, the Springs of Moses. This name was given long after Bible times to seven rather insignificant springs. A few palms grow near the water, which is brackish.[63] The scripture does not mention these springs.

[63] International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. V., p. 3066.

From the sea to Marah (Numbers 33:8).

The way from the Springs of Moses to Marah is over hard compacted sand, sprinkled with gravel and small boulders. It took Israel three days to go from the Red Sea to Marah (Exodus 15:22), through the Wilderness of Shur (also called Etham). It is about thirty-seven miles from the Springs of Moses to Marah, which is generally considered to be -Ain Hawwarah, a spring now completely buried in sand. Only a cluster of date palms and a damp spot nearby tell of its existence.[64] The water is still bitter. The spring Marah must have been much greater in Moses-’ time. (See notes on Exodus 15:23.)

[64] Beno Rothenberg, God’s Wilderness (London: Thames and Hudson, 1961), p. 94.

If the Red Sea crossing place were farther north than the north end of the Gulf of Suez, it would have required more than three days travel to reach Marah, assuming that Israel could travel about twelve miles a day. John J. Davis admits this difficulty,[65] even though he places the crossing of the sea at the south end of the Bitter Lakes.

[65] Moses and the Gods of Egypt (Grand Rapids: Baker 1971), p. 117. We recommend Davis-’ book very highly.

From Marah to Elim (Numbers 33:9)

Elim is generally considered to be theWady Gharandel. It. is about seven miles from Marah. It is a small brook fed by springs of water better than that of Marah.[66] (See notes on Exodus 15:27.)

[66] Inter. Stand. Bib. Ency., Vol. V, p. 3066.

From Elim to the encampment by the Red Sea (Numbers 33:10).

Mountains right up against the east shore of the Gulf of Suez separate the road south from Elim from the shore. (One of these mountains is now called Jebel Hamman Far-‘aun, the mountain of Pharaoh’s Hot Bath.) But after going about twenty miles southeast from Elim, the shoreside mountains end and the roadway comes to the Red Sea shore, near modern Abu Zenima, near the mouth of the Wady et-Taiyibeh. It is a comparatively long march of eight hours from Elim to this sea-side encampment.

From the Red Sea shore to the Wilderness of Sin (Numbers 33:11)

The exact location of the Wilderness of Sin is uncertain. About six miles south of the sea-side encampment a large sandy plain begins. It is five miles wide and thirteen miles long (on its north-south axis), with the Red Sea shore on its west. Modern Abu Rudeis is in this area. This place seems to correspond well to the scriptural location of the Wilderness of Sin, which was the place where Israel first received the manna. (In this dry place manna surely could not have grown on trees or bushes!) The Arabs call this plain El Murkha.

From the Wilderness of Sin to Dophka (Numbers 33:12).

We think that Israel travelled south out of the Wilderness of Sin about ten miles, traveling alongside mountains near the coast. Then they turned east up into the valley of Wady Feiran. We think that Dophka was an oasis on the Wady Feiran (there are several).

The Wady Feiran is one of the largest and most famous wadies in Sinai. It is a little over eighty miles long, and starts in the region of Mt. Sinai, where it is called the Wadi Esh-Sheikh.[67] The Wady Esh-Sheikh is the upper (or northern) branch of the Wady Feiran.

[67] Rothenberg, op. cit., pp. 135,167.

[68] Quoted in McGarvey, op. cit., p. 447.

From this plain [the Wilderness of Sin] it was necessary for Israel to ascend through the rugged granite mountains to the elevated plain in front of Sinai; and there is only one pass through and up by which it is practicable for such a caravan to make the ascent. This is Wady Feiran,.. This wady is wide and smooth, washed in winter by a stream of water, and possessing several beautiful oases very pleasant to a traveler who is wearied with the almost uninterrupted barrenness of the desert. It leads to a narrow and short pass, by which is reached the plain immediately in front of [N.W. of] Mt. Sinai, called by the Arabs Er-Rahah. Instead of reaching this plain by this pass, the Israelites might have gone a little farther east [via Wady Esh-Sheikh] and compassed the mountain on the left of the pass; but this is the only divergence that they can have made from the route which we have followed.

The name Dophka is thought by some to mean smeltery, and to refer therefore to nearby copper smelting operations. But this is not certain. Some authorities (ISBE; Gesenius-’ Hebrew Lexicon) say Dophka means overdriving of flocks or drovers.

Many, modern writers have felt that Dophka is to be identified with Serabit el-Khadim, a site northeast of the plain which we have identified as the Wilderness of Sin. At Serabit el-Khadim are the ruins of an Egyptian temple to Hathor, ancient turquoise mines, and numerous inscriptions, some in an extremely ancient Hebrew-like alphabet.[69]

[69] Serabit el-Khadim, Biblical World, Chas. Pfeiffer, ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1966), p. 517.

We feel that it is extremely unlikely that Serabit el-Khadim is the site of Dophka. Why should the Israelites travel toward a center of Egyptian idolatry? Egyptian troops were stationed at Serabit at various times before and after Moses-’ time. The wady leading to Serabit is a more difficult passage than the Wady Feiran, and is a somewhat longer route to Sinai. Even if the name Dophka does mean smeltery (and indeed there are remains of smelting works around Serabit), there are other copper-mining locations in the wilderness of Sinai besides those near Serabit.

From Dophka to Alush (Numbers 33:13).

Alush has not been identified. Inter. Stan. Bible Ency. says that according to the rabbis Alush means crowding, thus indicating the difficulties of the march. Our map positions Alush at one oasis in the Wady Feiran.

As Israel journeyed up the Wady Feiran, they would certainly get strung-out. The wadies are narrow and often hemmed in by steep-sided mountains. The very large number of Israelites would form a long column in these wadies, perhaps ten to fifteen miles long. This explains how the Amalekites could readily attack the hindmost part of Israel’s column without the rest of people being available to help them readily (Deuteronomy 25:17-18).

From Alush to Rephidim (Numbers 33:14).

Rephidim is an oasis of date palms with a running stream,[70] located about eighteen miles from the plain Er-Rahah on the north side of Mt. Sinai. There seems to have been no water at this site in Moses-’ time, until he struck the rock (Exodus 17:1). Rephidim was the place where the Amalekites attacked Israel, and where Jethro was reunited with Moses.

[70] International Stand. Bib. Ency., p. 3067.

From Rephidim to Mt. Sinai (Numbers 33:15).

The Wady Esh-Sheikh goes around Rephidim on the north side, and then turns abruptly southward toward Mt. Sinai, and enters into the plain of Er-Rahah from the NE side of the plain. The Wadi Esh-Sheikh is the easiest approach to Er-Rahah, and is the one usually taken by baggage camels. We feel that it was probably Israel’s approach route. The plain of Er-Rahah is large enough to have accommodated the Israelite horde (1½by 4 mi.). At the south side of this plain the impressive peak of Ras Safsafeh rises abruptly out of the level area, and towers 6739 feet above sea level. We feel that Ras Safsafeh is the peak which (as part of Mt. Sinai) was the mountain from which God spoke the ten commandments to Israel.

Ras Safsafeh is the northern summit of a steep-sided rocky ridge about four miles long, running generally NW to SE. On the southern tip of this ridge is its second summit, a peak called Jebel Musa (a name meaning Mt. of Moses), connected to Ras Safsafeh by a saddle. Jebel Musa Isaiah 7519 feet high. Christian tradition has generally identified Mt. Sinai with Jebel Musa as Mt. Sinai, although to us it seems that Ras Safsafeh is by far the more probable choice.

Narrow steep-sided valleys go along both the east and west sides of the ridge, which has Ras Safsafeh on its north end and Jebel Musa on the south. In the valley along its east side is the famous monastery of St. Katherine, named after a martyred Christian maiden of Alexandria who died in A.D. 307. At this monastery the famous Sinaitic manuscript of the Bible was found. By the south end of this ridge is a small plain commonly called Wadi Sebaiyeh, or the Site of (Israel’S) Encampment, having Jebel Musa on its north. To reach this southern plain Israel would have needed to skirt along through the narrow valleys east or west of the Mt. Sinai ridge. This south plain is neither as large as Er-Rahah on the north, nor is it as accessible. It only covers 145 acres, and is very rocky.[71] We doubt that it was the true site of Israel’s encampment.

[71] S. C. Bartlett, From Egypt to Palestine (New York: Harpers, 1879), pp. 270, 272.

Between the Bitter Lakes and the Red Sea, just south of the Bitter Lakes, lies an elevated area called the Heights of Chaloof. This rises for a short distance twenty feet or more above sea level. These heights are of the same geological character as Mt. Gineifah west of the Bitter Lakes. This geological feature makes it almost impossible for the Red Sea to have ever been joined to the Bitter Lakes. See S. C. Bartlett, From Egypt to Palestine, pp. 158-162.

III.

DISTANCES IN ISRAEL’S JOURNEYS

(All distances approximate)

From Rameses (Qantir) to

SUCCOTH (TELL EL MASKHUTA)

38 MI.

From Succoth, travelling along east side of Bitter Lakes,

Bitter Lakes, to north end of Gulf of Suez

55 mi.

North end of Gulf of Suez, across Red Sea,

to Springs of Moses

20 mi.

Springs of Moses to Marah (-Ain Hawwarah)

37 mi.

Marah to Elim (Wadi Gharandel)

7 mi.

Elim to encampment by the sea

(near Abu Zenima)

20 mi.

Encampment by the sea to the Wilderness of Sin

(near Abu Rudeis)

12 mi.

Wilderness of Sin, via Wadi Feiran

AND WADI SHEIKH, TO MT. SINAI

85 MI.

Total: Approx

275 mi.

These statistics reveal two interesting facts:

(1) The first part of Israel’s journey, from Egypt to the crossing of the Red Sea, was a surprisingly large part of the total journey to Sinai, being about 113 miles of their 275 mile trip. This would have required ten or twelve days of travel. Many people have the impression that Pharaoh began to pursue Israel almost the next day after their departure. But the scripture nowhere states exactly how much time elapsed between Israel’s departure and Pharaoh’s pursuit. During that time the Egyptians embalmed and buried their firstborn (Numbers 33:4). Surely a few days of mourning and shock followed these mass burials.

(2) Assuming that Israel’s journey from Egypt to Sinai took approximately fifty days, they would need only to have averaged a bit more than five miles a day of travel to have covered the 275 miles in that time.

INTRODUCTORY SECTION VII RED SEA or REED SEA?

(Exodus 13:18; Exodus 15:4; Exodus 15:22)

What sea was it that the Israelites triumphantly crossed when they departed from Egypt? The name given in almost all English translations is Red Sea. The Jerusalem Bible (1966) calls it the Sea of Reeds. When we hear the words Red Sea, we at once think of that extension of the Indian Ocean lying between Arabia and east Africa, having a V-shaped northern tip, formed by the Gulfs of Suez and Akabah. We feel that THIS was the sea that the Israelites crossed, crossing it at the northern tip of the Gulf of Suez. See the preceding Introductory Section VI.

Older writers almost unanimously held this view. Modern writers have almost unanimously (but wrongly, it seems to us) taken another view. They assert that the sea which the Israelites crossed should not be called the Red Sea, but the SEA OF REEDS (or weeds). Furthermore, they affirm that this Sea of Reeds is not the Red Sea, but is another body of water somewhere between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, possibly the Bitter Lakes, or Lake Timsah, or Lake Balah (now disappeared since the digging of the Suez Canal), or Lake Menzaleh, or even Lake Sirbonis on the Mediterranean coast. There is no certainty or general agreement as to what body of water is referred to by the name Sea of Reeds. We have no objection to the fact that the Hebrew words Yam Suph (usually translated Red Sea) actually mean Sea of Reeds, or Weeds. The word suph is translated weeds in Jonah 2:5, where it refers to seaweeds; and it is translated flags in Exodus 2:3; Exodus 2:5 and Isaiah 19:6. (A flag is a water plant like a cattail.)

When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek (about 275 B.C.), the translators rendered the Hebrew Yam Suph as Eruthre Thalassa, which is Greek for Red Sea. These translators did their work in Egypt, and would probably be familiar with Egypt’s geography.

In classical Greek usage, the term Red Sea was applied to the entire Indian Ocean,[72] including what we call the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf, and the adjoining ocean areas. In the Histories by Herodotus (about 450 B.C.) we read that the Persian king Cyrus on his way to Babylon came to the bank of the river Gyndes, a stream which. empties into the river Tigris. The Tigris,. discharges its waters into the Erythraean [Red] Sea.[73] This would refer to the Persian Gulf.

[72] Liddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (abridged), Definition of ERUTHROS,

[73] I,189. Translated by George Rawlinson. (London: Dent, 1964), Vol. I, p. 96.

Why did the Red Sea come to be called by that name? No one really knows. Some have guessed that it is derived from the name Edom, which means red. The mountains of Edom that lie along part of the east side of the Red Sea have a reddish color in part. Classical writers say that the name came from that of Erythras, a king who ruled in western Asia Minor.[74] Others say it is derived from the red coral which lines its shores and covers the floor of the sea.

[74] The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 4 (New York: Abingdon, 1962), pp. 19-20.

But the big question is this: Can the Hebrew Yam Suph actually refer to the sea we know as the Red Sea? We think it can and does, though many modern writers deny this. They argue that there are no reeds in the Red Sea, and that it cannot therefore be the Sea of Reeds. They affirm further that for Israel to have reached even the most northerly tip of the Gulf of Suez, they would have had to cross a long tract of desert to reach it. [It would be approximately 65 miles.] And that this would have been impossible for them to accomplish before the pursuing Egyptian chariots would have been upon them.[75] Also it is argued that one of the two bodies of water said in Egyptian writings to be near the city of Rameses (which was far north of the Red Sea) was called Papyrus Lake. Papyrus in Egyptian was called thuf, a word similar to the Hebrew suph.

[75] Ibid.

These arguments sound impressive, but we feel they have some weaknesses.

For example, we need not seek a shallow reedy lake as the place that corresponds to the name SEA OF REEDS. The word reeds also may be translated WEEDS, as in Jonah 2:5, where it refers to seaweeds in the Mediterranean Sea, not to cattails or swamp weeds. The Red Sea has seaweeds in it, like other seas. Because of this the name Yam Suph could refer to the Red Sea.

Furthermore, if we assume (as many modern writers do) that Israel travelled northward from Succoth (lying west of Lake Timsah) to the southern tip of Lake Menzaleh[76] (which is thought by many to be the Sea of Reeds), Israel would have been much closer to Egypt and far more exposed to the pursuing Egyptian chariots than they were in going by our proposed route. A journey from Succoth to Lake Menzaleh would be about fifty miles, a four-days-’ journey.

[76] G. E. Wright, Biblical Archaeology (Philadelphia: Westminister, 1957), p. 61. Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 1 (Nashville: Broadman. 1969), p. 380.

Yet further, the term Sea of Reeds (Yam Suph) is actually applied in several scriptures to the sea which we call the Red Sea. Thus in Numbers 21:4 it refers to a place on the north end of the Gulf of Akabah, near Elath and Ezion-Geber. In Numbers 33:10 there is a reference to an encampment on the shores of the Yam Suph, which almost certainly refers to a place on the shores of the Gulf of Suez. In 1 Kings 9:26 the term Yam Suph refers to the place where king Solomon had his fleet of ships at Ezion-Geber, which was on the north tip of the Red Sea Gulf of Akabah.

If the term Yam Suph means the Red Sea in these passages, why does it not refer to the same body of water in Exodus 13:18; Exodus 15:4? Where is there any hint that the term refers to a different body of water in Exodus 15:4 than it refers to elsewhere?

Finally, we are told in Exodus 15:22 and Numbers 33:8 that Israel travelled three days-’ journey from their place of crossing the sea to Marah. This is a distance of thirty-seven miles (assuming, as we do, that Marah is to be identified with -Ain Hawwarah. This identification is widely accepted.[77]). If the Sea of Reeds were some body of water north of the tip of the Gulf of Suez, it would be too far north for the Israelite horde to have made the trip to Marah in three days. From Bitter Lakes to Marah is at least sixty miles. From Lake Timsah to Marah is over eighty miles. From Lake Menzaleh (where Wright locates the Sea of Reeds) it is almost 150 miles! Even the thirty-seven mile trip from the Springs of Moses (just east of Gulf of Suez tip) to Marah required the Israelites to travel twelve miles a day. This is about as far as a large group could travel each day.

[77] Wright, Ibid., suggests on his map that this is the probable location of Marah.

We have the uncomfortable feeling that the reason for locating the Sea of Reeds elsewhere than the Red Sea is the desire (deliberate or unconscious) to downgrade the great miracle of crossing the Red Sea into puny near-miracle of blowing a dry path across a shallow swamp area.

The Papyrus reed. The papyrus plant has an angular stem from 3 to 6 feet high, though occasionally it grows to a height of 14 feet. The basket for the baby Moses was made of papyrus stems.

Egyptian Brickmakers and Brickmaking.

The drawing[78] shown above was made from a wall painting on the tomb of Rekh-mire at Thebes, from the time of Thutmose III (probable pharaoh of the oppression), about 1450 B.C.

[78] From E. A. Wallis Budge. The Dwellers on the Nile (London: The Religious Tract Society, 1888), p. 91.

At the upper left two slaves fetch water from a pool surrounded by trees. The water-softened Nile clay is lifted with mattocks, and placed in baskets borne on workmen’s shoulders. The man in the center top is pressing the mud into a wooden frame to form bricks. In the lower drawing three piles of bricks dry in the sun. The dry bricks are carried by slaves using poles over their shoulders. Two overseers with sticks urge the workers on. Part of the inscription quotes the overseer: The rod is in my hand; be not idle. The Israelites were involved in work like this.

INTRODUCTORY SECTION VIII

ONE HUNDRED FACTS ABOUT GOD THAT ARE MADE KNOWN IN EXODUS

One of the great purposes for God’s works that are recorded in the book of Exodus was that men might KNOW HIM. For us this is one of the great purposes of the book itself.

Exodus 6:7: I will take you to me for a people,. and ye shall KNOW that I am Jehovah your God.

Exodus 7:5: The Egyptians shall KNOW that I am Jehovah, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

Many other verses in the book assert that it is God’s purpose to make himself KNOWN to all men. Note Exodus 7:17; Exodus 8:10; Exodus 8:22; Exodus 9:14; Exodus 9:29; Exodus 10:2; Exodus 14:4; Exodus 14:18; Exodus 16:6; Exodus 16:12; Exodus 29:46; Exodus 31:13.

God is eternally the same. He changes not. I, Jehovah, change not. (Malachi 3:6) If we learn the facts about God’s nature as revealed in Exodus, we shall gain a broad understanding of God, for Exodus says very much about God.

In the following statements about God we list many of the qualities and works of God that are revealed in Exodus. Generally we have listed them in the order in which they are presented in the Biblical text.

God is a personal God, not an abstract force.

God knows our names. He knows us personally. (Exodus 1:1-4)

God allows His children to suffer. (Exodus 1:11; Exodus 1:13)

God rewards those who protect His people. (Exodus 1:21)

God is the unseen controller of all history. (Exodus 1:20-21)

God directs the activities of people so that they may be present to do His will when necessity requires. (Exodus 2:5)

God permits His servants to suffer rejection. (Exodus 2:14; Exodus 5:2; Exodus 5:9; Exodus 5:21-22)

God seems in no hurry, if judged by men’s views of time. (Exodus 2:23; Acts 7:30)

God hears His people’s cries. (Exodus 2:23-24)

God remembers His covenants of old. (Exodus 2:24)

God sees and God knows. (Exodus 2:25)

God is a miracle-worker. (Exodus 3:2)

God speaks to men. (Exodus 3:4; Exodus 25:22)

God is holy. His presence is holy and must be reverenced. (Exodus 3:5; Exodus 20:12-15)

God is still the God of His people even after they are long dead. (Exodus 3:6; Matthew 22:31-32)

God is a deliverer. (Exodus 3:8)

God sends men to accomplish His will. (Exodus 3:10)

God is with us. (Exodus 3:12)

God is the eternal I AM. (Exodus 3:14)

God knows the outcome of events before they occur. (Exodus 3:19-21; Exodus 8:2; Exodus 8:21)

God will not permit His will to be thwarted. (Exodus 3:20)

God makes spoil of those who resist Him. (Exodus 3:21)

God desires faith in His people. (Exodus 4:5)

God becomes angry when His servants are unwilling to obey. (Exodus 4:14)

God lets others share the glory of serving Him if those first chosen are hesitant. (Exodus 4:14-15)

God smites His servants to teach them full obedience. (Exodus 4:24)

God wants His NAME to be known, and to be associated with His acts of deliverance. (Exodus 6:7)

God redeems (rescues) His people. (Exodus 6:6; Exodus 15:13)

God desires to take His people unto Him and be their God. (Exodus 6:7)

God pushes and pushes to force an issue. (Exodus 6:11)

God hardens the hearts of those who oppose Him. (Exodus 7:3; Exodus 9:12; Exodus 10:20; Exodus 14:4)

God works great judgments upon opposers. (Exodus 7:4)

God has power to overcome men’s magic. (Exodus 7:11-12; Exodus 8:18)

God makes His works obvious and undeniable. (Exodus 7:20; Exodus 8:19; Exodus 17:5-6)

God hears His servant’s prayers. (Exodus 8:12; Exodus 8:31; Exodus 9:33)

God makes distinction between His people and others. (Exodus 9:4; Exodus 9:7; Exodus 9:26)

God permits some wicked men to live because He can show His power through them. (Exodus 9:15-16)

God gives repeated deliverances, even to those who have opposed Him. (Exodus 10:18-19)

God gives favor to His people in the sight of their enemies. (Exodus 11:3)

God gives sinners warning of coming doom. (Exodus 11:4-5)

God saves His people by the blood. (Exodus 12:6-7; Exodus 12:13; Exodus 24:8)

God desires that His acts of deliverance be remembered by appropriate ceremonies. (Exodus 12:14; Exodus 12:24; Exodus 20:11)

God’s judgments on evil men are utter and total. (Exodus 12:29)

God fulfills His promises. (Exodus 12:33-36; Exodus 13:19)

God takes note of numbers and years. (Exodus 12:37; Exodus 12:41)

God claims His redeemed ones as His. (Exodus 13:2; Exodus 13:12; Exodus 34:19-20)

God wants His deeds to be remembered. (Exodus 13:14; Exodus 12:26-27; Exodus 16:34)

God directs His people. (Exodus 13:17; Exodus 15:13)

God gives light and guidance. (Exodus 13:21-22)

God does GREAT works. (Exodus 14:31; Exodus 15:11)

God is our strength, song, and salvation. (Exodus 15:2)

God is a man of war. (Exodus 15:3; Exodus 17:16)

God is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises. (Exodus 15:11)

God proves (tests) His people. (Exodus 15:25; Exodus 16:4; Exodus 20:20)

God is our healer. (Exodus 15:26)

God hears our murmurings. (Exodus 16:12)

God is our banner under whom we fight victoriously. (Exodus 17:15)

God blots out even the remembrance of evil men. (Exodus 17:14; Exodus 17:16)

God likes efficient government. (Exodus 18:23)

God deals with men through covenants. (Exodus 19:5; Exodus 24:8; Exodus 34:10)

God accepts His people upon the condition of obedience. (Exodus 19:5-6)

God shows His presence in clouds, lightning, etc. (Exodus 19:16; Exodus 19:18)

God works in history. (Exodus 20:2)

God is a jealous God. (Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14)

God heaps up punishments for many generations of sinners upon later generations that walk in the sins. (Exodus 20:5)

God is a God of lovingkindness. (Exodus 20:6)

God is creator of all. (Exodus 20:11)

God retains final authority over life and death. (Exodus 20:13; Exodus 21:12-17)

God is concerned about our hearts and their desires. He knows our hearts. (Exodus 20:17)

God respects property rights. (Exodus 21:33-36; Exodus 20:15)

God requires truth. (Exodus 20:16; Exodus 22:11)

God cares about men’s freedom. (Exodus 21:2)

God protects the weak and afflicted. (Exodus 22:22-27)

God is gracious. (Exodus 22:27)

God requires worship from His people. (Exodus 23:14-17)

God’s appearance is glorious. (Exodus 24:9-10; Exodus 24:17)

God asks voluntary offerings from His people. (Exodus 25:2; Exodus 35:5)

God desires to dwell among His people. (Exodus 25:8)

God requires conformity to His directions. (Exodus 25:9; Exodus 25:40; Exodus 26:30)

God gives detailed instructions about many things. (Exodus 26:1 ff)

God is associated with light. (Exodus 27:20-21)

God selects the men who perform His service. (Exodus 28:1)

God desires glory and beauty. (Exodus 28:2)

God is a revealer of secrets. (Exodus 28:30)

God desires modesty in His servants. (Exodus 28:42; Exodus 20:26)

God must be approached through sacrifices. (Exodus 29:14; Exodus 29:18; Exodus 29:25)

God provides the material needs of His servants. (Exodus 29:28; Exodus 16:4)

God meets with His people. (Exodus 29:42-43)

God does not forget our need of atonement (covering). (Exodus 30:16)

God’s ministers must minister in cleanliness. (Exodus 30:19-20)

God fills men with His Spirit for various services. (Exodus 31:3-5)

God sanctifies us (makes us holy). (Exodus 31:13)

God has wrath against idolatry. (Exodus 32:10; Exodus 32:35)

God repents of evil threats when His servants pray. (Exodus 32:14)

God places distance between Himself and transgressors. (Exodus 33:2; Exodus 33:5)

God is too glorious for men to see and live. (Exodus 33:20)

God is merciful, gracious, and slow to anger. (Exodus 34:6-7)

God will make all people to see His works. (Exodus 34:10)

God commands destruction of reprobate peoples. (Exodus 34:11)

God makes His presence obvious and dominant. (Exodus 40:34; Exodus 40:38)

Exodus 1:1-22

THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION

**1 Now these are the names of the sons of Is-ra-el, who came into E-gypt (every man and his household came with Jacob): (2) Reu-ben, Sim-e-on, Le-vi, and Ju-dah, (3) Is-sa-char, Zeb-u-Iun, and Ben-ja-min, (4) Dan and Naph-ta-li, Gad and Asher. (5) And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: and Joseph was in E-gypt already. (6) And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. (7) And the children of Is-ra-el were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. (8) Now there arose a new king over E-gypt, who knew not Joseph. (9) And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Is-ra-el are more and mightier than we: (10) come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land. (11) Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pha-raoh store-cities, Pi-thom and Ra-am-ses. (12) But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of Is-ra-el. (13) And the E-gyp-tians made the children of Is-ra-el to serve the rigor: (14) and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigor. (15) And the king of E-gypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiph-rah, and the name of the other Pu-ah: (16) and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birth-stool; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. (17) But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of E-gypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive. (18) And the king of E-gypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive? (19) And the midwives said unto Pha-raoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the E-gyp-tian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them. (20) And God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. (21) And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them households. (22) And Pha-raoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

EXPLORING EXODUS: CHAPTER ONE** QUESTIONS ANSWERABLE FROM THE BIBLE

After reading the entire chapter, propose a one- or two-word topic for the entire chapter.

Who is the person referred to as Israel in Exodus 1:1?

Who came with every one of the children (sons) of Jacob? (Exodus 1:1)

Who were the mothers of each of the men named in Exodus 1:2-4? Are the names grouped according to their mothers? (Compare Genesis 29:31 to Genesis 30:24; Genesis 35:16-18)

Propose some reason(s) for listing the names of the sons of Jacob here at the beginning of Exodus.

How many descendants of Jacob came into Egypt? (Exodus 1:5)

What does the word soul(s) mean in Exodus 1:5?

Exodus 1:6; Exodus 1:8 suggests that considerable time elapsed in Egypt before the Israelites-’ situation changed. Can you obtain any information as to how much time? (Compare Genesis 15:13; Genesis 41:46; Genesis 50:22; Exodus 7:7; Exodus 12:40; Acts 7:23; Acts 7:30.)

What promises did Israel’s increase in population fulfill? (Genesis 12:2; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 25:4; Genesis 28:14; Genesis 46:3)

What is the name of the land referred to in Exodus 1:7? (Genesis 47:4; Exodus 9:26)

What change occurred in the government of Egypt? (Exodus 1:9)

What disturbed the new king of Egypt? (Exodus 1:9)

Exactly how numerous were the children of Israel? (Exodus 1:9; Exodus 12:37; Numbers 1:46)

What did the king really mean when he said, Let us deal wisely with them? (Exodus 1:10)

What two possible actions by the Israelites did the king seek to prevent? (Exodus 1:10)

Why was the king, on the one hand, afraid of the number of the Israelites, and, at the same time, unwilling to let them leave Egypt? (Exodus 1:10)

Who was set over the Israelites? Why? (Exodus 1:11)

What two cities were built? What was the purpose (or use, or function) of these cities?

What was the effect of affliction on the Israelite population? (Exodus 1:12)

What emotional effect upon the Egyptians was caused by Israel’s multiplication? (Exodus 1:12)

How severe was Israel’s forced labor and service? (Exodus 1:13-14)

What particular types of labor did the Israelites do? (Exodus 1:14)

What is a midwife? (Exodus 1:15)

What were the names of the two midwives? (Exodus 1:15)

What instructions did the king give to the midwives?

Why kill the boys and save the daughters? (Exodus 1:16)

What is the stool referred to in Exodus 1:16?

Why did the midwives not obey the king? (Exodus 1:17)

What excuse did the midwives give for saving the boy babies? (Exodus 1:19)

Was this excuse the real reason? (Exodus 1:17; Exodus 1:19). Was their lie justifiable?

Did the midwives escape punishment from the king for their disobedience? (Exodus 1:20)

Did God deal well with the midwives for lying, or for some other reason? (Exodus 1:20)

How strong did the Israelites become? (Exodus 1:20)

What does it mean by saying, God made them (the midwives) houses? (Exodus 1:21)

What cruel order did Pharaoh (king of Egypt) give? (Exodus 1:22)

Who are the people referred to in Exodus 1:22 as his people?

Exodus 1: TRANSITION!

From few to many; Exodus 1:1-7

From remembrance to rejection; Exodus 1:8

From harmony to hostility; Exodus 1:9-10

From freedom to slavery; Exodus 1:11-14

From peace to peril; Exodus 1:15-16

From bad to worse; Exodus 1:22

Life is filled with great transitions. God still rules in all conditions.

Exodus 1: GOD KNOWS!

He knows our names; Exodus 1:1-5

He knows our journeys; Exodus 1:5

He knows our deaths; Exodus 1:6

He knows our enemies; Exodus 1:8-10

He knows our sufferings; Exodus 1:11-14

He knows our dangers; Exodus 1:15-22

Bondage in Egypt/Bondage in Sin

Enslaving; (Exodus 1:11-12)

Enslaving; (John 8:34)

Painful; (Exodus 1:13-14)

Painful; (Proverbs 13:15)

Pharaoh = leader

Satan = leader (2 Timothy 2:26)

Motivated by hatred; (Exodus 1:8; Exodus 1:12)

Motivated by hatred; (Revelation 12:12)

Death = sole prospect

Death = sole prospect; (Romans 6:16)

Some viewed it as liberty! (Exodus 16:3; Numbers 11:5)

Some view it as liberty! (2 Peter 2:19)

God could deliver (Exodus 3:7-8)

God can deliver (Colossians 1:12-13)

The Ways of Wickedness (Exodus 1:8-22)

Unthankful; Exodus 1:8

Unremembering; Exodus 1:8

Unprincipled; Exodus 1:10

Unfeeling; Exodus 1:13-14

Unrevealed; Exodus 1:16 (sneaky!)

Unconcealed; Exodus 1:22 (blatant!)

Unsuccessful; Exodus 1:12; Exodus 1:20

Exodus 1: NEED FOR GOD’S MAN

Death of previous generation and leadership; Exodus 1:1-6

Multiplication of God’s people; Exodus 1:7

Oppression of God’s people; Exodus 1:8-14

Peril of God’s people; Exodus 1:15-22

EXPLORING EXODUS: Notes on Chapter One

What is the title of the book, and what does the title mean?

The title Exodus is the title given in the Latin Bible (Vulgate). It is derived from the title in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint, or LXX), Exodos, which means a going out, or departure. The word exodos actually is found in Exodus 19:1 of the LXX. As a title it would be more applicable to the first fifteen Chapter s of the book than to the whole book.

The Hebrew Bible simply titles the book by its opening words, We-elleh shemoth, meaning and these are the names; or, more simply, just shemoth, meaning names.

What is the significance of the first words (Now these) in Exodus?

In the Hebrew Bible the first words of Exodus are literally And these.. These words indicate a close connection between Exodus and the Genesis story which precedes it. Genesis and Exodus are one continuous narrative, by one author, Indeed, the whole Torah is a continuous narrative, (Torah is a Hebrew word for law, or instruction; and it refers to the five books of Moses, Genesis through Deuteronomy,)

How old was Jacob when he came into Egypt?

He was 130 years old (Genesis 47:9). There is considerable sadness in seeing an old man leaving his home of many years. But, like Abraham and Isaac, Jacob viewed this life as a pilgrimage, and this world as a temporary residence (Hebrews 11:9-10).

The Jewish Midrash (Interpretation) on Exodus says that though Jacob was an old man, the children came with Jacob, and not Jacob with his children.[79] He was not dependent on the children, but the children upon him. Such respect for parents is very befitting.

[79] Amos W. Miller, Understanding the Midrash (New York: Jonathan David, 1965), p. 16.

Did ALL of Jacob’s descendants come into Egypt with Jacob?

The scripture says they did. See Exodus 1:1-5. In fact, the whole question would seem needless, if it was not for the fact that many modern critics argue that some of the descendants of Jacob remained in Canaan, and only part of them (especially the Joseph tribes and also Levi) went to Egypt.[80]

[80] See The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 1 (Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman, 1969), p. 322; Also Gabriel Hebert, When Israel Came Out of Egypt (Richmond, Va.: John Knox Press, 1961), pp. 51-52, 63-64, 83-84.

Is there any significance in the order of the names of the sons of Jacob as given in Exodus 1:2-4?

Probably not. The order of their names here is the same as in Genesis 35 (a list given at the close of Jacob’s main life-story). It differs somewhat from the order of their births (See Genesis 30), and that given in Genesis 46. The lack of a consistent order for the names suggests that the order did not matter. The sons of Jacob’s handmaids were accepted as fully as those of Rachel and Leah. Ancestry matters little; faith is crucial.

Why does Stephen say in Acts 7:14 that seventy-five souls came into Egypt, when Exodus 1:5 says seventy souls?

Stephen quoted the Greek Old Testament, which reads seventy-five souls in Exodus 1:5.[81] This is consistent with the LXX rendering of Gen 46:27, which differs from the Hebrew text in three key expressions:

[81] The LXX contradicts itself by giving the number as seventy in Deuteronomy 10.

And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in the land of Egypt, were nine (Heb. two) souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob who came with Joseph (italicized words omitted in Hebrew) were seventy-five souls. (Genesis 46:27, LXX)

Evidently the LXX counted as sons of Joseph some of his grandsons or other descendants, who are named in 1 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Chronicles 7:20-21. Anyway, the LXX makes it clear how it arrived at the total of seventy-five. We do not know how or when this variant reading was first introduced, but it does not discredit the reliability of our common Hebrew text.

Why mention the deaths of Joseph and his generation in Exodus 1:6?

Possibly it is only to reveal the passage of considerable time. Joseph was thirty years of age when he stood before Pharaoh the first time (Genesis 41:46), and 110 at his death (Genesis 50:22).

Nonetheless, we are reminded by the verse that God notices the deaths of his children. If he notes the fall of a sparrow (Matthew 10:29), will he not notice our deaths?

A whole family died, even a big family! It is appointed unto all men once to die (Hebrews 9:27).

How did the population of Israel develop in Egypt?

It increased tremendously. See Exodus 1:7. From a family of seventy men at the time Jacob came to Egypt, it multiplied until the men over twenty numbered 603, 550 at their departure 430 years later (Exodus 12:37; Exodus 12:40; Numbers 1:45-46).

This amazing growth fulfilled God’s promises to (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that he would make them become a great nation. See Genesis 12:12; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:14; Genesis 35:11.

Israel’s increase in population in Egypt was a matter of praise to God in later centuries. Psalms 105:12; Psalms 105:23-24. Children and large families are to be considered a blessing and not a curse.

There is a progression of ideas in the four verbs expressing Israel’s multiplication: They were (1) fruitful, (2) brought forth, (3) multiplied, and (4) became very exceedingly strong.

What is the land in which Israel dwelt? (See Exodus 1:7).

It was the land of Goshen, probably the Wadi Tumilat, a broad valley stretching from the Nile to the line of the present Suez canal, near Lake Timsah. Israel did not fill the whole land of Egypt, only the land of Goshen (see Exodus 9:26).

What change occurred in the government of Egypt? (See Exodus 1:8)

A new king or ruling family (dynasty) came to power in Egypt. This new king had not known Joseph nor how Joseph saved Egypt. Possibly he did not want to know. Like Eli’s sons, who knew the Lord Yahweh (Jehovah) by name, but still knew not the Lord (1 Samuel 2:12), he may have wilfully disregarded Joseph and the true history about the past.

Who was this new king over Egypt?

This is a much disputed question. Evidently God did not consider his name significant enough to state it. We must not be as concerned over historical details, as we are over God’s acts in history. Some say the new king was Seti I (1317-1301 B.C.). Some say he was Rameses II (1301-1234). We think it was the new line or foreign rulers called the Hyksos who took over Egypt about 1670 B.C. It is a common view that Joseph came into Egypt in the time of the Hyksos and was accepted into Pharaoh’s court partly because the Hyksos kings were non-Egyptian Asiatics, racially similar to Joseph the Hebrew.

This idea contradicts the plain indications in the scripture that the king in Joseph’s time really was an Egyptian. According to the Bible record the Egyptians in those times would not eat at the same table with Hebrews (Genesis 43:32). Also during those times Every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians (Genesis 46:34). This presumably would not have been true under the Hyksos, who are thought to have had a shepherd (nomadic) ancestry.

Probably the expression There arose a new king over Egypt means that there arose a new king against Egypt.[82] If so, this would fit well with the Hyksos conquest at this time.

[82] See John Rea, The Time of the Oppression and the Exodus, Grace Journal, II, No. 1 (Winter 1961), pp. 7 ff; Quoted in John Davis, Moses and the Gods of Egypt (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1971), p. 45.

Because the Israelites and the Egyptians had been friends for a long time following Joseph’s life, the Hyksos, who conquered Egypt, regarded them as potential allies of the Egyptians in the case any war arose, and therefore a threat to them.[83]

[83] For an excellent study on the Hyksos as the persecutors referred to in Exodus 1:8 ff, see Gleason Archer, Jr., A Survey of Old Testament Introduction (Chicago: Moody, 1964), pp. 204-208.

How could the Israelites be more and mightier than the Egyptians? (See Exodus 1:10)

This statement would more likely be true if it was spoken by the Hyksos conquerors than by native Egyptians. It is hard to see how the Israelites could outnumber the Egyptians. Israel had only about a half-million men eighty years later (Exodus 12:37), and these were loosely organized and poorly armed.

The Hyksos rulers, however, may well have been fewer in number than the Israelites. They took over Egypt by having superior weapons, such as the war horse and the composite bow. In a similar way centuries later, a few Spaniards under Cortez took over Mexico. Note that the king expressed his fears about the Israelites to his people, presumably to a limited circle of trusted associates.

Why was the king so fearful Israel would escape from the land? (Exodus 1:10)

He had learned that Israel was a foreign people in Egypt, and therefore a return to their own land was always a possibility, especially since Israel’s homeland of Canaan was near to Egypt. The rulers absolutely had to have slave labor available, if there was to be food produced and buildings were to be built (see Exodus 1:14).

What was the purpose of setting taskmasters over the Israelites? (See Exodus 1:11)

The Bible says it was to afflict them. This indicates a basic cruelty in the rulers of Egypt. Without doubt, they hoped also that the hard slave labor would hold down Israel’s birth rate and weaken their ability and desire to resist. The bondage utterly failed to do either.

What does the title Pharaoh mean?

This title (it was not really a name) used by most Egyptian kings basically meant great house, an expression used figuratively to suggest their greatness.

How did Israel’s bondage serve God’s purposes?

The bondage began to take the love of Egypt out of the people. Egypt had been their only home for nearly four hundred years. They had to be weaned from Egypt. They had become so thoroughly Egyptianized that most of them had forgotten the religious practices and traditions of their forefathers. The Jewish Midrash of Exodus says that the Hebrews had said among themselves, Let us become like the Egyptians.[84] Even after Moses led Israel out of Egypt, periodically the Israelites wanted to return to Egypt (Numbers 14:3; Exodus 16:3; Exodus 17:3). Egypt had always been a comfortable land, where abundant food and water were usually available.

[84] Amos W. Miller, op. cit., p. 27.

Psalms 119:67 says, Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I have kept thy word. It is through affliction that God teaches his people what true values are.

The benefits to Israel that came through their Egyptian oppression were not forgotten. Later Israelites preserved the memory of those harsh experiences by reciting about them when they presented their first fruits unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 26:6).

Where were the cities of Pithom and Raamses?

The locations of these places are still in dispute. Most scholars locate Pithom at the hill-ruin of Tell er-Ratebah in eastern Goshen, or at the nearby site of Tell Maskhutah.[85] We have located it at Tell Ratebah on our map (p. 34A).

[85] Martin Noth, Exodus (Philadelphia: Westminister, 1962), p. 22; New Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962), p. 1001.

As for Raamses, there is now fairly general agreement that it is to be identified with the city in the N.E. delta area also called Avaris, or Tanis, or Zoan.[86] This location places Raamses quite far north to have been the starting point of Israel’s journey, if we accept the traditional southward route of Israel’s exodus across the Red Sea.

[86] Merrill C. Tenney, gen. ed., Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, 1964), p. 702.

Others place Raamses at modern Qantir (Bridge) on the eastern arm of the Nile Delta.[87] This would locate it nearer to the traditional route of Israel across the Red Sea. We have located Raamses at Qantir on our map.

[87] R. Alan Cole, Exodus (Downers Grove, III.: Inter-Varsity, 1973), p. 54.

Does the city name Raamses (Exodus 1:11)* date the bondage of Israel in the time of king Rameses II?*

We think not. Rameses II, a great builder and warrior, ruled 1301-1234 B.C. If we accept rather literally the scriptural information about the date of the exodus given in 1 Kings 6:1 and Judges 11:26 (and we do take it rather literally), we must date the exodus about 1446 B.C., long before the time of Rameses II. See the Introductory section on The Date of the Exodus.

How did the Egyptian rulers feel toward Israel when oppression did not decrease them? (See Exodus 1:12)

They were grieved. They were in dread (Revised Stand. Vers.). The Hebrew word is very strong: it means to have a disgust, to feel horror, or fear. Psalms 105:25 says that the Egyptians actually came to hate God’s people.

Are the Egyptians of Exo 1:13 the same people as the oppressors of Exo 1:8 ff.?

Probably not. Exodus 1:8-12 spoke of a new king over Egypt and of his people. We have suggested that these oppressors were probably the Hyksos rulers (approx. 1670-1570 B.C.)[88] Beginning in Exodus 1:13 the text plainly says that the Egyptians oppressed them. Probably Exodus 1:13 ff. refers to the Egyptian princes who drove out the Hyksos about 1570 B.C., and started the powerful XVIII dynasty in Egypt, the New Kingdom. If so, these Egyptian rulers continued the oppressions upon the Israelites that had been going on under the Hyksos. It seems obvious to us that Exodus Ch. 1 deals with the passage of considerable time, all the way from Jacob’s coming to Egypt, to the time near Moses-’ birth, a period of over 300 years.

[88] Dates from Siegfried J. Schwantes, A Short History of the Ancient Near East (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1965), p. 8.

How severe was Israel’s bondage?

It was extremely severe (Exodus 1:14). Psalms 81:6 praises God for removing the burden from Israel’s shoulder, and delivering his hands from the pots, or baskets. This refers to the vessels used in making mud bricks. Deuteronomy 4:20 describes the Israelites-’ experience as an iron furnace. Exodus 5:7-8 indicates that specific quotas of bricks had to be made each day, but that at the first the materials were all supplied.

Making bricks involved carrying water; digging earth; mixing earth, water, and straw; filling moulds with the mud; removing dried bricks from the mould; and transporting bricks by unaided manpower.

Israel’s bondage is an illustration of the bondage of sin. The way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15)

Why did the king of Egypt enlist the help of the midwives? (See Exodus 1:15-16.)

He sought their help because his previous scheme to suppress Israel by slave labor had failed. So he asked the midwives to kill male babies whenever they assisted a Hebrew woman in giving birth. It would not be too difficult for the midwife to make the death of the baby look accidental. Using the midwives concealed the king as the murderer.

Were the midwives Hebrews or Egyptians?

Commentators differ on whether the midwives were Hebrews or Egyptian women who served as midwives to the Hebrews. It is hard to imagine that the king would have expected the Hebrew women to slay the children of their own people. Nonetheless, the midwives had names of Semitic character (Hebrew-like); and they feared God, like good Hebrews. Shiphrah means Beauty and Puah means splendor.[89]

[89] Noth, op. cit., p. 23.

Perhaps these women were part of the mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38) that came out of Egypt with the Israelites. We know that immigrants of various Semitic (Shem-ite) tribes had come into Egypt throughout its history. In fact, the Hyksos had been such people.

Were there only two midwives for the Hebrews?

Only two are named (Exodus 1:15). These would not seem to be enough, since there were probably nearly half a million Hebrew women, and the birth rate was quite high. Maybe Shiphrah and Puah were heads of the midwives guild (union), and had other women working under them. Maybe Pharaoh did not contact all the midwives, just these two. He was desperate.

The work of the midwives is partly indicated in Exodus 1:16. In birth the women often crouched down upon a pair of bricks or stones, or upon a birth stool built in a pattern of two stones.[90] The birth-stool of Exo 1:16 literally means two stones. After delivery, the midwives cut the infant’s umbilical cord, washed the baby, salted and swaddled the body (Ezekiel 16:4).

[90] Davis, op. cit., p. 50.

Why save the girls (Exodus 1:16)?

Because the women did (and still do!) much of the hard labor, labor in fields and homes, spinning, needle work, cooking. Also girls would be saved for future harems, for the Egyptians were steeped in immorality. See Genesis 12:11-12. Also the boys might become soldiers of guerillas.

What caused the midwives to spare the babies? (See Exodus 1:17.)

They feared God more than they feared men. See Proverbs 16:6. The expression feared God is used several times of feelings and actions of non-Jews, which humanized their actions even when their national or personal interests were at stake. See Genesis 42:18; Genesis 20:11. The opposite behavior is to fear not God[91] (Deuteronomy 25:18).

[91] J. H. Hertz, ed., The Pentateuch and Haftorahs (London: Soncino, 1969), p. 208.

We wonder where these midwives learned this fear of God. We really do not know. Perhaps from some Godly Hebrews. Some knowledge of God has pervaded the entire human race since creation. See Genesis 14:18; Exodus 2:16.

Is it right to disobey civil authorities, as the midwives did?

On those rare occasions when civil authorities issue orders in clear contradiction to God’s words, it is better to obey God than men, See Acts 5:29; Daniel 3:16-18.

Should the midwives have lied about why they spared the boys?

See Exodus 1:17-18. Probably not. God probably would have saved them without their lying, as he saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who boldly stated the truth about their intentions (Daniel 3:13-18).

It might appear from Exodus 1:20 that God rewarded the midwives for lying. However, we feel that he rewarded them for sparing the male children rather than for their untruths.

We must never forget that the Bible accurately records many words and deeds that it does not necessarily approve. Even the Bible’s heroes, like Abraham, David, Moses, and Simon Peter have their transgressions glaringly recorded in the holy book. We can be thankful that God has always dealt with people on the basis of grace, rather than solely on the basis of what they justly deserve. Were it not so, we would all be doomed.

Were the Israelite women actually delivering their babies very quickly?

We are not plainly told whether this was a fact or an excuse by the midwives. We do not know that quick easy delivery of babies was a common physical ability of Hebrew women. Certainly Rachel had a hard delivery (Genesis 35:16-18; Compare 1 Samuel 4:19-20).

What reward did God give to the midwives (Exodus 1:21)?

He made for them houses, or households. They married Israelites and raised families. In some periods of history children have been looked upon as a curse, but they are actually one of God’s greatest favors. To die childless was to a Hebrew one of God’s direst punishments (Leviticus 20:20; Jeremiah 22:30).

When we consider things like abortion, we should consider the high value God placed upon saving children’s lives and having households, as related in Exodus chap. 1.

What is revealed about the character of the Egyptian people by Pharaoh’s command to his people? (See Exodus 1:22)

The fact that Pharaoh could enlist the cooperation of his people in the work of throwing all boy babies into the river shows that very many of the Egyptians were as bad as their king. At first Pharaoh had been secret and subtle in his murder attempts on the male Israelite babies. Now he becomes open, blatant, and God-defying. If anyone should feel sympathy for Pharaoh because God later hardened his heart during the ten plagues, he may well recall that Pharaoh had tried both secretly and openly to slaughter the innocent. If it be objected that it was a different Pharaoh whose heart was hardened, we reply that the same merciless disposition existed in both pharaohs.

Old Green Commentaries

The College Press Bible Study Textbook Series — 59 volumes by 25 authors, published between 1961 and 1992 and affectionately known as the 'old green' commentaries for their green hardback bindings. Each volume is a commentary, workbook and teaching manual in one, written by Restoration Movement …

View all chapters →

Old Testament

GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUT 1SA 2SA 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH EZR NEH EST JOB PSA PRO ECC SOS ISA JER LAM EZK DAN HOS JOL AMO OBA JON MIC NAH HAB ZEP HAG ZEC MAL

New Testament

MAT MRK LUK JHN ACT ROM 1CO 2CO GAL EPH PHP COL 1TH 2TH 1TI 2TI TIT PHM HEB JAS 1PE 2PE 1JN 2JN 3JN JUD REV

‹ Previous Exodus — All Chapters Chapter 2 ›