1. IN THE BEGINNING….
CLASS TWO OF THREE
Our Lady of the Presentation Parish
Mary Pat Storms
June 19, 2013

2. EXODUS

3. Exodus
Stories of Moses, deliverance
of the Hebrew People and the
Law (10 Commandments.)

4. Writing
• Likely occurred around 1300 BC; written 10-6
centuries BC
• Writers are generally considered:
– J source (the poet)
– E source (the prophet)
– P source (the priest)
• Varied literary styles: poetry, legal, epic

5. Today’s Overview
1
• Structure
2
• Covenant
3
• The Stories

6. STRUCTURE

7. Introduction: The Oppression of the Israelites in Egypt
(1:1–2:22)
The Call and Commission of Moses (2:23–7:7)
The Contest with Pharaoh (7:8–13:16)
The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh and
Victory at the Sea (13:17–15:21)
The Journey in the Wilderness to Sinai (15:22–18:27)
Covenant and Legislation at Mount Sinai (19:1–31:18)
Israel’s Apostasy and God’s Renewal of the Covenant
(32:1–34:35)
The Building of the Tabernacle and the Descent of God’s
Glory upon It (35:1–40:38)

8. I will sing to the Lord… Exodus 15: 1-18
• This is an ancient poem that encapsulates all
of Exodus.
• Used at Easter Vigil each year.
• Verses 1-12 talk about the deliverance of
Israel from Egypt;
• Verses 13-18 talk about God’s faithfulness to
Israel in the desert.

9. Structure of Exodus
Exodus I : people
at peace; dramatic
change to slavery.
7-10 Moses again
confronts Pharaoh
2-4: Moses called
to deliver Israel
5: Confronting
Pharaoh
11-12 Deliverance
13: Escape to the
East

10. Structure of Exodus
14-15
Deliverance at
Red Sea
16-18 Journey
in the
Wilderness
19-24 God’s
covenant with
Israel
25-31
Directions for
the sanctuary
32-34 Sin and
renewed
covenant
35-40 Building
of the
sanctuary

11. COVENANT

12. Theology of Covenant
• A covenant is a solemn agreement made with a
religious ritual.
• Covenants can be between people or nations.
• Considered valid for all time. Cannot be rejected,
broken or taken back.
• Typical structure has these parts: a preamble
stating names of parties; a historical listing of all
the good things God has done for his people; the
laws and obligations for the people; a directive
to save and publish the covenant; a list of
witnesses; list of curses and blessings.

13. Biblical covenants
• Abraham
• Noah
• Moses

14. STORIES OF EXODUS

15. The Oppression of the Israelites in
Egypt (1:1–2:22)
• At the end of Genesis, we hear of Joseph’s
death.
• At the start of Exodus, we have a listing of the
tribes who are in Egypt and their progeny.
• Then, we hear of a Pharaoh who did not
know Joseph. This Pharaoh is likely Ramses
II.
• Hebrews are forced into slavery.

16. The Oppression of the Israelites
• Orders midwives to kill Hebrew sons
– Midwives’ Civil Disobedience
– Order to throw sons into the Nile
– Plan to have Hebrew daughters marry Egyptian
men
• Birth of Moses
– Levite parents
– Found in river by Pharaoh’s daughter
• Miriam

17. Moses’ Flight
• Moses is raised in Pharaoh’s household
– Somehow realizes he is Hebrew
– Kills Egyptian
– Flees to Midian
• Moses in Midian
– Defends seven sisters at well
– Priest of Midian (Jethro) has flocks Moses tends
– Marries Zipporah and has son, Gershon

18. The Call of Moses
• Moses is tending the herd
– Burning Bush
•
•
•
•
•
Hid his face
Holy ground
Promise of land flowing with milk and honey
Name of God: I AM
Go to the Israelites and say…the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob says…

19. The Mission of Moses
• Moses goes to Pharaoh to ask for three-day
retreat
–Israelite’s workload is increased
People are not happy with Moses
• Moses goes to back to God
–God’s insistence on mission
»Plagues

20. The Plagues show God’s power
• Turning water into blood: Hapi, the god of the Nile
• Frogs: Heqt, goddess of birth. Heqt is often
depicted as a frog.
Gnats from dust: Geb, god of the earth or soil.
• Flies: Kheper, god of beetles and flies.
• Cattle: Apis, sacred bull.
• Boils: Isis, goddess of healing.
• Hail: Nut, sky goddess and/or Horus, falcon god /
sky god.
• Locusts: Seth, god of crops.
• 3 days of darkness: Ra, the sun god
• Death of firstborn Pharaoh.

21. Passover
• Ritual prescribed
– 10th day of the first month of year
– A lamb for sacrifice
– Blood on the doorposts
– Roasted lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened
bread
– Eat it with loins girt, sandals on feet and staff in
hand
– Rules for future years

22. The Exodus (c. 1300 bc)
Departure at night
– Crossing Red Sea to desert of Shur
Hunger in desert
– Quail and Manna
– Water from rock

23. Joshua enters as a warrior
Battle with Amalek
• While Moses has his hands raised, battle is won.
Reunion with family
 Moses meets up with Jethro, is reunited with
his wife and two sons.
 Jethro advises him to appoint judges.

24. Mount Sinai
God meets with Moses and Aaron on the mountain
• 10 Commandments
• Several specific laws and rituals prescribed
• Instructions for the Ark of the Covenant
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
The table
The lampstand
The tent cloth
The walls of wood
The veils
Altar for holocausts
Priest’s vestments

25. Meanwhile…while Moses is talking
with God….
• The Golden Calf
– Aaron lets people “run wild”
– Time of atonement
– Broken tablets of Commandments
• New Tablets
• Moses stays with God for 40 days

26. Exodus Journey

27. Lessons from Exodus
• Renewal of covenant
• God enters real time and interacts with real
people
• Israel emerges from experience as God’s holy,
chosen people
• Human success and failure
• Divine assistance and forgiveness

28. QUESTIONS?