Keith Essex
Part IV: Exodus

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 8: Introduction and Themes of Exodus;
• Lecture 9: Purpose, Structure, and Interpretive Problems of Exodus; and
• Lecture 10: Interpretive Problems of Exodus.

4. Exodus [MSB, 90-92; ESVSB, 139-44; BTSB, 104-8; NIVSB, 96-101; RSB, 93-98; HWSOT, 100-123; WOTA, 80-101; LDIOT, 63-80; DOTP, 249-58]
   1. Introduction
      1. Title (W&W, 190)
         1. Hebrew: "And these are the names" (see Gen 46:8)
         2. LXX: "Exodus" - exit, departure (LXX, Exo 19:1)
      2. The Date of Events:
         • from Jacob's entrance into Egypt (1876 BC)
         • to the building of the Tabernacle (1445 BC)
      3. The History of Interpretation [RSB, 96; ACCSOT, vol. III; Childs, The Book of Exodus (OTL)]
   2. Major Themes [see W&W, 211-14; NIDOTTE, 4:605-15, 4:949-62]
      1. Redemption
         • [ga'al, redeem, deliver, ransom – NIDOTTE, 1:789-94] (Exo 6:6; 15:13);
         • [padah, ransom, redeem, deliver – NIDOTTE, 578-82] (Exo 13:13, 15; 21:8; 34:20)
         and Deliverance
         • [natsal, deliver, rescue, save – NIDOTTE, 3:141-47] (Exo 2:19; 3:8; 5:23; 6:6; 12:27, 18: 4, 8, 9, 10);
         • [yashah, deliver, help – NIDOTTE, 2:556-62] (Exo 2:17; 14:[13], 30; [Exo 15:2]);
         • [yatsah, go out] (Exo 3:10-12; 6:6, 7; 12:17, 42, 51; 13:3, 9, 14, 16; 16:6, 32; 18:1; 20:2; 29:46; 32:11)
         • [‘alah, bring up] (Exo 32:1, 4; 33:1)
      2. Yahweh [either:
         • a) He is or will be; or,
         • b) He causes or causes to be; or
         • c) He controls.] [See MSB, 96; ESVSB, 148-49; BTSB, 113-14, 118; NIDOTTE, 4:1295-1300; DOTP, 362-4; GTS, 323-39; Motyer, The Revelation of the Divine Name.]
         1. The Name of Yahweh (Exo 3:13-15; 6:2-8; 9:16; 15:3; 20:7, 24; 23:21; 33:12-34:9,14)
         2. The Knowledge of Yahweh (Exo 5:2; 6:3, 7; 7:5, 17; 8:10, 22; 9:14, 29, 30; 10:2; 14:4, 18; 16:6, 12; 18:11; 29:46; 31:13; 33:12, 13) [see GTS, 323-39; Blackburn, The God who Makes Himself Known.]
         3. The Fear of Yahweh (Exo 1:17, 21; 9:20, 30; 14:31; 18:21; 20:20)
      3. Holiness (Exo 3:5; 12:16; 13:2; 15:11, 13; 16:23; 19:6, 10, 14, 22, 23; 20:8, 11; 22:31; 26:33, 34; 28:2, 3, 4, 29, 35, 36, 38, 41, 43; 29:1, 6, 21, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 44; 30:10; 31:10; 35:2) [NIDOTTE, 3:877-87; DOTP, 420-31]
      4. The Patriarchs (Exo 2:24; 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5; 6:3, 8; 32:13; 33:1)
      5. The Covenants
         1. The Abrahamic (Exo 2:24; 6:4, 5)
         2. The Sinaitic [Mosaic; Israelite # 1] (Exo 19:3-6; 20-23; 24:7, 8; 31:16; 34:10-27) [MSB, 121-22, 130; ESVSB, 174; BTSB, 106, 139; MKP, 98-99; DOTP, 149-52; see MSJ 10:2 (Fall, 1999) 213-32]
      6. The Sabbath (Exo 16:23, 25, 26, 29; 20:8-11; 23:10-12; 31:13-17; 35:2, 3) [MSB, 124; ESVSB, 196; BTSB, 135; NIDOTTE, 4:1157-62; DOTP, 695-706]
      7. The Passover (Exo 12; 34)
         & Unleavened Bread (Exo 12; 13; 23; 34) [MSB, 109-13; ESVSB, 162-66; BTSB, 126-29; NIDOTTE, 4:1043-46; DOTP, 300-13]
      8. The Decalogue (Exo 20:3-17; 31:18; 32:15-19; 34:27-29) [MSB, 123-4; ESVSB, 175-7; BTSB, 141-42; W&W, 208-11; NIDOTTE, 4:513-9; DOTP, 171-82; Rooker, The Ten Commandments.]
         Jewish

         Roman Catholic / Lutheran

         Reformed

         I am the LORD your God

         No other Gods

         No other Gods

         No other Gods

         No image

         LORD's name in vain

         LORD's name in vain

         LORD's name in vain

         Remember Sabbath day

         Remember Sabbath day

         Remember Sabbath day

         Honor parents

         Honor parents

         Honor parents

         No murder

         No murder

         No murder

         No adultery

         No adultery

         No adultery

         No stealing

         No stealing

         No stealing

         No false witness

         No false witness

         No false witness

         No coveting

         No coveting neighbor's house

         No coveting

         No coveting neighbor's wife
      9. The Tabernacle (Exo 25-31; 34-40) [MSB, 130-40; ESVSB, 183-96; BTSB, 149-59; NIDOTTE, 2:873-7, 1078-87, 1130-34; DOTP, 807-27]
      10. The Wilderness (Exo 3:1, 18; 4:27; 5:1, 3; 7:16; 8:27, 28; 13:18, 20; 14:3, 11, 12; 15:22; 16:1, 2, 3, 10, 14, 32; 17:1; 18:5; 19:1, 2; 23:31) [NIDOTTE, 4:520-28]
   3. Purpose:
      • Yahweh (the God of Creation, the God of the Patriarchs) redeemed / delivered the Sons of Israel (Abraham's physical seed) from bondage in Egypt and entered into a Covenant with the Nation of Israel at Sinai.
   4. The Literary Structure (W&W, 192-93)
      1. The Literary Frames Related to Exodus
         EXODUS 1:1–NUMBERS 25:18

         Exo 1:1–Exo 15:21

         Exo 15:22–Num 22:1

         Num 22:2–Num 25:18

         The Exodus

         The Covenant at Sinai

         The Future Blessing of Israel

          

         The Need

         Its Making

         Israel's Failure

          

         Egypt

         Wilderness

         Sinai

         Wilderness

         Plains of Moab

         Mighty people (Exo 1:9)

         Exo 15:22–Exo 18:27

         Exo 19:1–Num 10:36

         Num 11:1–Num 22:1

         Mighty people (Num 22:3, Num 22:6)

         Grumbling

         See

         Grumbling

         King (Exo 1:8)

         Manna / Quail

         chart

         Manna / Quail

         King (Num 22:4)

         Water from rock

         below

         Water from rock

         Prevailing

         Prevailing
         EXODUS 19:1–NUMBERS 10:36

         Exo 19:1–Exo 31:18

         Exo 32:1–Lev 16:34

         Lev 17:1–Num 10:36

         No Idolatry
         (Exo 20:6)

         Golden Calf
         (Exo 32:4, 8)

         Goat Idols
         (Lev 17:7)

         Covenant
         (Exo 19:5; 31:16)

         Covenant
         (Exo 34:10)

         Covenant
         (Lev 26:15)

         Stipulations
         (Exo 21:1)

         Stipulations
         (Exo 35:1)

         Stipulations
         (Lev 17:1)

         Altar
         (Exo 20:22-26)

         Altar
         (Exo 38:1-7)

         Altar
         (Lev 17:6)

         Tabernacle
         (Exo 25:1–Exo 31:11)

         Tabernacle
         (Exo 35:1ff.)

         Tabernacle
         (Lev 17:4-5)
      2. The Outline of Exodus
         1. The Redemption of the Sons of Israel from Bondage in Egypt: Yahweh's Acquisition of the Seed of Abraham (Exo 1:1–Exo 15:21)
            1. The Oppression of the Sons of Israel Because of The Multiplication of the Seed of Abraham (Exo 1:1-22)
            2. The Deliverer of the Sons of Israel, the Seed of Abraham, from Bondage in Egypt (Exo 2:1–Exo 4:31)
            3. The Deliverance of the Sons of Israel, the Seed of Abraham, from Bondage in Egypt (Exo 5:1–Exo 15:21)
         2. The Revelation to Redeemed Israel at Sinai: Yahweh's Covenant with the Nation of Israel, the Seed of Abraham (Exo 15:22–Exo 40:38)
            1. Yahweh's Direction of Israel to Sinai: Israel's Need for the Mosaic Covenant Demonstrated (Exo 15:22–Exo 18:27)
            2. Yahweh's Giving of the Mosaic Covenant at Sinai (Exo 19:1–Exo 31:18)
               1. The Making of the Mosaic Covenant at Sinai (Exo 19:1–Exo 24:18)
               2. The Revelation of Tabernacle Given by Yahweh to Moses (Exo 25:1–Exo 31:18)
            3. The Breaking of the Mosaic Covenant by Israel; The Renewal of the Mosaic Covenant by Yahweh; The Construction of the Tabernacle and Yahweh's Presence in the Midst of Israel at Sinai (Exo 32:1–Exo 40:38)
   5. Bibliography
      1. Exegetical:
         • Alexander, Exodus (AOTC).
         • Carpenter, Exodus (EEC). 2 vols.
         • Cassuto, A Commentary on the Book of Exodus.
         • Garrett, A Commentary on Exodus (KEC).
         • *Hamilton, Exodus: An Exegetical Commentary.
      2. English Interpretation:
         • Davis, Moses and the Gods of Egypt.
         • *Stuart, Exodus (NAC).
      3. Expositional:
      4. • Enns, Exodus (NIVAC).
         • Moyter, The Message of Exodus (BST).
         • Ryken, Exodus (PTW).
   6. Selected Interpretive Problems
      1. The Literary Structure [ESVSB, 143-44]
         1. Geographical [MSB, 93]
            • Egypt (Exo 1:1–Exo 12:36)
              Egypt to Sinai (Exo 12:37–Exo 18:27)
              Sinai (Exo 19:1–Exo 40:38)
         2. Ideological
            • Deliverance (Exo 1:1–Exo 18:27) [BKC; {1-19; 20-40} Stuart]
              Covenant (Exo 19:1–Exo 40:38)
            • Divine Redemption (Exo 1:1–Exo 18:27) [EBC 1 & 2; Cassuto, 1-17]
              Divine Morality (Exo 19:1–Exo 24:18) [EBC1 & 2; Cassuto, 18-24]
              Divine Worship (Exo 25:1–Exo 40:38)
            • The Redemption of the Sons of Israel (Exo 1:1–Exo 15:21) [see Carpenter; Enns]
              The Revelation to Redeemed Israel (Exo 15:22–Exo 40:38)
      2. The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart [MSB, 98, 105; ESVSB, 150-51; BTSB, 115, 116; NIDOTTE, 2:750-1; DOTP, 381-83; see BSac 153:612 (Oct, 1996): 410-34; Cassuto, 55-58; GST, 323-24]

         The Phrases Used

         1. hazaq leb (to be strong of heart): Exod 4:21; 7:13, 22; 8:19; 9:12, 35; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17 [see NIDOTTE, 2:63-87 {esp. 68, 70}]
         2. kabed leb (to be heavy of heart): Exod 7:14; 8:15, 32; 9:7, 34; 10:1 [see NIDOTTE, 2:577-87 {esp. 578}]
         3. qasar leb (to be hard of heart): Exod 7:3 [see NIDOTTE, 3:997-9 {esp. 998}]

         The Subjects of the Verb

         1. Texts where Yaweh is the subject of the verb:
            • Exo 4:21 "I will strengthen his heart" {1; Piel}
            • Exo 7:3 "I will harden Pharaoh's heart" {3}
            • Exo 9:12 "Yahweh strengthened Pharaoh's heart" {1; Piel}
            • Exo 10:1 "I have hardened his heart" {2; Hiphil}
            • Exo 10:20 "Yahweh strengthened Pharaoh's heart" {1; Piel}
            • Exo 10:27 "Yahweh strengthened Pharaoh's heart" {1; Piel}
            • Exo 11:10 "Yahweh strengthened Pharaoh's heart" {1; Piel}
            • Exo 14:4 "I will strengthen Pharaoh's heart" {1; Piel}
            • Exo 14:8 "Yahweh strengthened Pharaoh's heart" {1; Piel}
            • Exo 14:17 "I will strengthen the Egyptians' hearts" {1; Piel}
         2. Text where Pharaoh is the (a) subject of the verb:
            • Exo 8:15 "He [Pharaoh] hardened his heart" {2; Hiphil}
            • Exo 8:32 "Pharaoh hardened his heart" {2; Hiphil}
            • Exo 9:34 "He [Pharaoh] and his officials hardened their hearts" {2; Hiphil}
         3. Text in which no agent is specifically mentioned:
            • Exo 7:13 "Pharaoh's heart was strengthened" {1; Qal}
            • Exo 7:14 "Pharaoh's heart was hardened" {2; predicate adjective}
            • Exo 7:22 "Pharaoh's heart was strengthened" {1; Qal}
            • Exo 8:19 "Pharaoh's heart was strengthened" {1; Qal}
            • Exo 9:7 "Pharaoh's heart was hardened" {2; Qal}
            • Exo 9:35 "Pharaoh's heart was strengthened" {1; Qal}

         The Interpretive Positions

         1. a. A figure of speech for "stubbornness"
         2. b. The Humiliation of Pharaoh and Egyptian Religion [Carpenter; Stuart]
         3. c. Yahweh Confirmed Pharaoh's Determination [Davis]
         4. d. The Emphasis on Divine Sovereignty [Cole]
      3. "A Bridegroom of Blood" (Exo 4:24-26) [MSB, 98; ESVSB, 151; BTSB, 116; Carpenter; Hamilton; see BSac 153:611 (July, 1996), 259-69]
      4. The Plagues (Exo 5:2; cf. 6:7; 7:5, 17; 8:10, 22; 9:14, 29; 10:2; 11:7; 14:4, 18) [MSB, 102-9; ESVSB, 155-56; BTSB, 120; W&W, 207-8; MKP, 80- 82; CBCOT, 85; NIDOTTE, 4:1056-9; ESVBA, 82, 84; DOTP, 755-62]
         1. Intensified Natural Phenomena
            1. Cosmic
            2. Geological
            3. Seasonal
         2. A Literary Framework
            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            First Cycle: "By this you (Pharaoh) shall know that I am Yahweh" (Exo 7:17)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Nile Turned to Blood

            To Pharaoh at the Nile in the morning (Exo 7:15-18)

            Aaron's Staff (Exo 7:19)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Frogs

            To Pharaoh [with place and time not given] (Exo 8:1-4)

            Aaron's Staff (Exo 8:5-6)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Gnats

            No Warning Given

            Aaron's Staff (Exo 8:16-17)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Second Cycle: "That you (Pharaoh) will know that I, Yahweh, am in the midst of the land" (Exo 8:22)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Flies

            To Pharaoh at the water in the morning (Exo 8:20-23)

            No Staff Used

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Death of Livestock

            To Pharaoh [with place and time not given] (Exo 9:1-5)

            No Staff Used

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Boils

            No Warning Given

            No Staff Used

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Third Cycle: "That you (Pharaoh) will know that there is no one like Me (Yahweh) in all the earth" (Exo 9:14)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Hail

            To Pharaoh in the morning [no place given] (Exo 9:13-19)

            Moses' Staff (Exo 9:22-23)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Locusts

            To Pharaoh [with place and time not given] (Exo 10:3-6)

            Moses' Staff (Exo 10:12-13)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Darkness

            No Warning Given

            Moses' Hand (Exo 10:21-22)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Culminating Judgment: "He (Pharaoh) will let you go from here (Egypt)" (Exo 11:1)

            Plague

            Warning

            Use of Staff

            Death of the Firstborn

            No Warning Given (Exo 10:28-29)

            No Staff Used
         3. A Supernatural Action [Stuart]
            1. A Polemic against Egyptian Gods (Exo 12:12; Num. 33:4) [MSB, 102; Stuart]
            2. De-creation (Judgment) [see Carpenter]
      5. The Date of the Exodus [MSB, 91; ESVSB, 33; W&W, 194-207; MKP, 83-92; GTS, 236-55; CBCOT, 102-3; ESVBA, 88-91; DOTP, 258-72]
         1. The Early Date
            1. ca. 1446 BC [Davis; Stuart]
            2. ca. 1550-1470 BC
         2. The Late Date
            1. ca. 1260 BC
            2. ca. 1150 BC
      6. The Route of the Exodus [MSB, 111; ESVSB, 143; W&W, 207; MKP, 82-83; NMAB, 106-14; ESVBA, 84-88; DOTP, 272-80]
   7. Preaching Exodus

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.