Commentary on the book of exodus by matthew henry old. Reflection paper on moses and the exodus 24 words cram. The author asks unanswerable questions which do little to elucidate the bible text. The third section contains essays on the textual history and reception of exodus in judaism and christianity. The liturgical material attracts questions about the meaning of texts ex 12. This created a somewhat confusing appearance for the novice. Joseph had been the 2nd ruler in all of egypt so how could the next pharaoh not have known him. Exodus, lent, and becoming a true nation george weigel. The book of exodus is the second book of the bible.
Modern commentaries on the book of exodus and their. Theology and history of composition eerdmans dictionary of the bible. Im presently in the book of exodus so ive dusted off brevard childs the book of exodus. The book of exodus leaving is a continuation of genesis. The exodus in history and the exodus as history word biblical commentary, volume 3. This was the second revelation of the name of the god of israel to moses. Both periods had their uses and place in the shaping of the nation and its preparation for the exodus. Speak unto the children of israel, that they turn and encampthe israelites had now completed their three days journey, and at etham the decisive step would have to be taken whether they would celebrate their intended feast and return, or march onwards by the head of the red sea into the desert, with a view to a. One would leave perplexed and confused over what the author was trying to communicate.
The book of exodus composition, reception, and interpretation. Neither is this a book of generic sermons and illustrations. The lords revelation to moses, the giving of the lords name, mosess commission 4. Bible and exodus is not a history book but an interpretation of history. This book is less a commentary and more a psychological study of the book of exodus. Oct 24, 2016 this is not a typical commentary on exodus. During this time, israel experienced physical prosperity and increase 1. Net note chapter 1 introduces the theme of bondage in egypt and shows the intensifying opposition to the fulfillment of promises given earlier to abraham, isaac, and jacob. Generally, persons and places in bible refer to historical data since the 8th cent.
Victor hamiltons commentary on exodus contains his own unique, detailed, and constructive translation and interpretations of the texts of exodus fueled by a wideranging dialogue with a wealth of previous scholarship on the book. The historicalcharacter of the book is undoubted, since, besides many internal evidences, itsauthenticity is proved by the strong testimony of the feast of purim, the celebration ofwhich can be traced up to the events which are described in this book. By his mighty arm, he brought israel out of egypt and through the red sea see ex 14. At this point in the year im able to attack both goals at the same time. You will see why he calls it the true heart of the old testament. Selected commentaries on exodus robert alter, the five books of moses. After the exodus out of egypt the people of israel received the law of jehovah and erected the tabernacle of congregation according to his command. A literal translations would be the getting out of.
Garretts commentary is a great addition to the available material on exodus. The book opens with mosess background, his confrontation with pharaoh, the ten plagues, and the israelites exit from slavery. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. God demonstrated his power in putting a difference between the people of egypt and the people of israel exodus 11. Then ye shall be a peculiar treasure to me he doth not instance in any one particular favour, but expresseth it in that which was inclusive of all happiness, that he would be to them a god in covenant, and they should be to him a people. In exodus, moses intercedes for the israel nation, while in the new testament, jesus is our intercessor restoring relationship with god. He evaluates modern critical perspectives on exodus, and evaluates the legacy of nineteenthcentury higher critical interpretation for the book s historicity. Exodus introduction commentary commentary critical and. Outline of the book actually, three distinct outlines, from different perspectives.
Book of exodus yale divinity school yale university. That knew not joseph all that knew him loved him, and were kind to his relations for his sake. Considerable attention, for example, is devoted to the attempt to discern what sources lay behind the plague narratives. The story of the exodus and lack of historicity brewminate. Exodus 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. The overwhelming consensus among scholars is that the story in the book of exodus is best understood as a myth and cannot be treated as history. Now these are the names of the children of israel who came to egypt. George weigel is distinguished senior fellow of washington, d. The two ideas that mark these revelations are found combined, apart from their historical development, in the second commandment, where the divine unity is shown on its practical side, in its relation to human obligations compare exodus 34. Exodus, the second book of the bible, demonstrates many aspects of gods character. A critical and exegetical commentary on exodus 118 volume 1. Exodus 14 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on.
Exodus commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The following is a brief presentation of approximate dates of events in the book of exodus. The object for which moses went up was to receive and convey to the people the message contained in these verses, and the purport of which was a general announcement of the terms on which god was to take the israelites into a close and peculiar relation to himself. The nature and intent of that divine work set the agenda for moses work and through him, the work of gods people. Even though humanity still sins, we have jesus and the holy spirit working in us and helping us daily to be more christlike, so we may give glory to god through the way we live in the world and in community. The introduction to this book recognizes exodus as a christian book, although it respects its prechristian roots in the hebrew bible. The impressions made upon the people, thereby, ver. He discusses the issues surrounding historicity of the exodus at length, tentatively defending a fifteenthcentury dating for the event. I used to wonder why this pharaoh did not know who joseph was. This commentary has remained in print for four decades, partly due to its place in the series tyndale old testament commentaries. Book of exodus biblical studies oxford bibliographies.
The book of exodus is a good companion on the journey, and leon kass is an admirable guide to the truths found in that great book. Argumentative essay on the book of exodus he wanted israel to be sure of his power and to be able to look back on it generations from now. Organized for easy reference, word biblical commentaries make an ideal bible study companion whether you are studying a single passage or a complete biblical book. The four hundred years of israels stay in egypt were divided into two unequal periods, in the former and longer of which they were prosperous and favoured, while in the latter they were oppressed. The book s reception history bent gets more downanddirty in the fifth chapter, which looks at the storys role in the reformation, the dutch republic, postreformation scholastic period, the american revolution, and the mormon exodus. Jacob and his family entered egypt about 430 years before the exodus 12.
Study the bible online using commentary on exodus and more. Written by leading experts in the field, the book of exodus. Resources for the study of exodus pepperdine digital commons. Moses went up unto godthe shekinahwithin the cloud ex 33. In hebrew the book takes its title from the opening words. All those who were descendants of jacob were seventy. The book of exodus is the second book of the torah and of the old testament.
Both in the commandment and in this passage, the divine love is associated with the. Sampey professor of old testament interpretation and professor of biblical theology, discusses his new book, a commentary on exodus, with towers editor s. The book of exodus is the second book of the torah or pentateuch, the first. Because the book of exodus comes right after genesis, it seems as though the events in this book happened right after the story of joseph. This drove moses to speak in the name of the lord to pharaoh saying, let my people go exod. Exodus was traditionally ascribed to moses himself, but modern scholars see its initial composition as a product of the babylonian exile 6th century bce, based on earlier written and oral traditions, with final revisions in the persian postexilic period 5th century bce. Carol meyers, in her commentary on exodus, suggests that it is arguably the. Gods and kings and classics like the ten commandments, why do you think our culture is so fascinated with the story of the exodus. In her commentary on the book of exodus the stories of slavery and liberation, the burning bush, the revelation at sinai, the golden calf, the shattering of the tablets, the building and consecration of the tabernacleavivah gottlieb zornberg weaves a magnificent tapestry of classical biblical, talmudic, and midrashic interpretations. Best commentaries and books on exodus logos bible software. The overwhelming consensus among scholars is that the story. Starting with the deliverance of moses by pharaohs daughter, it recounts the revelation at the burning bush where he was called by yahweh to deliver the israelites from egyptian slavery.
C houtman 1993 exodus historical commentary on the old testament. The fountainhead of ot theology garrett discusses exodus. Exodus 14 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Speak unto the children of israel, that they turn and encampthe israelites had now completed their three days journey, and at etham the decisive step would have to be taken whether they would celebrate their intended feast and return, or march onwards by the head of the red sea into the desert, with a view to. The liturgical material attracts questions about the meaning of texts.
Garretts book will help readers of exodus gain a better appreciation for this often ignored book. This commentary has remained in print for four decades, partly due to its place in the series tyndale old testament. In the book of exodus, god is the essential worker. Baden then discusses the exodus story in relation to the law and ten commandments in chapter 4. The reflections really are pastoral letters, designed to engage both readers and the writer with the biblical text, together, in the hope of together hearing the living, transforming word of god speaking anew in the text.
Gods initial call to moses included an explanation of god s work. His translation is wellreasoned, commentary is thorough, and theological reflections are solid. C some archeological data can maybe refer to an earlier time. If some understanding is to be gained from the book of exodus and its doctrine of god. The exodus in history and the exodus as history word biblical commentary. May 05, 2017 exodus opens with the israelites change of status from guests to slaves in the land of egypt exodus 12, which sets the stage for the divine rescue of the israelites from egyptian slavery through the leadership of moses exodus 315, their initial journey into the wilderness to the divine mountain exodus 1618, and the divine. A spiritual journey overview of chapter contents 1. Composition, reception, and interpretation offers a wideranging treatment of the main aspects of. Birth of moses, israelites labor, moses slays egyptian and flees, israelites groaning 3.
A key commentary on exodus is found in hosea where god says when israel was a youth i loved him, and out of egypt i called my son. The story of creation leads up to man the subject of all history. T the salient features of the story are that the israelites had been enslaved by the egyptians and forced to work as builders. The book exodus is one of the great books of the pentateuch and of the whole bible. Historical criticism of exodus the international standard bible encyclopedia, revised. Each section of the scripture concludes with a commentary and reflections. What is being said by god is that the lsraelites would understand the meaning of yahweh in their experiences in a richness, a fullness, and a specificity hitherto hidden. The exodus as negotiation of identity and human dignity. The second section contains commentary on or interpretation of specific passages or sections of exodus, as well as essays on its formation, genres, and themes. The first revelation was of yahweh as the selfexistent one, who purposed to deliver his people with a mighty hand exodus 3. John durham, exodus in world bible commentary, volume 3 waco, texas.
Within the hebrew bible exodus forms part of the first division of the canon, which. Read exodus commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. It will also be argued that the reinterpretation of the history of israel can be informed by recent studies on the role of. Jun 28, 2020 although judaism regards the book of exodus as the primary factual historical narrative of the origin of hebrew religion, culture and ethnicity, scholars now accept that this text evolved in the 8th7th centuries bce as a compilation from stories dating possibly as far back as the th century bce, with further polishing in the 6th5th. The two ideas that mark these revelations are found combined, apart from their historical development, in the. All things being prepared for the solemn promulgation of the divine law, we have in this chapter, the ten commandments as god himself spake them upon mount sinai, ver. When the israelites faced hard times, they would be able to look back and think about how they are standing with the god who delivered them out of egypt 10. Desmond alexander aotc ivp academic, 2017 provides extensive lexical, literary, and theological discussions of the text. It might be helpful to overworked preachers and for general readers who wish to stay in touch with the book of exodus and israels rescue but dont want a commentary. Apr 15, 2019 the story of israels exodus from egypt is told in detail in the book of exodus. After the exodus out of egypt the people of israel received the law of jehovah and erected. Heading home with god reflects on the book of exodus without being a verse by verse treatment.
A critical, theological commentary in order to draw from the deep well of his knowledge. The final section explores the theologies of the book of exodus. Carol meyers, in her commentary on exodus, suggests that it is arguably the most important book in the bible, as it. Its landmarks are the passover and the passage through the red sea see explanation in 1 corinthians 5. Carol meyers, in her commentary on exodus, suggests that it is arguably the most important book in the bible, as it presents the defining features of israels identitymemories of a past marked by hardship and escape, a binding covenant with god, who chooses israel, and the establishment of the life of the community and the guidelines for sustaining it. The introductory essay, features of the new interpreters bible, indicates that the commentary is an exegetical analysis while the reflections are meant to stimulate the thought of preachers and. Introduction, brief history of israel in egypt, pharaohs decree to kill israelite boys 2. There arose a new king one of another family, according to josephus.
805 520 658 496 1403 486 1024 29 1063 467 1201 20 188 1158 238 1016 1182 1385 69 350 6 170