The Exodus and Conquest
[Exodus - Joshua]
Moses’ birth, calling and return to Egypt
[Ex 1-4]
The
Israelites
have
grown
greatly
in
numbers
and
prosperity
when
a
new
Pharaoh
reigns
who
knows
nothing
of
Joseph.
Through
fear
of
their
numbers
and
their
might,
he
puts
the
Israelites
into
bondage
and
their
persecution
begins.
The
population
continues
to
grow
and
attempts
are
made
to
limit
their
increase
by
preventing
birth
or
survival
of
male
children.
When
Moses
is
born,
his
mother
hides
him
in
a
basket
placed
by
the
river
bank
where
it
is
discovered
by
the
Pharaoh’s
daughter.
Moses’
mother
is
paid
by
Pharaoh’s
daughter
to nurse him and then return him to her to be brought up as her own.
At
the
age
of
forty,
Moses
witnesses
a
Hebrew
being
attacked
by
an
Egyptian.
He
intervenes
and
kills
the
Egyptian,
but
the
next
day
it
is
apparent
the
killing
is
becoming
common
knowledge,
and
so
Moses
flees
to
take
refuge
in
Midian.
There
he
marries
Zipporah,
a
daughter
of
Jethro
the
priest
of
Midian,
and
has
two
sons
by
her.
Moses
keeps
a
flock
for
Jethro,
and
in
time
leads
them
to
Horeb
where
he
sees
a
bush
burning,
but
not
being
consumed.
When
he
approaches
to
investigate,
the
angel
of
the
Lord
speaks
to
him
from
the
bush
and
tells
him
that
he
is
to
return
to
Egypt,
along
with
his
brother
Aaron,
to
deliver
God’s
children
out
of
bondage
and
to
bring
them to this mountain.
It’s
possibly
about
this
time
that
Job
suffers
terribly
at
the
hands
of
the
devil.
He
disputes
with
his
friends,
who
say
his
condition
is
the
result
of
some
sin
he
must
have
committed.
Job
holds
fast
to
his
innocence,
but
questions
God’s
actions.
He
is
eventually
reproved
by God and graciously restored to his former state, with interest.
Pharaoh’s opposition and the ten plagues
[Ex 5-12]
When
Moses
first
approaches
Pharaoh
with
God’s
message
it
is
rejected.
Pharaoh’s
response
is
to
put
a
greater
burden
on
Israel
in
their
slavery.
Moses
speaks
to
God
and
expresses
his
concern,
to
which
God
responds
by
reminding
Moses
of
His
covenant
with
Abraham,
Isaac
and
Jacob
and,
in
doing
so,
promises
deliverance
of
His
people.
This
Moses
repeats
to
the
people
but,
because
of
their
increased burden, they are not of a mind to heed Moses’ words.
There
then
follows
a
series
of
ten
plagues
intended
to
persuade
Pharaoh
to
let
the
Israelites
go.
The
first
nine
plagues
are:
water
turned
to
blood,
frogs,
gnats,
flies,
against
livestock,
boils,
hail,
locusts
and
darkness.
Pharaoh’s
heart
is
hardened
following
each
plague
until
the
most
severe,
the
tenth
plague,
death
of
the
firstborn,
is
announced.
Instructions
are
given
by
God
to
make
preparations
to
protect
the
Israelite
households
from
this
last
plague,
involving
sacrifice
of
a
lamb
and
the
daubing
of
its
blood
on
door
lintels
and
posts.
God
calls
this
The
Lord’s
Passover
and
declares
it
will
become
a
memorial.
When
the
plague
comes,
all
the
firstborn
not
protected
by
the
lamb’s
blood
are
slain.
The
loss
of
his
son
is
too
much
for
Pharaoh
and
he
finally
succumbs.
Israel’s
exodus
begins.
To Mount Sinai
[Ex 13-18]
The
Israelites
leave
Egypt
with
great
possessions
given
by
the
Egyptians
[Gen
15:13,
14;
Ex
3:21,
22].
These
possessions
later
form
the
source
of
materials
for
constructing
the
tabernacle).
They
go
by
way
of
the
desert
towards
the
Red
Sea
(Sea
of
Reeds),
led
by
God
with a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night.
Pharaoh’s
heart
is
again
hardened
and
he
gathers
his
army
to
pursue
the
Israelites.
God
facilitates
the
Israelites’
escape
by
parting
the
Red
Sea,
enabling
them
to
cross
between
the
walls
of
water
while
a
pillar
of
smoke
and
a
cloud
keep
the
Egyptians
at
a
distance.
When
the
cloud
disperses
and
the
Egyptians
attempt
to
cross
the
sea,
the
waters
return
and
they
are
all
drowned.
Following
this
deliverance, Moses composes a song to commemorate the occasion.
Moses
leads
Israel
from
the
Red
Sea
out
into
the
Wilderness
of
Shur.
After
another
three
days
travelling
without
water
they
arrive
at
Marah,
only
to
find
the
water
there
is
bitter.
Through
Moses,
God
sweetens
the
water
and
they
travel
on
and
camp
at
Elim,
where
there
are
twelve
wells
and
seventy
palm
trees.
They
then
travel
through
the
Desert
of
Sin
on
their
way
to
Sinai.
The
Israelites
begin
to
complain
about
lack
of
food,
suggesting
they
would
rather
have
died
in
Egypt
with
full
bellies.
God
then
provides
sustenance
of
quail
and
a
daily
supply
of
manna,
the
Sabbath’s
ration
being
given
along
with
the
previous
day’s.
This
manna
is
to
be
their
food
throughout
the forty years they will be wandering in the desert.
Travelling
on,
they
arrive
at
Rephidim
where
they
are
again
without
water
and
complain
bitterly
to
Moses.
God
instructs
Moses
to
go
ahead of the people with some of the elders and strike a rock at Horeb, from which water will be provided.
The
Amalekites
move
to
attack
the
Israelites
at
Rephidim
and
Moses
sends
Joshua
with
some
men
to
fight
them.
Victory
is
gained
while Moses, standing on a hill overlooking the battle scene, holds his staff up high.
Jethro
later
visits
his
son-in-law
and
witnesses
the
burden
on
Moses
of
ministering
to
all
the
people.
He
advises
him
to
share
this
burden with trustworthy men, only overseeing more serious issues himself.
The Israelites are now approaching the wilderness of Sinai.
Arrival at Mount Sinai and sanctification of the people
[Ex 19]
During
the
third
month
of
leaving
Egypt,
the
Israelites
arrive
at
Sinai
and
camp
close
to
the
mountain.
God
calls
Moses
to
the
mountain
and
directs
him
to
remind
the
Israelites
that
it
was
He
who
brought
them
out
of
Egypt,
and
if
they
obey
His
voice
and
keep
His
commandments
and
covenant
(to
be
given
a
little
later)
then
they
shall
be
a
peculiar
treasure
unto
me
above
all
people….
and
you
shall
be
to
Me
a
kingdom
of
priests
and
a
holy
nation
.
When
Moses
repeats
God’s
words
to
the
people,
they
agree
with
one
voice
that
All
that
the
LORD
hath
spoken
we
will
do
.
Moses
reports
their
response
to
God
and
is
then
told
to
sanctify
[to
set
apart
for
special
use
or
purpose,
that
is,
to
make
holy
or
sacred]
the
people
for
two
days
to
be
ready
on
the
third
day
to
approach
the
mountain.
Following
their sanctification, Moses is again called to the mountain, and to only bring Aaron with him.
The Ten Commandments, and some laws
[Ex 20:1-23:19]
God then speaks to Moses, giving him the Ten Commandments,
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me
Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Honour thy father and thy mother
Thou shalt not murder
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house
…..
followed
by
laws
Moses
is
to
tell
the
people.
These
are
laws
concerning
the
treatment
of
slaves,
restitution
for
wrong
doing
and
social
justice,
(that
is,
treatment
of
others),
and
laws
concerning
the
Sabbath
and
three
festivals:
the
feast
of
unleavened
bread
(connected to Passover), the feast of harvest (first-fruits) and the feast of ingathering (Pentecost).
The Mosaic Covenant
[Ex 23:20-24:18]
Their follows a promise from God that Canaan will be conquered and conditions are given to ensure that conquest.
A
covenant
is
then
confirmed
by
Moses
telling
the
people
God’s
words
to
which
all
the
people
agree
they
will
obey.
Moses
writes
down God’s words, then in the morning builds an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Moses
is
again
called
to
the
mountain
to
receive
tablets
of
stone
with
the
law
and
commandments
written
by
God
so
that
Moses
can
teach his people. This time, Moses is on the mountain for forty days and forty nights
.
Instructions for constructing the Tabernacle
[Ex 25-31]
Whilst
he
is
on
the
mountain,
Moses
is
told
he
is
to
collect
contributions
for
the
Sanctuary
from
every
man
who
will
give
with
a
willing
heart. The tabernacle will then be built according to the pattern given by God.
Instructions are given for making:
the Ark of the Covenant
the Table for the shewbread
the Golden Lampstand
the Tabernacle perimeters
The Priests’ garments, along with instructions for consecration of the priests
the altar of incense
bronze basin for priests to wash their hands and feet.
Also given are:
the recipe for anointing oil and incense
rules for payment of taxes to support the service of the tabernacle.
People
are
identified
as
having
been
filled
with
the
spirit
of
God,
enabling
them
to
have
the
skills
to
carry
out
work
in
construction
of
the tabernacle.
Moses is then instructed to remind the people to keep the Sabbath.
And
he
gave
unto
Moses,
when
he
had
made
an
end
of
communing
with
him
upon
mount
Sinai,
two
tables
of
testimony,
tables
of
stone, written with the finger of God.
The Golden Calf
[Ex 32-33]
Because
he
has
been
on
the
mountain
for
so
long,
the
people
lose
hope
in
Moses
and
persuade
Aaron
to
make
a
golden
calf
and
an
altar,
which
they
then
use
for
worship
followed
by
partying.
God
tells
Moses
what
is
happening
and
suggests
that
He
would
consume
the
people
and
make
a
great
nation
from
him,
but
Moses
successfully
intercedes
for
the
people.
When
Moses
comes
down
from
the
mountain
and
sees
their
behaviour,
he
breaks
the
stone
tablets
in
anger
and
administers
punishment
to
them.
Moses
then
returns
to
the mountain to make atonement for their sin.
God
tells
Moses
that
He
will
send
an
angel
before
them
on
their
journey,
for
He
would
not
be
in
the
midst
of
these
stiff
necked
people lest His anger prevails, and they must now cease from wearing their ornaments.
Moses
then
pitches
a
tent
outside
the
camp
and
calls
it
the
Tabernacle
of
the
congregation,
for
the
Tabernacle
within
the
camp
had
not yet been built It is from here that Moses will commune with God when the pillar of cloud descends.
Moses
again
intercedes
for
the
people
and
experiences
God’s
glory.
He
is
then
instructed
to
go
and
hew
two
new
tablets
and
return
alone in the morning when God will rewrite what was written on the tablets Moses broke.
The Covenant Renewed
[Ex 34]
God
now
declares
a
covenant
He
will
make
with
His
people
for
when
they
reach
the
Promised
Land,
a
covenant
in
which
they
are
required
to
obey
all
His
commandments
concerning
their
occupation
of
the
land
and
dealing
with
the
people
there.
All
the
while
they
obey
God’s
commandments,
they
will
prosper
in
the
Promised
Land.
(This
is
the
Mosaic
Covenant,
the
only
conditional
covenant
God
made
with
His
people;
the
other
covenants
being
unconditional).
God
also
reminds
them
concerning
the
feasts
of
unleavened
bread
and first fruits.
Moses
is
then
instructed
to
write
the
words
of
this
covenant
whilst
God
writes
the
Ten
Commandments
on
the
tables
of
stone.
During this time, Moses is with God forty days and nights without bread or water.
When
Moses
returns
from
the
mountain,
his
face
shines
from
having
been
in
the
presence
of
God.
He
relates
the
words
of
the
covenant just given and reminds them of the Sabbath regulations.
Construction of the Tabernacle
[Ex 35-39]
The people now make their offerings of all the things required to construct the Tabernacle.
The
names
of
those
who
are
filled
with
knowledge,
given
by
God,
to
construct
the
tabernacle
is
related
to
the
people
and,
with
more
than sufficient materials having been provided, the work to construct the tabernacle begins.
First
the
outer
walls,
then
the
ark
followed
by
the
table
for
shewbread,
the
golden
lampstand,
altar
of
incense,
altar
of
burnt
offering and the bronze basin.
An
inventory
of
all
the
materials
for
the
tabernacle
is
listed
before
the
priestly
garments
are
made,
according
to
the
detailed
pattern
given by God.
The Tabernacle erected
[Ex 40]
Everything
having
been
made
ready,
the
tabernacle
is
now
erected
at
the
time
given
by
God
and
according
to
God’s
instructions,
with
anointing and sanctification at the appropriate times.
Aaron and his sons are dressed and anointed in preparation for service.
With all the work now complete, a cloud covers the tent of the congregation and God’s glory fills the tabernacle.
From
this
point,
when
the
cloud
is
taken
up
from
over
the
tabernacle,
the
children
of
Israel
would
move
on
their
journeys,
but
if
the
cloud
remains
over
the
tabernacle,
then
they
will
remain
camped.
The
cloud
is
over
the
tabernacle
by
day,
and
the
pillar
of
fire
by
night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
Hierarchical Précis