This week we are presenting answers to previous study questions as an overview from our class, and will continue to do so over the next several posts as we go through the book of Exodus. In the past two posts we have introduced some of the work by Timothy Mahony and the “Patterns of Evidence” series. That series can help us to understand some of the arguments that skeptics of the Bible, and the Exodus in particular, put forth. In my view, there is ample evidence for the reliability of the Biblical account of the Exodus and the authorship of Moses, so it is with that assumption we will study the book.

The Book of Exodus Study Questions and Basic Answers for chapters 1-4

The Book of Exodus
The title means ‘going out’ or leaving

1. Hermeneutics: Before starting a new book of the Bible, it is important to review a few things about the book so that we can be sure to keep the readings in their proper context.

a. Who was the author, the audience, the genre and the date written?

Author:  Moses (also wrote the other four books in the Torah). Moishe (Hebrew) means  ”Delivered from the water,” and from an Egyptian form of the Pharaohs’ Ahmose and Thutmose that would have been part of Moses’ much longer Egyptian name. In addition, we have ample evidence that Moses authored the Torah as covered in previous classes (see “A Case for the Bible” series on this website).

Audience: The Nation of Israel (during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness)

Genre: Historical Narrative (on Moses’ life, the events of the Exodus, the giving of the Law and the building of the Tabernacle)

Writing (and Dating of Event): Written during the time of the Exodus and the 40 year wandering. This would be, what is known as the early dating of the Exodus: ca. 1446 – 1406 BC

Early dating of the Exodus: ca. 1446 – 1406 BC

“Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.”

1 Kings 6:1 (NASB)

Given the traditional date for the beginning of Solomon’s reign of 970 BC, 480 years before his 4th year is 1446 BC (970 + 4 – 480); the “Early Date” for Exodus.

Also supported in Judges 11:26…

“While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time?”

Late dating of the Exodus: ca. 1265 – 1225 BC

• based on the building of the cities of “Pi-ramesse” it is assumed that Rameses II was the ruling pharaoh in the exodus events
• Ramesses II, who was responsible for building major cities like these in Egypt, and is dated to have ruled during this time period (1304-1237 BC)
• It is assumed that the city area was named after Ramesses II, but it could also be possible that the Ramesses line of Pharaohs took the name from an already established city
• Egyptian chronology is fairly set in stone as it has been the basis for dating other civilizations in these ancient time periods, so it is fairly difficult to promote new findings, ideas or theories that affect what is established in secular academia

However, there are many uncertainties in the Egyptian chronology …

Example: The problem of “circular reasoning”

• Secular Egyptologist used the Bible to date the start of the 22nd Egyptian Dynasty to 945 BC (based on 2 Chronicles 11-12, and the Pharaoh Shishak), and then worked backward from there
  • They use this name to match the Egyptian chronology of a Pharaoh named Shoshenk because it is the closest match phonetically to Shishak
  • However, Shishak’s Egyptian name can actually be translated as the short form of the name Ramesses – therein lies the problem – Ramesses II fits Biblically better at this time
• Secular scholars date back from Shoshenk, using an Egyptian chronological list of Pharaohs to the then assumed time of Ramesses II (1304-1237 BC)
• They then find no archeological evidence for the Exodus and Conquest in the time of Ramesses II (1200’s BC), so they reject the Biblical record

Circular Reasoning: The Bible is used to establish Egyptian chronology which is then used to dismiss the Bible’s other recorded events?!

References for dating the Exodus

• Patterns of Evidence series: patternsofevience.com
• David Michael Rohl’s work as a British Egyptologist: Exodus, Myth or History
• CMI article: https://creation.com/egypt-chronology
• Rose Publishing: “Rose Chronological Guide to the Bible”

b.  What was the purpose for the writing of this book?

• This book was written so that the Hebrew people would know and remember their history (through the generations) and the events that lead them to the Promise Land, along with the purpose God had (and has) for them as a nation.
• This book continues the history of the Nation of Israel as part of the unfolding Promise and Covenant given by God to Abraham.
• The slavery in Egypt, and subsequent deliverance by God through Moses, would serve as a record of the promise of salvation to come through the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and a picture (foreshadow) of what this Messiah would do.

Key Ideas

1. The supremacy of YHWH (God) over pagan deities.
2. God’ faithfulness to His Promise and Covenant with Abraham as Israel becomes a great nation.
3. The Exodus occurs as a redemptive event for Israel foreshadowing a future redemptive event (in Jesus) for all nations.
4. God’s Covenant continues to unfold through the Mosaic Law.
5. The presence of God is symbolized in the tabernacle—a foreshadowing of Jesus who now ‘tabernacles’ within us.

c. Going Deeper: What do we know about the culture of the day, including the change in the ruling class of Egypt?

• 14th through 17th Egyptian Dynasties were ruled by ”Hyksos” which is a reference to Asiatic and Sematic people (Semites = Shemites who were sons of Shem)
• 18th Dynasty brought back the Egyptian “Hamites” (sons of Ham)

Thus, the reason for a Pharaoh of Moses day not knowing of Joseph, nor caring about Semitic people, even hating them because of the previous rulership. The following chart gives us an idea of who was ruling during these time periods. Keep in mind that you will find differing views on who the ruling Pharaohs were, but these are reasonable and match the things we see in the Biblical record:

Egyptian Pharaohs (conservative dating)

Egyptian Dynasty	Dates (circa)	Pharaoh	Biblical Events
14th – 17th (1805-1570 BC) Hyksos (Semites/Asiatic)	1705 BC Joseph enters Egypt	Sesostris II/III/Amenehet II/III	Joseph and sons of Israel are in the land
18th Egyptian (Hamites)	1570 – 1546 BC	Ahmose	Israelites enslaved Moses is born
18th Egyptian (Hamites)	1546 – 1525 BC	Amenhotep I (dies childless)	All male Israelites ordered killed at birth
18th Egyptian (Hamites)	1525 – 1512 BC 1512 – 1504 BC	Thutmose I (brother-in-law) Hutshepshut (Thutmose’s daughter)	Moses adopted
18th Egyptian (Hamites)	1512 BC	Thutmose II (dies unexpectedly)	Moses educated
18th Egyptian (Hamites)	1504 – 1447 BC	Thutmose III (wanted Moses killed)	Moses flees
18th Egyptian (Hamites)	1447 – 1425 BC	Amenhotep II	The Exodus

2. (Exodus 1:1-22) In this opening chapter we see the connection to the end of Genesis and the story of Joseph and the Israelites.

a. How, and why, did the people of Israel go from being a welcomed family in Egypt to a nation in slavery?

• The ruling class of Pharaohs during Joseph’s time were Semites – Shemites, also known as Asiatic – They would have been distant relatives of the sons of Israel who would have had an allegiance to this ruling class
• The ruling class of Pharaohs by the time of Moses, were Egyptian – Hamites (sons of Ham) and had overthrown the previous class of rulers and thus would have hated any Semites, including the people of Israel
• The people of Israel had grown from a population of 70, to over 2 million and thus would have posed a threat to the ruling Hamite leadership in Egypt

b. What did the Pharaoh tell the midwives to do, and why; and what did they actually end up doing?

• Pharaoh told the midwives to kill the babies if they were born, but to let the girl babies live
• 1:15 – 21 These midwives feared God and did not do what the Pharaoh commanded, instead they told him that the Hebrew women were vigorous, and had the babies before they could get there
• These midwives had Semitic names: Shiphrah and Puah, although they may have been Semitic, they were probably not Hebrew (not part of the Nation of Israel)
• God blessed these women and “established households for them”

c. Discuss: Do you see any similarities in this story with the Hebrew boys with what happened to Jesus after he was born? (Cross-reference with Matthew 2:13-18)

• 1:22 “The Pharaoh commanded all his people saying, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.””
• Ultimately, this is another attempt by Satan to stop God’s Covenant Promise for a Savior from the Nation of Israel, and it will continue to happen on through the history of Israel in the Old Testament, and ultimately with Jesus in the New Testament and Matthew 2:13 – 23 tells us the story…

The Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23 NASB)

^“13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. ¹⁵ He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” ¹⁶ Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. ¹⁷ Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.”¹⁹ But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, ²⁰ “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” ²¹ So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, ²³ and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.””

3. (Exodus 2:1-14) In the first part of this chapter we are introduced to Moses and his family.

a. What tribe was Moses and his family from? What do you already know about that tribe?

• Moses and his family were from the tribe of Levi
• Levi was the third son of Jacob, and his tribe would not inherit any of the Promised Land 
• This tribe would eventually become the tribe of Priests for the Lord, and they would be divided amongst the other tribes to serve and teach the Law
• Aaron would be the first in the line of Priests from this tribe 

b. Summarize what Moses’ mother and sister had to do after he was born. How do you see God’s hand in this event?

• When they could no longer keep Moses, in fear of being found out because of Pharaoh’s order to kill the baby boys, they placed him in a secure basket in the Nile river and Miriam, his sister, followed to see what would happen
• Many scholars believe that Moses family knew of the Pharaoh’s daughter’s routine, and they timed this placement so that she would find him – it is also widely thought by scholars that this daughter could not have children, and therefore would have been eager to adopt a son as an heir
• It is important to note that it would be in God’s sovereignty to have this event occur at this time with such precision and outcome, including the interaction between Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses’ sister and ultimately Moses’ mother who was allowed to wean him, and even get paid for it!

c. When Moses had grown up, what did he do to an Egyptian he saw beating a Hebrew, and what happened to Moses afterward?

• 2:11-15 tells us that Moses “went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
• Moses thought that no one would know about what he did, and he even thought that his people would accept and congratulate him, but instead they shunned him, and because the Pharaoh found out, he had to flee, and ended up in Midian.

d. Discuss: Why do you think Moses acted against an Egyptian at this time, and why did his own people not side with him?

There may be several reasons this happened:

• He was looked at, by his people, as the ruling class, and therefore not one of them, so they did not trust him
• Moses’ adopted mother had died and some scholars think that the new Pharaoh was going to get rid of Moses anyway as a competing ruler
• Moses may have thought of himself as the “savior” of his people, given his position
• It was not God’s timing for Moses yet

4. (Exodus 2:15 – 3:22) In this section, Moses flees after Pharaoh discovers what he did, and it is here that Moses meets God.

a. Where did Moses go? Who did he end up marrying, and why? (2:16-25)

• Moses fled to Midian (Ancient Midian is believed to be located in northwest Arabia/Saudi Arabia, but it’s exact location is unknown)
• Locating Midian is part of current archeological processes that include locating both Mt. Sinai and the Red Sea crossing (see “Patterns of Evidence” Documentary)
• Moses married Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel who was also known as Jethro, and they had two sons (Gershom and Eliezer)
• Reuel brought Moses into his clan after Moses rescued his seven daughters from shepherds who were driving them away from watering their father’s flock

b. From what we learned in Genesis, describe who it was that spoke to Moses in the burning bush – what are the clues that tell us specifically who it is?

• 3:2 tells us “The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.”
• Anytime we see the term “angel of the LORD” we know that it is the second person of the Godhead, Jesus – A Theophany/Christophany
• LORD in the English always references the name of God = YHWH – this is the name that God gave Moses when he asked who he should say sent him in v. 13: “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ’I AM has sent you.’”

c. What did God want Moses to do, and why?

• God wanted Moses to go to Pharaoh, so that he could bring God’s people out of Egypt, as it was time to return to the Promised Land in Canaan
• Also, verses 3:15-22 tells us God prophetically said to Moses what would happen…

^“15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations. ¹⁶ Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt. ¹⁷ So I said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, to a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ ¹⁸ They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ ¹⁹ But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. ²⁰ So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. ²¹ I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. ²² But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.””

d. Going Deeper: Research the name God used for Himself when Moses asked ‘who should I say sent me?’ What are some interesting facts you can find about this name (is it used in the New Testament)?

• YHWH/Yahweh (Jehovah) used about 6,000 times in the Bible: pronounced YAH-way
• The LORD (caps in your English Bible) always means YHWH or “I AM,” The One Who Is, The Self-Existent One
• This name is derived from the imperfect form of the verb “To Be.” The proper name of the divine person that speaks of God eternally existing and eternally becoming what the Jews needed Him to be. It has always been regarded as the most sacred and personal name of God. The Jews avoided using this name because of Leviticus 24:16, “The one who blasphemes the name of Yahweh shall surely be put to death.” They would substitute the name Adonai but eventually used the word Jehovah.

From the New Testament:

• Jesus uses “I AM” in reference to Himself, and there are seven famous ”I AM” statements in the Gospel of John – This was one of the ways Jesus’ claimed to be God
• Example: “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.””  John 8:58 (NASB)

5. (Exodus 4:1-31) In this chapter Moses is given power and some help to complete God’s mission.

a. What miraculous powers did God give Moses, and why was Moses reluctant?

• • In 4:1 Moses said “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, The LORD has not appeared to you.”
  • God gave Moses the ability to change his staff into a serpent, and back. He also gave him a sign using Moses hand: When he put it in the garment of his chest and pulled it out, it became white and leprous, when he did it again it returned to normal. Finally, He gave him the sign of turning the water from the Nile into blood.
  • Moses was reluctant because he said he had never been eloquent and was slow of speech and slow of tongue – he begged God not to send the message by him. (Some scholars believe Moses had a speech impediment, but the text may just indicate he was scared or unwilling).

b. Who did God give to Moses to be his spokesperson, and how did the people of Israel respond when Moses and Aaron met with the elders?

• God gave Moses his brother Aaron as a spokesman (the text indicates God had already sent Aaron out on his way to meet Moses in the desert)
• When Moses and Aaron meet with the elders of the people of Israel, and spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses, and performed the signs in the sight of the people, the people believed and they bowed and worshipped.

c. Discuss: God is sovereign over all things. How do we see God’s sovereignty and foreknowledge in this story so far? (Include anything you’ve observed in the first four chapters)

We see God’s sovereignty in several ways:

• God’s protection of the people of Israel and the ”Seed Promise” while they were in Egypt
• Moses’ birth and adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter
• God’s appearance to Moses in the burning bush
• God’s foreknowledge in what would happen when he sent Moses and Aaron to the Pharaoh
• God’s foreknowledge in Moses’ reluctance

d. Going Deeper: At the end of this chapter (verses 24-31) there is a strange incident, and Scholars have debated the meaning of what happened here. Research and share your findings on what this might have been about.

• A plain reading of the text seems to indicate that Moses had not circumcised his son (at least his second son), and God’s requirement in the Abrahamic Covenant, on the part of the recipient, was circumcision – how could Moses represent God if he had not fulfilled his part of the agreement for faith in the Covenant?!
• Other scholars have interpreted that Moses wife was at fault and did not want her children circumcised; still others have said that it was not Moses, but the child, that God would have to kill if he was not circumcised.
• Note: Moses’ wife and children do not appear in the story again until chapter 18 when the people of Israel are already in the wilderness and his father-in-law, Jethro, brings them with him to meet up with Moses. At that point the text tells us that Moses had sent them away (possibly after this incident they went back to Midian)

Reflection

You can click on the links to review these reflection points from previous posts:

1. Practice memorizing the twelve “Major Events” of the Old Testament (you can read them or recite them), then repeat by adding in the major players and covenants within the events
2. Practice memorizing and reciting the seven major “Focus Points” for studying the Old Testament

Bible Study

(review answers available in two weeks)

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us.

This week read Exodus Chapter 11 through Chapter 15:21 – Then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions. NOTE: The answers are found in the text (except for “Going Deeper” or “Discuss which may require research or your own thoughts on the passage)

The last plague and the Passover; Feast of Unleavened Bread; the Exodus; consecration of the firstborn; the Red Sea crossing; and Moses’ Song of Praise

1. (Exodus 11:1-10) In this chapter God sends one more plague on the Pharaoh and Egypt.

a. As God describes the last plague to Moses, what did he tell Moses to have the people of Israel ask their Egyptian neighbors for, and why?

b. What did God say would happen at about midnight, and why?

c. Going Deeper: Why did God have the people of Israel plunder the Egyptians, and what was the plunder eventually used for? (Cross-reference Genesis 15:13-14 and Exodus 25:1-8)

2. (Exodus 12:1-30) In this section of the chapter God prepares Israel for their quick departure from Egypt in the middle of the night known as the “Exodus.”

a. What was the purpose of the “Passover Lamb” and what were God’s specific instructions concerning what the people were to do with the lamb and its blood?

b. What was the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” and what was its purpose?

c. Discuss: What foreshadowings of Jesus do you see in the “Passover” event? (Make a list of all the things you see)

3. (Exodus 12:31 through 13:16) In this section we find Israel fleeing Egypt as the Egyptians were mourning and burying their dead.

a. Pharaoh directed Moses and Aaron to depart from the land immediately. Who went out that night, was it only the Hebrews? Discuss: How might this affect the people of Israel later on?

b. What were some of the restrictions and regulations the LORD put on future Passovers, and why?

c. In chapter 13, what did the LORD tell Moses the people were to do concerning the firstborn of every womb, and why?

d. Going Deeper: What do some of the Jewish people still do today to commemorate the event of the Exodus, and specifically the Passover?

4. (Exodus 13:17 through 14:31) In this section God demonstrates His sovereign power over His Creation in one of the most epic events in all of Scripture.

a. Whose bones did Moses take with them out of Egypt, and why? (Cross-reference Genesis 50:25)

b. Moses writes of a specific path that the Israelites took. Where did the Israelites end up camping, and why did God lead them that way?

c. Summarize the story of the parting of the Red Sea, and include why the people were grumbling, Moses’ conversation with God, and what ultimately happened to the Egyptian army.

d. Going Deeper: Who specifically protected the Israelites during the Exodus and the crossing of the Red Sea, and how? Site Scripture to support your conclusion.

5. (Exodus 15:1-21) In this chapter we find a song of praise by Moses and the people of Israel.

a. List some things that Moses and the people of Israel said in this song, that gives evidence for the type of water crossing they made, and the way the Egyptian army met their final demise.

b. Discuss: Why is praise important as part of our regular prayer?

c. Going Deeper: Define the meaning of the word miracle. How do we view miracles in the Bible – do they have a specific purpose or are they just random acts of God’s power?

d. Apologetics’ Question: How can we answer people who say: Why do we not see God perform miracles, like He does in the Bible, today? Going Even Deeper: How does secular science view miracles, and how can Christians respond to that view?

Join us next week as we continue A Case for the Old Testament, The History Continues… with review answers for chapters 5-10

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15