Exodus!!

Lesson*#7*“The*Exodus”*

(Exodus(12:(36(–(15:(21)((

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The(cumula<ve(force(of(the(ten(plagues(has(had(a(

devasta<ng(effect(on(Egypt,(its(people(and(its(economy:((

the(land(lies(buried(beneath(a(putrid(mass(of(decaying(fish(

and(frogs;(the(livestock(have(been(felled(by(anthrax;(the(

crops(have(been(destroyed(by(hail(and(fire;(disease(and(

infec<ons(have(ravaged(the(people;(an(onslaught(of(

locusts(has(stripped(the(na<on(bare(of(every(leaf(and(

blade(of(grass;(the(Egyp<ans(have(been(plunged(into(

terrifying(darkness;(and(every(home(in(Egypt(mourns(a(

dead(child,(slain(by(God.(

Egypt(is(destroyed,(and(Pharaoh(gasps(at(the(uMer(horror(

of(the(catastrophe.((

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What’s(more,(the(Egyp<an(gods(have(been(thunderously(

defeated;(all(are(totally(impotent(before(YHWH.(((

1st(Plague,(Water(Turned(to(Blood( ((Osiris)(

2nd(Plague,(Frogs ( ( ( ( ((Heqet)(

3rd(Plague,(Gnats( ( ( ( ( ((Geb)(

4th(Plague,(Flies( ( ( ( ( ((Khepri)(

5th(Plague,(Pes<lence( ( ( ( ((Apis)(

6th(Plague,(Boils ( ( ( ( ((ALL(gods(deprived(of(priests)(

7th(Plague,(Hail(&(Fire( ( ( ( ((Nut)(

8th(Plague,(Locusts(( ( ( ( ((coup*de*grâce,(death(blow(to(Egypt)(9th(Plague,(Darkness ( ( ( ((Ra)(

10th(Plague,(Death(of(the(Firstborn ((ALL(gods(plundered)(

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In(Lesson(#7(the(Israelites(leave(Egypt,(avoiding(the(Via(Maris,(the(

obvious(escape(route(that(parallels(the(Mediterranean(Sea;(instead,(

they(head(southeast(toward(the(Red(Sea,(a(rouse(intended(to(draw(

the(Egyp<ans(afer(them.(((

And(it(works.((

Arriving(near(the(northern(<p(of(the(Gulf(of(Suez,(the(Israelites(look(

up(and(see(the(Egyp<ans(in(hot(pursuit.((With(their(backs(to(the(sea(

and(the(Egyp<ans(bearing(down(upon(them,(the(Israelites(cry(out(to(

Moses:((“Were*there*no*burial*places*in*Egypt*that*you*brought*us*to*die*in*the*wilderness?**What*have*you*done*to*us,*bringing*us*out*of*Egypt?”((Exodus(14:(11).(((((

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And(then(an(extraordinary(thing(happens:((((

Moses*stretched*out*his*hand*over*the*sea;*and*the*Lord*drove*back*the*sea*with*a*strong*east*wind*all*night*long*and*turned*the*sea*into*dry*ground.**The*waters*were*split,*so*that*the*Israelites*entered*into*the*midst*of*the*sea*on*dry*land,*with*the*water*as*a*wall*to*their*right*and*to*their*leH.((

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The(Israelites(rush(through(the(parted(Red(Sea,(scrambling(onto(dry(

ground(on(the(shore(of(the(Sinai(Peninsula.((When(the(last(Israelite(

reaches(dry(land,(God(springs(his(trap:((the(Red(Sea’s(towering(walls(

of(water(collapse,(drowning(the(en<re(Egyp<an(army.((

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As(Pharaoh(planned(to(drown(all(the(infant(Israelite(boys(in(the(Nile(

River,(lest(they(grow(to(become(warriors(and(fight(against(him,(so(

God(drowns(in(the(depths(of(the(Red(Sea(all(the(male(Egyp<an(

warriors(who(fight(against(him(:((<thforhtat.((

The(Israelites(celebrate(with(a(chesthbumping,(highhfiving(victory(

song:((

(I*will*sing*to*the*Lord*for*he*is*gloriously*triumphant;(*horse*and*chariot*he*has*cast*into*the*sea*.*.*.!*( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((Exodus(15:(1)(

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The*Ten*Commandments,*produced(and(directed(by(Cecil(B.(DeMille.(((

Paramount(Pictures,(1956.(((

(Voted*among*the*top*10*epic*films*of*all*Pme*by*the*American*Film*InsPtute.)*(

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Land(of(Goshen(

Rameses(!"(

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Gulf(of(Suez(!( #(Gulf(of(Aqaba(

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Pidyon*Haben*ceremony,(consecra<on(of(the(firstborn.(((

(Numbers*3:*45[47*prescribes*a*five*silver*shekel*redempPon*price,*about*$35.)((

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A(Jewish(man(prepares(for(daily(prayer(by(aMaching(tefillin*(known(in(English(as(“phylacteries”),(two(leather(boxes(containing(Deuteronomy(6:(4h9,(one(box(on(the(

forehead(and(one(beneath(the(lef(upper(arm(next(to(the(heart,(aMached(by(straps(

to(the(hand.((The(prayer(shawl(is(called(a(tallit.(

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Land(of(Goshen(

Rameses(!"(

Succoth(!"(

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#(Mt.(Sinai(

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#(BiMer(Lakes(

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Gulf(of(Suez(!( #(Gulf(of(Aqaba(!

Where(did(the(

Israelites(cross(the(

Red(Sea?(

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Facts:(

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!• The(correct(transla<on(of(Yam*Suph(is(“Reed(Sea,”(not(“Red(Sea”;(

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• The(Gulf(of(Suez(is(195(miles(long,(20(miles(wide(

(maximum)(and(has(an(

average(depth(of(130(feet(

(230(feet(maximum);(

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Gulf*of*Suez*from*the*Sinai*Peninsula,*Egypt*on*the*horizon,*20*miles*away.((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas**

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Dr.*Creasy*diving*the*Gulf*of*Suez.**Sorry,*no*chariot*wheels!((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas**

Facts:(

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• The(Gulf(of(Aqaba(is(99(miles(

long,(15(miles(wide((maximum)(

and(has(an(average(depth(of(6,000*feet((it(is(part(of(the(Jordan(Rif(Valley).((

• Although(some(claim(there(is(

a(“land(bridge”(across(the(

Gulf(of(Aqaba(at(Nuweiba,(

there(is(not.((The(sea(floor(is(

indeed(more(shallow(there,(

around(2,800(feet,(sloping(to(

3,500(feet(to(the(north(and(

south—but(that(can(hardly(be(

called(a(“land(bridge.”(

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E.(Biton(and(H.(Gildor.((“The(general(circula<on(of(the(Gulf(of(Aqaba(.(.(.,”((

Journal*of*Geophysical*Research,(vol.(116,(C08020,(doi:10.1029/2010JC006860.((!

Hypothe<cal((

Crossing(Point(!(

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Dr.*Creasy*has*also*dived*Nuweiba*many*Pmes.**Sorry,*again—no*chariot*wheels*or*EgypPan*skeletons,*only*sharks*and*other*crigers!*(

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas**

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(So,(where(did(the(Israelites(cross(the(Red(Sea?!(

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As(we(noted(in(Lesson(#1,(ques<oning(the(literal(historicity(of(events(

in(Exodus(in(no(way(undermines(Scripture(or(diminishes(its(message;(

rather,(such(ques<oning(highlights(the(literary*nature*of*the*text,(viewing(the(Exodus(as(a(story(of(redemp<on,(writ(on(a(grand,(epic(

scale.(((

Almost(certainly(the(route(of(the(Exodus(passes(through(the(marshes(

around(the(“BiMer(Lakes,”(providing(a(realis<c(kernel(for(the(

heightened(miraculous(character(of(the(Israelite’s(escape(from(Egypt.(

As(former(Jesuit(Jack(Miles(observes(in(his(1995(Pulitzer(Prizehwinning(

God:**a*Biography,(“Cecil(B.(DeMille’s(The*Ten*Commandments,(with(its(mighty(throng(crossing(the(sea,(may(be(truer(to(the(intended(

literary(effect(of(the(Book(of(Exodus(than(scholarship’s(reconstruc<on(

of(a(band(of(minor(tribes(slipping(through(the(marsh”((loc.(1929).(

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!!

Land(of(Goshen(

Rameses(!"(

Succoth(!"(

"(#(Marah(

"(#(Elim(

#(Mt.(Sinai(

"(#(Rephidim(

#(BiMer(Lakes(

#(Via(Maris(

"#(Nuweiba(

Gulf(of(Suez(!( #(Gulf(of(Aqaba(

((( (( (((Victory(Song!

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It(is(conven<onal(in(epic(narra<ve,(afer(a(great(military(victory,(for(

the(victors(to(celebrate(in(song,(praising(the(courage(and(

performance(of(their(great(warriors,(and(so(we(have(“The(Song(of(

Moses(and(Miriam”(in(Exodus(15:(1h18.((((

The(song(is(structured(in(3(strophes:((vv.(1h6,(7h11(and(12h18.((Each(

strophe(focuses(on(one(aspect(of(the(baMle:((the(1st(strophe(on(

YHWH’s(defeat(of(the(enemy;(the(2nd(strophe(on(YHWH’s(defeat(of(

the(Egyp<an(gods;(and(the(3rd(strophe(telescopes(into(the(future(to(

affirm(God’s(eternal(sovereignty.((

In(addi<on,(each(strophe(ends(with(a(simile:((“like(a(stone,”(v.(5;(“like(

lead,”(v.(10;(and(“like(stone,”(v.(16.(

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((( (( (((Strophe(#1!

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I(will(sing(to(YHWH,(for(he(is(gloriously(triumphant; ( (A(((doublets(form(basis(

horse(and(chariot(he(has(cast(into(the(sea. ( ( ( (B(((of(the(parallelism)(

My(strength(and(my(refuge(is(YHWH, ( ( ( ( (A(

and(he(has(become(my(savior. ( ( ( ( ( (B(

This(is(my(God,(I(praise(him; ( ( ( ( ( ( (A(

the(God(of(my(father,(I(extol(him.( ( ( ( ( (B(

YHWH(is(a(warrior,( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (A(

YHWH(is(his(name!( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (B(

Pharaoh’s(chariots(and(army(he(hurled(into(the(sea; ( (A(

the(elite(of(his(officers(were(drowned(in(the(Red(Sea.( (B(

The(flood(waters(covered(them, ( ( ( ( ( (A(

they(sank(into(the(depths(like(a(stone.( ( ( ( (B(

Your(right(hand,(O(YHWH,(magnificent(in(power, ( ( (A(

your(right(hand,(O(YHWH,(shaMered(the(enemy.( ( (B(

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((( (( (((Strophe(#2!

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In(your(great(majesty(you(overthrew(your(adversaries; (A(

you(loosed(your(wrath(to(consume(them(like(stubble. (B(

At(the(blast(of(your(nostrils(the(waters(piled(up,( ( (A((triplet(intensifies)(

the(flowing(waters(stood(like(a(mound, ( ( ( (B(

the(flood(waters(foamed(in(the(midst(of(the(sea. ( ( (C(

The(enemy(boasted,(I(will(pursue(and(overtake(them; (A((triplet(intensifies)(

I(will(divide(the(spoils(and(have(my(fill(of(them; ( ( (B(

I(will(draw(my(sword;(my(hand(will(despoil(them! ( (C(

When(you(blew(with(your(breath,(the(sea(covered(them; (A(

like(lead(they(sank(in(the(mighty(waters. ( ( ( (B(

Who(is(like(you(among(the(gods,(O(YHWH?( ( ( (A((triplet(intensifies)(

who(is(like(you,(magnificent(among(the(holy(ones? ( (B(

awehinspiring(in(deeds(of(renown,(worker(of(wonders. (C(

( ( ((

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When(you(stretched(out(your(right(hand, ( ( ( (A(

the(earth(swallowed(them(up. ( ( ( ( ( (B(

In(your(love(you(led(the(people(you(redeemed; ( ( (A(

in(your(strength(you(guide(them(to(your(holy(dwelling. (B(

The(people(heard(and(quaked; ( ( ( ( ( (A(

anguish(gripped(the(dwellers(in(Philis<a. ( ( ( (B(

Then(were(the(chiefains(of(Edom(dismayed, ( ( (A(

the(nobles(of(Moab(seized(by(trembling. ( ( ( (B(

All(the(inhabitants(of(Canaan(melted(away;( ( ( (A(

terror(and(dread(fell(upon(them. ( ( ( ( ( (B(

By(the(might(of(your(arm(they(became(silent(like(stone, (A((triplet(intensifies)(

while(your(people,(YHWH,(passed(over, ( ( ( (B(

while(the(people(whom(you(created(passed(over. ( (C(

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You(brought(them(in, ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (A(

you(planted(them(on(the(mountain(that(is(your(own— (B(

the(place(you(made(the(base(of(your(throne,(YHWH, ( (C(

the(sanctuary,(YHWH,(your(hands(established. ( ( (D((quadruplet(greatly*( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((((((intensifies!)(

May(YHWH(reign(forever(and(ever!(

(The(concluding(statement(affirms(God’s(eternal(sovereignty.)(

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Ques<ons(for(discussion(and(thought(**

1.   God(clearly(states(in(12:(43(that(“No(foreigner(may(eat([the(Passover(meal].”((What(are(the(implica<ons(of(this(statement(for(a(Chris<an(today?(((

2.   Why(does(God(require(the(consecra<on(of(the(firstborn?(

3.   Why(does(Moses(take(the(bones(of(Joseph(with(him(when(he(leaves(Egypt?((What(does(he(do(with(them?(

4.   What(is(the(pillar(of(cloud(and(fire?(

5.   The(Exodus(from(Egypt(is(the*great*archetypical(act(of(redemp<on(in(the(Hebrew(Scriptures,(the(single(most(significant(event(in(Jewish(history.((How(is(the(redemp<on(of(the(Israelites(mirrored(and(amplified(in(the(New(Testament?((

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Copyright(©(2014(by(William(C.(Creasy(

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