For this assignment I have chosen to analyze the section from Exodus where G-d approaches Moses about leading the Israelites out of Egypt. I found this interesting as it begins the tale of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt; one can argue that this was one of the most seminal and inspiring events in all of human history. In Exodus 3, 1-15 G-d chooses and recruits Moses to lead the Exodus. Moses’ leadership provided the inspiration for freedom seekers for generations; yet Moses questions his ability to carry out this task. In this paper I will explore the interactions between G-d and Moses when Moses is persuaded to assume this leadership role.
Section 3. 1 begins with Now, Moses tending his flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian).Why is important for the Tanakh to tell us Moses’ profession and his employer? I can think of the following explanations, the role of a shepherd. Being a shepherd is an important role yet It is even more impressive because Moses performed this function for a priest. It shows that Moses was responsible because a shepherd is responsible for sheep which were likely major financial assets for their owners. A symbol of things to come. Could Moses’ role as a shepherd foreshadow how Moses would later be responsible for all those for which he was responsible? Shows the G-d’s power. Though being a shepherd is important, it does not involve speaking and leading people. This could mean that we are being shown G-d’s powers because with
The readings of Exodus explain the departure of the Israelites from Egypt and how the covenant was renewed. The rejuvenation made Israel a nation and formed a relationship between god and his teachings. The nature of god’s presence reveals how the Israelites were authentic and productive with how they reproduced and how the land became filled with Israelites. The reality demonstrates how the new king of Egypt stated that, “The Israelite people have multiplied and become more numerous than we are”(Exodus p. 16). This reality proposes how the Egyptians became resentful against the Israelites in order them to suffer brutal slavery and make life difficult for them with intense work and punishment. The texts in Exodus acknowledge the sacrifices Hebrew women had to make in order to live through nature and reality. It states “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are robust and give birth before the midwife arrives” (Exodus p. 16). Gods presence through nature and reality reveals how
In the book of Genesis, we are introduced to everything. From the creation stories to the sagas in between Genesis is an opening to the old testament and an opening to the book of exodus. This essay will contrast each creation story and describe each stories interest, explain how Genesis 12: 1-3 links the stories of 2: 4b-11 with the ancestral narratives in 12-50 and connect the sagas of Abraham/Sarah, Isaac/ Rebecca and Jacob/ Racheal.
Mesopotamia and Egypt are known as the “place of the first civilization” followed by the Hebrews. These three societies traded extensively, but there was a difference in economic area. Mesopotamia was more productive of technological improvements, because their environment was more difficult to manage than the Nile valley. Trade contacts were more extensive, and the Mesopotamians gave attention to a merchant class and commercial law. Priests were part of the trades because they possessed surplus produce collected as rents from the farmers using temple land. Before merchants gained power as independent entrepreneurs; they used to serve the king and the temple priest.
3. The Lord threatens the Egyptian people that he will smite or whip there fist-born child until they are dead unless they free the Israelites. The Israelites represent the hebrew slaves.
The most important character in this unit is Moses, who is introduced in Exodus and leads the Israelites through their journey to the promised land until he dies in Deuteronomy. He not only was a leader for the Israelites, but he was a very religious and had a special connection with God. His accomplishments influence the Roman Catholicism today. He freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt; he delivered them the Ten Commandments; he led them to the promised land of Canaan; on their journey, he protected, nourished, and sheltered the Israelites. As a leader of this Israelites, he guided them because most of them did not know anything but slavery. After the Moses died in Deuteronomy, the Israelites' population grew more powerful. In conclusion,
McNeal outlines Moses life, highlighting his many successes and failures. He used the example of Moses failed attempt at striking the rock to illustrate that every spiritual leader faces test where obedience is required in order to succeed, because God desires spiritual leaders to depend on Him and not their own abilities. In chapter one McNeal reminds leaders that they can only accomplish the call of God by constantly submitting to God, in ways that goes beyond the leaders own abilities, because the process of heart shaping begins with an inner work of the heart that can only start with the Holy Spirt. In chapter two one of the most powerful portions of this book came in the story of David, and the portrait of God molding him. David received a secret anointing from Samuel and this was the beginning of God’s call on David. The anointing is the God-part of the leadership equation. It accounts for the leader’s effectiveness and does what
After the Exodus, Moses presented a tribal deity that had chosen the entire community. The people God chose moved from a family to an infant nation. A sense
I am investigating the Jewish Exodus from ancient Egypt, which reportedly took place around the 13th Century BC. I was raised in a Jewish household, and growing up Passover has always been one of my favorite holidays. I had so much fun searching for the Afikomen, welcoming Elijah to our Seder table, and above all, retelling the story of how the Jews were freed from slavery and escaped the wrath of the Pharaoh thanks to the guidance of God. It’s a magical story which has inspired hope in me for years, and that’s why I was so surprised when I learned that there is little if no physical evidence for the exodus. The archaeological record should have physical evidence of such a major event, perhaps hidden so deeply that we
Though high-level trends concerning Jewish migration and cultural exchange in Ptolemaic Egypt are easier to trace, it is much more difficult to determine the specifics of daily life for Jewish families. Archeological evidence is extremely scare for this time period and geography, limiting what scholars can learn from it (notes 10/6). However, Egypt’s papyrological evidence provides direct data as to what Jews were doing once in Egypt. Complied in 1957, the corpus papyrorum judaicarum consists of over 500 pieces of Papyri that directly concern Jews or people related to Jews. Using 5 criteria, researchers at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem filtered papyri concerning Jewish persons, creating the first ever collective of papyrological evidence
Christ the Child, Jesus as a Jew, and the Prophet with Powers Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice is a novel that illustrates the childhood of Jesus in a reimagined and refreshingly new way. The story tells of a young Jesus who is confused by his powers and the mysterious origins of his birth as he and his family take refuge in Alexandria, Egypt, after the infanticide of King Herod. The character of Jesus is portrayed as very human and relatable as the novel views the world of ancient Palestine through the eyes of an intelligent seven-year-old. The analysis of this novel will explore how the author’s background and writing style influence the message and themes found throughout the work, such as the political turmoil and impact of
Exodus is often looked at as being a book about how all the complaining and grumbling that the Israelites did after God rescued them for the hands of Egypt, while punishing the Pharaoh and the Egyptians for their worshiping of other gods. God laid out the Ten Commandments to guide His holy people. While the heart of men was still full of sin God gave His people the Law of Moses to guide them and to help set up their civil courts. The Law of Moses are boundaries set by God to keep His people faithful to Him. Reading biblical law integrates three research groups, law, jurisprudence, and literary theory. While giving a new method of interpretation. It focuses on the character and events and how they are described. While rhetorical elements serve to expound on the content, the communication process through the writer to give the law to the audience. Casuistic law, consists of the state of affairs with a prescribed legal consequence that presents a social problem. There is a consent dialogue between the writer and the audience of the law. Going further than changing people’s actions to influencing the consciousness, and changing behavior (Bartor,2012). The emphasis will be on Exodus 23:1-3, and how the Law is interpreted, while discussing if a later editor added this section of Exodus.
Cairo was a new unexplored land for the Jews. No one knew the possibilities that could happen for the Jews while they lived in Cairo; the sky was the limit. Jews first came as immigrants to Cairo in the 1490’s (The Jewish Community of Cairo). Cairo took them in and gave them a home when no one else would. Jews then began a life in Cairo and thrived there. Their jobs were good, houses were clean and most importantly, families were happy. The Jews lived for many happy years in Cairo until Israel became a State. The Jews were then forced to leave their homes that they grew so accustomed too and travelled to their true home, Israel. Life in Cairo proved at time to be difficult for the Jews but also gave them many benefits. There are many push
Through the written accounts of Moses’ commitment to God’s command to free his people, Moses wages a holy war against the Pharaoh of Egypt. The personal character of the Pharaoh demonstrates how salvation cannot be obtained through arrogance only through God himself. God has given many laws to abide by through the ten commandments, and as humans, we strive to model society after God's guidance. As part of the human condition, we do often make mistakes, and at times even fail to uphold God's laws, however, through God's mercy and patience, we continue to move forward and closer to an ideal society guided by the Lord’s sacred
In God's timing the exodus of the Israelites from that of Egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:13), and the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would not only live in the Promise Land, but would multiply and become a great nation. (Genesis 12:1-3,7). In Exodus 12:27, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians." Also Exodus in other words begins where Genesis leaves off and that is that God is dealing with his chosen people which are the Jews.(Tullock & McEntire, 2006 p.63).
While reading Exodus 17:1-7, one will begin to understand the fear and anxiety God’s people have been developing throughout their journey in the “wilderness of Sin.” This account of the Israelite’s, presents us with an opportunity to give a voice of our fears in abandonment. It also presents a visual on how the many ways God responds to us when we are in need, or for lack of a better term, thirsty in the wilderness.