Please read my Exodus study questions and then Chapters 1-20 of Exodus.Your third midterm study question asks you to address the idea that Exodus is an example of the Torah being the finest law code that the ancient world produced because it is more than just a law code. We finally will get to "statute" law in Exodus, but, first, we've got 20 chapters that give more background to the law. Please comment here on one or two things you see in these chapters that strike you as particularly important as background to a law code or things that show the Torah to be something more than just a law code.
One of my absolute favorite verses in the entire Bible is Exodus 3:14, when God is telling Moses how to approach Pharaoh - "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.'" I AM is my favorite name for God. It describes just how big He is, and that He is outside of time, eternal. He is bigger than the gods of Egypt, bigger than Moses's insecurity about speaking to Pharaoh, bigger than human plot or scheme. Following years of slavery, this should be the greatest news to the captive Israelites. Later, when Moses first appeals to Pharaoh, Pharaoh asks, "'Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.'" (Exodus 5:2) Though Egypt does not know the Hebrew God, God's name, I AM, suggests that while He has chosen the people of Israel to be His own, His law is THE law for all people regardless of culture or region. He was meant to be the God of mankind, not just of Israel. As the author of morality, His law code is meant for all, and because He is not a god but rather He is God, the great I AM, His law is eternal just as He is.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite section that reflects a need for a law code and how the Torah is the more than just a law code is Exodus 2. In the story Moses strikes down a slave driver who is going particularly hard on a Hebrew, one of Moses's people. This shows the compassion involved in his decision and a need for this compassion to shown to others by getting under their God's law outside of Egypt. The Egyptians treatment of the Hebrew people is a good example for future generations of what true oppression looks like.
ReplyDeleteOne section that provides good background for the law code is the Passover customs for a week of rest and that people must only eat bread. This is a good example for background because it is something that has been a law in the past and still is something some more serious practitioners do today.
ReplyDeleteAnother laws background was the establishment of Sabbath in Exodus 16. The law is founded by Moses when they are able to gather meat for 6 days, but cannot find any the 7th. This is less of an official law today, however generally speaking people still do not work on Sunday. -Trent Shuey
One of the most popular law codes in Exodus, or even the entirety of the Bible, is the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments still influences our law today, it is some of the most basic human "moral codes" that we follow. Even non-religious people agree/follow some of these commandments. It also encapsulates Exodus 1-20 as a whole, very well.
ReplyDeleteThis is Jaden, forgot to log in before posting
DeleteThe Ten commandments have to be one of the most important law codes in human history especially considering the influence that these commandments have had on humanity as a whole. The ten Commandments have become the bedrock of basic human morals for much of human history and even today the morals and laws of humanity echo these ten basic commandments. That these laws have had such a major impact on the development of human morals and laws goes to show the importance of and an example of how the torah is one of the world's greatest law codes. -Christian Zetterlund
ReplyDeleteThe story that has always stuck with me all throughout my Catholic schooling was the 10 plagues of Egypt. The reason why I bring this up now is that I believe that the 10 Plagues of Egypt are a very parental way of saying "knock it off and listen" in the most biblical way possible. Yes, I know that this is a weird way of thinking about the plagues, but I think it is a very pertinent way of thinking because it's true. through Moses, God has given the Pharaoh's plenty of time and chances to let his people go, and yet they still refuse, so he must act like a strict parent and finally put his foot down. However, I don't think that an "angry parent" would kill the first born son of every family unless there is lamb's blood on their doorway is the way to go, but if it gets his point across, who am I to say that God is wrong in doing so?
ReplyDeleteI have always found the plagues an interesting story to learn and study and just read for fun! - Christina Grettler
The pass over is a fine topic in my opinion. Theres always the little details that mean something later in the great reveals to what happens in the future. Pharoah was killing all of the sons of Israel in return this happened to Pharoah and his people. its a kind of hamurabi code like an eye for eye.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I read these passages, I like to look for good examples to follow. One small example that caught my attention was the interaction between Jethro and Moses. Jethro was a leader of Midian that let Moses into the town after Moses fled Egypt. Jethro was Moses' father-in-law and after Moses interacted with God during the burning bush, Moses needed to return to Egypt. In Exodus 4:18 it states, "Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.” Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.” This stood out to me because of how well Jethro treated Moses. He didn't have to bring him in after Moses helped his daughters, and he let Moses go back to Egypt. I think it shows good humility and overall love for other people, which is a good thing to follow and practice.
In chapter 12 God instructs Moses on how the Passover is to take place. This includes how every year the people of Israel are to preform the Passover so as to remember how the Lord saw their suffering in Egypt and saved them. While this might not be an example of laws, it is giving the people of Israel a religious custom in which they are able to further their faith and trust in the Lord. Religious customs I feel are very important to a persons faith, even though they may seems strange to an outsider. For example, I'm Catholic, and I'm sure their are some religious customs/traditions that us as Catholics preform that would seem a little odd to other people. And yet it is these customs that I love so much. I also feel like a people's religious customs helps in bringing that religious community together
ReplyDeleteThe chapters of Exodus 7-12--the 10 plagues--are something that everyone who attended Sunday school went over at least once. Oftentimes, you would learn a song or watch a video that reminds you of each plague and what Moses was trying to do--"Let my people go..." That being said, I think understanding the 10 plagues is very important. As children, you don't really grasp the importance and depth of the situation because it is hard to imagine frogs taking over a country like Egypt or water turning into blood. Certainly, in the Old Testament, the actions of God are rather straightforward, if you will. In modern times, you do not often see acts with the severity such as this occur. Could you imagine if the entirety of New York City was engulfed in darkness and frogs? That would cause absolute chaos. Even if there was someone there telling the leaders that this was going to happen, do you think he would be listened to? Even after the death of the firstborn son, I do not think people's minds would be changed very much. This is a rather longwinded explanation of my point. I think that the 10 plagues are a good example of the consequences of disobeying God and working against him DURING this time. Many of these examples are more meant for the current time setting in the Bible rather than modern day; so, a lot of this accounts could more easily be understood by their meaning rather than the actual events.
ReplyDeleteLauren Bland
The beginning of Exodus establishes the importance of God's covenant with Abraham and how it still played an important part in the lives of his descendants. In Exodus 7: 2-4 God says that although Moses will speak to Pharaoh, his hears will be cold and unable to listen, as a consequence the plagues come. I think these chapters ultimately teach the people of Israel to open their hearts up to God in their lives and trust his judgment and will.
ReplyDeleteJorja Whempner
DeleteAt the beginning of Exodus, we read that Moses (overseeing an argument between an Egyptian and a Hebrew) ends up killing the Egyptian (telling us that the Egyptian may have been in the wrong, vastly so).
ReplyDeleteLater on, towards chapter 20, we read that Moses has begun to oversee more conflicts, but never uses murder when he does so. To commit murder is then listed as going against one of the 10 Commandments.
Through this, we are able to see that there was always the small details that foreshadow the Commandment.
Another is that one of the Commandments is that Sunday will always be a day of Sabbath (although it only remarks that the 7th day shall be Sabbath), a day of rest. One could say that the lifetimes of toil for the Hebrews is finally being lifted from them, allowing them at least 4 days of rest a month where they do absolutely nothing. This is especially important when we remember that these people were slaves, many if not all of them. We can also only assume that many of these people have been in slavery for most if not all of their lives. They are finally being given rest.
I believe the Israelites and Moses background is crucial to both understanding law and how it shows more than law. For example, the "exodus" of Egypt is important because it shows the captivity that the Israelites were in. They can eventually follow the law because they trust the lawgiver, which is God. He led them out of a powerful people and kept them safe. Sending plagues and even splitting a sea in favor of Israel. Narrative and culture is always important before understanding the laws that will be given.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Brennan
Exodus: 11-14. A question raised early in the book of exodus is, what gives someone the authority to judge others? Early into Exodus, Moses kills an Egyptian for beating an Israelite. In that moment he acted as a judge. Later when two Israelites are fighting amongst each other and Moses intervenes, they ask him, who made you prince over us? Later in the book of exodus, we find the people of Israel coming to Moses to be willingly judged by him, what changed? In my opinion, what changed was Moses' reputation. Just like when you buy a product from a particular brand, you expect the same quality product every time. A brand's reputation is tied directly to its product. Moses throughout the book of exodus, is slowly building his reputation. When god calls him in the desert, he answers, albeit reluctantly. When he stands before Pharaoh, he doesn't back down. Even when the Israelites are cornered at the Red Sea Moses delivers them. Moses is shown to be reliable and trustworthy. Through all of these trials, the Israelites trust Moses to judge them truthfully. The same is done through the books of Genesis and Exodus with Gods character. People don't want to follow a god who is unreliable and untrustworthy. People want to follow a god who will take care of them. God's reputation and character is gradually revealed to the people of earth as reliable and forgiving. All throughout Exodus, it reveals that judges have to show the same characteristics as god, if they are to be given the authority to judge others.
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I remember Exodus 8:22-23 because in this passage, God says He will set His people apart. To be honest, I’m not very familiar with the Bible, so I don’t really understand what this means.
ReplyDeleteStill, it stays in my mind because, according to **Genesis**, God created the world and all people. So even “your people” were also created by God. Then why did He choose to separate them? From a neutral perspective, it seems like God is giving the Israel a special status. It also makes me think even God makes distinctions between people.
Sophia Lee
The first thing that stuck out to me was God hearing Israel groaning. The reason I picked this first is that God listens to our prayers. The things he saw in Israel, he knew about Israel. The covenant of Abraham's God would protect Israel. The passage is compelling.
ReplyDeleteExodus 3, verses 7-8, is also powerful. Another statement is that God hears the cries and helps. In Egypt, he knew the sufferings that were happening. He then brought down his hand, which consisted of supplies—food, water, and living supplies. And in the end, the people came to them. God loves us all, and we should worship him.
The first thing that I think is important is in Exodus chapter 12. It explains the history of Passover and the importance of having this as a memorial day. In Exodus 16:22 it talks about the Sabbath and what day it is on. This explains why the Sabbath is a holy day and why we should rest on the Sabbath. Goth Passover and the Sabbath, to an extent are about laws/rules that God's people should follow. This was shared with the Israelites.
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