SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY

PAUSE: May 30 & June 6, 2024

DAY #17 – June 13, 2024

Written Lesson Handouts
Topic: Intro to the Book of Exodus
Reference: TBOY, Revised English Version Commentary
https://www.revisedenglishversion.com/Exodus/chapter12/40#:~:text=Genesis%2015%3A13%20and%20Exodu
s,%2D4)%20until%20the%20Exodus; https://answersingenesis.org/bible-questions/how-long-were-the-
israelites-in-egypt/

*VIDEO FROM “THE BIBLE PROJECT”- First half of the Book of Exodus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

1. The Book Of Exodus

a. Second book in all types of Bibles – Protestant, Catholic, Hebrew
b. Second book in the Pentateuch (“Five Books” in Greek) or Torah (Hebrew language used by Jews)
c. Considered one of the “Law of Moses” books
d. It means “the outgoing” or “the going forth”; exit or departure. Refers to the outgoing of Israeli from Egypt.
e. Moses likely wrote the book of Exodus during the 40 years of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness (from the 1440s
to the 1400s B.C. – 13th century). This time period represents the final 40 years of his life. Since he died at the age
of 120, he likely would have been between the ages of 80 and 120 years old when he penned the book. It’s possible
that he wrote the book over a period of years, and that others, perhaps Joshua, made edits (such as updating place-
names) after his death.
f. The book of Exodus records the history of Israel from the death of Joseph to the construction of the tabernacle
during the second year after their departure from Egypt

2. Authorship
a. Moses is generally accepted as the author of Exodus and was confirmed by Jesus in Luke 24:44
44
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about
me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
b. This tradition is challenged by some Jewish Bible scholars and liberal Christian scholars (JEPD theorists) who
support the idea that the book and the entire Pentateuch could have been written at least 4 different authors (or
group of authors) referred to as JEDP (Yahwist-Elohist-Deuteronomist-Priest)
c. He also is the central figure and eyewitness to everything recorded in the narrative. This includes descriptions of
himself in unique detail, the miracles sent by God, supernaturally, details of Egypt: their religion, and practices
which Moses was raised with. This was also seen in the making of the Tabernacle: supplies used and skills needed
in its construction would have been learned also in Egypt.

3. EXODUS – A Continuation of the Genesis Narrative

a. The narrative in Exodus is a continuation of the Genesis narrative. A considerable amount of time has gone by and
there is a huge gap between the end of Genesis (or Exodus 1:1-6) and the start of the life of Moses in Exodus.
Actually, the gap is between Exodus 1:1-6 and 1:7-10. The situation of the people of Israel is dramatically different
in Exodus.

b. Genesis 46:27 tells the number of the family of Jacob (70) and hundreds of years later, a vast multitude, 600,000
men, plus women and children, (12:37) came out of Egypt.

c. Possible Chronology of the Abrahamic Covenant or Promise to the Law or Old Covenant
Genesis 15:13 - “Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be
strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.”

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Exodus12:40 - “Now the length of time the Israelite people (who) lived in Egypt was 430 years.”

Galatians 3:16-17 – “ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to
seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” [a] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this:
The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do
away with the promise.”

Many scholars and Bible readers believe that the Israelites spent 430 years in Egypt, and that they lived as slaves
for 400 years because of the passages above. However, according to the Revised English Version Commentary,
the more correct reading of the biblical chronology is that the 430 years refers to the period when God called
Abraham out of Haran (Genesis 12:1-3) until the year of the Exodus when God made the “Old Covenant” with
Israel. Refer to Galatians 3:16-17 – the law (old covenant), introduced 430 years later from the time the promise
was spoken to Abram.

The 430-year period included Abraham’s life until Isaac was born, Isaac’s life until Jacob was born, Jacob’s life
until Joseph was born, Joseph’s 110-year life; and the slavery in Egypt. As we will see, the slavery lasted no longer
than 139 years
The confusion stems from the ff: (1) many scholars rely on the Egyptian chronology to guide them in building the
biblical chronology; (2) the way Hebrew texts were written; (3) biblical translations.

SUGGESTED SUMMARY OF THE CHRONOLOGY

30 years Promise given to Abram -→ Isaac established as the Seed

(Gen. 21:12)
60 years Isaac was 60yrs old when Jacob was born
91 years Jacob was 91yrs old when Joseph was born
110 years Joseph died at 110 yrs
291 years Approximate years between the Promise and Joseph’s death

If we deduct 291 years from 430 years ( Promise or Abrahamic covenant to the exodus), then the period of slavery
is not more than 139 years.

430 years - Period between the Promise and the exodus

- 291 years - Period between Promise and Joseph’s death (end of Genesis)
139 years - Maximum period of slavery
- 80 years - Moses’ age when the exodus happened (Exodus 7:7)
59 years - Gap between Joseph’s death and Moses’ birth (within this period that the slavery and
maltreatment started to happen)

*Considering that the slavery did not immediately start after Joseph died, then the period of slavery must be less
than 139 years
*Others believe that Israelites lived in Egypt for 215 years only

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 THIS IS ANOTHER SUGGESTED CHRONOLOGY

4. EXODUS – The Book of Redemption

a. The Israelites had been under the bondage of Egypt’s ruler, Pharaoh (a ruler in Egypt). Exodus describes how God
delivered them from bondage. The newly constituted nation is endowed with the law, priesthood, and sacrificial
system, providing for the worship and regulation of a redeemed people
b. In Genesis, we saw the ruin of man through the sin (fall) of man. In Exodus, we shall see the redemption by blood
and power of God.

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5. Structure of Exodus
CHAPTERS 1 TO 18
THE EXODUS
• The Power of God
• Brought out to new life
• From slavery to freedom
Describe the conditions of
oppression of the Jews under
Pharaoh, the rise of Moses as their
deliverer, the plagues God brought
upon Egypt for the refusal of their
leader to submit to Him, and the
departure from Egypt. God’s
sovereign and powerful hand is seen
in the miracles of the plagues—
ending with the plague of death of
the firstborn and the institution of
the first Passover—the deliverance
of the Israelites, the parting of the
Red Sea, and the destruction of the
Egyptian army.
CHAPTERS 19-24
THE LAW
• The Holiness of God
• Brought under the Law
• Responsibility
Dedicated to the wandering in the
wilderness and the miraculous
provision by God for His people. But
even though He gave them bread from
heaven, sweet water from bitter,
water from a rock, victory over those
who would destroy them, His Law
written on tablets of stone by His own
hand, and His presence in the form of
pillars of fire and cloud, the people
continually grumbled and rebelled
against Him
CHAPTERS 25-40
THE TABERNACLE
• The Wisdom of God
• Brought into a new love and
fellowship
• Privilege
Describe the construction of the Ark of
the Covenant and the plan for the
Tabernacle with its various sacrifices,
altars, furniture, ceremonies, and
forms of worship