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Exodus: 1706 B.C. - 40 Chapters and 1213 Verses (#93429)
Exodus: 1706 B.C. - 40 Chapters and 1213 Verses
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From:
Bible Handbook: Old Testament
By:
Walter Biggar Scott
Exodus • 5 min. read • grade level: 10
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In this book we have the commencement of Israel's history as a
nation,
while in 1 Samuel the
kingdom
history begins. The period of time covered by the book extends from the death of Joseph till the erection of the Tabernacle, and Jehovah filling it with His glory, about 145 years. From the death of Jacob till the birth of Moses we have no regular history, save a very few connecting links. Previous to the decease of the aged Patriarch Jacob, his sons are assigned the rich and pastoral country of Goshen, Pharaoh's own cattle being preserved there (
Gen. 47:6
6
The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. (Genesis 47:6)
); then we have the prophetic blessings of Jacob and his touching end, followed by the mourning of the Egyptians for 70 days. The embalmed body is carried up to Canaan, and laid side by side with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and the "tender-eyed" Leah, there to await till the blast of the trump awake the sleepers to resurrection-life and glory. The
fears
of Jacob's sons are answered by the
tears
of Joseph, the
seventh
time he is said to have wept (
Gen. 1
6
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. (Genesis 1:6)
. 15-17); then Joseph dies, is embalmed and coffined in Egypt, and thus closes the book of Genesis.
Exodus, the second book of Holy Scripture, opens with a new king on the Egyptian throne, distinctly typical of an Egyptian king in the
latter days
(Isa. 19). The Hebrews rapidly multiply in spite of the cruel edicts issued by the cruelest of the Pharaohs; this is followed by the birth and subsequent history of Moses, Israel's great deliverer, which forms an integral part of the sacred narrative, and is an exceedingly instructive one to all, being fruitful in lessons of deepening importance in these days of unwonted activity and zeal. Moses the deliverer, and Aaron the High Priest, both figure Christ as
saving
in the power of Redemption and
sustaining
by the grace of priesthood. The
first
forty years of Moses' life were spent in the court of the Pharaoh's; the
second
forty in solitude with God; and the
third
forty in the wilderness in active service (Acts 7).
In no other book of Holy Scripture is the great truth of Redemption and its resulting consequences in bringing the redeemed nigh to God, more fully unfolded and blessedly illustrated. Its numerous and varied types are mainly of a redemptive character in keeping with the general design of the book. In the main, the two great subjects of the book are
Redemption
from judgment, the world, and the power of Satan, and positive
Relationship
to God established thereon. Ex. 12 and Ex. 14. record the deliverance of the people, the
first
by the blood of the Lamb—the answer to us being "Justified by His blood," as in
Rom. 5:9
9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)
; the
second
by the power of Jehovah—the answer being in
Rom. 4:25
25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
, "Raised again for our justification." After the Redemption of the people had been effected, Jehovah could
dwell
among them. Wondrous blessing indeed! The first intimation in Scripture of God dwelling with man is found in that magnificent song of triumph (
Ex. 15
25
And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, (Exodus 15:25)
.): "Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, in the place O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to
dwell
in, in the sanctuary, O LORD, which Thy hands have established." God
walked
in Paradise and
visited
the Patriarchs, but He had no home or dwelling on earth until after Redemption had been typically accomplished by "blood" and "power." The first relationship of the people to God was on the ground of pure grace, and continued but a period of nearly three months—from their exodus or departure till they reached Sinai; the second principle of relationship was law, and under this they voluntarily placed themselves as the means of maintaining their connection with God; the third ground of standing before God was one of mixed law and grace (
Ex. 34
25
Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning. (Exodus 34:25)
.), not of grace simply, for that they had forfeited; nor of law only, for then it must have been judgment.
In this book we have the
people
before Jehovah,
first,
as viewed in their misery;
second,
as redeemed from the power and judgment of Egypt;
third,
as in relationship to God, whether under grace or government.
The number of the people who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses, then 80 years of age, and Aaron 83 years, cannot with certainty be determined. We know, however, that 600,000 men, besides women, children, and a large mixed multitude (
Ex. 12:37, 38
37
And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38
And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. (Exodus 12:37‑38)
), took their departure from the land of captivity and cruel bondage, and we cannot be far wrong in estimating the whole number at about two and a half millions of people.
In the enumeration of the holy vessels there is seeming confusion. From
Ex. 25:23-40
23
Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
24
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25
And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
26
And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
27
Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
28
And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
29
And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
30
And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway.
31
And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
32
And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
33
Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
34
And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
35
And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
36
Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
37
And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
38
And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
39
Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
40
And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount. (Exodus 25:23‑40)
we are in the "holy place," but the incense or golden altar is omitted in the description; so also in
Ex. 25
23
Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
24
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25
And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
26
And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
27
Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
28
And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
29
And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
30
And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway.
31
And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
32
And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
33
Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
34
And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
35
And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
36
Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
37
And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
38
And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
39
Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
40
And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount. (Exodus 25:23‑40)
., where "the court" is minutely described, the brazen laver is quite passed over. These omitted vessels are found in their true place, just where God in His own wisdom has placed them, that is
after
the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priestly office (
Ex. 30
23
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
24
And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:
25
And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
26
And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,
27
And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,
28
And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.
29
And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.
30
And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.
31
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
32
Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.
33
Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.
34
And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
35
And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:
36
And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.
37
And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.
38
Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.
1
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: (Exodus 30:23‑31:2)
). Beginning with the ark and ending with the court, that is from
within,
or, from God
to
man, the great point is
God variously manifesting Himself to man
(
Ex. 25
23
Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.
24
And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.
25
And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.
26
And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.
27
Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.
28
And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
29
And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.
30
And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway.
31
And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
32
And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
33
Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
34
And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
35
And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
36
Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
37
And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
38
And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
39
Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
40
And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount. (Exodus 25:23‑40)
.-27.); while from
Ex. 28
23
And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
24
And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.
25
And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it.
26
And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward.
27
And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
28
And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.
29
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.
30
And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually.
31
And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
32
And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.
33
And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
34
A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
35
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
36
And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
37
And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
38
And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.
39
And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.
40
And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. (Exodus 28:23‑40)
.-30, the main thought is the means by which
man can be brought holily and righteously to God;
hence the place occupied in the divine description of the golden altar and brazen laver.
GENERAL DIVISIONS.
1.-The state of the people, the Deliverer and the Deliverance. Ex. 1.-14.
2.-The people in the wilderness first under grace, then under law. Ex. 15.-24.
3.-The unfoldings of grace in the construction of the Tabernacle and the institution of the Priesthood. Ex. 25.-31.
4.-The apostacy of the people; the law regiven and the name of the LORD proclaimed-law and grace. Ex. 32.-34.
5.-Enumeration of the holy vessels and priestly garments; the Tabernacle reared up, and all set in due order "as the LORD commanded Moses." Jehovah's glory and presence fills and occupies the whole scene. Ex. 35.-40.
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