1706 B.C. – 40 Chapters – 1213 Verses
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. 47:66The 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. 50:15-1715And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. (Genesis 50:15‑17)); 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 cruellest 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 Pharaohs; 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. Chapters 12 and 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 Romans 5:99Much 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 Romans 4:25,25Who 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 (ch. 15): “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 (ch. 34), 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. 12:37-3837And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38And 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. 25:23-4023Thou 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. 24And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. 25And 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. 26And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. 27Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. 28And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. 29And 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. 30And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway. 31And 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. 32And 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: 33Three 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. 34And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. 35And 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. 36Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. 37And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. 38And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. 39Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. 40And 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, 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). 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. 25-27); while from Exodus 28-30, 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
Chapters 1 – 14 — The state of the people, the Deliverer and the Deliverance.
Chapters 15 – 24 — The people in the wilderness first under grace, then under law.
Chapters 25-31 — The unfoldings of grace in the construction of the Tabernacle and the institution of the Priesthood.
Chapters 32-34 — The apostasy of the people; the law regiven and the name of the Lord proclaimed — law and grace.
Chapters 35 – 40 — 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.