Moses and The Exodus from Possible responses to problems Moses and - PDF document

Religion 101: Te History and Religion of Israel Unit 2B: Moses and the Exodus from Egypt Religion 101: History & Religion of Israel Religion 101: History & Religion of Israel Today’ Today ’s Agenda s Agenda (Dr. (Dr. Chris Heard Chris Heard • • Pepperdine University Pepperdine University • • Fall 2005) Fall 2005) • Te exodus story and Israelite history – Puzzles that inhibit understanding – Problems that inhibit belief Moses and The Exodus from – Possible responses to problems Moses and The Exodus from • Temes in the exodus story EgypT EgypT – Pharaoh’s hardened heart – Te lessons of the plagues Te Pivot of the Pentateuch Te Pivot of the Pentateuch – Freedom and slavery The Exodus and History The Exodus and History The Exodus and History The Exodus and History Rationale Rationale Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding 2004 • Geography – Identification of the “Yam Suph”and Mt. Sinai • Time frame – Puzzling features • Inconsistent data (Gen 15:13 vs. 15:16 vs. Num 32:39–41/Deut 3:14–15) • Uncertain starting point • Schematic chronologies – Suggested time frames • 16th-century exodus (c. 1540 BCE ) [almost no scholars] – Possible Hyksos synchronism • 15th century exodus (c. 1440 BCE ) [very few scholars] 1998 – Better fits 1 Kings 6:1 • 13th century exodus (c. 1250 BCE ) [most scholars] – Better fits Egyptian history – Better fits Palestinian archaeology The Exodus and History The Exodus and History The Exodus and History The Exodus and History Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding 1

Religion 101: Te History and Religion of Israel Unit 2B: Moses and the Exodus from Egypt The Exodus and History The Exodus and History The Exodus and History The Exodus and History Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding Puzzles that Inhibit Understanding • Geography – Identification of the “Yam Suph”and Mt. Sinai • Time frame – Puzzling features • Inconsistent data (Gen 15:13 vs. 15:16 vs. Num 32:39–41/Deut 3:14–15) • Uncertain starting point • Schematic chronologies – Suggested time frames • 16th-century exodus (c. 1540 BCE ) [almost no scholars] – Possible Hyksos synchronism • 15th century exodus (c. 1440 BCE ) [very few scholars] – Better fits 1 Kings 6:1 • 13th century exodus (c. 1250 BCE ) [most scholars] – Better fits Egyptian history – Better fits Palestinian archaeology The Exodus and History The Exodus and History Problems that Inhibit Belief Problems that Inhibit Belief • Miraculous/supernatural elements – Te plagues: natural or legendary? – Over 2 million Israelites surviving in Sinai? • Lack of external evidence – No Egyptian documentation The Exodus and History The Exodus and History The Exodus and History The Exodus and History Problems that Inhibit Belief Problems that Inhibit Belief Possible Responses to Problems Possible Responses to Problems • Miraculous/supernatural elements • “Extreme” positions – Te plagues: natural or legendary? – Reject biblical narrative altogether – Over 2 million Israelites surviving in Sinai? – Discount (lack of ) archaeological evidence • Lack of external evidence • “Mediating” approaches – No Egyptian documentation – Compressed narration – No archaeological remains – Exaggerated numbers • Of Israelite travelers – Large-group assimilation of small-group • Of neighboring kingdoms experience – Technological discontinuity 2

Religion 101: Te History and Religion of Israel Unit 2B: Moses and the Exodus from Egypt Themes in the Exodus Story Themes in the Exodus Story Themes in the Exodus Story Themes in the Exodus Story Pharaoh Pharaoh’ ’s Hardened Heart s Hardened Heart Lessons of the Plagues Lessons of the Plagues Who Hardened • Premise: the L ORD doesn’t need Morning Blood Flies Hail Pharaoh’s Heart? Pharaoh’s cooperation warning 1. Unspecified • Purpose of the hardening: “Untimed” 2. Pharaoh Frogs Murrain Locust to extend the plagues (Exod 7:3; 10:1) warning 3. Unspecified 4. Pharaoh • Purpose of the plagues: No “Gnats” Boils “Darkness” 5. Unspecified to show the L ORD ’s power (Exod warning 6. Te L ORD 7:4–5; 9:14–16 ; 10:2; 12:12) Te L ORD Te L ORD Te L ORD is 7. Pharaoh • Addressing the moral dilemma (Rom 8. Te L ORD is real favors Israel incomparable 9:14–24) 9. Te L ORD 10. Te L ORD Themes in the Exodus Story Themes in the Exodus Story Next Time in Religion 101 Next Time in Religion 101 Slavery and Freedom Slavery and Freedom • Te “liberation” theme Unit 2C • Laws for liberated slave-holders Te Torah’s Law Codes • Freed to serve • Six distinct Torah law codes – “I am the LORD, and I will free you from the • Biblical attitudes toward biblical law burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from • Biblical and ancient Near Eastern law slavery ( הדבע , ‘ abodah = ‘service’) to them.” • Te sin offering and the Day of Atonement – “Let my people go, so that they may worship ( דבע , ‘ abad = ‘serve’) me in the wilderness.” 3