What are the reasons why the book of Exodus is the “foundation of Judaism and Israel’s national identity?
- Exodus holds the 10 Commandments and initial elements of the Law.
- Events in Exodus became the credo for the Jewish reason for existence.
In relation to the date of the Exodus, be able to recognize the “biblical issues.”
- Vague references for personal names and dates
- Period of elapsed times are implied
In relation to the date of the Exodus, be able to recognize the “extra-biblical issues.”
- Who still believes there was an Exodus? (Or a Moses for that matter!)
- No evidence
List the archaeological periods, with dates, that were discussed in class
- Early Bronze Age: 3500 – 2000 BC
- Middle Bronze Age: 2000 – 1550 BC
- Late Bronze Age: 1550 – 1200 BC
Be able to recognize which events were categorized in those archaeological periods.
- Early Bronze Age:
o Dawn of civilization in the Fertile Crescent
o Probably post-dates any info in Gen. 1-11, possibly with the exception of the Tower of Babel - Middle Bronze Age:
o Most likely time of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph
o Family of Israel makes Egypt home
o Hyksos period - Late Bronze Age:
o Enslavement in Egypt
o Time of the Exodus
How many years has passed between the Exodus and the period of Solomon, according to 1 Kings 6:1?
480 years
What group of letters mention a group without a homeland called the “Apiru”, or “Habiru”?
The Amarna Letters
What cities were the Hebrews building according to Exodus 1:11?
Pithom & Ramesses
What event or phenomena in the Central Hills of Canaan suggest that the Israelites arrived after 1200 BC?
There was an explosion of growth in the population in 1200 BC.
What people group took control of Egypt in the 18th century BC?
Semitic people
Who proposed that the Pentateuch was a product of 4 different sources?
Julius Wellhausen
How do the opening verses of Exodus serve as a transition from Genesis?
- Israel’s (Jacob’s) family comes to Egypt during the time of Joseph.
- The names are arranged by their birth mothers, the last of which are the sons of Jacob’s concubines.
What is the “crisis in the plot” of the narrative as introduced in 1:8?
A new “king” came to power who did not know Joseph.
In 1:10, the phrase “and go up from the land” is a Hebrew idiom that might be better translated in what way?
“Taking possession of the land.”
What excavated city actually shows the existence of “Pi-Ramesses” during the Ramesside era?
Qantir
What were the names of the Hebrew midwives mentioned in 1:15-16?
Shiphrah & Puah
The instruction to the midwives to “observe them as they deliver” (literally, “look upon the stones”) is considered by some as a euphemism for what?
“Look at the genitals.”
From what tribe is Moses born?
Levi
The word tebah, used for the basket Moses was placed in, was also used in what otherbiblical story?
Noah’s ark
What is the Egyptian meaning of Moses’ name?
“Born of”; typically combined with the name of a diety-theophonic name.
What biblical passage suggests that Moses was trained with “all the wisdom of the Egyptians?”
Acts 7:22
What ancient city in northwest Arabia supports the idea of a Midianite homeland during the Late Bronze Age?
Qurayya
What Hebrew word is used for Reuel as a “priest” of Midian that is typically only used for Israelite priests?
“Cohen”
Be able to list the elements of the “Theophany Structure” motif found in Exodus 3.
- Intro description in the third person
- Deity’s utterance of the name of the (mortal) addressee
- Response of the addressee
- Deity’s self-asseveration (declaration)
- His quelling of human fear
- Assertion of his gracious presence
- The hieros logos (sacred word) addressed to the particular situation
- Inquiry or protest by the addressee
- Continuation of the hieros logos with perhaps some repetition of elements
