The Ten Plagues - Bible Story Summary The Ten Plagues - Bible Story Summary The Ten Plagues - Bible Story Summary God Sent Ten Plagues to Defeat Pharaoh The Plagues of Egypt. Print Collector / Contributor / Getty Images By Jack Zavada The Hebrew people had suffered as slaves in Egypt for over 400 years when God sent them a deliverer named Moses . But Pharaoh , Egypt's arrogant king, wasn't about to let this valuable source of free labor go. After all, Pharaoh believed he was a god, and who could oppose a god? That was when the God of Israel sent Ten Plagues upon the Egyptian people to show there was no one like the Lord in all the earth. References to the Ten Plagues in the Bible Exodus 5:3, 7:14-12:30; 1 Samuel 4:8; Amos 4:10. The Ten Plagues - Story Summary Before each plague, Moses asked Pharaoh to let the Hebrew people go into the desert to worship the Lord. After each plague, Pharaoh's response was the same: he hardened his heart, stubbornly refusing to obey God .

Water Turned to Blood In the first plague, Aaron , brother of Moses, struck the Nile River with his staff and the water turned to blood. The fish died, the water stunk, and people could not drink it. Even water in jars and pots turned to blood. By their secret arts, the magicians of Pharaoh managed to duplicate this act. Frogs The second plague brought millions of frogs out of the river, canals, and ponds until they covered the land. Again, the king's sorcerers used black magic to produce frogs. Gnats In the third plague, Aaron struck the dust and it became gnats, infesting men and beasts. The magicians could not duplicate that miracle and said, "This is the finger of God." (Exodus 8:19, ESV ). Flies The fourth plague brought swarms of flies, but the insects covered only Egypt and not the land of Goshen where the Hebrews lived. Pharaoh tried to set conditions on how far the people could go into the desert to make sacrifices to God.

Livestock In the fifth plague, all the horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks in Egypt died, but the curse did not touch the animals of the Hebrews. Pharaoh still would not back down. Boils For the sixth plague, God told Moses to throw handfuls of soot into the air. The fine dust became boils on all the Egyptians, so painful the magicians could not stand before Moses. Hail In the seventh plague, God explained to Pharaoh, through Moses, the reason for the plagues: But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. (Exodus 9:16, NIV ) Very heavy hail fell upon Egypt in the seventh plague, killing people, animals and plants. Although Pharaoh admitted he had sinned and that God was in the right, he changed his mind again as soon as the storm stopped and would not let the people go. Locusts With the eighth plague came locusts such as the world had never seen before. They smothered Egypt, eating plants and trees so not a green thing remained.

When Pharaoh called in Moses, the king admitted to sinning "once." Darkness The ninth plague brought pitch darkness over Egypt for three days, so heavy that people could not see one another. Remarkably, the Hebrews had light in their land. Once again Pharaoh tried to dictate conditions on Israel's departure by ordering that their flocks be left behind. Death of Firstborn Finally, God warned of a tenth plague, so devastating that Pharaoh would release the enslaved Jews. First God warned all the people of Israel to sacrifice lambs to him, paint the blood on their doorposts, and eat the roasted meat before morning. God's avenging angel would see the blood sign and pass over those houses. This started the Jewish tradition of Passover . The Jews asked the Egyptian people for gold, silver, jewelry, and clothes, and they gladly gave it to see them go. God had a plan to use those materials later. During the night, the tenth plague descended, the death of the firstborn in every Egyptian house. Even Pharaoh's firstborn son died. The outcry from the Egyptians was so great that Pharaoh commanded Israel to go immediately, taking everything with them. What happened next is described in the crossing of the Red Sea .

Lessons From the Ten Plagues Egypt's false gods were powerless before Jehovah, the almighty God of Israel. Today, as then, anything people put more importance on than the Lord is idolatry , a serious sin. God used Pharaoh to show the world his omnipotent authority. No matter what happens, the Lord is in control . God directs history to accomplish his supreme plan . Whether it is performing awesome miracles or through quiet, individual intervention, God always helps those who love and obey him. Bible Story Summary Index Jack Zavada, a career writer and contributor for About.com, is host to a Christian website for singles. Never married, Jack feels that the hard-won lessons he has learned may help other Christian singles make sense of their lives. His articles and ebooks offer great hope and encouragement. To contact him or for more information, visit Jack's Bio Page . Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide Exodus 7–10: The Plagues Exodus 7–10: The Plagues Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, (2002), 44–45 In Exodus 5 , the Lord gave Pharaoh the opportunity to simply let the children of Israel go, but Pharaoh refused.

Exodus 7 begins a series of confrontations Moses and Aaron had with Pharaoh. Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, declaring that if he did not, God would display His power by plaguing or causing problems for Egypt. As a result, the signs God sent are known as “the plagues of Egypt.” Exodus 7–10 records nine different plagues. A tenth plague will be discussed in Exodus 11–13 .The fact that the Lord plagued Egypt so many times shows how merciful He is. Instead of immediately destroying Pharaoh and the Egyptians, He gave them many chances to acknowledge Him and His power. The Lord’s purpose is to have all of His children turn to Him. Only after nine impressive displays of the Lord’s power and Pharaoh completely hardening his heart did the Lord prepare the destructive tenth plague.To help you see this story as a whole, “Understanding the Scriptures” will help you with words and phrases by chapter, and “Studying the Scriptures” will combine all four chapters into one section.

34189_000_058 The Story Behind the Ten Plagues | Bible Gateway Blog The Story Behind the Ten Plagues Senior manager of content for Bible Gateway. The Angel of Death passes by a household in this painting by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872. Few stories in the Old Testament are as familiar as that of the Ten Plagues that God inflicted on Egypt to convince its hard-hearted Pharaoh to release the captive Israelites. It’s the foundational story of the Old Testament nation of Israel, and is thus filled with historical and theological significance. And it also contains all the ingredients of a powerful Bible story: it features suffering captives, a malicious villain, a rescuing God, and a whole series of terrifying and awe-inspiring miracles. If you haven’t read the story of the Ten Plagues and the Exodus in a while (or ever), take a few minutes to do so now—you can find it in Exodus 8-13 . I’ll bet it’s the rare person who reads the story of the Ten Plagues and doesn’t find him- or herself brimming with questions: did the Ten Plagues occur exactly as described in the text?

Are they metaphorical descriptions of natural disasters or other crises that befell Egypt? Were they natural phenomena that God triggered for his purposes, or were they overtly supernatural in nature? Is this “just” a historical account, or is there theological significance in the different plagues? Christians have answered these questions in varying ways. Growing up, I read a lot of efforts to explain the ten plagues scientifically: maybe the first plague (water turned to blood) was caused by red-colored aquatic algae, or perhaps the plague of darkness was a massive sandstorm or other natural disaster. Other Christians have offered other explanations over the years. If you’ve ever been intrigued by the story of the Ten Plagues, I recommend reading a recent article by Ziony Zevit describing three ways to look at the Ten Plagues . Zevit lists some of the questions that have challenged scholars and believers for centuries: Many questions have been raised about the plagues on different levels. Some questions are naturalistic and historical: Did the plagues actually occur in the order and manner described in Exodus? Are there any ancient documents or other types of evidence corroborating that they took place or that something like them took place?

Can the less realistic and surrealistic plagues be explained as natural phenomena? Other questions are literary and theological: Is the plague narrative a hodgepodge of sources pasted together by ancient editors (redactors)? What is the origin of the traditions in the extant plague narrative? What is the meaning of the narrative in its biblical context? Beyond the obvious story, did the plague narrative have any theological implications for ancient Israel? The article lays out some of the traditional Jewish and Christian understandings of the Ten Plagues. Beyond the historical and ecological explanations, some people interpret them as specific polemic attacks on Egyptian religion or as an illustration of God’s mastery over chaos. The article summarizes the most compelling explanations, noting the strengths and weaknesses of the different theories.

Among other things, it quickly becomes clear that when reading a complex Biblical story like this one, we shouldn’t stop with the question “How and when did this happen?”—we should also ask “What significance did this story hold for its original audience?” and “What does this story tell us about God?” Related posts: Summary of The Book of Exodus - The Story of the Bible: The Old Testament (Bible History Online) Date - From 1635 to 1490 BC Approximately Theme - God's Covenant with the Hebrew Nation Types and Shadows - In Exodus Jesus is the Lamb of God Summary of The Book of Exodus Quick Overview of Exodus. � �1 � �The slavery and oppression of the Hebrews in Egypt. � �2-3 � �The birth of Moses and his education in ancient Egypt, The life and calling of Moses to be the Hebrew deliverer of Israel. � �4-11 � � Moses and Aaron approached the Pharaoh of Egypt, the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, the plagues of Egypt. � �12-13 � � The First Passover, The Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

� �14-15 � � The miracle of the parting of the Red Sea, The destruction of the Egyptian army. � �16-18 � �The journey to Mount Sinai, the manna, the Sabbath, water from the rock, Jethro. � �19-31 � � The giving of the law from God to Moses on Mount Sinai. � �32-33 � � The sin of the golden calf, the consequences of idolatry. � � 34-40 � � The unbroken tables of the law written on stone, the building of the tabernacle. Quick Summary of Exodus. The second book of Moses, also known as the second book of the Pentateuch is called "Exodus" because of all the events that take place in the first half of the book. The the clear focus is the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt. The word, "exodus" is derived from a Greek word meaning "going out." Hundreds of years elapsed between the time of the events described in the closing chapters of Genesis and those of the beginning of Exodus.

The exact number of years between the migration of Jacob into Egypt until the exodus is given as 430 (Exodus 12:40-41). At the end of the book of Genesis the Hebrews were living in the fertile land of Goshen and was being fed from the granaries of the Pharaoh of Egypt. In the beginning of the book of Exodus the Hebrews are seen as slaves of the Egyptians, a nation without a country or a national unawareness of their calling from God. Exodus shows the development of Israel and the birth of a real nation, and the promises of God to Abraham begin to unfold. After verse seven in the first chapter of the book of Exodus Israel is noticed by the Egyptians as being great in number and prosperous. In view of this the book of Exodus seems to fall into seven distinct sections: Outline of the Book of Exodus 1) The sufferings of Israel (1:8-7:7).

This section includes the birth, education and flight of Moses; his call to be deliverer of his people and his consequent return from Midian to Egypt; and his first ineffectual attempts to prevail upon Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, which resulted only in an increase in their burdens. 2) A manifestation of God's providential guidance of Israel, illustrated by the ten plagues (7:8-13:16). This section also includes the account of the observance of the first Passover (ch. 12). 3) The guiding of the people of Sinai (13:17-18:27), which tells of the departure and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. This section also contains a narrative of the principal events on the journey from the Red Sea to Sinai, including the coming of the manna, the observance of the Sabbath, the supply of water from the rock at Rephidim and the advice of Jethro concerning the civil government of the great mass of people. 4) The making of the covenant at Sinai, together with the reception of the Ten Commandments (19:1-24:18).

The laws recorded in this section regulated the religious, civil, and social life of the Israelites. 5) Directions for the building of the tabernacle (24:18-31:18). 6) The renewing of the covenant after the sinful actions of the Israelites in connection with the making of the golden calf (32:1-35:3). 7) The actual building and dedication of the tabernacle of the Lord (35:4-40:38), under the supervision of the two master craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab. Exodus is a book of redemption in which God delivers His people out of bondage and brings them into a special relationship with Himself. God, Pharaoh and Moses: Explaining the Lord’s Actions in the Exodus Plagues Narrative - Logos Bible Software Logos Bible Software This image is for illustration only. The product is a download. God, Pharaoh and Moses: Explaining the Lord’s Actions in the Exodus Plagues Narrative Runs on Windows , Mac and mobile . $33.99 Tweet Overview The story of the Exodus from Egypt is of fundamental importance, both in the Old Testament and beyond.

However, it also contains issues that are theologically problematic for readers, especially concerning the actions of God. Why does God send a series of plagues on Egypt? How do we understand the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart? What do the answers to these questions say about the character of God? This book addresses these questions, taking a narrative theological approach, reading the story as story. The picture that emerges is of God as responsive, speaking and acting to challenge the hearer to make the appropriate response to him. Product Details Title: God, Pharaoh and Moses: Explaining the Lord’s Actions in the Exodus Plagues Narrative Author: William A. Ford Series: Old Testament Studies Collection Publisher: Paternoster Press Enter the Bible - Books: Exodus Themes Summary Exodus begins with a depiction of Israel's servitude in Egypt and God's selection of Moses to move Israel out of that servitude. Pharaoh contests this intention of God, and God responds by sending plagues on Egypt that culminate with the death of the firstborn and deliverance at the sea. Israel prepares for this deliverance by founding the Passover and responds with triumphant singing after the deliverance. Israel journeys to Sinai, murmuring along the way.

At Sinai, Israel receives the Ten Commandments and the covenant relationship is established. While Moses is receiving additional instructions from God on Sinai-notably the designs for the tabernacle-Israel rebels by building the golden calf. Moses intercedes successfully for Israel, and God relents and recommits to the covenant. Israel then builds the tabernacle as instructed. So What? The foundational narratives of the book of Exodus seek to articulate the Lord's claim to Israel's allegiance and to shape the identity of Israel, its liturgical practices, and its legal traditions. Where Do I Find It? Exodus is the second book of the Old Testament. It follows Genesis and precedes Leviticus. Who Wrote It? Traditionally Moses is understood as the author, although the book of Exodus does not make that direct assertion. While many interpreters concede great antiquity to many sections of the book and even consider Moses at the core of its origin, Moses is not seen as the single author in a contemporary sense of authorship. One view is to posit extensive documents that were later merged into the common narrative we now have.

Another view posits continued editorial development with concerns of later generations periodically reflected in the narrative, with the result being layers within the final narrative rather than the merger of preexistent narratives. When Was It Written? Dating the book of Exodus is interconnected with the issue of authorship. If Moses is regarded as the sole author, then the date of composition is several centuries before the time of David. If one adopts the documentary hypothesis, then the earliest strand was written in the period of David and Solomon and the latest in the exilic or postexilic period, with final editorial work being completed in the postexilic era. If one understands the origins of book along a more supplementary model, then composition extends from a time prior to David to the postexilic period. What's It About? Exodus narrates Israel's deliverance from Egyptian tyranny, the establishment of God's covenant with Israel, the reception of core commandments at Sinai, the paradigmatic rebellion of Israel in the golden calf incident, and the obedient building of the tabernacle through which God would be present to accompany Israel to the promised land. How Do I Read It? The book of Exodus can be read as testimony.

Exodus narrates the movement from servitude in Egypt to serving Yahweh, the Lord. The preface to the Ten Commandments sets the core message: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (20:2). From this core, Israel forges practices of social justice and liturgical commemoration. The book also attests to Israel's persistent and increasing rebellion against serving Yahweh. The foundational narratives of Israel's rebellion and obedience are bracketed by Yahweh's persistent fidelity to the covenant with Israel. Readers are to understand these narratives as anchor points for shaping the covenantal story from generation to generation. 1. Servitude in and Deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 1:1-15:21) A. Growth, Bondage, and Survival (Exodus 1:1-2:25) As Joseph recedes from memory, Israel enters into ever-intensifying bondage in Egypt until they cry out and get noticed. B. Call and Preparation of Moses (Exodus 3:1-7:7) Moses is called by God to bring Israel out of Egypt; early preparations encounter resistance. C.

Plagues (Exodus 7:8-10:29) God both solidifies and breaks down Pharaoh's resistance. D. Preparations for Departure and Commemoration (Exodus 11:1-13:16) The institution of the Passover centers Israel's preparation for leaving Egypt. E. Crossing at the Sea (Exodus 13:17-14:31) At the sea, God defeats Pharaoh and his forces, and Israel moves outside of Egypt. F. Songs at the Sea (Exodus 15:1-21) Israel celebrates the victory of their God. 2. Journey to Sinai (Exodus 15:22-18:27) A. Testing God (Exodus 15:22-17:7) God tests Israel's obedience and provides for their needs while Israel tests God through challenging Moses' leadership. B. Defeat of the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16) Israel encounters its first enemy outside of Egypt. C.

Structuring for Everyday (Exodus 18:1-27) Moses tells his father-in-law what God has done, and his father-in-law offers suggestions for handling the routine affairs of governance. 3. Revelation at Sinai (Exodus 19:1-24:18) A. God at Sinai (Exodus 19:1-25) In a theophany, God appears to Israel and Israel pledges its obedience. B. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-21) The Ten Commandments are disclosed directly to Israel. C. The Book of the Covenant (Exodus 20:22-23:33) Moses receives statutes and ordinances that govern both Israel's social relationships and sacrificial calendar. D. The Covenant Sealed (Exodus 24:1-18) Israel and God seal their covenantal relationship 4. Instructions for Tabernacle and Priesthood (Exodus 25:1-31:18) Moses receives instructions for building the tabernacle, for its furnishings, and for priestly garments. 5.

Rebellion, Forgiveness, and Renewed Presence (Exodus 32:1-34:35) A. The Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-6) Israel constructs a golden calf in the absence of Moses. B. Dialogue: Petition, Forgiveness, and Presence (Exodus 32:7-34:9) God decides to abandon Israel, but Moses succeeds in petitioning God to forgive and to remain among Israel. C. Covenant Renewed (Exodus 34:10-35) The covenant between God and Israel is renewed by God. 6. Following Instructions (Exodus 35:1-40:38) In an act of obedience, the tabernacle and priestly garments are made exactly as instructed. AUTHOR: Richard W. Nysse, Professor of Old Testament When interpreters move beyond the notion of a single author, such as Moses, writing in the manner of a reporter merely stating facts, then the background of Exodus becomes complicated. Some interpreters conclude that several complete narratives (now merged into one) existed behind the present composition. Such documents are given dates ranging from the early monarchy to the postexilic era.

For example, the mountain and sanctuary mentioned in Exodus 15:17 are understood to be Mount Zion and the Temple, forcing a date many centuries after Moses. Interpreters who posit an extended period of editorial activity recognize the reflection of the concerns of multiple eras in Israel. For example, the ebb and flow of leadership within the tribe of Levi is understood to reflect subsequent shifts within priestly hierarchies. In both cases the concerns of the exilic and postexilic periods for identity as the covenantal people of God are represented in the narratives in their present form. The story of the Exodus was retold to shape identity and practice in later eras and some of that recasting has entered into the canonical form of the foundational narrative itself. AUTHOR: Richard W. Nysse, Professor of Old Testament · Book of the covenant. The term "book of the covenant" commonly refers to Exodus 20:22-23:33, but the reference to "all the words that the LORD has spoken" in 24:3 has led some to include the Decalogue as well. Further, Exodus 19-24 is considered a unit despite its probable extended process of composition.

The laws in Exodus 20:22-23:33 have different forms, and scholars have developed varying classification systems. A commonly employed set distinguishes casuistic laws from apodictic laws. The former occur in Exodus 21:1-22:17 and are constructed with an "If…, then…" pattern. The latter occur in Exodus 20:22-26 and 22:18-23:19, are characterized by direct prohibition, and use an imperative form: "You shall/shall not…." The infractions mentioned in the laws suggest a settled, not nomadic, lifestyle, but the lack of any mention of monarchic practices suggests an early date for the core material. The extent of later revisions embedded in the present text is debated, but specific laws were clearly revised later in Israel's history. For example, Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15 provided evidence of significant later revision of the slave law in Exodus 21. · Composition history. As soon as interpreters recognize that Exodus was not composed by a single author such as Moses, they are confronted by a complex and ambiguous history of composition.

The book of Exodus does not itself claim Moses as the author in any modern sense of authorship. Data such as two narratives introducing the divine name (Exodus 3 and 6) and variations in the name of Moses father-in-law (Exodus 2 and 18) undergirded the theory of multiple narratives telling the Exodus story, each at the same time reflecting concerns of its own era. The documentary hypothesis, as it was termed, posited a collation of these prior narrations into one continuous narrative in the postexilic period. Confidence in this reconstruction has diminished, but that has not led to a return to the notion of a single author such as Moses. Rather, there has been recognition of prior blocks of material such as Exodus 21-23. The period of composition is thus seen as an ongoing process of telling and retelling of the accounts to shape identity and to form practice in varied circumstances, most of which are now no longer recoverable with historical exactness. · Connections to the rest of the Pentateuch. Exodus can be read as a freestanding book moving from building store cities in slavery to building a tabernacle in service to a liberating and forgiving God.

However, there are many indications that those who shaped the present form of the book intended it to be part of a larger whole. Exodus 1, for example, begins by tying Exodus to Genesis by means of a genealogy of the family of Jacob. Israel's plight commences with a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph, but the reader presumably knows from the narratives at the end of Genesis what Joseph had earlier meant to Egyptian survival. When God hears the cries of Israel at the end of Exodus 2, God remembers the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, again connecting Exodus with Genesis. Exodus is also linked to the remainder of the Pentateuch. For example, God's instructions for the appointment of priests (Exodus 29) are not fully implemented until Leviticus 8, and the book ends with clear indications of further journeying. Sinai is not imagined as the destination point. · Date of the exodus. For most interpreters determining the date of the exodus has become more complicated than simply moving back 480 years from the building of the temple by Solomon (1 Kings 6). The same can be said for determining the length of the period of enslavement in Egypt.

Genesis 15:13 mentions four hundred years of oppression but speaks of returning to the land of Abraham's sojourning in four generations. The genealogy in Exodus 6:14-25 also works with a four-generation structure. If 1 Kings 6:1 is the starting point, attempts are made to correlate the archaeological data in Palestine with a conquest forty years after 1446 B.C.E. Proposed alignments have caveats and counter interpretations. The Merneptah Stela, dating from approximately 1210 B.C.E., mentions a group named Israel and it provides many interpreters with an anchor date leading to the conclusion that the mid-1200s is the likely date of the exodus. Other interpreters have abandoned the quest for a date, positing that the conquest was a matter of small infiltrations or a peasant revolt joined at most by a few groups from Egypt. In this view there is no need to find a specific date for the exodus. The nature of the biblical narrative and the way the Bible's authority is understood influence these views on the date of the exodus. · Decalogue/Ten Commandments.

The number ten and its association with two tablets are derived from Exodus 34. In Exodus 20 these commandments are editorially separated from the rest of the statutes and ordinances given to Israel at Sinai. The text mentions both before and after the words of the Commandments that God communicates from a cloud surrounded with thunder and lightning. Before the Commandments are given, Moses is commanded to warn the people not to approach the mountain lest they die. After the text of the Commandments is given, the people ask Moses to receive communication from God for they fear they will die if God communicates to them directly. This framing heightens the importance of the Ten Commandments. The opening segment of the Ten Commandments relates to God and the remainder addresses intracommunal conduct. The two segments should not be sharply separated as other legal material intersperses social regulations with requirements for appropriate conduct with regard to God. The preface, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of salvery" (20:2), arcs across these commandments. Some have speculated that all of the commandments may have had a short form such as the prohibition against murder.

In their current form they are grounded in God's bringing Israel out of bondage, and they stand at the head of all law grounded in revelation at Sinai. · Geography. Interpreters will encounter difficulty in tracing the exodus geographically. While it is plausible that Israel was part of Semitic groups that episodically resided in the Nile Delta region, the exact location of Israel's residence in Egypt has not been recovered. Whether or not the storehouse cities can be pinpointed is debated. While it is clear that Israel did not follow the most direct route from Egypt to the land of Canaan, there remains debate about what path was followed as they left Egypt. One view has Israel navigating through a marshy lake region and translates the biblical phrase yam suph (used to describe the body of water throughout the Exodus narrative) literally as the "Reed Sea" (for example, Exodus 13:8). Others insist that the water must be the Red Sea (as translated in the NRSV). Once beyond the sea, the wilderness stops also cannot be pinpointed. Finally, the location of Sinai is debated.

While the correlations with extrabiblical data are not so minimal as to preclude the historicity of the narrative, interpreters must acknowledge that the historicity is at best plausible, not proven. The plausible narrative background does not by itself prove that the specifics of an event occurred as narrated. · Hardening the heart. Pharaoh hardened his heart (for example, Exodus 8:15); God hardened Pharaoh's heart (for example, Exodus 9:12). Relating these two themes is a perennial task for interpreters. The issue loops into many others, especially election. God chose Israel; God did not choose Pharaoh. In Romans 9, St. Paul couples this theme with the choice of Jacob over Esau. Modern interpreters inevitably bring a discussion of free will into the picture. Many attempts have been made to soften the impact of God hardening Pharaoh's heart with its implication that Pharaoh was doomed from the beginning. A common move is to argue that there is a progression from Pharaoh's persistent hardening of his heart to God's eventual giving in to Pharaoh's intent, the latter encompassing the language of God hardening Pharaoh's heart.

A fundamental narrative obstacle to this approach is Exodus 4:21 where God announces to Moses even before he returns to Egypt God's intention to hardened Pharaoh's heart. Although the question of free will must inevitably be faced, it is not the focus of Exodus. Exodus articulates the depth of God's commitment to Israel, a commitment now put to the test by slavery in Egypt. It is a narrative about the mighty being brought low and the lowly being exulted, not about the intricacies of philosophical and theological debates over free will. · Manna. Manna provides an interesting example of attempts to specify information beyond that given in the Bible. Proposals have been made to identify manna with known edible secretions of plant life or insects. None of the proposed sources are naturally available throughout the calendar year. These attempts to prove the plausibility of the biblical narrative ironically undercut it. If the identifications are accurate, they raise serious questions about the numbers for the population of Israel in the wilderness. The supposed naturally occurring manna would not come close to providing for the nutritional needs of such a large population. The miracle of God's provision is not verified by making it a natural process.

Theologically the central point is that God gave the manna (Exodus 16; see also Numbers 11) both to provide for Israel's need and to test whether Israel would follow God's instruction, specifically with regard to the Sabbath. There was always the right amount for every one, and no one was allowed to accumulate surplus. Israel was to learn to depend on a dependable God, a lesson commemorated by keeping a portion of the manna in the ark (Exodus 16:32-34). · Murmuring. In recurrent episodes in Exodus 15:22-17:7, Israel complains about the lack of water and food and the quality of the water. These narratives are commonly referred to as "murmuring," although many translations, including NRSV, use the term "complaining." The needs in each case are real, and interpreters should be at least as restrained in judging Israel as is the text. God does not punish Israel for these murmurings as in Numbers 11. Perhaps the divine restraint is shaped by the fact that the formal enactment of the Sinai covenant will come later.

The episodes are used to test and to teach Israel as it becomes a people freed from Egyptian tyranny. These actions also involve Israel testing God, a fact remembered in the name given to the location, namely, Massah (see Psalm 95:8-9). Full-blown opposition to God occurs in the golden calf episode where God's judgment is clearly articulated. The stories of murmuring in Exodus are a prelude to later blatant disobedience. They set an ominous trajectory, but the reader should empathize more than condemn at this point. · Narrative coherence. The documentary hypothesis emphasized tensions within and between narratives in the book of Exodus. Interpreters highlighted such features as the threefold occurrence of God's commands to Moses and Moses' exact execution of those commands in Exodus 13 and 14 before and after the people cross on dry land (for example, "stretch out your hand over the sea" and "Moses stretched out his hand over the sea," [14:16, 21 and again in 14:26-27]).

Mixed in with this almost liturgical pageantry are references to Israel's fear, Moses' command to stand still and see how the Lord will fight for them, the movement of the pillars during the night, and Israel's awakening to the sight of dead Egyptians on the seashore. From such observations, multiple prior documents were posited. More recent literary interpretations have sought instead to highlight what connects narrative elements despite surface level tensions. For example, literary interpreters will emphasize three series of plagues consisting of three each, with each series having the same pattern of forewarnings and instructional formulae. Narrative coherence is emphasized at the level of theology and confession rather than at a level that would satisfy the interest of an historian. · Pharaoh. As with the Joseph story in Genesis, interpreters have been endlessly frustrated by the lack of a proper name by which to identify the specific Egyptian ruler involved in the narrative.

Three different Egyptian rulers are implied or referred to in Exodus: (1) one or more who, at the outset, were grateful to Joseph and consequently shielded Israel; (2) a ruler who did not know Joseph and consequently oppressed the Israelites and from whom Moses fled; (3) a ruler who opposed the release of Israel and ends up drowned in the sea. The biblical story can be plausibly read against several periods with interpreters making different judgments about the degree of correlation. The more confident one is of the correlations, the more puzzling it is that none of the pharaohs is named. Some have understood not naming the Pharaoh as a narrative technique to undercut the presumptions of the Egyptian ruler. He lacks divine powers and he cannot maintain order to protect his people; he has not stature as a ruler. Or, is it because the only king recognized by the narrative is the Lord (see Exodus 15:18)? The absence of a proper name in royal psalms has also been offered as an analogy. Or, assuming historic-but now unidentifiable-pharaohs, the role of "Pharaoh" has become perpetual and thus paradigmatic (see Deuteronomy 6:20-25).

Rather than verifying the story in the past, readers can recognize the role of pharaoh embodied in their own world. · Plagues. The plagues are also called "signs" or "wonders" in Exodus. Deuteronomy regularly employs the phrase "signs and wonders," which includes all the wonders done against Egypt to bring about the exodus from Egypt. Many attempts have been made to correlate the "plagues" with natural phenomena that occur in the region of Egypt. The assumption is that if such correlations are successful, the unusual dimension of the plagues would be shifted to a matter of fortunate timing. More recent attempts have been made to correlate Pharaoh's social tyranny with ecological consequences. Both moves seek to tone down the degree to which one speaks of divine intervention. Within the biblical text, the concern focuses on the purpose for and impact of the plagues. Israel is to be impressed with the power of God. Egyptians are to be overwhelmed and to come to know the power of Israel's God, recognizing at the same time their own ineffectiveness as well as that of their gods. The plagues are intertwined with the theme of Pharaoh's hardened heart. Modern concerns regarding free will and the integrity of nature are not taken up.

Rather, the plagues are celebrated as part of God's deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt, a deliverance that Israel knows it had no power to implement. · Questions. Key questions are asked by characters in the exodus narratives, questions that are informational, ironic, and challenging. Moses anticipates the Israelites question concerning the one who sent him, "What is his name?" (3:13). The name Yahweh is provided as an answer. Pharaoh asks, "Who is the LORD?" (5:2). His question may not have been sincere, but from the reader's point of view the answer is clear: The Lord is the one who brought Israel out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (Exodus 20:2). Even before the plagues, Moses asked, "Why did you ever send me?" (5:22). His question is echoed in the later question of Israel, "What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?" (14:11). They later ask in one of the murmuring episodes, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children…?" (17:3).

At times the questions are purely factual: "What shall we drink?" (15:24). On other occasions they imply disobedience: "Is the LORD among us or not?" (17:7). Others are occasions for paradigmatic instruction: "What do you mean by this observance?" (12:26). While these questions are embedded in the plot line, they may also provide readers with insight into the kerygmatic emphases of the narrative. · Sabbath. The first explicit reference to the Sabbath occurs in Exodus 16. It is termed holy to the Lord and a day of solemn rest. No manna was to be collected on that day. The Sabbath law, however, is given prior to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Some interpreters argue that the Sabbath practice has already been in place narratively since Genesis 2:2-3; the Ten Commandments merely formalized it. Other interpreters see this as one more indication of a complicated, multileveled history of composition. In Exodus 20 the motivation for keeping the Sabbath is grounded in the six-day creation pattern of Genesis 1.

In Deuteronomy 5, in contrast, the motivation is grounded in the memory of slavery in Egypt in which there was no time for rest. The need for rest is also cited in Exodus 23:12 (note the use of "the seventh day" rather than "Sabbath"). Exodus 31:12-17, in the midst of instructions for building the tabernacle, lifts up Sabbath observance as an ongoing sign of the covenant and adds the death penalty for violators. The death penalty is again cited in Exodus 35:2-3, and restrictions on fires are added. There is no one place that gathers all Sabbath regulations, an indication for some interpreters that Sabbath regulations developed over time and were attached to prior narratives. · Tabernacle. The instructions for the tabernacle are given to Moses after formalizing the covenant between God and the people who had come out of Egypt (Exodus 24). The initial revelation at Sinai had terrified the people; both the outward presence of thunder and lightning and the danger of encroaching on the boundary of God's holiness fueled the fear. Only a select few were allowed to approach God on the mountain.

In addition since Israel's destination was the promised land, not Sinai, the question of how God would continue to be present needed to be answered. The tabernacle addressed these issues. God commits to be present in the community and provides prescriptions for a regularized manner to honor boundaries. God was not locked into being present only at Sinai; the tabernacle provided a mobile presence. Readers find it difficult to sort out the overlap between the tabernacle, which was at the center of the community, and the tent of meeting, which was at the periphery. Moses was able to consult God at both places. The golden calf episode disrupts the flow from instructions to implementation of the building plans. Whether or not God will continue to be present with the people is a contested issue because of Israel's act of idolatry. God's decision to continue to be present is embodied in the building of the tabernacle, and the book of Exodus ends with the presence of God occupying the tabernacle. AUTHOR: Richard W. Nysse, Professor of Old Testament · Covenant. At its core the covenant is the relationship between God and Israel: my people/your God, our God/your people.

This relationship appears as early as the call of Moses and persists through the conflict with Pharaoh. While it is formalized at Sinai for Israel as a nation, its roots are in promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel in the book of Genesis. · Divine call, human objection. In several ways Moses objects to his call to bring Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:7-4:17), and God overrides each objection. Dependent on God's promise to be with him (3:12), Moses can challenge God's action (5:22) and even reverse God's decision (32:11-14). With equal directness, Moses is authorized to challenge his own people (17:2; 32:21-26). · Exclusive allegiance to God. For Israel there can be only one God. God, who covenanted with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, brought them out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Other gods are to be completely avoided (23:23-33; 34:11-16).

This may not yet be full-fledged monotheism, for the other gods are an active threat to Israel's allegiance to God and the blessings of the covenantal relationship. · God acts, humans act. God does work through human agents, not just alone, as can be seen, for example, in the role of five women in preserving life in the first two chapters. But humans also resist God's purposes, as can be seen in Pharaoh's hardening his heart and Israel's rebellion at Sinai. The doxology for deliverance from Egypt is addressed to God, not to human agents (15:1-18), and Israel's future depends on God's determination to be present among them (40:34-38). · God's compassionate hearing. God heard Israel's cry from the midst of Pharaoh's oppression and God acted against Pharaoh and for Israel (2:23-25). In the laws given at Sinai, Israel is warned against oppressing the vulnerable members of its community lest God's compassionate hearing of the cries of the oppressed lead God to act against Israel (22:21-27).

God also heard Moses' pleas, bringing about forgiveness for condemned Israel at Sinai (32:11-35). · Hardening the heart. God hardened Pharaoh's heart; Pharaoh hardened his heart. Three different verbs are used in the Hebrew; God is the subject ten times, Pharaoh the other ten. Quite apart from philosophical issues, the theme underscores God's commitment to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, no matter what hardened, powerful forms of human resistance might occur. · I AM. Moses is to tell the Israelites that "I AM" has sent him to deliver them from slavery in Egypt (3:13-15). The longer version, "I AM WHO I AM" (3:14), is an attempt to formulate an etymology for the divine name Yahweh. Both here and in 6:2-8, the divine name is connected to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and, later, to the act of bringing Israel out of Egypt (20:2). · Israel versus God. Israel's capacity to challenge God's intentions arcs across the book of Exodus.

The challenge to God manifests itself in challenges to Moses' leadership before the plagues (5:20-21; 6:9), at the sea (14:10-12), in the wilderness (17:2), and at Sinai (32:1). In addition, despite many warnings not to go after other gods and make idols, Israel directly challenges God in the golden calf episode by forming an idol and ascribing to it their exodus from Egypt. · Murmuring. The murmuring after the exodus from Egypt does raise the specter of Israelite disobedience, but the need for water and manna was real. As Israel commences its new life in the journey through the wilderness, God responds and provides without punishment. In contrast, the complaints about food and water in Numbers are met with divine judgment. · Oppressed or oppressor? Israel, once freed from oppression, is capable of replicating Pharaoh's conduct within its community. Oppressing and abusing widows, orphans, resident aliens, and the poor will provoke God's compassion for the plight of the oppressed (22:21-27).

God will hear their cries and move against them just as God had earlier heard Israel's cries and moved against Pharaoh (2:23-25). · Pharaoh versus God. The character of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, against all reason imposes self-defeating requirements on Israel and in direct opposition to God. Pharaoh is unmoved by the plight of his workers (5:15-18), in contrast to God who hears their groaning (2:23-25; 3:7-10). The test of wills between Moses and Pharaoh becomes a contest between God and Pharaoh over the destiny of Israel. · Promise. While God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery and God's covenant-making at Sinai are central to Israel's identity, the relationship did not start with these events. God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel ground God's motivation to bring Israel out of Egypt into the promised land (2:24).

After Israel breaks the covenant in the golden calf episode, Moses successfully appeals to God to reestablish the relationship with the people brought out of Egypt on the basis of the prior promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (32:13; 33:1). · Slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is described as a "God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…yet by no means clearing the guilty" (34:6-7). In the Old Testament the existence of divine anger does not cause amazement; rather, what astonishes Israel is God's forgiveness of iniquity, transgression, and sin. God abounds in steadfast love for thousands (!), not just a few. God's self-disclosure in Exodus 34 reverberates throughout the Old Testament with continued amazement at the always surprising, but persistent faithfulness of God. · Stiff-necked people. In the aftermath of the golden calf episode Israel is called "stiff-necked." While not identical, this characterization echoes Pharaoh's hardheartedness. God has covenanted with a people no less problematic than others.

God needs to forgive Israel and repeatedly renew the covenant in order for Israel to fulfill its God-given vocation to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation. · Ten Commandments. The Commandments address Israel's accountability to God and to each other. They are prefaced by God's introduction: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (20:2). The Commandments restrain so that life might flourish; they should not become a new form of bondage. · Testing. On the journey from Egypt to Sinai, God twice tests Israel's obedience (15:23-27; 16:4). Following the revelation of the Ten Commandments, Moses asserts that such testing was to put the fear of God into Israel so that it might not sin (20:20). Israel's testing of God (17:2, 7), despite not being punished, is remembered negatively (17:7; Deuteronomy 6:16; 9:22; 33:8; Psalm 95:8). · Who brought you out of Egypt?

As God's agent, Moses was commissioned to bring Israel out of Egypt (3:10). God's self-presentation is as the one "who brought you [Israel] out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (20:2), but, at Sinai, Israel attributes its exodus from Egypt to its own idol (32:4). In the aftermath, God attributes the act to Moses, and Moses in turn attributes it to God; Moses' attribution prevails. · Yahweh fights. Pharaoh fears the Israelites will become so prolific that they will join Egypt's enemies to fight against them. As Israel fears the approaching Egyptians at the sea, Moses promises that God will fight for Israel (14:14), but, in sharp irony, it is the Egyptians who make the confession that God fights for Israel (14:25). The key question is not for whom Israel fights, but for whom God fights. Exodus | Old Testament | Britannica.com Old Testament Aaron Exodus, the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt in the 13th century bce, under the leadership of Moses; also, the Old Testament book of the same name.

The English name of the book derives from the Septuagint (Greek) use of “exodus” to designate the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and their safe passage through the Sea of Reeds (traditionally mislocated as the Red Sea). The Hebrew title of the work is Shemot (Names). Overview of the Israelites who were freed from slavery by Moses. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Chapters 1–18 narrate the history of the Egyptian bondage, the Exodus from Egypt, and the journey to Mount Sinai under the leadership of Moses . The second half of the book tells of the Covenant that was established between God and Israel at Sinai and promulgates laws for the ordering of Israel’s life. Since Exodus continues the sacred story of the divine promise to Israel begun in Genesis, it must be seen as part of a larger literary unit that is variously understood to include the first four, five, or six books of the Bible. Scholars have identified three literary traditions in Exodus, designated by the letters J, E, and P.

The J strand, so called because it uses the name Yahweh (Jahweh in German) for God, is a Judaean rendition of the sacred story, perhaps written as early as 950 bce. The E strand, which designates God as Elohim , is a version of the sacred story from the northern kingdom of Israel, written in about 900–750 bce. The P strand, so called because of its cultic interests and regulations for priests, is usually dated in the 5th century bc and is regarded as the law upon which Ezra and Nehemiah based their reform. Each of these strands preserves materials much older than the time of their incorporation into a written work. Exodus thus conserves extremely old oral and written history. (See also Torah .) Learn More in these related articles: Old Testament Books | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry The Old Testament has 39 books total, which consist of . . .

Pentateuch - 5 books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Historical Books - 12 books Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Poetic books - 5 books Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon Prophetic books - 17 books Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi A list of books with brief descriptions of contents. Pentateuch - 5 books Genesis - Creation, the Fall, the Flood, spread of the nations, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Enslavement in Egypt. Exodus - Enslavement, Moses, 10 plagues, Passover, Leave Egypt, Red Sea Crossing, Mt. Sinai and the 10 Commandments Leviticus - Instructions on sacrificial system and the priesthood. Instructions on moral purity.

Numbers - Still at Mt. Sinai, people make false idol, punishment, 40-years wandering begins. Deuteronomy - Moses' discourses on God's Acts for Israel the Decalogue, the ceremonial, civil, and social Laws, and covenant ratification. Historical Books - 12 books total Joshua - First half of Joshua describes the 7-year conquest of the Land of Promise. The last half deals with partitioning the lands to the people. Judges - Time of Judges. This was a bad time period. The Israelites did not drive out all the inhabitants of Canaan and began to take part in their idolatry. 7 cycles of foreign oppression, repentance, and deliverance. In the end, the people failed to learn their lesson. Ruth - Kinsman redeemer in Boaz, redeeming Ruth, a Moabitess. Speaks of righteousness, love, and faithfulness to the Lord. The next 6 books trace the time from Samuel to the Captivity First Samuel - Samuel carries Israel from judges to King Saul Second Samuel - David as King, adultery, and murder. First Kings - Solomon, Israel is powerful.

Solomon dies, then division of tribes: 10 to the north and 2 to the south. Second Kings - The Divided Kingdom. All 19 kings of Israel were bad, therefore, captivity in Assyria (722 B.C.). In Judah, 8 of 20 rulers were good but went into exile, too. First Chronicles - A recounting of the history of Israel to the time of Solomon. Second Chronicles - continued recounting of the life of Solomon, building of temple, to the captivity. History of Judah only. The Next 3 books deal with Israel's Restoration. Ezra - Cyrus let most of the Jews return to their land of Israel. Zerubbabel led the people (539 B.C.). Ezra returned later with more Jews (458 B.C.) Built the temple. Nehemiah - Building the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah got permission from the king of Persia to rebuild the walls (444 B.C.). Revival in the land. Esther - Took place during chapters 6 and 7 of Ezra. Mordecai. Plot to kill the Jewish people. Poetical - 5 books Job - a righteous man tested by God.

Deals with God's sovereignty. Psalms - Consists of 5 divisions. Worship in song. Large variety of subjects. Proverbs - Practical wisdom in everyday affairs. Ecclesiastes - All is vanity. The wisdom of man is futility. Song of Solomon - A song (between Solomon and his Shulammite bride) displaying the love between a man and a woman. Prophetical - 17 books Major Prophets - 5 books Isaiah - Looks at the sin of Judah and proclaims God's judgment. Hezekiah. Coming restoration and blessing. Jeremiah - Called by God to proclaim the news of judgment to Judah, which came. God establishes a New Covenant. Lamentations - 5 lament poems. Description of defeat and fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel - He ministered to the Jews in Captivity in Babylon. Description of the end of times. Daniel - Many visions of the future for the Gentiles and the Jews. Minor Prophets - 12 books Hosea - Story of Hosea and his unfaithful wife, Gomer. Represents God's love and faithfulness and Israel's spiritual adultery. Israel will be judged and restored.

Joel - Proclaims a terrifying future using the imagery of locusts. Judgment will come, but blessing will follow. Amos - He warned Israel of its coming judgment. Israel rejects God's warning. Obadiah - A proclamation against Edom, a neighboring nation of Israel that gloated over Jerusalem's judgments. Prophecy of its utter destruction. Jonah - Jonah proclaims a coming judgment upon Nineveh's people, but they repented and judgment was spared. Micah - Description of the complete moral decay in all levels of Israel. God will judge but will forgive and restore. Nahum - Nineveh has gone into apostasy (approx. 125 years after Jonah) and will be destroyed. Habakkuk - Near the end of the kingdom of Judah, Habakkuk asks God why He is not dealing with Judah's sins. God says He will use the Babylonians. Habakkuk asks how God can use a nation that is even worse than Judah. Zephaniah - The theme is developed of the Day of the Lord and His judgment with a coming blessing. Judah will not repent except for a remnant, which will be restored.

Haggai - The people failed to put God first by building their houses before they finished God's temple. Therefore, they had no prosperity. Zechariah - Zechariah encourages the Jews to complete the temple. Many messianic prophecies. Malachi - God's people are lax in their duty to God. Growing distant from God. Moral compromise. Proclamation of coming judgment.

Question: Which book of the Old Testament contains the story of the plagues of Egypt?
Answer: EXODUS