The book of exodus is the second book in the old testament. Exodus relates the story of freedom for gods people from slavery and the beginning of national identity. The book of exodus consists mainly of two genres, narrative history and laws. What are theophanies in the bible and what can christians learn.
What are theophanies in the bible and what can christians learn from them. Exodus is a book of redemption in which god delivers his people out of bondage and brings them into a special relationship with himself. The exodus is simultaneously the escape of the people of god, the israelites from egypt, the land of slavery they exit out of slavery into the promised land. Using archaeological evidence, he tried to show that everything could have been explained through natural events. Each of these highlight aspects of gods character and his dealings with us. Theophanies in the old testament theophanies in the old testament. Examples include a thunderstorm, fire, a cloud, glory, a courtroom, a human figure, a warrior, and a chariot. God raises up a deliverer to confront the evil of pharaoh and to liberate the israelites. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. This commentary has been through advanced checking words. Theophany dictionary definition, verses and bible references on the topic of. Exodus with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. In a looser sense, gods promise of the land to abraham gen 15, as well as his commission that abraham sacrifice isaac gen 22, could be considered theophanies. Israel camped there, right in front of the mountain.
Even moses, the dominant figure of the old testament, did not receive that privilege. The hebrews, from the words with which it begins, call it veelle semoth. In 2006, a documentary titled the exodus decoded by simcha jacobovici of the history channel suggested that the exodus did happen around 1500bce, during the period of the pharaoh ahmose. Traditional analysis of the biblical passages led christian scholars to. The book of exodus is especially rich in typical teachings. Egypt is a picture of this present world galatians 1. Commentary on the book of exodus by matthew henry old. Frequently the term, glory of the lord, reflects a theophany, as in exodus 24. The deliverance from egypt is not the first example of the exodus pattern in the bible.
The second video of a five video series, explaining the story of exodus. This study follows the story of moses and the people of israel beginning with their days as slaves in egypt, to the call of moses and the plagues of gods judgment, to their trek through the desert, and ending with their encampment around mt. The book tells the story of the exodus of the children of israel out of egypt. It records the tremendous numerical growth of jacobs family in egypt which grew. The theophany theme, then, stands at the center of the book as a whole, and. The book is structured in 4 parts, first looking at the biblical theme of god appearing in various forms throughout the bible, secondly reflecting on the mystery of the invisible god made visible, thirdly a list of theophanies in the old testament and finally a list of theophanies in the new testament. It is a vital connecting link between the age of the patriarchs abraham, isaac, jacob. This would have been the location of the early chapters of exodus. The familiar twentythird psalm is an expression of this same reality in the experience of david. Now these are the names of is the translation of the first two hebrew words.
United pentecostals use this to prove that jesus is the father. Summary of the book of exodus the story of the bible. Its where we find the famous stories of adam and eve, cain and abel, noah and the ark, abraham and isaac, and a welldressed dreamer named joseph. Did the israelites in the book of exodus cross the red sea or the reed sea. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of. The bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed v.
Exodus shows us gods way of delivering sinful people 1 corinthians 10. For example, this angel appeared to manoahs wife to tell her that she. The book of exodus is the second book of the bible and describes the exodus, which includes the israelites deliverance from slavery in egypt through the hand of yahweh, the revelations at biblical mount sinai, and the subsequent divine indwelling of god with israel. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible. A biblical theology of gods appearing kindle edition by poythress, vern s download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. What did the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night signify.
Exodus is the second book of the pentateuch the five books of moses, and its where we find the stories of the ten plagues, the first passover, the parting of the red sea, and the ten commandments. Exodus records more miracles of god than any other book in the old testament. Theophanies usually marked a turning point in the persons life. The key personalities include moses, miriam, pharaoh, pharaohs daughter, aaron, and joshua.
Study the bible online using commentary on exodus and more. Exodus commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. For example, after abraham arrived at canaan, god appeared to him. Moses negotiates with pharaoh for israels freedom, passes gods laws on to the people of israel, and even pleads for mercy on israels behalf when they anger god. Theophanies in the old testament answers in genesis. In a theophany, god revealed himself in a physical form. A theophany is a visible manifestation of god, and we usually think of it as temporary in nature. The book is strategically important to both old testament history and a proper understanding of hebrew customs and institutions.
The book of genesis is the first book of the bible, and opens with one of the most famous first sentences of any literary work. The book of exodus deals with the birth and organization of the nation through whom the promised seed would come. Summary of the book of exodus this summary of the book of exodus provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of exodus. The stay in the desert describes the earthly circumstances in which. The clouds thus serve to veil the divine glory, which no human can see, as in other theophanies. It was written to record the events of israels deliverance from slavery in egypt. A theophany thee ah fuh nee is a physical appearance of god to a human being. The title exodus comes from the septuagint, which derived it from the primary event found in the book, the deliverance from slavery and exodus or departure of the. Mosesthe greatest of the old testament prophets who serves as a gobetween for god and the other humans in the book of exodus.
Besides making for an interesting bible study, the appearances of. Hebrew title of this book weelleh shemot originated from the ancient practice of naming a bible book after its first word or words. Ruins of a large fortification were discovered in the 1990s at ramesses on the south bank of the pelusiac branch of the nile river. The second book of moses called exodus geneva bible. One way that god revealed himself in the old testament and dealt with man on mans level was through the use of theophanies. The book of exodus details gods call to the people of israel to get up and leave their position of slavery in egypt. It is more likely, however, that its mention here is intended to establish the present episode with moses alone. The story of the exodus is anticipated in various ways and through several stories in the book of genesis. Halamish explained is not reenacted in the otto preminger film based on leon uris book. Exodus connects the history of the people as found in the book of genesis by narrating how the seventy descendants of jacob that had migrated to egypt cf. Theophany bakers evangelical dictionary of biblical. The glory of the lord rested on mount sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days.
What did the law mean when it referred to a lasting ordinance. The river is seen in the lower part of the drawing. Theophany how god appears to man in the old testament. Only a small number of theophanies are found in the hebrew bible, also known as the. The book of exodus is the story of god rescuing the children of israel from egypt and forging a special relationship with them. As a result, the book of exodus is brimming with theophanies, legal formulas, songs, and poems. Each kind is mysteriously related to the other kinds.
Since normally the giving of such a sign would follow the commission rather than precede it see jgs 6. These truths have led many students of scripture to conclude that the angel of the lord in the old testament is none other than christ himself. The heart of this book is the passover, after 9 plagues had been sent on israel the passover angel was sent. Book of exodus overview insight for living ministries. The angel of the lord speaks from a burning bush exodus 3. Several theophanies are described in the old testament, but all had one thing in common. Read exodus commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. This article is part of the 10 things you should know series 1. The second book of moses called exodus the argument after that jacob by gods commandment genesis 46. Although the bible lists several instances of jacob and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading theophany. God gave orders or told the person what would happen in their future.
Cassuto, a commentary on the book of exodus skokie, il. Exodus 19 tree of life version tlv theophany at sinai. In the beginning, god created the heavens and the earth. The first part of exodus recounts how abrahams family ends up enslaved in egypt. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on exodus chapters 1 to 18.