Old Testament Scriptural Summaries and Commentary
Exodus, Chapters 1-14, Gospel Doctrine Class
Sunday School Lesson 13 - Bondage, Passover and Exodus
Book reference, The Old Testament Made Easier, Part 2, by David J. Ridges
Publisher Cedar Fort, Springville, Utah
The Second Book of Moses called Exodus
Exodus 1- The children of Israel in bondage in Egypt
It has now been about
430 years since Jacob and his family came to Egypt (Elder Mark E. Peterson, Moses, pages 27-30; quoted by Ridges pt.
2, p. 4). During this time, the family
of Jacob has multiplied from seventy souls, including the family of Joseph, who
were the beginning of the children of Israel
in Egypt (v. 5). The Egyptians begin to
fear the rapid growth of the Israelites and place them in bondage to work as
their slaves. When Moses begins Exodus,
the Israelites have been slaves to the Egyptians for a period of two to three
hundred years (Ridges, pt. 2, p. 4) (summarized from Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier, Part 2,
pp. 3-5).
Moses, writing the
book of Exodus, begins with the names of the twelve sons of Jacob and states "all
that generation" passed away [while
in Egypt Israel
So, the new king of
Egypt devises a plan to eliminate all the male babies that are born to
Israelite women by ordering the Israelite midwives to kill all the newborn baby
boys and let the daughters live. But the
midwives feared God and saved the male children alive. And the midwives told the king that they were
not there when the babies were born as the Israelite women were “lively” and
delivered their own babies without help.
And the Lord blessed the midwives. Then Pharaoh gives a command that
every son born to the Israelites would be cast into the river but the daughters
would be saved alive (vv. 15-22).
Exodus 2 - Moses is born; raised by Pharaoh’s daughter; kills an Egyptian and flees to Midian
Both of Moses’
parents were of the house of Levi [the
third son of Leah and Jacob]. When
Moses was born, his mother hid him for three months because of the Pharaoh’s
command that all male Hebrew children be killed. When she could no longer hide him, she put
him in a basket and hid him in the bulrushes by the river. And she had his sister [Miriam] stand "afar off" to see what would happen to him
(vv. 1-4).
As the daughter of
Pharaoh came to bathe in the river, she found the baby and had compassion on
him as she knew he was "one of the Hebrews' children." Miriam
approached and told the Pharaoh's daughter that she knew a Hebrew woman who
could nurse him for her and she ran to get her mother. The Pharaoh's daughter gave the child to his
Israelite mother to nurse for wages. When
the child grew, his mother gave him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son.
And she called his name Moses (vv. 5-10).
When Moses was grown
(forty years old—see Acts 7:23) he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew man [one of his brethren], and he killed the
Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. The
next day, Moses realized that what he had done was "known." When Pharaoh heard "this thing"
that Moses had done, he sought to slay him, but Moses fled to the land of Midian
As the priest of
Midian's seven daughters came to water their father's flocks at the well, they
were driven away by shepherds, but Moses intervened and helped them with their
task. When they went back and told their
father what had happened, he sent his daughters to go get "the man."
And Moses was taken in by their father [Reuel
also called Jethro, see Exodus 3:1],
the priest of Midian, and given one of his daughters, Zipporah, as a wife who
bore him a son, Gershom (vv. 16-22). And Moses was a shepherd in Midian for
forty years (Ridges, pt. 2, p. 2).
In Egypt, Pharaoh
died and the children of Israel
Ridges comments: "When God 'remembers' His covenants, it is another
way of saying, in effect, that the time has come to fulfill the promises made
to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their posterity would be led out of
captivity" (pt. 2, p. 17-18).
Exodus 3 - Moses
is called to deliver Israel
As Moses was keeping
the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro at the mountain of God called Horeb [Sinai, see Bible Dictionary], the Lord [Jehovah, JST Exodus 3:2] appeared to him
in a flame and fire of a burning bush that was not consumed. And the LORD called to him out of the bush, "Moses,
Moses." And he said “Here am
I.” And the LORD told Moses not to draw
near but to take off his shoes as this was holy ground. Then, God identifies himself as "the God
of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob"
[the pre-mortal Jehovah, see Ridges,
pt. 2, p. 22] (vv. 1-6).
The LORD tells Moses
that he sees the affliction of his people in Egypt Egypt Israel out
of Egypt
And Moses said to
God, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth
the children of Israel out
of Egypt Israel
The LORD tells Moses
to gather the elders of Israel and take them to the king of Egypt. Tell him the LORD God of the Hebrews hath met
with them and say to him "now let us go, we beseech thee, three days'
journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God."
And the LORD said to Moses, "I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let
you go." Then the LORD tells Moses
that he will smite Egypt
with many wonders [plagues] so the
Egyptian people will be anxious to see them leave. And then the Pharaoh, at length, will let
them go and they will take with them much of the riches from the land of Egypt (vv. 18-22).
Exodus 4 - Moses is given power from the Lord
Moses is concerned
that the Israelites won’t believe him.
The Lord gives him three wonders: a rod that turns into a serpent and
when picked up by the tail, the serpent becomes his rod again; next, he is told
to put his hand into his bosom and when he brings it out, it is leprous, but
when put into the bosom again it returns healed; then he gives Moses power to
turn water into blood (vv. 1-9).
Moses complains that
he is slow of speech and God reprimands him and tells him that He made man's
mouth and will give him what to say.
Then the Lord tells him that Aaron, Moses’ Levite brother, is fluent of
speech and can teach Moses what to say and be his spokesman. "[Behold] he cometh forth to meet thee:
and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart." And he will be to Moses "instead of a
mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God." Further, with the rod the LORD has given him,
"thou shalt do signs"—if the
Israelites are still not convinced (vv. 10-17).
Moses returns to
Jethro and asks him to let him go to Egypt and Jethro says, “Go in Peace.” The
LORD tells Moses in Midian that those in Egypt
With help from JST
4:24-26 we understand that on their way to Egypt at an inn, the LORD was angry
with Moses and about "to kill him" because he had failed to
circumcise his son as was required by the Lord.
Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and circumcised her son. Zipporah called Moses "a bloody
husband" and threw the sharp stone at his feet. Moses was ashamed and hid his face from the
Lord as he knew he had sinned "before the Lord."
Aaron is told by the
LORD to meet Moses in the wilderness and they meet "where God appeared
unto him [Moses, Sinai ]; and Aaron
kissed him" [JST, v. 27]. When they
get to Egypt , Moses and
Aaron gather together all the elders of Israel
Exodus 5-6 - Let my people go
Moses and Aaron go to
the Pharaoh and tell him "thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people
go.” Pharaoh says to them, "Who is
the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let
Israel go." Then they ask to let
the people go three days into the desert to sacrifice to their God lest God
fall on them with pestilence or with the sword.
Instead, as a punishment, the Pharaoh commands that the Israelites not be
given straw to make bricks and said, "let them go and gather straw for
themselves." They are also required
to make the same quota [see footnote 8a] of bricks as before (vv. 5:1-8)
And the officers of
the children of Israel
And the Lord assures
Moses that Pharaoh will let the children of Israel
Moses speaks to the
children of Israel: but they won't hear him because of their "anguish of
spirit, and for [their] cruel bondage."
The LORD tells Moses to go back to Pharaoh and tell him again to let the
children of Israel
Now the names of all
the heads of their fathers’ [families]
houses are given from the sons of Jacob (the twelve tribes) down to Aaron and
Moses (vv. 6:14-26). And the LORD tells
Moses that He will give him what to say to Pharaoh. But Moses questions his "stammering
lips, and slow[ness] of speech" [see
OT footnote 30a] and said,
"how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?" (vv. 6:28-30).
Exodus 7-11 - The ten plagues and pestilences
"And the LORD
said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh and Aaron thy brother
shall be thy prophet." The LORD
tells Aaron to speak to Pharaoh all that he commands him. And he tells them the Egyptians will know
that he is the LORD when he multiplies his signs and wonders in the land of
Egypt. And they did as the LORD
commanded. And Moses was fourscore years
old (80) and Aaron was fourscore and three (83) when they spoke to the Pharaoh
(vv. 7: 1-7).
When Moses and Aaron
appear before Pharaoh, Moses throws down his rod and it becomes a serpent. And all the Kings sorcerers and magicians did
the same and their rods turned to serpents and Aaron’s rod swallowed up their
rods. And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened
(vv. 7:8-13).
First plague –
Moses stands by the river where Pharaoh is in the morning and with his rod
turns the river into blood. And Aaron
turns all the streams, rivers, ponds and pools in Egypt
Second plague
– The Lord instructs Moses to have Aaron stretch his hand with his rod over the
streams, rivers, and ponds and cause frogs to cover the land of Egypt
Third plague –
The Lord tells Moses to have Aaron to smite the dust of the land, and it
becomes lice throughout all the land
of Egypt. And Pharaoh's heart was still
hardened (vv. 8:16-19).
Fourth plague
– The Lord sends swarms of flies upon everything except in the land of Goshen
where his people dwell. And the land was
corrupted by the swarms of flies. As
before, Pharaoh asks Moses to "intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies
may depart." And Moses said to
Pharaoh, "but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the
people go to sacrifice to the LORD."
And the flies were taken away but Pharaoh would not let the people go (vv.
8:20-32).
Fifth plague –
The hand of the Lord came upon all the cattle, horses, asses, camels, oxen and
sheep (all the domesticated animals) of the land and they became diseased and
died. But, the cattle of the children of
Israel were spared. And Pharaoh still
would not let the people go (vv. 9:1-7).
Sixth plague –
The LORD instructs Moses to sprinkle the ashes of a furnace "toward the
heaven in the sight of Pharaoh." And
it becomes boils and blains (blisters) upon all men and beasts in Egypt
Seventh plague
– Now, the LORD tells Moses to say to Pharaoh, "I will stretch out my
hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence.…[For] this cause have
I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be
declared throughout all the earth." And the Lord caused grievous hail from
the heaven in all the land
of Egypt
Eighth plague
– After all this, Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh and said, "Thus
saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself
before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. Else…behold, to morrow will I bring the
locusts into thy coast." And
Pharaoh asks Moses "who are they that shall go?" And Moses told him that everyone and all
their flocks and herds would go. Now
Pharaoh agreed to let the men [only]
go serve the LORD and they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. And Moses stretched out his rod over the land
and the Lord caused the east wind to blow which brought the locusts to cover
the land. And the locusts ate every herb
or fruit that was left in the land (vv. 10: 1-15). As before, Pharaoh begs Moses to take away
the locust, and the LORD caused a mighty west wind which took away the locusts
and they were cast into the Red sea. But Pharaoh refused again to let the
people go (vv. 10:16-20).
Ninth plague –
And the LORD caused Moses to stretch forth his hand to heaven and thick darkness
came upon the land for three days. The
Egyptians could not see or move at all, but all the children of Israel had
light in their dwellings (vv. 10:21-23). Now, Pharaoh agrees to let the people
go but their flocks and herds would have to stay. But Moses would not leave without their
cattle and flocks. Pharaoh tells Moses
if he sees his face again, he will die.
And Moses said, "Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again
no more" (vv. 10:24-29).
Tenth plague –
And the LORD tells Moses this will be the last plague after which Pharaoh will
let the people go. The LORD prepares the
people by telling Moses to have all the people "borrow" of their
neighbors jewels of gold and silver. The
Lord gives the Israelites favour in the sight of the Egyptians that this can be
accomplished.
Ridges comments: "[The] use of the word 'borrow'…is
unfortunate. It is a mistranslation of a
Hebrew word in the original text…it makes the Israelites look like they took
the things under false pretenses. In
reality, the Egyptians, not the Israelites, had suffered so much because of the
plagues that came upon them that they were glad to get rid of the Israelites
and were eager to give them whatever necessary to get them to leave" (pt.
2, p. 41).
And Moses said,
"Thus saith the LORD, about midnight will I go out into the midst of
Egypt:" and all the firstborn among the Egyptians as well as their animals
will die but all the children of Israel will be protected. "And there shall be a great cry
throughout all the land of Egypt." And the children of Israel
Exodus 12 - The Feast of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
These two
celebrations are often considered to be synonymous. The feast of Unleavened Bread lasted for
seven days during which time no leaven was to be in the house and leavened food
of any kind was not to be eaten. "The Passover is the first day of the Feast
of Unleavened Bread" (Old Testament
Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual, Lesson #12). In ancient times, the Passover was celebrated
in remembrance of the Lord’s pass over of the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt
"With the suffering of Gethsemane, the sacrifice of Calvary, and
the resurrection from a garden tomb, Jesus fulfilled the ancient law [of
the Passover] and ushered in a new dispensation based on a higher, holier
understanding of the law of sacrifice. No more would men be required to offer
the firstborn lamb from their flock, because the Firstborn of God had come to
offer himself as an “infinite and eternal sacrifice” (CR -"Christ, Our
Passover," Howard W. Hunter, April, 1985).
"The Passover was such an important event that the Israelite
calendar system was altered to make the month in which it took place become the
first month in their calendar year (v. 1).
This month, Abib (later called Nisan), is the equivalent of late March
or early April in our calendar system.
Many Jews today continue to celebrate Passover" (Ridges, pt. 2, p.
43).
Moses and Aaron were
instructed by the Lord to "speak to the congregation" to prepare them
for the Passover according to the following: (1) each house was to take a first
year male lamb without blemish and keep it for four days until the evening of
the Exodus when it would be killed without breaking any bones and roasted with
fire; (2) they were to eat all the meat that was cooked or burn it completely;
they would also eat unleavened bread because leaven or raised bread was seen as
a symbol of corruption as it was easily spoiled or moldy; they were also to eat
bitter herbs; (3) they were to remain in
their clothes (loins girded), with their shoes on their feet and their staff in
their hand so they can leave in haste; (4) they were to take the blood of the
lamb and sprinkle it on the doorposts of their houses so the angel of death
would know to pass over their houses (vv. 1-11).
And the LORD said to
Moses and Aaron: "For I [the LORD] will pass through the land of Egypt
this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and
beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment; I am the
LORD." He tells them that when he
sees the blood on the houses of the Israelites, "I will pass over you, and
the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of
Egypt." And this day will be
"a memorial" that they will keep as a feast by an ordinance for
ever. And the Lord gives instructions
according to the feast of the unleavened bread (vv. 1-20).
And Moses gave all
these instructions to the elders of Israel.
Then "the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had
commanded Moses and Aaron" (vv. 21-28).
And at midnight the
LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. When the Egyptians found their firstborn dead
a great cry arose and the Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron. He told them to leave and take all their
people and flocks with them. And the
Egyptians were so anxious for the Israelites to leave that they willingly gave
them gold, silver, jewels and raiment from the riches of Egypt
Now after 430 years,
about six hundred thousand Israelite men, plus women and children, plus "a
mixed multitude" of others, "the LORD did bring …out of the land of
Egypt" (vv. 37-41, 51).
Atonement
Symbolisms in the Passover
(1) The lamb is to be
without blemish, a male of the first year.
This signifies that the Lamb of God (Christ) was pure and perfect
without spot or blemish and would be slain for the sins of the world.
(2) The blood of the
lamb sprinkled on the doorposts of the houses signifies that the blood of
Christ would cleanse and save the faithful and that all the faithful of all
ages would wash their garments in the blood of the Eternal Lamb and from him
receive eternal salvation.
(3) No bones of the sacrificial lamb were to be broken. This signifies that when the Lamb of God was sacrificed on the cross none of his bones were broken.
(3) No bones of the sacrificial lamb were to be broken. This signifies that when the Lamb of God was sacrificed on the cross none of his bones were broken.
(4) Eating the flesh
of the sacrificial lamb signifies that those who partake of his flesh and drink
his blood (through the ordinance of the sacrament) shall be raised up at the
last day (see John 6:54).
(5) As the Lord
‘smote’ the firstborn in the land
of Egypt
(6) The children of Israel
Exodus 13 -14 - The Lord delivers his people
The LORD spoke to Moses
saying: "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn…among the children of Israel
both man and beast: it is mine"—certain
beasts to be used for sacrifices to the LORD. Then Moses spoke to the people telling them to
remember the day that they came out from Egypt, out of bondage; and on this day
no leavened bread should be eaten. Moses
also explains the Feast of Unleavened Bread and that it is to be kept from year
to year as a memorial of the Lord’s deliverance of the children of Israel (vv.
13:1-18). And Moses keeps the promise
made to Joseph that his bones would be taken with his people when they leave
Egypt (v. 13:19).
As they were camped in the wilderness, the LORD
“went before them” in a pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night—to lead the way. And the pillar remained with the people both
day and night (vv. 13:20-22). And the
LORD continues to speak to Moses. He
tells him to return and camp by the sea. He tells Moses that Pharaoh will harden his
heart and follow after them (vv. 14:1-4).
Now Pharaoh regrets
letting Israel go from serving them. And
he gathers his 600 chariots and an army
of horsemen and he pursues after them and finds them encamped by the sea. And when the Israelites see the Egyptians,
they are afraid and complain that Moses has taken them away to die in the
wilderness—why didn't he just leave them
in Egypt? Moses tells them “Fear ye
not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD which he will shew to you
to day; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no
more for ever.” And he tells them: "The LORD shall fight for you, and ye
shall hold your peace"—stop
complaining (vv. 13:5-13).
And the LORD puts a
pillar of a cloud between Pharaoh and his army, and the children of Israel, so
they can’t be seen (vv. 14:19-20). Then
the LORD tells Moses to raise his rod and stretch his hand over the sea and the
water separates "and the waters were divided." And a strong east wind makes the ground dry
in the midst of the sea. When Moses and all his people are safe on the other
side (v. 14:29), the pillar of the cloud is removed and the Egyptians follow
after them into the dry ground of the sea.
And Moses stretches forth his hand again and the waters come in and
cover the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh are drowned and
not one of them remained (vv. 14:21-28).
Thus the LORD that
day saved Israel
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