Exodus 13:17 14:31 – Exodus From Egypt

Target year level: Year Nine

Scripture text

Introduction

The text is situated in the Book of Exodus in a section dealing with The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh (13:17–15:21). Exodus is one of the first five books of the Old Testament - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy - that are collectively known as the Pentateuch or Torah. The content of the five books include stories, characters, sagas, laws, regulations, rituals and historical narratives all at the service of establishing the foundational identity of the People of Israel and the Covenant relationship between Israel and Yahweh their God.

The texts of the Torah-Pentateuch are assembled from a variety of sources and historical periods and edited in their present form by a variety of authors.

For further background on the Book of Exodus go to the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), Introduction to Exodus.

World behind the text

The historical background for the events recounted in the Book of Exodus is thought to be the reign of the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II (1304-1237 BCE). Ramesses II had a massive building programme in the Nile Delta and slave labour was used for the project. Towards the end of Ramesses II’s reign, small Canaanite states sustained by Egyptian power collapsed and allowed the liberation of some local populations from the slavery of Egyptian rule. Traditionally ascribed to Moses himself, modern scholarship sees the book as initially a product of the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE), with final revisions in the Persian post-exilic period (5th century BCE). For further information on the historical context of Exodus and the history of its literary composition, see the Teacher Background information on Exodus 12:1-30 – The story of the Passover.

World of the text

This passage is a narrative text relating the story of how Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt guided by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (13:17-22) that acted as clear signs of God’s care for his People. The narrative of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea / Sea of Reeds (14:1-20) is a highly dramatic account of the escape of the Israelites from the Egyptians. Much is made in this narrative of the leadership of Moses assisted by the guidance and miraculous power of the Lord God (cf. Ex. 14:1-2; 14:4; 14:8; 14:13-14; 14:15-18; 14:19-20).

For a more detailed commentary on Exodus 13:17-14:30 go to Michael Fallon 76-78

World in front of the text

This passage is beloved of movie makers since it provides such exciting possibilities for dramatic dialogue and action together with spectacular visual effects. The 1956 Cecil B. de Mille movie The Ten Commandments thrilled audiences of the time with the then novel visual effects that parted the Red Sea with walls of water rearing up and exposing the sea bed allowing safe passage for the Israelites. Scripture scholars debate the exact historical details and events behind the biblical account of the Exodus from Egypt and journey to the Promised Land. No doubt history has been embellished and arranged in the narrative in order to emphasise the theological meaning, the religious significance and the political importance of the events of Exodus in the history and identity of the People of Israel. As movie makers in our times feel free to interpret historical events in ways that suit their artistic and dramatic purposes, so the biblical authors who compiled the texts of Exodus 13:17-14:30 shaped their texts to make clear the meaning and the significance of the Exodus event for the People of Israel.