Moses Exodus 1-15

Origin of Passover and Seder meal

Date: c. 1280-1230 BC?Or

Ramses II (1290-24 BC) mythicstory?

Seti (1309-1290 BC)

Merneptah (1224-16 BC)

Story of God protecting His people

Story of Moses’ faith and courage

Moses’ salvation as baby recalling storiesof Sargon of Akkad (c. 2300 BC) andCyrus the Great of Persia (559-30 BC)

Moses as God’s instrument, in response toIsraelites’ sufferings (Ex. 3: 7)

Ex. 3: 13-15: I AM WHO I AM

“I will be what I will be”

“I cause to be what I cause to be”

YHWH (Lord)

Yiheyeh/yiheweh = “he is”

God’s attack on Moses (Ex. 4: 24-26)

Recalling older legend?

Warding off demons?

Emphasis on need for circumcision(see Ex. 12: 48-49)

Ex. 5-15: Moses (God) vs. Pharaoh (sun god)

Ex. 5: 1-21 and 6: 9 - inauspicious start

10 plagues: J gives 7, E and P each give 5.Only pollution of Nile and death offirstborn given by all three authors

Possibly based on natural phenomena,but exaggerated?

Question of God’s justice?

Death of firstborn (Ex. 11-13)

Origins and regulations for Pesah(Passover), Feast of Unleavened Bread,and dedication of firstborn

“yam suph” = “Sea of Reeds”

Transformation of the Israelites

Presentation of God (Ex. 15: 1-21)