Exodus

Etymology

Exodus comes from the Greek words " ex-" , with-outside and " hodos" , the road. The Greek word employed in the seventy is ΕΞΟΔΟΣ.

This word is used in French only since the XVIIIe century.

The biblical account

According to the text, the situation of the Hebrew in Egypt changed much since their arrival in this country at the time of Joseph wire of Jacob (cf the Genèse). A " new Pharaon, which did not know Joseph " rose on the country and reduced the Enfants of Israel to the Esclavage. The text starts by giving the genealogy of the Twelve tribes of Israel which go down from twelve wire of Jacob.

Brace, child Lévi you found on the the Nile by the girl of Pharaon and raised at the royal court, must flee Egypt after the murder of an Egyptian. He goes to the country of Madian where he Marie with Séphora the girl of the priest Reuel (Jethro), who gives him two wire, Gershon and Me rori. He shares the life of the Bedouin of which he keeps the herds. After the episode of the Burning bush, during which God appears to him and orders him to release the Israélites, it returns in Egypt.

With his brother Aaron, it goes to the Court Pharaon to ask for the authorization to him of cease work to celebrate a festival in the desert. The Pharaon refuses, and forces on the Hebrew not only to resume their work, but also to go to seek the straw necessary for the clothes industry of bricks.

After a climbing of the wonders and wounds against the Egyptians, the Israélites are released/driven out. The Jewish holiday of Pessa' H finds its origin there. At the end of one week, they cross the Red Sea which deviates miraculeusement to let them pass and which is closed again behind them, on their prosecutors with tanks. After this new wonder, the Jews begin their voyage towards the Pays of Canaan through the desert of the the Sinai. On the Mount the Sinai, Moïse receives God the Décalogue, a code of Law (the Alliance), engraved on two tables.

Interpretations

Note: These interpretations are not compatible with the given archaeological on the first Jews.

According to the text, the Hebrew arrive to Egypt with Joseph, which ends up making come Jacob, his/her father, and all his family, after being established at a very high station in the administration. They would arrive 430 years before the Exodus, therefore with approximately to -1640 by regarding the Stèle of Mérenptah as goes back approximate from the Exodus. The Hebrew would have come with the invaders Hyksos? In any case during the XVe Egyptian dynasty. They preserved their habits and their worship.

It is difficult to know which is the Pharaon of the Exodus. Some lean for Ramsès II, others think that it could be Mérenptah. It is possible that the first is the Pharaon of the oppression, which makes build the towns of the towns of Pithom and Ramsès, and the second that of the exodus itself, because Exode 2:23 declares that the king of Egypt east died during exiles Moïse in country of Madian.

The way of exit of Egypt is the object of various argumentations.

Then, they run up against the king of Arad, which overcomes them and turn over to Kadesh-Barnea. They circumvent Edom and Moab, then beat Sihon, king of Heshbon, with Yahaz. They occupy its territory in the north of the Arnon, in Transjordanie, and fight in North the king Og of Bashan. Moïse dies in the “plains of Moab” to the height of Jericho. Josué succeeds to him.

Hebrews in Egypt

Many workers of foreign origin are established in Egypt. It is either of the free men come to seek work, or Prisoner of war tiny room to the Esclavage. Following an insubordination or at unjustified requests, it is frequent that these people are driven out of Egypt. They are gathered by nationalities: Syrian with Karnak and Louxor, Hyksos vis-a-vis Memphis (careers of Toura), Phéniciens with Memphis (temple of Ptah, naval construction), Hebrew in the area of Tanis according to the Bible (bricks).

According to Messod and Roger Sabbah in their book " the Egyptian origin of the hébreux" published at Jean-Cyrille Godefroy, it would be Have, which would have ordered the Déportation Monothéïste S faithful to the single god Aton. Those, very many, would be the origin of the Hebrew people although the concept of people Hebrew only appears much later. There is not an other trace of deportation in the history of Egypt. Have was a general of the Pharaon Aménophis IV become Akhénaton. After the death of this one it would have become Régent during the reign of the young person Toutankamon then Pharaon with died of this last. Have which attempted to restore the worship of Amon, replaced a time by the worship of Aton, decided " chasser" the recalcitrant ones out of Egypt. The words " driven out of Egypte" appear in chapter 12 of the Exodus Verset 39. The facts thus reported would have proceeded about the years 1340 av J.C. The history (Jean Deshaies, " Civilizations of the old East - Arthaud) known as also that people Nomades would have sédentarisés themselves out of ground of Canaan towards XIIIe century before JC. One did not speak yet about Hebrew people, the concept of people Hebrew only appears much later. The legend of the Exodus of trained Hebrew people of workers slaves is to be re-examined. So Hebrew came to work in Egypt it can be only of many centuries later.

Brace and the Alliance

Thanks to the action of Moïse, which one cannot compare to a prophet, the Alliance is set up which creates the fundamental bond between the Tribus and its God, which becomes the single federator principle of naturally inclined groups to independence and the disunion.

On the mountain of the the Sinai, Moïse receives YHWH the Décalogue, a code of Law (Alliance), engraved on two tables: “I am YHWH your God who made you leave the country of Egypt. You will not have other God only Me. You will not make images. You will not pronounce the name of YHWH in vain. To respect the Shabbat. Honor your father and your mother. You will not kill. You will not make adultery. You will not fly. You will not carry false witnesses. You will not wish the woman of your neighbor”. The mosaic law puts the value of the life in theory first and recognizes the rights of the slave. Follow the construction of the sanctuary of the Arche, where are deposited the tables, the manufacture of crowned clothing and the nomination of Aaron and its sons to the priesthood. On its return to the camp, Moïse must make massacre the admirers of the Golden calf, YHWH prohibiting the worship of Idoles.

Summary

The beginning of the history of Israel reported by the Exodus can be subdivided in three parts: (1) The slavery of the people in Egypt, (2) Its departure of Egypt under the direction of Brace and (3) Its dedication to the service of God in his religious life and Political.

the first part , chapters 1 to 15, explain the oppression of Israel in Egypt, the beginning of the history and the call of Brace, the Exodus, the institution of the Passover and walk towards the Red Sea, the destruction of the army of Pharaon and the Cantique of victory of Brace.

the second part , chapters 15 to 18, speak about the redemption of Israel and the events which occurred during the voyage of the Red Sea in the Sinai, bitter water of Mara, the appearance of ruails and the basket, the observance of the Sabbat, the miraculous water of the rock of Horeb and the battle against the Amalécites with Rephidim; the arrival of Jéthro to the camp and its council concerning the civil government of the people.

the third part , chapters 19 to 40, treat dedication of Israel with the service of God during the solemn events of the the Sinai. The Lord puts the people aside like kingdom of sacrificateurs and holy nation; he gives the Ten commands and of the instructions concerning the gate vault, his furnishing and the Culte which will have there to be practiced. Then the account comes from the sin made by the people when he adores golden calf and finally the report of the construction of the gate vault and the provisions taken for the services which must to with it be held.

References

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