Exodus

James K. Bruckner

BakerBooks

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Understanding the Bible Commentary Series

General Editors

W. Ward Gasque

Robert L. Hubbard Jr.

Robert K. Johnston

© 2008 by James K. Bruckner

Published by Baker Books

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakerbooks.com

Previously published jointly in 2008, in the United States by Hendrickson Publishers, and in the United Kingdom by the Paternoster Press.

Baker Books edition published 2012

ISBN 978-0-8010-4577-6

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the original edition as follows:

Bruckner, James K.

Exodus / James K. Bruckner.

(New International biblical commentary, Old Testament series; 2)

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN-13: 978-1-56563-212-7 (pbk.)

1. Bible. O.T. Exodus—Commentaries. I. Title.

BS1245.53.B78 2008

222′.1207—dc22

2007037388

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

For Rolland and Janis

So that the Lord’s “name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

(Exodus 9:16)

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

§1 The Need for Deliverance (Exod. 1:1–22)

§2 Moses’ Beginnings (Exod. 2:1–10)

§3 Moses Encounters Violence (Exod. 2:11–25)

§4 Yahweh Calls Moses (Exod. 3:1–22)

§5 God Prepares Moses (Exod. 4:1–31)

§6 Oppression Increases (Exod. 5:1–6:1)

§7 Yahweh’s Promises (Exod. 6:2–30)

§8 The Plagues Begin (Exod. 7:1–25)

§9 Frogs, Gnats, and Flies (Exod. 8:1–32)

§10 Dead Livestock, Boils, and a Storm of Hail with Lightning (Exod. 9:1–35)

§11 God Hardens Pharaoh’s Heart: Locusts and Darkness (Exod. 10:1–29)

§12 Final Warning (Exod. 11:1–10)

§13 Passed Over or Destroyed? (Exod. 12:1–27)

§14 The Devastating Blow and the Beginning of the Exit (Exod. 12:28–51)

§15 Unleavened Bread and Firstborn Redemption, Revisited (Exod. 13:1–22)

§16 Crossing the Sea (Exod. 14:1–31)

§17 Singing at the Sea (Exod. 15:1–21)

§18 Journey from the Sea into the Wilderness (Exod. 15:22–27)

§19 Leadership, Learning, Manna, Meat, and the First Sabbath Rest (Exod. 16:1–36)

§20 Quarreling, Water from a Rock, Amalekite Attack, and a Banner (Exod. 17:1–16)

§21 Father Jethro and God’s Just Justice (Exod. 18:1–27)

§22 Meeting God at Sinai (Exod. 19:1–25)

§23 Ten Commandments: First through Fifth (Exod. 20:1–12)

§24 Ten Commandments: Sixth through Tenth (Exod. 20:13–26)

§25 Covenant Laws I: Debt Slaves and Capital Offenses (Exod. 21:1–17)

§26 Covenant Laws II: Personal Injury, Bulls, and Oxen (Exod. 21:18–36)...