paternoster biblical monographs

God, Pharaoh and Moses

Explaining the Lord’s Actions in the Exodus Plagues Narrative

William A. Ford

Foreword by R. W. L. Moberly

Wipf and Stock Publishers

199 W 8th Ave, Suite 3

Eugene, OR 97401

God, Pharoah, and Moses

Explaining the Lord’s Actions in the Exodus Plagues Narrative

By Ford, William A.

Copyright©2006 Paternoster

ISBN 13: 978-1-55635-321-5

ISBN 10: 1-55635-321-9

Publication date 3/6/2007

To my parents

Contents

Foreword by R.W.L. Moberly

Preface

Abbreviations

Chapter 1

The Issue and the Approach

1.1 The Issue under Discussion

1.1.1 Length and Nature of the Plagues

1.1.2 Interaction of YHWH and Pharaoh

1.2 Different Approaches to the Issue

1.2.1 Previous Approaches to the ‘Hardening’

1.2.2 An Alternative Approach to the ‘Hardening’?

1.3 The Approach of this Study

1.3.1 General Approach-Narrative Theology

1.3.2 Specific Approach-Chapter by Chapter

1.4 A Couple of General Issues

1.4.1 Matters ‘Behind the Text’

1.4.2 Approaching a Problematic Scriptural Text

Chapter 2

Exodus 9:13–19—A Key Explanation

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Individual Words and Phrases

2.2.1 9:13

2.2.2 9:14

2.2.3 9:15

2.2.4 9:16

2.2.5 9:17

2.2.6 9:18

2.2.7 9:19

2.3 The Meaning of 9:13–19?

2.3.1 The Warning of a Change (vv13–14)

2.3.2 The Explanation of this Change (vv15–18)

2.3.3 The Response to this Change (v19)

2.3.4 9:13–19: A Responsive God Seeking Response?

2.4 The Response to YHWH’s Words

2.4.1 9:20–21

2.4.2 9:22–26, 31–32

2.4.3 9:27–28

2.4.4 9:29

2.4.5 9:30

2.4.6 9:33–35

2.5 Concluding Remarks

Chapter 3

Exodus 10:1–2—A Contrasting Explanation

3.1 Introduction

3.2 10:1 and ‘the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart’

3.2.1 First Context of Hardening References: YHWH’s Statements to Moses

3.2.2 Second Context for Hardening References: Concluding Narratorial Refrains

3.2.3 Summary of the ‘hardening’

3.2.4 Return to 10:1

3.3 10:2 and הִתְעַלַּ֨לְתִּי

3.4 9:13–19 vs. 10:1–2—Summarising the Differences

3.5 The Passage in (Immediate) Context (10:3–20)

3.6 Whose Explanation? Which Context? What Response?

3.6.1 Pharaoh

3.6.2 Moses

3.6.3 Israel

3.7 Concluding Remarks

Chapter 4

Reading the Plagues Narrative and Beyond

4.1 Introduction

4.2 The Plagues Narrative (7:8–11:10)

4.2.1 Serpent Staff (7:8–13)

4.2.2 I: River of Blood (7:14–25)

4.2.3 II: Invasion of the Frogs (7:26–8:11 [8:1–15])

4.2.4 III: Gnats out of Dust (8:12–15 [16–19])

4.2.5 IV: The Sending of the Swarm (8:16–28 [20–32])

4.2.6 V: Death of the Livestock (9:1–7)

4.2.7 VI: Erupting Boils and Sores (9:8–12)

4.2.8 VII: Unparalleled Fury from the Skies (9:13–35)

4.2.9 VIII: Locusts like None before (10:1–20)

4.2.10 IX: Darkness that can be Felt (10:21–29)

4.2.11 X: Prelude to the Final Plague (11:1–10)

4.3 Post Plagues Narrative-Passover, Red Sea and Beyond (12:1–19:1)

4.3.1 12:1–13:22

4.3.2 14:1–15:21

4.3.3 15:22–18:12 and 19:1ff

Chapter 5

Giving Glory to YHWH—Exodus, the Wider OT and 1 Samuel 4–7

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Some Previous Studies and their Views on YHWH

5.3 Our Approach to the ‘Ark Narrative’...

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About God, Pharaoh and Moses: Explaining the Lord’s Actions in the Exodus Plagues Narrative

The story of the Exodus from Egypt is of fundamental importance, both in the Old Testament and beyond. However, it also contains issues that are theologically problematic for readers, especially concerning the actions of God. Why does God send a series of plagues on Egypt? How do we understand the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart? What do the answers to these questions say about the character of God?

This book addresses these questions, taking a narrative theological approach, reading the story as story. The picture that emerges is of God as responsive, speaking and acting to challenge the hearer to make the appropriate response to him.

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