BREVARD S. CHILDS

THE BOOK OF EXODUS

A Critical, Theological Commentary

Westminster John Knox Press

Louisville, Kentucky

© Brevard S. Childs

Hardback edition 1974

Paperback edition 2004

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396.

First paperback edition

Published by Westminster John Knox Press

Louisville, Kentucky

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 0-664-22968-9

THE OLD TESTAMENT LIBRARY

General Editors

Peter Ackroyd, University of London

James Barr, Oxford University

Bernhard W. Anderson, Princeton Theological Seminary

James L. Mays, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia

Advisory Editor

John Bright, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia

This book is gratefully dedicated

to my mother

and to the memory of

my father

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Abbreviations

Bibliography

I Introductory: 1:1–7

II Israel’s Persecution and the Birth of Moses: 1:8–2:10

III Moses Slays an Egyptian and Flees to Midian: 2:11–25

IV The Call of Moses: 3:1–4:17

V The Return to Egypt: 4:18–6:1

VI The Renewed Call of Moses: 6:2–7:7

VII The Plagues of Egypt: 7:8–11:10

Excursus I: The Hardening of Pharaoh

Excursus II: The Despoiling of the Egyptians

VIII Passover and Exodus: 12:1–13:16

IX The Deliverance at the Sea: 13:17–14:31

X The Song of the Sea: 15:1–21

Introduction to the Wilderness Wanderings Traditions

XI The Waters of Marah: 15:22–27

XII Manna and Quails: 16:1–36

XIII Water at Massah and Meribah: 17:1–7

XIV War with the Amalekites: 17:8–16

XV The Visit of Jethro: 18:1–27

Introduction to the Sinai Traditions

XVI The Theophany at Sinai: 19:1–25; 20:18–21

XVII The Decalogue: 20:1–17

XVIII Statutes and Ordinances of the Covenant: 20:22–23:33

XIX The Sealing of the Covenant: 24:1–18

XX Directions for the Tabernacle and its Service: 25:1–31:18

XXI The Golden Calf: 32:1–35

XXII God’s Presence Endangered: 33:1–23

XXIII The Renewal of the Covenant: 34:1–35

XXIV Tabernacle Instructions Executed: 35:1–40:38

Index of Subjects

Index of Authors

Index of Biblical References

PREFACE

The purpose of this commentary is unabashedly theological. Its concern is to understand Exodus as scripture of the church. The exegesis arises as a theological discipline within the context of the canon and is directed toward the community of faith which lives by its confession of Jesus Christ.

Yet the author is also aware that serious theological understanding of the text is dependent on a rigorous and careful study of the whole range of problems within the Bible which includes text and source criticism, syntax and grammar, history and geography. ...