The book of Exodus contains narratives that became foundational for the belief system of ancient Israel. It is the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt (chs. 1–15) that formed the basis for their relationship with God. It is the series of events at Mount Sinai and the establishment of the covenant there (chs. 19–24; 34) that later Biblical texts refer back to time and again. The specific ideas and the theological message of this book played an especially integral role in ancient Israel’s identity and self-understanding.
Historical Setting
The historical setting for the book of Exodus is essentially unknown. The book describes events that led to the escape of the ancient Israelites from Egypt, but a specific time period during which events such as these might have taken place cannot be determined with certainty. Suggestions have been made (see the article “Historicity of the Exodus”), and some accord better with the available evidence than others. The book of Exodus, however, yields too little information to establish a precise and convincing historical framework. The best one can do is to ascertain a broad time period into which the text attempts to place its narrated events.
Many scholars believe that the book of Exodus places the events it recounts in a time period that fits best within the second half of the second millennium BC. In Egypt, this period of time is known as the New Kingdom (1550–1069 BC), whereas in the Levant it corresponds to the Late Bronze Age (1550–1200 BC, though some extend the period to 1150) and the first part of the Iron Age (referred to as Iron I, 1200–1000 BC).
While Semitic slaves had been in Egypt for some time, it was during the New Kingdom that their numbers increased significantly. Building projects—tombs, monuments, temples—also grew until they reached unprecedented levels during the reign of Rameses II. Thus, Egypt’s control of Palestine, its increasing numbers of Semitic slaves and its swiftly growing construction efforts combine to make the New Kingdom an attractive option as a backdrop for many of the narratives in the book of Exodus.
Types of Literature
The book of Exodus contains an array of literary forms. The grand saga describing the Israelites’ miraculous escape from enslavement in Egypt may best be described as epic narrative. In addition to the Ten Commandments, the book contains a long list of legal provisions; thus, the genre of law must be considered. The section concerning the construction of the tabernacle is an example of the ancient Near Eastern literary form used to describe the building of sacred shrines. There are also ritual instructions in the latter part of the book that lay out the elaborate ceremonies required to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests. Other ancient Near Eastern societies utilized each of these literary forms as well. The nature of these forms or genres and how they were used must function as key elements in any background analysis of Biblical texts. Thus, literary considerations are, at times, equally important as are the historical and cultural aspects of the ancient world in shedding light on the text of Exodus. ◆
Key Concepts
• The law is part of God’s revelation of himself; giving it is an act of grace.
• God’s presence comes on his terms and in his time.
• Deliverance is God’s business—and his alone.
• “Then you will know that I am the LORD your God” (Ex 6:7).