The Book of Exodus, 2 in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
II. Structure of the Book According to the Scriptures and
According to Modern Analyses.
In the following section (a) serves for the understanding of
the Biblical text; (b) is devoted to the discussion and
criticism of the separation into sources.
1. In General:
(a) The conviction must have been awakened already by the
general account of the contents given in I, 2 above, that in
the Book of Exodus we are dealing with a rounded-off
structure, since in seven mutually separated yet intimately
connected sections, one uniform fundamental thought is
progressively carried through. This conviction will only be
confirmed when the details of these sections are studied,
the sections being themselves again organically connected by
one leading thought. Since, in addition, the Book of Genesis
is clearly divided into ten parts by the ten toledhoth
("generations") (compare also the division made by typical
numbers in articles LEVITICUS and DAY OF ATONEMENT), thus
too the number seven, as itself dividing the Book of Exodus
into seven parts, is probably not accidental; and this all
the less, as in the subordinate parts too, a division is to
be found according to typical numbers, this in many cases
appearing as a matter of course, and in other cases traced
without difficulty, and sometimes lying on the surface
(compare 10 plagues, 10 commandments). Yet in all of the
following investigations, as is the case in the articles
GENESIS, LEVITICUS and DAY OF ATONEMENT, the demonstration
of the fundamental thought must be the main thing for us.
The division according to typical numbers is to be regarded
merely as an additional confirmation of the literary unity
of the book. We refer here first of all to a number of
cases, where certain numbers independently of the separate
chief parts combine the Biblical text into a unity. In Nu
14:22 R, Yahweh states that Israel had now tempted Him and
been disobedient to Him ten times: compare Ex 14:11 ff JE(?)
(Red Sea); 15:23 f JE (Marah); 16:2,3 P; 16:20 JE; 16:27,28
R (Manna); 17:1 ff JE (Massah and Meribah); 32:1 ff JE
(Golden Calf); Nu 11:1 ff JE (Tuberah); 11:4 ff JE (Graves
of Lust); 14:2 ff P and JE (Spies). Most of these cases are
accordingly reported in the Book of Exodus, but in such
manner that in this particular a clearly marked progress can
be noticed, as Yahweh does not begin to punish until Ex 32;
but from here on He does so with constantly increasing
severity, while down to Ex 32 grace alone prevails, and in
this particular, previous to Ex 32, there is found nothing
but a warning (16:27). Ten times it is further stated of
Pharaoh, in a great variety of forms of expression, that he
hardened his own heart (7:13 P; 7:14 JE; 7:22 P; 8:15 P;
8:32 JE; 9:7,34,35 JE; 13:15 D); ten times the hardening is
ascribed to God (4:21 JE; 7:3 P; 9:12 P; 10:1 R; 10:20 JE;
10:27 E; 11:10 R; 14:4,8 P; 17 P ?). Here already we must
note that within the narrative of the miracles and the
plagues at first there is mention made only of the hardening
by Pharaoh himself (7:13 P; 7:14 JE; 7:22 P; 8:11 ff; 8:15
P; 8:28 JE; 9:7 JE, i.e. seven times) before a single word
is said that God begins the hardening; and this latter kind
of hardening thereupon alone concludes the whole tragedy
(14:4,8 P; 17 P?). Ten months cover the time from the
arrival at Sinai (19:1 P) to the erection of the sacred
dwelling-place of God (40:17 P). Since, further, exactly
three months of this time are employed in 19:10,16 JE; 24:3
ff JE; 24:16 P (ten days); 24:18 P (40 days); 34:28 J (40
days), there remain for the building of the tabernacle
exactly seven months...
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