Exodus Chapter 3 vocab

Homework:

Read Exodus 3:1-22.  Underline or highlight frequently used words. Look up the meaning of any words you don’t know. Note which words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you. 

How does your Bible translate God’s name in verse 14?  Be sure to read any footnotes that go along with this verse.

Write down one ‘newspaper reporter’ type question (starting with Who, What, Where, When, How or Why) to discuss with the group next time.

Vocabulary and notes for Exodus Chapter 3

Verse 1 “keeping” – from the same Hebrew root as ‘shepherd’. In the Hebrew Bible, shepherd is a metaphor for leader.

Verse 2 “angel” – a visible manifestation of God.

Verse 4 “the Lord” – Although it was an angel that appeared in v. 2, there is no substantive difference between the deity and his agents.

Verse 12: “the sign for you” – The NJV translation of verse 12 is “And He said, “I will be with you, and it shall be your sign that it was I who sent you.  And when you have freed the people from Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”  In other words, the God’s presence is the sign.  Other translations imply that the sign is that the people will worship God on the mountain.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Verse 14: “I am who I am.”  Hebrew Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh. 

a) The meaning is unclear. Ehyeh is the first person singular of the word ‘to be.’  One problem is that the tense is not clear.  It could mean “I am” or “I will be” or “I shall be”.  The uncertainty is multiplied in saying “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh” for the first Ehyeh might be one tense (for instance, “I am”) and second another tense (for instance “I will be”), or they might both be the same tense.  To add to the difficulty, asher could mean either “who” or “what”.    – from the Plaut commentary

b) The mystery in which the Lord surrounds his name may be of a piece with the coy refusals of divine beings to reveal their names in Gen 32:29 and Judges 13:17-18.

– from the Harper Collins study Bible

c) What sort of name is “I am who I am?” Scholars have debated this question for generations, but there is no easy answer.  …Perhaps the reply means that the God of Israel is associated with the idea of “being” or “is-ness.”  Another possible meaning is an affirmation that the God of Israel is Creator – the God who brings all things into being.  Or perhaps the intention is that this God is the one who alone truly exists, who alone truly “is,” and upon whose existence all other persons and things depend for their own existence.  Maybe “I am who I am” simply means “I am beyond description.”  “I am who I am, and beyond that nothing more may be said.”

                        - from Exodus Interpretation Bible Studies, by James D. Newsome

d) One source indicates that is should probably be rendered, “I cause to be what comes into existence.”              - from Kerygma study guide

Exodus Section 4 Notes: Moses Flees to Midian

Section 4: Moses Flees to Midian - Exodus: 2: 11-25

Theme or topic of this section

Moses is in training to save the slaves

Some interesting points

- Is Moses a Hebrew or an Egyptian?

            - he is a Hebrew dressed like an Egyptian.

            - he was circumcised, so he had to know that he was a Hebrew.

            - But he was schooled as an Egyptian.

            - But the Hebrews didn’t accept him as one of them.

- Seven daughters?!  And they didn’t invite Moses over for dinner?

- Father-in-law Reuel is a priest of Midian.  Midianites were ‘shirt-tail’ relatives of Hebrews.

- “In 2:19 we’re not in Kansas any more!”

- Moses’ character

            - he’s a killer.

            - impetuous

            - naïve

            - irresponsible

            - helpful to the daughters

            - This is his initial realization – it’s the beginning of making him into the one who will save the slaves.  He knows it isn’t right but doesn’t know what to do!  So he runs away.  He is torn. 

            - He doesn’t know where he belongs or who he belongs to.

What we learned about the nature of God from Exodus Chapter 2

- God is really smart! 

- God is acting/ orchestrating the events.

- God knows the plan.

- God’s hand is in it, but through the humans making choices.

What we learned from this passage that we can apply to our lives

- What to do when there is a great conflict:  Moses doesn’t know where he belongs and he has killed a man.  There are times when we find ourselves not accepted by others or we have a conflict.  It’s good to go away for a time and think about things, instead of reacting right away.

Exodus Section 4 Questions: Moses Flees to Midian

Exodus Study, Section 4:  Moses Flees to Midian – Exodus 2: 11-25

Initial observation

1. Read Exodus 2: 11-25 out loud in the group.

2. Underline or highlight frequently used words (or refer to your homework).

3. What words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you?

4.  Who are the major characters?  What is happening (be brief)? Where is it taking place?

In-depth Observation

5. In 2:11 Moses is recognized as a Hebrew.  But in 2:19 the daughters call him an Egyptian. Which is he?

6. What do Moses’ actions in this passage tell you about Moses?

7. Verse 23 reports the pharaoh’s death.  According to this passage, about how much time has passed since Moses was born?

8. Write down the theme or topic of this section.

Interpretation and Application:

A. What do you learn about the nature of God from this passage?

B.  What do you learn about the other characters from this passage?

- Moses

- the Israelites

C.  What can we learn from this passage that applies to our own lives?

Vocabulary and notes

Verse 12 “killed” or “struck down” – the text does not reveal whether Moses killed the man deliberately or whether he beat him so severely that he died.

Verse 23: “cried out… rose up to God.” The text does not say “They cried to God,” suggesting they had forgotten God or did not know God fully.

Homework:

Read Exodus 3:1-22.  Underline or highlight frequently used words. Look up the meaning of any words you don’t know. Note which words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you. 

How does your Bible translate God’s name in verse 14?  Be sure to read any footnotes that go along with this verse.

Write down one ‘newspaper reporter’ type question (starting with Who, What, Where, When, How or Why) to discuss with the group next time.

Exodus Section 3 Notes: The Birth of Moses

Section 3: The Birth of Moses - Exodus: 2: 1-10 

Theme or topic of this section

God saves Moses for a reason

Some interesting points

- Moses’ parents are from the tribe of Levi.  This kept it “all in the family”;  Levites became the priestly tribe.  (But see Jacob’s blessing of Levi in Genesis)

- Moses’ name is the only name mentioned in this passage.  It’s all about Moses.

- Some words in this passage echo words from Genesis (Gen 1:10 “…saw that it was good.”  And Gen 6:14     “ ark” and “coat it with pitch”).  The writer did this to indicate:

            - Moses is going to “start over again” (just like Noah)

            - a reminder that Noah’s ark is how God started creation over again

            - the point is to say “This is God’s hand working through history.”

            - God is repeating to make a point.

- The mother obeyed the letter of Pharaoh’s command to throw baby boys in the river.  Pharaoh’s daughter directly disobeyed the command. 

- It’s very dramatic!

- Moses’ mother is rewarded – gets to raise the baby.

- Is God acting here, even though God is not mentioned? 

            - of course, because Moses’ life is saved.

            - God might have whispered to Pharaoh’s daughter to take pity on the baby (she had a compassionate heart, unlike her father the Pharaoh)

Exodus Section 3 Questions: The Birth of Moses

Exodus Study, Section 3: The Birth of Moses - Exodus: 2: 1-10

Initial observation

1. Read Exodus 2: 1-10 out loud in the group.

2. Underline or highlight frequently used words (or refer to your homework).

3. What words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you?

In-depth Observation

4.  Who are the characters in this passage? Which ones does this passage name?  Why?

5.  Read the following passages from Genesis: 

Genesis 1:10     God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 6:14     So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.

What words from those passages are echoed in this Exodus passage (verses 2 & 3)?  What is the writer’s purpose in echoing these words?

6. Re-read Pharaoh’s command in Exod 1:22.  How do the characters here in Chapter 2 obey/disobey Pharaoh’s command?

7. God is not mentioned in this passage.  Is God acting in these events? 

8. Write down the theme or topic of this section.

Interpretation and Application:

A. What do you learn about the nature of God from this passage?

B.  What do you learn about the other characters from this passage?

C.  What can we learn from this passage that applies to our own lives?

Vocabulary and notes

Verse 2: “That he was… fine…” – This is the same Hebrew phrase as we see in the creation story, translated “that it was good.”  (Hebrew word tōv). See Gen 1:10, 12, 18.

Verse 3: “basket” – The Hebrew word occurs only in this story and in the Flood story (Noah), where it is used for “ark” (See Gen 6:14).

Verse 3: “reeds” – Hebrew suf.  The name “Yam Suf” (referred to later in the story, in Exod 10:19) is rendered “Sea of Reeds” rather than the traditional “Red Sea.” 

Verse 4: “his sister” – Hebrew akhoto – generally assumed to be Miriam.  If, however, Miriam was younger than Moses, akhoto could mean “his relative.”

Verse 10: “Moses”  – Moshe in Hebrew means “the one who draws out,” not, as the punning princess implies, the one she has drawn out.  Some rabbis suggest that he was given the name prophetically, in that Moses would draw out Israel from Egypt, or that Moses drew himself out, so to speak, because of his merits.