Overview – Sefer Shemot/0/en

Overview – Sefer Shemot

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Structure of the Book

Sefer Shemot tells how the Israelites transformed from a nation of slaves serving Paroh to a nation of free people serving Hashem.  It can be divided into three main sections:

• "Slavery and Redemption" – The first unit, Chapters 1:1 – 15:21, speaks of the period of bondage and Israel's physical emancipation by Hashem.
• "A Nation in Transition" – The second section, Chapters 15:22 – 18:27, is a transition unit which describes the short period when the nation is already free, but have not yet covenantally bound themselves to God. It describes the people's first challenges on the road to nationhood.
• "Servants of Hashem" – The last section, Chapters 19:1 – 40:38, speaks of the nation's spiritual redemption and their entering into a covenantal relationship with Hashem.

This division is based on the above thematic issues, the different settings of each unit,¹ and the varying protagonists highlighted in each section.²  The Song of the Sea (Chapter 15) serves as a further literary marker, festively closing the first unit and separating the prose accounts which surround it.  For elaboration on the book's structure, and further subdivisions of each of its sections, see Structure – Sefer Shemot.

Themes

Nation Building

Much of Sefer Shemot deals with Israel's transition into an independent nation.

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Challenges of Leadership

Sefer Shemot introduces the first national head of Israel, Moshe, and in so doing touches upon many issues related to leadership.  What makes a leader? Are the qualities needed to relate to God the same as those required to lead a people? How does a leader deal with conflict?  How does one balance family and national responsibilities?  Need our leaders be viewed as flawless individuals?

Building a Relationship with Hashem

Fulfillment of Patriarchal Promises

Theological Issues

Many theological and philosophical issues are raised through the various stories of Sefer Shemot:

• Free Will – Throughout the story of the Plagues, we read how Hashem repeatedly hardened Paroh's heart, causing him to persist in the enslavement of the Israelites. Taken at face value, these verses suggest that Hashem actively made Paroh sin. Why would Hashem try to keep someone from repenting?  Moreover, do these verses suggest that man does not always have free will?  Might there be circumstances under which Hashem removes a person's freedom of choice? See Hardened Hearts for elaboration.
• צדיק ורע לו – Sefer Shemot does not preface the description of the nation's bondage with mention of any sin, making one question what they did to deserve such a fate. Why was the decree of exile and enslavement necessary? In general, why is suffering sometimes part of the Divine plan?  See Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage and, for a more general discussion of the issue of theodicy, see צדיק ורע לו.
• Revelation
• Prophecy
• Nature of Miracles

 

¹ While the first section takes place in Egypt, the transition unit occurs en route in the Wilderness and the final chapters take place while the nation is camped at Mt. Sinai.

² While the first section focuses mainly on the interactions between Paroh and Moshe (and their respective nations), the second two speak of the relationship between Israel, Hashem and Moshe.