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.

Names of the Book

Several titles have been given to the book:

• The name "וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת" is derived from the opening words of the book, and dates back to antiquity.³
•  Sefer Dikdukei HaTeamimSefer Dikdukei HaTeamim #70 (p.57) records two additional and more descriptive titles, "ספר יציאת מצרים" ("Exodus")⁴ and "ספר הברית"‎ ("The Book of the Covenant").⁵ These two names focus on different halves of the book and may express competing claims as to the book's central theme.⁶
• RambanShemot IntroductionAbout R. Moshe b. Nachman entitles the book "ספר הגאולה" ("The Book of Redemption"), and claims that it encompasses the motifs of both halves of the book. While the first part of the book recounts the people's physical redemption, it is only at the end of the book, with the completion of the Tabernacle, that the spiritual redemption occurs.

Themes

Nation Building: Becoming עם ישראל

R. D"Z HoffmannShemot IntroductionAbout R. David Zvi Hoffmann points out that just as Sefer Bereshit speaks of the creation of the world, Sefer Shemot speaks of the creation of the Nation of Israel.

• From family to nation – What defines nationhood?  At what point do the tribes switch from being the sons of Yaakov to the "Children of Israel"?  What role did the trials of exile and enslavement play in this transition?  See Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage.
• Preparing for autonomy – How does a nation of slaves ready itself for autonomous rule? How did the Wilderness experience contribute to the peoples' maturation and independence? See The Roundabout Route.
• A legal system – Parashat Yitro and Mishpatim detail the initial laws given to the fledgling nation. How does Israel's law code set it apart from its neighbors?  What are its underlying values and principles?
• Challenges faced – The nascent nation face many challenges, both in the physical and in the spiritual realm, including drought, hunger, war and questioning of God.  How do they deal with these?  How do both Moshe and Hashem use these incidents to strengthen the nation?

Servants of Hashem: Becoming 'עם ה

Through the events of the Exodus and Revelation at Sinai, the Nation of Israel begins to forge a covenantal relationship with Hashem.  What does Sefer Shemot teach about Israel's religious journey?

• Religiosity in Egypt – What did the Israelites know of Hashem before the Exodus? Did they keep a distinct lifestyle in Egypt, or had they acculturated into their surroundings?  See Religious Identity in Egypt and The Exodus Narrative and the Four Children.⁷
• Growth through suffering and salvation – How did the nation's experiences in Egypt, both the suffering of the bondage and the miracles of the redemption, affect their religious identification and relationship with Hashem? See Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage and Purpose of the Plagues.
• Doubts – Did the nation willingly follow Moshe and Hashem out of Egypt, or were some hesitant to venture into the unknown and take on the responsibilities of Judaism? See A Three Day Journey, The Roundabout Route, and The Exodus Narrative and the Four Children.
• Marah – The nation's first stop in the Wilderness after attaining freedom is Marah. Here, we are told, the people received "חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט".  What were the first lessons that Hashem wanted to instill in the nascent nation? How did these help them develop as both a people and in their relationship with Hashem? See Miracles and Mitzvot at Marah.
• Wilderness Wanderings - In the nation's first months in the Wilderness they encounter both lack of food and water and attacks by enemies, but also God's miraculous assitance.  Do these instill faith or remove it? See Rashbam who discusses how the manna trained the people towards dependence on God, and R. Hirsch who points to the trials and miracles as providing proof of Hashem's providence.
• Revelation – What was the experience of revelation like?  Did the entire nation hear all ten Dibrot directly from Hashem or did Moshe act as intermediary for either some or all of the experience?  What would be the purpose of a middle-man?  How would either scenario have affected the people's later belief and observance? For elaboration, see The Decalogue: Direct From Hashem or Via Moshe?
• The Decalogue – Why were these ten statements chosen to be the ones revealed by Hashem to the nation at Sinai?
• Mishkan – Much of the second half of Shemot revolves around the building of the Mishkan.  Why was such an edifice needed for Divine worship? Did it serve mainly as a vehicle for revelation, or for atonement? Why was centralization of worship so important? See Purpose of the Mishkan
• Sin of the Golden Calf – All relationships have their ups and downs, and Israel and Hashem are no exception.  Shortly after receiving the Decalogue the people appear to revert back to idolatry, as they build a Golden Calf. What prompts them to do so?  Did they really try to replace God so soon after the Revelation at Sinai?  How could Aharon have been a part of such a rite? See Sin of the Golden Calf.

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? Why was Moshe chosen to lead the Jewish people? What do the incidents of Shemot Chapters 2-4 suggest?
• Relating to God, relating to man – Are the qualities needed to become the highest of prophets the same as those required to be a political and national leader?  Did Moshe excel in both areas equally?  Contrast the opinions of Ralbag and Abarbanel in Did Moshe Need Yitro's Advice?⁸
• Moshe's religiosity – What was Moshe's religious outlook before being called by Hashem at the Burning Bush? How aware was he of his Israelite background? How aware was he of Hashem?  What does Moshe's decision to marry the Midianite Zipporah suggest?  See Moshe's Family Life and Mystery at the Malon.

• Family life – What toll does leadership take on the quality of one's family life? How did Moshe's duties affect his relationship with Tzipporah? See אחר שלוחיה, Mystery at the Malon, Moshe's Family Life, and Miryam's Critique of Moshe and his Cushite Marriage.
• Impediments to leadership – Moshe is described as being "כְבַד פֶּה וּכְבַד לָשׁוֹן". Why would Hashem choose an orator with speech difficulties?  How might this choice have affected Moshe's ability to lead? How might have it affected the nation's perception of him?  See Moshe's Speech Impediment.
• Responsibilities – What were Moshe's various responsibilities as Israel's leader?  How much time did he spend on each of his judicial, administrative, military and prophetic duties? Which of these was he willing to delegate to others?  Which did he think only he could carry out?  Why? See Moshe's Duties and Yitro's Advice.
• Flawed leadership? Must our leaders be viewed as perfect role models, or is it legitimate to criticize some of their actions? Was Moshe's taking the law into his own hands to kill the Egyptian an act deserving of praise or condemnation? How is one to understand Aharon's role in the Sin of the Golden Calf? 
  
• Righteous Gentiles – Who were the midwives who risked their lives in disobeying Paroh?  Were they Jewish or Gentile?  What gives one the strength to stand up to authority and fight injustice? See Who are the Midwives?

Fulfillment of Patriarchal Promises

Much of the first half of Sefer Shemot constitutes a fulfillment of promises made to the forefathers in Sefer Bereshit:

• The promises of plentiful seed ("פְּרוּ וּרְבוּ") mentioned repeatedly in Sefer Bereshit14 are fulfilled to the letter in Shemot 1:7,12,20.

• Hashem's words to Avraham in the Covenant of the Pieces predicting exile, slavery, and oppression ("גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם וַעֲבָדוּם וְעִנּוּ אֹתָם") come true in Shemot 1:11,13 ("וַיַּעֲבִדוּ מִצְרַיִם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל", "וַיָּשִׂימוּ עָלָיו שָׂרֵי מִסִּים לְמַעַן עַנֹּתוֹ")‎.
• Hashem's subsequent declaration that He will punish the oppressor ("וְגַם אֶת הַגּוֹי אֲשֶׁר יַעֲבֹדוּ דָּן אָנֹכִי") gets fulfilled through the series of plagues described in Chapters 7-12.
• The promise in Bereshit 15:14 of departure with great wealth ("וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן יֵצְאוּ בִּרְכֻשׁ גָּדוֹל") is granted as the Israelites leave Egypt laden with gold and silver vessels and with much cattle (Shemot 12:35-38).
• Yosef's deathbed charge (Bereshit 50:25) to his brethren to take his bones with them when Hashem redeems them ("פָּקֹד יִפְקֹד אֱלֹהִים אֶתְכֶם וְהַעֲלִתֶם אֶת עַצְמֹתַי מִזֶּה"), is faithfully carried out by Moshe during the Exodus (13:19).

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.
• Divine Deception?
• Revelation
• Prophetic Autonomy – How much autonomy does a prophet have? Is he simply Hashem's mouthpiece, or is he allowed to act on his own? Is it possible for a prophet to speak on his own initiative, and to then attribute that speech back to Hashem? Can he declare a miracle on his own, and expect that nature will be overturned at his word? These questions come up numerous times in Sefer Shemot as Moshe speaks in Hashem's name⁹ or declares miracles,¹⁰ apparently without prior divine communication.
  

• Nature of Miracles

 

Dating and Chronological Issues

• Duration of the Egyptian Exile
• Chronology – Shemot 18

Ancient Near East

• Egyptian Background and the Exodus Narrative
• Moshe's Birth and the Legend of Sargon
• The Torah and Ancient Near Eastern Law Codes

Reasons for the Mitzvot

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.

³ Eusebius cites Origen as writing that this was the name used by the Jews. Its earliest appearance in Rabbinic sources is Bereshit Rabbah 3:5 and 64:8.

⁴ This is also the book's name in the Septuagint, and this influenced the Christian tradition.

⁵ This name is based on the appearance of the term in Shemot 24:7 (and see Rashi there). Most commentators, however, identify the "ספר הברית" as only a smaller section of the book (Shemot 19-23 or 21-23).

⁶ If the Exodus is the main motif of the book, the subsequent events may be viewed as merely its aftermath. Conversely, if the Covenant is at the core, the story of the Exodus can be seen as merely an enabling prelude. This latter possibility is essentially the view adopted by R. D"Z HoffmannShemot IntroductionShemot IntroductionAbout R. David Zvi Hoffmann.

⁷ Other topics which touch upon this issue include Where in Egypt Did the Israelites Live?, Why Live in Goshen?, Purposes of the Egyptian Bondage, Purpose of the Plagues, and Purpose of the Pesach.

⁸ See Ralbag also in Moshe's Speech Impediment.

⁹ See Shemot 10 where Moshe, apparently on his own initiative, announces the Plague of Locusts in Hashem's name, Shemot 11 where he, independently, proclaims in the name of Hashem the plague of firstborns, and Shemot 32, where he invokes Divine authority and tells the Levites to kill all those who worshiped the calf (despite the text never sharing such a command).

¹⁰ See Shemot 8 where Moshe promises Paroh that the plague of frogs will terminate at his requested time, despite Hashem never directing him to make such a promise.see also Shemot 16 where Moshe declares to the people that Hashem will provide them with meat, even though Hashem had only mentioned "bread".