Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Reading for August 17th

 Read Exodus 12.29-51. In 12.29-51:Egypt's firstborn die and Israel departs from Egypt. The haste to leave Egypt provides a rationale for the haste in eating the Passover meal (vv. 8, 11) and for celebrating the festival of Unleavened Bread (v. 39; 13.3-10). In verses 35-36: The people of Israel plundered Egypt as they received silver and gold from their former oppressors. The plundered jewelry is Israel's war booty and implies the victory of Israel's God over Pharaoh. In verse 37: Six hundred thousand men apart from women and children, and elderly would mean an amazing total population of about two million Israelites. This large number appears again in the census list in Num 1.46 (603, 550 Israelite warriors). A typical large army is in this ancient period would be 15,000- 20, 000 warriors. In verse 38: A mixed crowd suggests an ethnically mixed group that joins the Israelites in fleeing Egypt (see Num 11.4). In verse 41: Gen 15.13 predicted 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Gen 15.16 predicted four generations or about 160 years (assuming 40 years per generations). In verses 43-49: The Lord provided further instructions about Passover as it applies to an alien who resides with you. The instruction follow appropriately the earlier mentioned of the "mixed crowd" that joined Israel's Exodus (v. 38). Comments or Questions..

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