Despite the detail given in the Bible about Exodus, it neglects to give the Pharaoh a name. This is probably because with the oral tradition, there was no way that anyone was going to forget who the Pharaoh defeated at the Sea of Reeds (commonly translated as Red Sea) was!
Archeologists and theologians think that it was one of three Pharaohs: Ramses II, Thutmose III, or Amenhotep II. The exodus is “guessed” at occurring around 1445 b.c. Ramses II reigned as Pharaoh during 1279-1213 b.c., much too late for the Exodus. However, the first signs of settlement in Israel occur during the early twelfth century, which corresponds to Ramses II’s reign. Thutmose III was the father of Amenhotep II. Thutmose III’s reign, from 1479-1425 b.c., fits exactly with the guessed date of Exodus. Thutmose III was also known as a fierce warrior. But silence of his military victories later in his reign MAY be due to his defeat at the Sea of Reeds. Amenhotep II was also a fierce warrior, and received tribute from as far away as Babylon. It was also recorded that at one time during his reign he invaded the area of Canaan. Not much is known about later in Amenhotep. The sudden silence about his military activities has caused many to speculate that this was because his army had been defeated by God in the Sea of Reeds. But this is pure speculation…nothing concrete has been found.
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~~~~~Lesson: Exodus: Chapters 12-14 (reading after lesson)
The Israelites as a people make their first real appearance. We knew that they were sending up laments to the Lord before for being in bondage. And during the plagues, we often "saw" Moses, Aaron, Pharaoh, and his magicians, but this is the first real glimpse we get of the Israelite people as a whole during this period of time. And what a beginning we see! Obviously, they had to have been aware of and witnessed the plagues that struck Egypt, while leaving Goshen miraculously unharmed. One wonders what they were thinking then by complaining only days later that they wish they were back in Egypt! Perhaps they had come up with "other" explanations for the plagues besides God? (Ironic, isn't it, that we've been discussing this the last few days, ha-ha). Were they simply scared and forgot God during this moment of distress? Which of these and/or other reasons do you have for the Israelites yelling at Moses and saying they wish they were back in Egypt? Can you see us acting the same today? Why or why not? ~Exodus: Chapters 12-14 12:31-32, 42 (31-32) During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Leave my people at once, you and the Israelites with you! Go and worship the Lord as you said. Take your flocks, too, and your herds, as you demanded, and begone; and you will be doing me a favor." (42)This [passover] was a night of vigil for the Lord, as he led them out of the land of Egypt; so on this same night all the Israelites must keep a vigil for the Lord throughout their generations. 13:21-22 (21-22) The Lord preceded them, in the daytime by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and at night by means of a column of fire to give them light. Thus they could travel both day and night. Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire by night ever left its place in front of the people. 14:5, 10-14, 21-27, 30-31 (5) When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his servants changed their minds about them. "What have we done!" they exclaimed. "Why, we have released Israel from our service!" (10-14) Pharaoh was already near when the Israelites looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the Lord. And they complained to Moses, "Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, 'Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians'? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert." But Moses answered the people, "Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still." (21-31) Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord swept the sea with a strong east wind throughout the night and so turned it into dry land. When the water was thus divided, the Israelites marched into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left. The Egyptians followed in pursuit; all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. In the night watch just before dawn the Lord cast through the column of the fiery cloud upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into panic; and he so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly drive. With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel, because the Lord was fighting for them against the Egyptians. Then the Lord told Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and their charioteers." So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth. The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea, when the Lord hurled them into its midst. (30-31) Thus the Lord saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians. When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore and beheld the great power that the Lord had shown against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord and believed in him and in his servant Moses. Observance of the Passover was, of course, tied to the Israelites freedom from the ten plagues and their exodus from Egypt. The meal that was eaten on the Passover consisted of the following: a first-year lamb, selected on the tenth day and slaughtered on the evening of the fourteen day, was eaten roasted (not raw or boiled); bitter herbs; and unleavened bread.
The Passover was celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month (called Ahib/ later Nisan, which spanned from late March to early April). For those who were unclean, it was celebrated exactly one month later. ~~~~~Lesson: Exodus: Chapters 9-11 (Reading after lesson)
Many people have trouble understanding the concept that the Lord was the one making Pharaoh obstinate…aka “The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart”. There are two common explanations for this: 1) God, obviously, is not limited by our lack of understanding of what is right and wrong. God’s actions in hardening Pharaoh’s heart in order to show God’s glory is right, we simply don’t have the understanding the morality. 2) That God was only continuing a process of hardening that Pharaoh had already initiated. In other words, it was Pharaoh’s decision to reject God. Which of these seems more likely to you? Why? The rest of "scientific" explanation is as follows: the pestilence that spread throughout the land caused boils to break out upon all of the Egyptians. The biting insects carried bacteria (perhaps Pseudomonas mallei). Something to do with the volcano- don't ask me what, it's been too long- changed the weather pattern and caused the horrible hail. The Locusts came to feed because the wind changed with the weather. The darkness was caused by the ash from the volcano. The death of the firstborns was caused because of a dangerous gas that was floating through the air; the firstborn was usually honored by having a bed off the floor to sleep on...the gas was lighter than normal air, so only those on beds died. Honestly, I didn't make this up!! I’ve re-ordered “Exodus Decoded” from Netflix and will post the detailed, “scientific” explanation when I’ve re-watched it. In your opinion, which plague is the most "miraculous"? Why? ~Reading: Exodus: Last Five Plagues Sixth Plague: the Boils: Exodus 9:10-12 So they [Moses & Aaron] took soot from a furnace and stood in the presence of Pharaoh. Moses scattered it toward the sky, and it caused festering boils on man and beast. The magicians could not stand in Moses' presence, for there were boils on the magicians no less than on the rest of the Egyptians. But the Lord made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had foretold to Moses. Seventh Plague: the Hail: Exodus 9:20-26, 34-35 (20-26) Some of Pharaoh's servants feared the warning of the Lord and hurried their servants and livestock off to shelter. Others, however, did not take the warning of the Lord to heart and left their servants and livestock in the fields. The Lord then said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that hail may fall upon the entire land of Egypt, on man and beast and every growing thing in the land of Egypt." When Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, the Lord sent forth hail and peals of thunder. Lightning flashed toward the earth, and the Lord rained down hail upon the land of Egypt; and lightening constantly flashed through the hail, such fierce hail as had never been seen in the land since Egypt became a nation. It struck down every man and beast that was in the open throughout the land of Egypt; it beat down every growing thing and splintered every tree in the fields. Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites dwelt, was their no hail. (34-35) But Pharaoh, seeing that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, sinned again: he with his servants became obdurate, and in his obstinacy he would not let the Israelites go, as the Lord had foretold through Moses. Eighth Plague: the Locusts: Exodus 10:13-15, 19-20 (13-15) So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord sent an east wind blowing over the land all that day and all that night. At dawn the east wind brought the locusts. They swarmed over the whole land of Egypt and settled down on every part of it. Never before had there been such a fierce swarm of locusts, nor will there ever be. They covered the surface of the whole land, till it was black with them. They ate up all the vegetation in the land and the fruit of whatever trees the hail had spared. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant throughout the land of Egypt. (19-20) ...and the Lord changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which took up the locusts and hurled them into the Red Sea. But though not a single locust remained within the confines of Egypt, the Lord made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let the Israelites go. Ninth Plague: the Darkness: Exodus 10:22-23, 27 (22-23) So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was dense darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. Men could not see one another, nor could they move from where they were, for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they dwelt. (27) But the Lord made Pharaoh obstinate, and he would not let them go. Tenth Plague: the Death of the Firstborn: Exodus 11:1, 29-30 (1) Then the Lord told Moses, "one more plague will I bring upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt. After that he will let you depart. In fact, he will not merely let you go; he will drive you away. [Moses tells Pharaoh the warning; the Israelites prepare for the Passover as the Lord them. They also swabbed their doorposts with blood as instructed.] (29-30) At midnight the Lord slew every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh on the throne to the first-born of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the first-born of the animals. Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians; and there was loud wailing throughout Egypt, for there was not a house without its dead. |
Jennifer Becker Landsberger
Who am I? Freelance writer (magazines, websites, & copywriting), Catholic, military wife, and Mensan. Double Bachelor's in History & Psychology. Witnessing by charity and love are above all. Studying the Bible and beyond helps me on this quest. Feel free to join my walk into the Bible.
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Oh creator of the universe, who has set the stars in the heavens and causes the sun to rise and set, shed the light of your wisdom into the darkness of my mind. Fill my thoughts with a loving knowledge of you, that I may bring you like to others. Just as you can make even babies speak your truth, instruct my tongue and guide my pen to convey the wonderful glory of the Gospel. Make my intellect sharp, my memory clear, and my words eloquent, so that I may faithfully interpret the mysteries what you have revealed. Categories
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