Exodus

Marvin A. Sweeney

• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Year: 2026
• Print ISBN: 9781666740660, 9781666740677
• eBook ISBN: 9781666740684
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

Marvin A. Sweeney presents a new and innovative commentary on the book of Exodus. He presents an analysis of both the final, synchronic, literary form of Exodus, together with a discussion of the diachronic, historical composition of the book from the initial Ephraimitic composition to the later Priestly edition of the book. Sweeney argues that Exodus constitutes a classic example of an ancient Near Eastern creation narrative in which YHWH, the G-d of Israel, defeats Pharaoh, recognized as a god in Egypt. YHWH uses elements of creation, newly recognized in the Exodus narrative, to defeat Pharaoh, exercise sovereignty over creation, and deliver the nation of Israel from Egyptian oppression. He also treats major elements and themes in the reception history of Exodus in Judaism, Christianity, African American, Asian, and other cultures to demonstrate how the book of Exodus has inspired readers throughout the world.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Egyptian Oppression of the Sons of Israel—Exodus 1:1—2:10
• Moses Flees to Midian After Killing an Egyptian Who Was Beating a Hebrew Slave—Exodus 2:11–22
• G-d’s Revelation to Moses in the Burning Bush on Mount Horeb (Sinai)—Exodus 2:23—4:31
• The First Confrontation of Pharaoh by Moses and Aaron—Exodus 5:1—6:13
• The Second Confrontation with Pharaoh: The Plagues as Demonstrations of Divine Power—Exodus 6:14—12:36
• The Heads of the Ancestral Houses of Reuben, Shimon, and Levi —Exodus 6:14–25
• The Account of Moses and Aaron’s Second Confrontation with Pharaoh: Divine Power —Exodus 6:26—12:36
• YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning How to Convince Pharaoh to Listen: Moses Will Be Like G-d to Pharaoh and Aaron Will Be His Prophet —Exodus 6:26—7:7
• The Sign of Aaron’s Staff as Serpent—Exodus 7:8–13
• The Plague of Blood—Exodus 7:14–24
• The Plague of Frogs—Exodus 7:25—8:11
• The Plague of Gnats—Exodus 8:12–15
• The Plague of Flies—Exodus 8:16–28
• The Plague of Cattle Disease—Exodus 9:1–7
• The Plague of Boils—Exodus 9:8–12
• The Plague of Hail and Fire—Exodus 9:13–35
• The Plague of Locusts—Exodus 10:1–20
• The Plague of Darkness—Exodus 10:21–29
• The Plague of the Death of the Firstborn—Exodus 11:1—12:36
• The Journey from Rameses to Sukkot—Exodus 12:37—13:19
• YHWH’s Defeat of Pharaoh and Deliverance of Israel at the Sea of Reeds—Exodus 13:20—15:21
• The Journey from Sukkot to Etham—Exodus 13:20–22
• The Narrative Account of YHWH’s Confrontation with Pharaoh at the Reed Sea—Exodus 14:1–31
• The Song of the Sea —Exodus 15:1–21
• Journey from the Reed Sea to the Wilderness of Shur/Elim: Water in the Wilderness—Exodus 15:22–27
• Journey from Shur/Elim to the Wilderness of Sin: Quail and Manna—Exodus 16:1–36
• Journey from the Wilderness of Sin to Rephidim: Water, Amalek, and Jethro—Exodus 17:1—18:27
• Divine Revelation at Mount Sinai—Exodus 19:1—Numbers 2:34
• YHWH’s Revelation at Mount Sinai—Exodus 19:1–2, 3–25
• The Covenant Code: The Foundational Law Code of Israel—Exodus 20:1—24:18
• Introduction: The Ten Commandments—Exodus 20:1–14
• The Account of YHWH’s Announcement of the Covenant Code—Exodus 20:15—24:11
• The Account of YHWH’s Instructions to Moses on the Building of the Tabernacle and Its Fixtures and the Conduct of Its Associated Activities —Exodus 24:12—31:18
• The Account of YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning the Building of the Wilderness Tabernacle and Its Fixtures and the Conduct of Its Associated Activities—Exodus 25:1—31:18
• YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning the Manufacture of the Ark, the Table, and the Lampstand—Exodus 25:1–40
• YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning the Construction of the Tabernacle and Its Courts —Exodus 26:1–37
• The Account of YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning the Altar, the Courtyard, and the Provision of Pure Olive Oil for Lighting the Wilderness Tabernacle—Exodus 27:1–21
• The Account of YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning the Tailoring of Priestly Vestments for Aaron and His Sons —Exodus 28:1–43
• The Account of YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning the Ordination of Aaron and His Sons as Priests—Exodus 29:1–46
• The Account of YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning the Construction of the Incense Altar, the Census of Israel, the Basin for Washing, the Anointing Oil, and the Incense —Exodus 30:1–37
• The Account of YHWH’s Instructions to Moses Concerning the Appointment of the Artisans to Oversee the Construction of the Tent of Meeting and the Observance of Shabbat —Exodus 31:1–18
• The Golden Calf Narrative—Exodus 32:1—34:35
• Account of Israel’s Compliance with YHWH’s Instruction to Build the Wilderness Tabernacle and Associated Fixtures —Exodus 35:1—40:38
• Account of Moses’s Initial Assembly of Israel and Israel’s Response Concerning the Building of the Wilderness Tabernacle —Exodus 35:1—36:7
• Account of the Construction of the Tabernacle—Exodus 36:8–38
• The Construction of the Ark, the Furnishings of the Tabernacle, and the Courtyard of the Tabernacle —Exodus 37:1—38:20
• Summation of the Construction of the Tabernacle, Its Furnishings, Its Equipment, and the Holy Garments for the Priests —Exodus 38:21—39:31
• The Account of the Completion of the Wilderness Tabernacle and YHWH’s Entrance into the Sanctuary—Exodus 39:32—40:38
• Bibliography
• Appendix