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Exodus 1:1–13:16

Israel in Egypt

Symmetric arrangement of the entire exodus story

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    enslavement and attempted decimation of Israelites in Egypt1:1–22pharaoh's plot to kill Israelite male babies, etc., to control population; new king arose (wayyāqom); small total number of Israelites who came down to Egypt: seventy people
  2. b
    Moses, an Israelite male child, escapes death from pharaoh2:1–10Moses grows up (gdl) as a son in pharaoh's house
  3. c
    Egyptian strikes (nākâ) an Israelite; Moses strikes down (nākâ) Egyptian2:11–22
  4. d
    call of Moses: standing on holy ground3:1–4:17distinction between holy and common: ground (ʾădāmâ) Moses stands on (ʿāmad ʿal) is holy; topics: sign (ʾôt) (3:12), Israel's three-day journey (3:18)
  5. e
    Moses returns to Egypt4:18–31"bridegroom of blood"
  6. f
    brief encounter with pharaoh5:1–5Moses and Aaron spurned
  7. g
    CENTER: commissioning of Moses and Aaron5:6–6:13promise to deliver Israel from Egypt with mighty hand (yād) and mighty acts of judgment; people doubt Moses
  8. g′
    CENTER: commissioning of Moses and Aaron6:14–7:7promise to deliver Israel from Egypt by his hand (yād) and mighty acts of judgment; Moses' self-doubts
  9. f′
    brief encounter with pharaoh7:8–13Moses and Aaron spurned
  10. e′
    first cycle of plagues7:14–8:19Nile turned to blood
  11. d′
    second cycle of plagues8:20–9:12Yahweh distinguishes between his holy people and Egyptians; afflicts one, not other; begins: Yahweh will distinguish between Egyptians and Israelites (cf. flies, plague on livestock), not afflicting land on which you stand (ʾădāmâ ʿal), only land (ʾădāmâ) of the Egyptians (8:21–23 [8:17–19]); topics: sign (ʾôt) (8:23 [8:19]), Israel's three-day journey
  12. c′
    third cycle of plagues: Egyptians are struck down!9:13–10:29Yahweh warns that he has not yet struck (nākâ) Egyptians themselves, but now he will strike (nākâ) them (9:14–15); hail strikes down (nākâ) Egyptians, flocks, crops (9:25–33)
  13. b′
    Yahweh will kill Egypt's firstborn males11:1–10Moses, who has become great (gdl) in Egypt, announces that Yahweh will kill all firstborn Egyptian sons, including pharaoh's; only Israelite firstborn will escape being killed
  14. a′
    freedom of Israelites from Egyptian slavery and increased population12:1–13:16Yahweh decimates Egyptian population by killing firstborn Egyptian males; pharaoh arises (wayyāqom) to mourn decimation of Egyptian people; large total number of Israelites leaving Egypt: 600,000 men

Preparation for the exodus

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    oppression by pharaoh who did not know Joseph1:1–22Israelites are subjected to heavy work (ʿăḇōḏâ) and bricks (ləḇēnîm); intensification of persecution: harsh commands of pharaoh; taskmasters set (śîm) over the Israelites; pharaoh says, "Behold, the people (ʿam) are too many (rab)"
  2. b
    Moses comes to pharaoh's house as baby2:1–10daughter of pharaoh saves Moses to her family
  3. c
    Moses departs from Egypt2:11–25Moses sees (rāʾâ) a kinsman (ʾāḥ) being beaten; he kills the Egyptian; pharaoh hears of it and seeks (biqqēš) to kill (hārag) Moses; Moses is rejected by Hebrews; flees to Midian from Egypt; marries Zipporah and has Gershom
  4. d
    TURNING POINT: call of Moses3:1–4:17
  5. c′
    Moses returns to Egypt4:18–31Moses wants to return to see (rāʾâ) how his kinsmen (ʾāḥ) are doing; hears that pharaoh who sought (biqqēš) to kill (hārag) him is dead; Yahweh tells pharaoh through Moses: "I will kill (hārag) your firstborn"; returns to Egypt from Midian with Zipporah and Gershom
  6. b′
    Moses comes to pharaoh as adult5:1–21demands that pharaoh send Israelites away
  7. a′
    worse oppression by pharaoh who did not know Joseph5:22–6:13Israelites are subjected to heavy work (ʿăḇōḏâ) and bricks (ləḇēnîm); intensification of persecution: harsh commands of pharaoh; taskmasters set (śîm) Egyptian foremen over the Israelites; pharaoh says, "Behold, the people (ʿam) are too many (rab)"

Yahweh rescues his people from Egypt

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    Yahweh promises to rescue his people from Egypt: the recommissioning of Moses and Aaron6:14–7:7Yahweh will bring them out (yāṣāʾ) by his strong hand (yād); to bring out (yāṣāʾ) from Egypt his hosts (ṣāḇāʾ); to redeem (gāʾal) the Israelites; Moses and Aaron speak as Yahweh had commanded them, so they did; chronological note: ages of Moses and Aaron
  2. b
    Yahweh's power to create7:8–13initial sign (môpēt) to pharaoh: Aaron's rod becomes a snake
  3. c
    opening cycle of three plagues7:14–8:19each introduced by Yahweh's instructing Moses/Aaron to stretch forth his hand with rod, followed by statement that Moses/Aaron does so, initiating plague
  4. d
    CENTRAL CYCLE of three plagues: Yahweh begins plagues without hand or rod of Moses/Aaron8:20–9:12
  5. c′
    closing cycle of three plagues9:13–10:29each introduced by Yahweh's instructing Moses/Aaron to stretch forth his hand with rod, followed by statement that Moses/Aaron does so, initiating plague
  6. b′
    Yahweh's power to terminate life11:1–10final sign (môpēt) declared: death of firstborn
  7. a′
    Yahweh rescues his people from Egypt; commemorative institutions12:1–13:16Yahweh brings them out (yāṣāʾ) from Egypt by tribes; "the hosts (ṣāḇāʾ) of Yahweh went out (yāṣāʾ) from the land of Egypt"; "the people did so, as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did"; chronological note: length of years of sojourn in Egypt