WMM Bible Reading - Questions to Consider for Exodus 21-40

Here are some questions and comments on the many chapters we are going to try to cover when we meet on Sunday, May 27th at 10 AM (if you can make it). If you have thoughts about any of this and can't make it, feel free to leave a comment. And if you have a request for where we should go next, please let me know.

Exodus Questions (21-40)

Exodus 21

We begin here to get the “details” of the covenant Moses brings to the people from the Elohist tradition. Here are some sources if you want to check out what this is and how the tradition has different names for God.

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11305-names-of-god  

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5705-elohist#

Anything pop out to you in the list of laws that you read about here?

Exodus 22

The problems dealt with here are more complicated, at least to begin with – again, anything pop out?

Exodus 23

I find the laws here interesting, especially the following

Temptation in siding with “the majority”

Favoring the poor?

Policies towards the poor

Pilgrim feasts

Association of wealth and success with doing the Lord’s will (?)

Exodus 24

The difference between Moses and all the rest – what do you think?

Exodus 25

Specifications as to the building of the Ark of the Covenant, also called the Covenant Box in some versions: do you see anything interesting in the details?

Exodus 26

Again, great detail in describing the tent in which the Ark will be kept and the details of the inner sanctuary.

Exodus 27

The altar

Exodus 28

Priestly vestments – some of the detail resonates in the apocalyptic books of Daniel and later in Revelation.

Exodus 29

Consecration of priests and sacrifices that will accompany it.

Exodus 30

The incense altar

The census – why are they considered so bad?

Exodus 31

The choosing of artisans to do all the work described.

Exodus 32

OK, things start to get interesting here again. Moses goes back up the mountain to confer with God and the people get Aaron to “make a god” for them. What is important and interesting about this part of the story?

What is the difference between God’s response to what the people do and Moses’?

What do you think about Aaron?

What about the penalty??

Exodus 33

What do you think of what the Lord says to Moses about what he will do for the people? How does Moses feel about it?

What do you think about what Moses is permitted to “see” in God?

Exodus 34

What are your thoughts about verses 6-7?

How do you deal with the fact that the “Ten” the Lord gives to Moses this second time are different??

Exodus 35

Back to details of the law on the Sabbath and materials that need to be collected.

Exodus 36

Pretty much a continuation.

Exodus 37

More building details

Exodus 38

More building details

Exodus 39

Schocken editors point out the similarities between this conclusion of all the work people need to do and the work God does in the creation. Did you notice?

Exodus 40

Anything interesting here?