The Book of Exodus

in Hebrew Veelle Semoth. ואלה שמות

The Argument of the Book of Exodus

Moyses, having pursued in Genesis the sacred history of the Church to Joseph's death, containing the space of 2310 years, continues the same in Exodus, for 145 years more.

Where he first briefly recounts how a small number of Israelites, especially after the death of Joseph, being much increased, a new King (risen in the meantime, that knew not Joseph) together with other Egyptians, envying their better parts, both of body and mind, and more fortunate progress in wealth; fearing also, lest they, still multiplying, either by their own forces, or joining with other foreigners, might spoil Egypt, and return into Chanaan; and hating their Religion, because they acknowledged one only, eternal, omnipotent God, denying and detesting the new imaginary gods of the Egyptians, resolved and publicly decreed, by oppression to hinder their increasing, and to keep them in bondage and servitude.

But God Almighty, who had chosen them for his peculiar people, did not only so conserve and multiply them, that of seventy persons which came into Egypt, in the space of two hundred and fifteen years, there were six hundred thousand men able to bear arms (besides women, children, and old men, which by estimation might be three millions in all), but, amongst other most strange and miraculous works, especially delivered one Hebrew infant from drowning. Whom afterwards he made the Guide and supreme Governor of the same people; by him admonished the King to cease persecuting, and in divers ways plagued him and his people for their obdurate and obstinate cruelty.

Finally he called away, and mightily delivered, his own people; drowned that King and all his army in the Red Sea, the Israelites wonderfully passing through, as in a dry channel, the waters standing on both sides, like two walls. In the desert he fed them miraculously with Manna, and gave them all necessaries, defending them also from enemies.

Then God, having thus selected and severed his people from all other nations, gave them a written law, as well of Moral, as Ceremonial and Judicial precepts, with the manner of making the Tabernacle, erecting Altars, consecrating Priests, with the institution of daily Sacrifice, and of all vestures, vessels, and other holy things belonging to the service of God.

So this book may be divided into three parts:

First is declared the Israelites' servile affliction in Egypt, with their delivery from thence, in the first fifteen chapters.
Then how they were maintained in the desert, and prepared to receive a law, in the next four chapters.
In the other twenty-one chapters, the law is prescribed, instructing them how to live towards God and all men.

Notes:

Gen. 50.
The continuation of this book with Genesis.
Exod. 1.
The increase of the Israelites was envied, feared, and their religion hated.
Their persecution.
Their greater multiplication.
Exod. 2. Num. 1.
Exod. 2.
Exod. 3.
The persecutor admonished, and punished.
Exod. 5.
Exod. 7.
Exod. 12.
Exod. 16.
God's people mightily delivered.
Exod. 14.
Miraculously sustained in the desert.
Exod. 17.
Instructed with Laws, Moral, Ceremonial, and Judicial.
Exod. 20.
Exod. 26.
Exod. 27.
Exod. 30 and seq.