The Bible, King James Version, Book 2: Exodus

The Bible, King James Version, Book 2: Exodus
by Anonymous
Proof of two things: That Penguin's repackaging efforts can indeed go too far, and that even God needed an
editor.|Baby Moses in the basket, the burning bush, the ten plagues, Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, manna
from heaven in the wilderness, the Sabbath, the Ten Commandments, the golden calf, the Ark of the Covenant- I
don't doubt you know the contents, whether you learnt them at Sunday School or from Cecil B. DeMille and
Charlton Heston.
I learnt about the Old Testament at school, but I can't recall that we actually read any of it. Read childishly
dramatized versions of it, were told about it, saw films about it, sure- but not read the actual thing, even a modern
version let alone a King James. I did at some point as a young man though and I felt like revisiting it.
I should point out before I go any further that I rating Exodus as a reading experience only, not as the Word of
God and a contract of faith with humanity (well, Jewish humanity at least, though as a raised Roman Catholic it
should be for me too). Obviously if I was considering it that way I would be likely to score it higher than, say,
"Charlie & the Chocolate Factory" or the "Work is Hell" comic strip compilation by Matt Groening.
Some of the works most indelible phrases appear in the earliest chapters, such as 'a stranger in a strange land'
(2:22) and 'a land flowing with milk and honey' (3:17). Moses is initially full self doubt ('I am slow of speach, and of
a slow tongue' 4:10) and of doubt of the Lord ('since I came to Pharaoh to speake in thy Name, he hath done evil
to this people, neither hast thou delivered thy people at all' 5:23), but he soon rises to the task, the first half of the
book detailing most of the famous elements I outlined at the start.
The second half starts with the Ten Commandments, which are still just about as good a guide as any about how
to live in community, but the 'judgements' of chapters 21-23, where an eye for an eye is first stated, are largely
forgotten, and no wonder as they often ridiculous:
'And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand- he shall be surely punished.
Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money' (21:20-21)
'Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death' (22:19)
'And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand- he shall be surely punished.
Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money' (21:20-21)
'Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death' (22:19)
The rest consists of a tedious, repetitious litany of technical concerns about to correctly worship the Lord via a
moveable tabernacle, more use to Jewish priests, carpenters and clothiers than to anyone else looking to be
enlightened by a theophany.
If, like me, you read the Bible to know the word of God as it in order to be inspired by it's grandeur, Exodus largely
fails, though 'And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire' (24:17) is a notable exception. The
Lord continually calls the Israelites a "stiff-necked" people, a curious phrase, but my word what a tough task
master He is!
The Egyptians only suffer all ten plagues before acceding to the exodus because the Lord actively 'hardened
Pharaoh's heart' to the demands, whilst the Israelites are cowed into belief through their fear first, not their faith:
'And Israel saw that great worke which the Lord did vpon the Egyptians: & the people feared the Lord, and
beleeued the Lord' (14:31)
Then, of course, he starts in on them after the golden calf debacle, calling together Moses and his cronies to make
atonement: 'And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and
go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his
companion, and every man his neighbour.' (32:27)
Yes the Old Testament God is wrathful one, but who wants that? Thank God for Jesus, who put a stop to all that. If
we were left with this God we would all be damned for all eternity 'For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children' (20:05)
Timeless and carved by the divine like the proverbial tablets of stone, yet the dullness is undeniable and the
nastiness ungodly.
|It feels odd for me to rate a book of the Bible only 3 stars, but my rating is in reference to the presentation of this
volume of the Penguin Epics series rather than to the work itself. In my opinion, they should have taken the most
interesting excerpts from the entire Moses story, right up until his death in Deuteronomy, rather than just slapping
a fancy cover on the entire book of Exodus, mind-numbing lists of the tabernacle's measurements and all. It would
have been much more "epic" that way. I was disappointed.|Very Good, until it turned to an instructions manual
(English/português)
While the life of Moses in Egypt and the plagues he delivered to Egypt, helped by Aaron, are very interesting, God
hardening the Pharaoh’s heart didn’t help Egypt or the Exodus, per se. What was the purpose of God? I'm not
sure. The fact is that the people of Israel were delivered from Egypt after Moses and Aaron have released plagues
in Egypt equivalent to all kinds of Magic Level 20 Dungeons & Dragons in Egypt and left Egypt like Mad Max
World.
The crossing of the desert was disheartening. The people of Israel looked very whiny and disobedient, as small and
spoiled children. Only seemed to learn the lessons or by gross error, such as when their sky food spoiled and grew
worms, or when took a stronger blow from God, as when the priests were incinerated in front of the Tabernacle
because an unholy burnt incense.
Certainly, the people of Israel and Aaron were playing with fire when they made the golden calf. At this time God
had already given every possible imaginable evidence of His existence, of His jealousy and wrath. It was a close call
for the people of Israel and they did not have a similar fate of Sodom.
had already given every possible imaginable evidence of His existence, of His jealousy and wrath. It was a close call
for the people of Israel and they did not have a similar fate of Sodom.
And yet, I have to say that if I only considered the first half of Exodus, I would have find it a very interesting story
with very high thoughts about God, already very evolved from Genesis. However, the second half, in which God
speaks to Moses and creates practically a Civil Code for the people of Israel and an extensive code of conduct on
how to build a Tabernacle, it is quite tiresome. I imagine that for the construction of a religion, specially to
conduct a people who had a hard time following the simplest rules, it made a lot of sense. Still, with rules so
extensive and detailed, I imagine that many of them committed many errors before doing right, and in the process
many oxen, donkeys and other animals were sacrificed in penance - in the cases where the punishment did not
involve the death of offender.
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Bom, até virar um manual de instruções.
Enquanto a vida de Moisés no Egito e as pragas que livraram o povo do Egito são realmente muito interessantes,
é certo que o Faraó em parte não cedeu antes porque Deus estava endurecendo seu coração. Qual era o
propósito de Deus? Não sei bem. Fato é que o povo de Israel foi libertado do Egito depois de Moisés e Aaron
terem lançado pragas no Egito equivalentes a todo tipo de Magia Nível 20 em Dungeons & Dragons no Egito e
terem deixado esse um lixo.
A travessia do deserto foi desanimadora. O povo de Israel parecia muito chorão e desobediente, como crianças
pequenas e mimadas. Pareciam só aprender as lições ou pelo erro grosseiro, como quando seu pão de mel
estragava e dava e crescia vermes, ou quando levavam um golpe mais forte de Deus, como quando os sacerdotes
são incinerados na frente do Templo por queimarem um incenso profano.
Certamente, o povo de Israel e Aaron estavam brincando com fogo quando fizeram o bezerro de ouro. A essa
altura Deus já tinha dado todo tipo de evidência possível e imaginável de sua existência, de seu ciúme e de sua
ira. Ali, foi por um triz que o povo de Israel não teve um destino parecido com o de Sodoma.
Ainda assim tenho que dizer que se fosse só considerar a primeira metade de Exodus, acharia uma história
interessante e com um pensamento muito elevado sobre Deus, já muito evoluído a respeito do Genesis. Todavia,
a segunda metade, em que Deus fala a Moisés e cria praticamente um Código Civil para o povo de Israel e um
extenso código de conduta de como construir um Tabernáculo, aí fica bem cansativo. Imagino que para a
construção de uma religião, e a forma de conduta de um povo que tinha muita dificuldade de seguir as regras
mais simples, até que faz muito sentido. Ainda assim, com regras tão extensas e minuciosas, imagino que muitos
deles ainda cometeram muitos erros até começarem a fazer certo, e nesse processo muitos bois, burros e outros
animais foram sacrificados em penitência – nos casos em que a punição não envolvia a morte do ofensor.
deles ainda cometeram muitos erros até começarem a fazer certo, e nesse processo muitos bois, burros e outros
animais foram sacrificados em penitência – nos casos em que a punição não envolvia a morte do ofensor.
|Exodus from The Bible
Mesmerizing
- Better late than never
I may find the absolute truth later in life than expected.
When I was a little boy, we had an older woman looking after myself and my sister.
She was very religious, but the fact that she kept talking about the Holy texts had a counter effect on my
experience.
I wonder if I can engage on the right path at last, having decided against the derision and arrogance that was my
attitude so far.
The number of reference books to read is huge, but I am determined to try and find some of the best, even if the
criteria are vague.
Going back to the Bible itself is said to be the best option, and I am trying to do just that, going through the first
parts.
The Old Testament is more violent and the Killing of the babies was one of the issues which were brought forward
by critics.
But the stories included in the Exodus and elsewhere are compelling, meaningful and beautiful…indeed they are
among the best stories known to man.
The baby that is floating on the river and reaches the palace of the pharaoh, only to become Moses the Savior is a
compelling saga.
The miracles and the plagues used to make me smile or frown as if they can’t be and one is naïve to think they are
possible.
But this is changing, for I have read about miracles in science- positive psychology in particular and they make a
strong point for a spiritual, religious life.
The separation of the Sea is to be taken in spirit not as a fact.
Even if some of the other tales may demand a literal reading, or at least what seems a hard choice, I may be able
to find the light.
I am also reading Mere Christianity by the wonderful C.S. Lewis, where there are some strong points that he makes
for our religion.
But there are also positions that one must take and select between options like:
- We either accept that Jesus is the son of God
- Or we consider him a lunatic, in the same way vein as one who claims he is a poached egg…
C.s. Lewis is extremely articulate and funny and that helps to make a point, even if I enjoyed The Screwtape Letters
for the humor they had.
I missed the religious aspect, not altogether, but most of it so I am determined to read again and be enlighten not
just entertained.
Returning to Exodus…it is so well known that it is futile to insist on what happens, but it would be crucial for me to
read beyond the text.
The aspect which would be extremely important is the free will evident in many of the actions of the participants:
Moses, the Pharaoh and the Jews – they all make decisions which will eventually lead to their ascension to Heaven
or Hell.
C. S. Lewis- who has given me food for thought makes an excellent argument for the free will world in which we
live:
- God decided to make people with free will and let them decideThey want to be good or bad
A world with automatons would have been vain and ridiculous
It is much more worthwhile to live with free choice- you can be good or bad, it is not an automatic predetermined situation, with God pulling all the strings.