Exodus and The Birth of Freedom - ancientscribbles.com

Exodus, the second book of the Torah (or Old Testament), describes events that detail the ancient Hebrews being led out of slavery in Egypt by the prophet Moses to the promised land. It is a powerful and enduring story that still resonates to the present day. It address themes central to the human condition, namely, the desire for freedom from oppression. It is celebrated each year at the Jewish Festival of Passover.

When was Exodus and What does it Mean?

The events described in Exodus are believed by most scholars to have occurred somewhere between the 15th and 13th Centuries BC in Egypt. The Biblical date for the Exodus places it about 480 years before Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, according to 1 Kings (6:1) (circa 970 BC)¹. This would correspond to about the year 1450 BC. However, most archaeologists and scholars argue for a later date of 1250 BC as this corresponds to historical figures and events at that time.

One of these figures, Ramses II, is thought to be the Pharaoh referenced in Exodus as it mentions the Hebrews being made to construct the cities of “Ramses and Pithom”. It also corresponds to the destructions of cities in the land of Canaan at this time and the first reference to ‘Israel’ outside the Bible mentioned in the “Israel Stele”, which dates to 1207 BC.

Israel in Egypt by Edward Pointer 1867 (source: Public Domain)

The word Exodus comes from the romanised Greek and means lit. “way out”. In the Hebrew it is known as Shemot or (Names). Exodus follows on from the Book of Genesis and is part of a larger narrative of the first 5 books of the Torah, known as the Pentateuch, traditionally ascribed to the prophet Moses. Most Modern scholars question this, as it seems they were likely authored much later and by many hands. Nevertheless, much of the material used is from a much earlier period.

The Festival of Passover

Passover or Pesach in Hebrew, is a Jewish religious festival that commemorates the liberation of the Hebrews from captivity in Egypt and the “passing over” of the forces of destruction. It recounts Moses efforts to liberate the Hebrews from Pharaoh’s grip, famously commanding him to “let my people go”. When Pharaoh refuses, a series of plagues are sent by the Lord. The last plague, the deaths of the first born of Egypt, devastate Pharaoh’s kingdom but the Hebrews are spared from destruction as the angel “passes over” them.

The Angel of Death and the First Passover (Source: Wikimedia)

It is celebrated every year by Jews on the 15th month of Nisan (March or April) and ends on the 21st (or 22nd for reform Jews). During passover, which lasts for 7 or 8 days, an unleavened bread known as Matzo is eaten which symbolises the Hebrews suffering’s during the Exodus from Egypt. The leaven which is usually used in bread is prohibited to be eaten and is known to also symbolise pride which is to be ritually discarded at this time.

Passover is a time of rejoicing, but strict dietary laws and prohibitions are enacted. On the first night, a family meal known as the Seder is held, in which foods with symbolic meaning are eaten and prayers and recitations performed.

Exodus: The Events of the Story

Bithiah finds Moses in The Ten Commandments (Source: Wikipedia)

The events described in the Book of Exodus take place in Egypt. The Hebrews have been living there for about 400 years and their numbers have grown considerably. The Pharaoh, feeling threatened by this increase, enslaves them and puts them to work building his cities. Later on, not satisfied with his attempt to contain the Hebrews, he orders that all male born Hebrew children are to be killed at birth.

Moses’ mother, a Levite woman, realising the danger to her child, has him placed in a basket and set afloat on the Nile amongst the bullrushes. There he floats down stream where he is found by Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh. Rescued from the water, the child is named Moses, meaning “to draw out” as he was draw from the river. Moses is then brought up in the court of Pharaoh as a prince.

When we meet Moses again, he is a grown man who witnesses an Egyptian guard beat a Hebrew slave. He intervenes, killing the Egyptian and burying him in the sand. Word soon spreads of his crime and he flees Egypt for a place called Midian in the desert.

Moses holding the Ten Commandments by Rembrandt (Source: Wikipedia Commons)

While in Midian, Moses meets and marries the daughter of a shepherd and priest known as Jethro. It is here, close to the foot of Mt Sinai, Moses is confronted by a ‘burning bush’ which was an angel of the Lord instructing him to return to Egypt and free the Hebrews from slavery. Moses refuses this request and doubts his own ability and Pharaoh’s willingness to listen. God becomes angry and asks Moses to return with his brother Aaron to help him speak and perform miracles to prove God’s power to Pharaoh.

Moses and Aaron then return to Egypt and confront Pharaoh with those powerful words — “let my people go!”. It is from these words that events cascade, and a series of plagues descend on Egypt. Moses then leads the Hebrews out of Egypt, while being pursued by Pharaoh’s army across the Red Sea (actually it’s the Reed sea) to the foot of Mt Sinai. There, Moses climbs the mountain and receives The Ten Commandments from God.

With this new covenant, the Hebrews, after many wanderings and setbacks eventually find their way to a new land, ‘the land of milk and honey’ — the promised land, Israel. Moses however does not make it, but only observes it from a distance atop a mountain (said to be Mt Nebo and Moses’ final resting place).

Why is Exodus still Relevant in Modern Times?

A cropped shot of Charlton Heston in the film *The Ten Commandments* (1956)

The account of Exodus contains many mythical and dramatic elements which make it well suited to being portrayed on the big screen. The most prominent and memorable is the 1956 film, The Ten Commandments, by Cecil B DeMille, starring Charlton Heston as Moses. The tense showdown between Moses and Pharaoh to ‘let his people go’ and the ensuing battle of God’s plagues, Moses receiving the Ten Commandments atop Mt Sinai, the parting of the Red Sea and the crushing of Pharaoh’s pursing chariots; these and other dramatic scenes appear almost to be scripted for blockbuster cinema. Nevertheless, it is the theme of ‘freedom’ that really makes the story so powerful.

And it is this theme of freedom which the director addresses directly to the audience before the commencement of the film which touches on its enduring power and continued relevance today. He provides an introduction to the film, the historical background and emphasises the theme of the story, namely — the ‘birth of freedom’. On this theme, the director says the following:

“is whether men are to be ruled under God’s law or whether they are to be ruled by the whims of a dictator like Ramses. Are men the property of the state or are they free souls under God. This same battle continues throughout the world today.”
Cecil B. DeMille (Intro Speech, The Ten Commandments)2

This enduring question of freedom is possibly more relevant now in the 21st Century as we move into a more technological and digital age. Power mad dictators like Pharaoh with grand schemes are troubling enough, but computers that monitor everything we say or think, have a far wider sphere of control than any one powerful person or group. They may reach into our homes, our lives and even our minds. But Exodus means “way out” and so perhaps, like the ancient Hebrews in captivity, we may find a “way out”- a new ‘birth of freedom‘.