Guide to Exodus

From RationalWiki

The second book of the Bible is known as Exodus which chronicles Moses' (Moishe) negotiations with Pharaoh to "Let my people go." Moses was about eighty years old when he began his quest to have the Hebrews set free. Moses may have lost his teeth by this time since he tried to tell the LORD via the "burning bush" that he wasn't a good public speaker; the LORD was ready for this one: Appoint your brother Aaron to do the talking. Moses and Aaron went forth to confront Pharaoh.

This is also the book where Moses stuck out his hand and made the Red Sea separate so he and the Hebrews could walk to the promised land (Ex 13:17-15:12). Nobody knows why they didn't walk a mile or so north and stay on dry land.

This book also contains the presentation to Moses of the Ten Commandments, and a whole bunch of other weird laws (like a Menorah that can't be put out) (Ex 21:2-17). Sadly, it doesn't tell us how long a damn cubit is.

[edit] Moses: The Anti-Adam

Adam: Lived in paradise,
Moses: Wandered for a generation in a desert hell.

Adam: Created by God's own hands.
Moses: Buried by God's own hands.

Adam: Ejected from Eden by God.
Moses: Led from Egypt by God.

Adam: Made the sweet soil bitter and unyielding by eating from a tree whose real effects were hidden from Adam by God.
Moses: Made the bitter waters of Mara sweet by throwing a tree revealed by Yahweh into it.

Adam: Name means "red earth"
Moses: Led people across the "Red Sea"

Adam: First-born son committed the earliest murder, which has plagued mankind ever since.
Moses: Last plague was the murder of all Egyptian first-born sons.

Guide to the Bible