Exodus 17-19 Preparing for the Mountain

Thoughts

We are now in Rephidim : Rephidim (רְפִידִים) likely means “resting place” or “support,” but the Israelites quarreling lead Moses to name the place Massah (מַסָּה, “testing”) and Meribah (מְרִיבָה, “quarreling”).

I always got confused about there being two instances with water coming from a rock with Moses.
In Exodus 17, God commands Moses to strike the rock, but in Numbers 20, doing the same thing is a serious disobedience leading him to not see the promised land.

Amalek was the grandson of Esau and this attack was probably the first battle they experienced after slavery.

Here we meet Joshua for the first time!

This is the 1st of 5 times God specifically tells Moses to write something down (or that we see in the Bible)

Here we see the only mention of Moses’ second son Eliezer. The name Eliezer (אֱלִיעֶזֶר) means “God is my help,” combining אֵל (El), which means God, and עֵזֶר (‘ezer), which means help.

Moses sent Zipporah home – this has confused people forever – We haven’t heard of Zipporah since chapter 4 when she threw foreskin at his feet. Some have suggested a divorce as the Hebrew word used is שִׁלּוּחֶיהָ (shillucheha), from the root shalach, which can mean “send away” in the context of divorce (as in Deut. 24:1), but this isn’t always the case. Some also say that she is not the “Cushite wife” Miriam and Aaron complain about in Numbers 12. More on that later?? I don’t think this is the case.

If read as chronological, Jethro visits Moses at Mount Sinai, before the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 19–20. But the advice Jethro gives to appoint judges to help Moses govern the people seems like it fits better later, when the people’s complaints and burdens become overwhelming. Some say this actually happens later and is placed thematically.

Can you imagine the toll of just being Moses and having to lead Israel and speak on the behalf of God, but then also having to listen to personal issues from morning to NIGHT

Exodus 19 starts the third month after leaving Egypt

Israel was at Mount Sinai for a year – and we have 57 chapters dedicated to this year alone.

One of my favorite Hebrew words first appears here: “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession (סְגֻלָּה, segullah) among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.”  Exodus 19:5. Usually this word is saved for Israel in the Old Testament.

Israel has been under Egypt and Pharaoh for so long and now finally they can belong to YHWH.

Again I love the fire imagery with YHWH – fire is usually seen as evil (hell, satan, etc) but YHWH is associated with fire so much more!

Hard to think that after seeing this amazing image, that in 40 days the Israelites would do unspeakable things and worship a golden calf.

I like this list from Bible Project Key Terms for Sinai Narratives https://bibleproject.com/classroom/exodus-overview-carmen-imes/sessions/15

• Theophany: the visible manifestation of God’s presence
• Covenant: a formal, permanent agreement between two parties
• Decalogue: the Ten Commandments
• Stipulations: the requirements of the covenant to which both parties agree
• Ratification: the official ritual by which a covenant takes effect
• Tabernacle: the authorized place of God’s holy presence (tent)
• Priesthood: the official tabernacle service by authorized men from Levi
• Ordination: the official ritual in which someone becomes a priest
• Consecrate: set apart, make holy
• Cult: the entire system of worship (tabernacle, priests, sacrifices)

Questions

Why does God say ‘house of Jacob’ and Israel interchangeably? I know Hebrew likes parallelism

Exodus 19:4 is the first biblical use of the “eagles’ wings” image

Why couldn’t men come near their wives/ have sex with their wives before God arrived? Is there Leviticus law of having sex within marriage being unclean? – after writing this yes there is : Leviticus 15:18 “If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water and be unclean until evening.”

Who blew the trumpet? Angels?

What did Moses feel like going up that mountain during the fire, thunder, smoke, trumpets, etc??

Application

I like Exodus 18 where Jethro tells Moses he can’t do it all. No one is called to do everything – as the church we are all called to different roles. If we are able to focus on what we are specifically called to, we can give our all to that focus.
Within the body of Christ, we’re all given different roles and it’s not weakness to share the load, it’s wisdom.Only Jesus can fulfill the everything role.