Becoming God’s People—Exodus 16–40

Abstract

IN EGYPT, THE descendants of Jacob, a.k.a. Israel, grew in numbers; the family of Israel became a people. But once they have crossed the Red Sea, Israel must begin to grow in character to become a people worthy of entering into covenant—“cutting a deal,” to use the Hebrew phrase—with YHWH at Sinai. The rest of the book introduces three crucial elements of their formation: first, a sustainable food economy (Exod 16); second, the gift of the core commandments, the fundaments of the covenant (Exod 19–24); and third, construction of the tabernacle, the wilderness sanctuary (Exod 25–31; 35–40)....