The Work Completed

Chapter 35

22 They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD – Where did they get it? Cf. Gen. 15:14.

Chapter 36

8 Then all the gifted artisans among them who worked on the tabernacle made ten curtains woven of fine linen, and of blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim they made them – According to the command in Exodus 26:1-6.

14 He made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains – According to the command in Exodus 26:7-14.

20 For the tabernacle he made boards of acacia wood, standing upright - ) According to the command in Exodus 26:15-30.

35 And he made a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen; it was worked with an artistic design of cherubim…

37 He also made a screen for the tabernacle door, of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver, 38 and its five pillars with their hooks. And he overlaid their capitals and their rings with gold, but their five sockets were bronze - According to the command in Exodus 26:31-33, 36-37.

Chapter 37

1 Then Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height - According the command in Exodus 25:10-22.

10 He made the table of acacia wood; two cubits was its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. - According to the command in Exodus 25:23-30.

17 He also made the lampstand of pure gold; of hammered work he made the lampstand. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and its flowers were of the same piece – According to the command in Exodus 25:31-40.

25 He made the incense altar of acacia wood. Its length was a cubit and its width a cubit—it was square—and two cubits was its height. Its horns were of one piece with it – According to the command in Exodus 30:1-10.

29 He also made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the perfumer - According to the command in Exodus 30:22-38.

Chapter 38

1 He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood; five cubits was its length and five cubits its width—it was square—and its height was three cubits - According to the command in Exodus 27:1-8.

8 He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting - According to the command in Exodus 30:17-21.

9 Then he made the court on the south side; the hangings of the court were of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long…

18 The screen for the gate of the court was woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen. The length was twenty cubits, and the height along its width was five cubits, corresponding to the hangings of the court – According to the command in Exodus 27:9-19.

Chapter 39

1 Of the blue, purple, and scarlet thread they made garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD had commanded Moses - According to the command in Exodus 28:5-14.

8 And he made the breastplate, artistically woven like the workmanship of the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and of fine woven linen - According to the command in Exodus 28:15-29.

22 He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue – According to the command in Exodus 28:31-35.

27 They made tunics, artistically woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons - According to the command in Exodus 28:39-43.

30 Then they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription like the engraving of a signet: HOLINESS TO THE LORD – According to the command in Exodus 28:36-38.

Chapter 40

2 “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting - Since the people arrived at Mt. Sinai three months after the Exodus, that means they were at Sinai eight and a half months. Part of that time (at least 80 days) Moses was on the mountain (40 days, 24:18; and another 40 days for the covenant renewal, 34:28).

16 Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did - Seven times in this chapter Moses is said to have done exactly as the LORD commanded him (vv. 19, 21, 23, 25-26, 29, 32).

The Golden Calf

Chapter 31

6 And I, indeed I, have appointed with him Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you – Cf. Col 3:23.

17     It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever - the Sabbath was a sign between God and Israel Cf. Romans 14:5; Colossians 2:16-17.

18     And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God – Cf. finger of God (Ex. 8:19; Deut. 9:10; Ps. 8:3; Luke 11:20)

Chapter 32

4        And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf – Aaron knew what he was doing. They worshipped an animal that eats grass instead of the God who created it.

6        Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play – “The verb translated play suggests sex-play in Hebrew . . . and therefore we are probably to understand drunken orgies.” (Cole)

14     So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people – Cf. Num. 23:19. The Hebrew word ‘relented” comes from a primitive root which literally means to sigh, breathe strongly; by implication it means to pity.

24     And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out – No ownership! Cf. Deut. 9:20.

Chapter 33

2 And I will send My Angel before you – Not a theophany.

7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp – This is not the tabernacle but a temporary meeting place.

11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend – Cf. John 15: 15.

19     Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion – Cf. Rom. 9:15.

20     But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live – Cf. 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Tim. 6:16; Heb. 1:1-3.

Chapter 34

5        Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD – Shekinah

• Covered Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16),
• Went with Israel by day (Exodus 13:21-22),
• Went to the tent of Moses (Exodus 33:9-10),
• Filled the temple with the glory of the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:2),
• Overshadowed Mary at the conception of Jesus (Luke 1:35),
• Was at the transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:34-35),
• Will accompany the return of Jesus (Revelation 1:7).

35     And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him – Cf. 2Cor. 3:7-18

Chapter 28

1 Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him – Mentioned 24 times in Exodus. Later David organizes them into 24 courses (1Chron 23:4). 24 also refers to the 24 elders in the book of Revelation (Rev 4:4).

4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash – Six pieces

6  and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked – A vest-like upper garment

9 Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel –

15 You shall make the breastplate of judgment - It was to be 9″ square (a span, was half a cubit) with 12 precious stones in gold. Revelation 21:19-21, Ezek 28:11-14. Stones could represent being clothed in light.

30 And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim - mentioned 7 times in the Bible (Ex 28:30; Lev 8:8; Ez 2:63; Neh 7:65; Deut 33:8; Num 27:21; 1Sam 28:6). Used as instruments to discern the will of God.

• Urim – lights or “fire.”
• Thummim “perfection.”

34 And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around: 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe all around– So they could hear him from the outside.

Chapter 29

7 And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him – (Ha mishiah) Messiah, the Anointed One. Greek: Christos, Christ the Anointed One.

14 But the flesh of the bull, with its skin and its offal, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering – Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem.

18 And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD – Wholly consumed. Cf.  Romans 12:1.

20 Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar – The ear was that they might hear the voice of God. The right thumb that they might do the work of God.

Chapter 30

2  You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2 A cubit shall be its length and a cubit its width—it shall be square—and two cubits shall be its height. Its horns shall be of one piece with it – This was 18” square and three feet high with horns on the four corners. See Hebrews 9:3-4 compare to Lev 16:12-13. Cf.  Luke 1.

9 You shall not offer strange incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; nor shall you pour a drink offering on it – See Lev 10

18 “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing - Bronze is the symbol of judgment. The bronze basin speaks of a daily and progressive cleansing which is continual. The water is a symbol of the Word of God. (Psalm 119:9; John 3:5; 13:5; Eph 5:25-26; Titus 3:5, Heb 10:22; 1Pet 1:22). The women donated their mirrors in order to make this bronze basin (Exodus 38:8; James 1:23-25).

23 Also take for yourself quality spices -

• Myrrh -  bitter – It was an embalming perfume and speaks of death. The Magi brought Myrrh to Jesus which was prophetic of his death on the cross.
• Cinnamon – in the form of jealousy. God is a jealous God, and only He is to be worshipped.
• The fragrant cane – to stand upright. It spoke of fragrant reeds that stood upright in the miry soil. Jesus is called a bruised reed Isa 42:3.
• Cassia – to stoop down or bow down.
• Oil – The anointing of the Holy Spirit

• Gold – Divinity – Deity
• Silver – Redemption (blood)
• Brass – Judgment, wrath (can endure fire)
• Blue – Heavenlies – Derived from the dye of a shellfish
• Purple – Royal Majesty – Derived from the murex snail.
• Scarlet – Blood – (tolaat) Derived from a particular worm (coccus ilicis) which attaches itself to the holly plant.
• Fine Linen – White – Holiness – An Egyptian word.
• Goat’s Hair – Atonement (scapegoat) – usually black and coarse from long hair goats, weather resistant.
• Ram’s Skin – Dyed Red – Blood (Substitute ram for Isaac).
• Badger Skin – May be “porpoise” or “sea cow” skins from Red Sea.
• Acacia Wood – Humanity – Curse – harder and darker than oak. Common on Sinai Peninsula
• Oil – Anointing – Light (Anointing of Holy Spirit)

Chapter 26

1      “Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. – Ten curtains were each 6 wide and 42 long making up two large curtains 30‘ by 42’ that will be coupled together for a total of 60’ by 42’. White = purity. Purple = royalty. Blue = heaven. Scarlet = blood: תּוֹלָע tola at  “worm” Cf. Psa. 22:6

7      You shall also make curtains of goats’ hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. – Longer than the inner curtains (45’ rather than 42’). The goat was used as a sin offering (Lev.9,16); and the Palestinian goat was black (Gen. 30:25-43)

14   “You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that – The covering of ram skins would be like fine leather dyed red. The outer covering of badger skins or, perhaps porpoise or sea-cow skins. Cf. Isa. 53:2.

15   And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright. Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board – 15’ high 2 ¼’ wide.

25   So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver—sixteen sockets—two sockets under each of the boards – Silver is the metal associated with redemption and payment for sin (Exodus 21:32; Leviticus 5:15, 27:3, 27:6; Numbers 18:16; Deuteronomy 22:19) (Matthew 26:15).

31   You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen – Later, in the temple, this veil was torn from top to bottom at the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:51), showing that through His death, there is no longer a barrier to the Most Holy place.

34   You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. 35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side

Chapter 27

1      You shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide—the altar shall be square—and its height shall be three cubits – Also called “the altar of burnt offering” (30:28; Lev. 4:7, 10, 18) and “the bronze altar” (Ex. 38:30). The altar would be 7 ½ feet square, and 4 ½ feet high.

9      You shall also make the court of the tabernacle. For the south side there shall be hangings for the court made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side – The courtyard was marked off by a (white) fine linen fence, providing an area of 150 feet by 75 feet. The pillars were to be 7 and a half feet high (five cubits, Exodus 27:18), with bronze bases and silver top pieces, with silver hooks for hanging the linen upon.

20   And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually – Zechariah’s interpretation of the lampstand: “… Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6).

Chapter 24

1      Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar – Nadab and Abihu – were Aaron’s two eldest sons put to death by the Lord in Leviticus 10:1-2.

8      And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.” – “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25-26).

9      Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity – Cf. Rev. 4:2-6.

Chapter 25

Background: Hebrews 8:1-5, 9:2-5, 11-12, 19-25

2      “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering – Cf. 2Cor. 9:7; Ex. 36:5-7.

8     And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them – Cf. John 1:14.

9      According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it – 7x in the Bible it says that Moses was commanded to make the Sanctuary after the pattern he was shown on the Mount (Ex 25:9; 25:40; 26:30 27:8; Nu 8:4; Heb 8:5; Acts 7:44).

The Tabernacle As A Type of Christ:

• Was a temporary dwelling. Just as Jesus came temporarily to earth.
• Was humble in appearance. But inwardly the Tabernacle was beautiful.
• Was God’s dwelling place among men (John 1:14).
• Was where God met with man (Ex. 25:21-22).
• Was the center of Israel’s camp (Num. 1:50).
• Was the place where the Law was preserved (Deut. 10:2-5) (Ps. 40:8).
• Was the place where sacrifice was made.
• Was the place of worship.
• Had but one door (John 10:9).
• Was approached through the tribe of Judah (Exodus 27:12-17)

10   And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height – 3’9” inches long; 2’3” wide; and 2’3” high.

21   You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you –

23   You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height – 3’ long, 1’6” inches wide, and 2’3” high. On this table was kept 12 loaves of unleavened bread representing the 12 tribes of Israel – Jesus said “I Am the bread of life.”

31   You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work – “I am the light of the world (John 8:12). “I am the vine you are the branches” (John 15:5).

The Law Concerning Servants

Chapter 21

1      If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing – Four basic ways a Hebrew might become a slave to another Hebrew:

• In extreme poverty, they could sell their liberty (Leviticus 25:39);
• A father could sell his children into servitude (Exodus 21:7);
• In the case of bankruptcy, a man could become servant to his creditors (2 Kings 4:1);
• If a thief had nothing with which to pay proper restitution (Exodus 22:3-4).

4      He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever – A voluntary slave was called a bond slave: (Romans 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1). Cf. Psa. 40:6-8; Phil. 2:5-8

The Law Concerning Violence

12   “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death – Capital punishment.  If the person kills by accident he could escape to one of the six cities of refuge after Israel was in the land (Num. 35:6-34; Deut. 19:1-13; Josh. 20).

Animal Control Laws

32   If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned – The ownerr is responsible. This was the same price Jesus was “sold” for – Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15)

Responsibility for Property

Chapter 22

1      “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep – The thief was either to compensate for the crime with his own material wealth or to be sold into slavery and he was to pay double the amount.

2      If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed – Self-defense protected.

Moral and Ceremonial Principles

16   “If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife – “This was an exceedingly wise and humane law, and must have operated powerfully against seduction and fornication; because the person who might feel inclined to take the advantage of a young woman knew that he must marry her, and give her a dowry” (Clarke)

18   “You shall not permit a sorceress to live – Cf. Deut. 18. The practice of sorcery was almost always associated with the taking of drugs in the ancient world to stimulate visions and hallucinations.

19 Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death – Bestiality figured prominently in Canaanite Baal worship (cf. Lev. 18:23-24). (cf. Lev. 20:16; Deut. 27:21).

Justice for All

Exodus 23

1      “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness – Don’t give a false report or gossip about someone else.

The Law of Sabbaths

10   “Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove - The Israelites did not obey this law. When they came into the land of Canaan, for 490 years they did not give the land a Sabbath rest. 490÷7 = 70. When God allowed the Babylonians to conquer the Israelites, they went into captivity for 70 years to give the land rest (2Chronicles 36:17-21, Jeremiah 25:8-11).

Three Annual Feasts

14   “Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); 16 and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. 17 “Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD – Feast Of Unleavened Bread – Passover; Feast of Harvest – This was 50 days after Passover. The Feast of Pentecost; Feast of Ingathering – This became the feast of Tabernacles in September.

The Angel and the Promises

20   “Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared – Jesus Christ!

32   You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods – Cf. Josh. 9:3-15; Ex. 34:12.

Chapter 19 – Mt. Sinai

1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai – The location of Mt. Sinai is questionable. Traditionally it is identified as Jebel Musa in the southern portion of the Sinai Peninsula. They remain here until Numbers 10:10, 11 months and 6 days—from the 15th day of the third month of their first year (cf. Ex. 12:2, 6, with 19:1) to “the 20th day of the second month of the second year” (Num. 10:11).

4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself - When young eagles are learning to fly, the mother eagle flies under them with her wings spread out to catch them. Cf. Isa 40:31; Rev. 12:14

6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”-  Cf. 1 Pet. 2:4-10; Rev 1:5-6

9 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” - The people actually heard the voice of God audibly.

16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled– Cf. Matthew 28:1-4

Chapter 20 – The Ten Commandments

Literally “Ten Words” (Exodus 34:28)

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage – The Ten Commandments reveal God’s characteristics.

Commandment #1

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me -

• We are to flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14);
• Those whose life is marked by habitual idolatry will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Ephesians 5:5, Revelation 21:8, 22:15);
• Idolatry is a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-20),
• Which marks our old life instead of the new (1 Peter 4:3), and
• We are not to associate with those who call themselves Christians who are idolaters (1 Corinthians 5:11)

Commandment #2

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth – “carved wood or stone,”

Commandment #3

7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain - literally in the Hebrew: “raise up Yahweh’s name for no good” (nāśāh šēm yahweh).

Commandment #4

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy – The Sabbath was a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17). Jesus is our rest. Christians are not under obligation to observe a Sabbath day (Colossians 2:16-17; Galatians 4:9-11)

Commandment #5

12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you - Ephesians 6: 1-2. It was a capital offense – Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9; Prov. 20:20

Commandment #6

13 You shall not murder - It literally means “to dash into pieces.”

Commandment #7

14 You shall not commit adultery – Sanctity of marriage

Commandment #8

15 You shall not steal – Sanctity of private property – Also, see Malachi 3:8-10

Commandment #9

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor - This includes gossip, here-say and any false testimony against someone else

Commandment #10

17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s – Cf. Rom 7:7-8; Lk 12:15.

Chapter 16

1 And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of Egypt – “Sin” pronounced “seen”. The fifteenth day would be one month after leaving Egypt, since they left on the fifteenth of the previous month (Exodus 12:18).

2 And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full – Notice their exaggeration of what they ate in Egypt. They were slaves in Egypt, under heavy oppression, making bricks, building monuments, but in their minds they were making it better than it was.

4 bread from heaven – God’s title for manna(Nehemiah 9:15, Psalm 78:24, 105:40), or angels’ food (Psalm 78:25). Cf. Deut. 8:3; John 6:30-51

13 So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp – Quail “migrate regularly between south Europe and Arabia across the Sinai Peninsula. They are small, bullet-headed birds, with a strong but low flight, usually roosting on the ground or in the low bushes at nightfall. When exhausted, they would be unable to . . . take off again. The birds are good eating, and were a favorite delicacy of the Egyptians” (Cole).

15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.– “What is it?” = Manna

29 See! For the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day – Jesus is our Sabbath CF. Matthew 11:28-30.

31 And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey - Purity, righteousness, perfection. Psalm 119:40, 103; Prov. 30:5; Psalm 12:6; Rev. 22:1; Psalm 81:16.

34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. – “The Testimony” refers to the two tablets of the Law (25:16; 31:18; 32:15; 34:29).

Hebrews 9: ⁴ This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. NIV

Manna (Jesus as the Bread of Life) placed in the Ark along with Aaron’s budding staff (The Resurrection) and the Ten Commandments (The Law).

35 And the children of Israel ate manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36 Now an omer is one-tenth of an ephah - God was feeding 2 million plus people. This equates to 9 million pounds of Manna every day. That’s 1 million tons a year for 40 years

Chapter 17

2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink - teaching them to trust Him.

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel- ”Strike” literally means to strike, beat, give [wounds], kill, murderer, punish, slaughter, slay, smite,  stripes, wound. Numbers 20:1-13; 1Corinthians 10:1-4 – See also Romans 6:9-10, Hebrews 9:26-28

8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim – Amelek = “war like” – Num. 14:45; Judges 6:33; 1Sam. 14:48; 15:7; 27:8

11 Moses held up his hands – A picture of the spiritual battle between our flesh and our spiritual nature Cf. Gal 5:17-18.

13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword – Eph. 6:17

15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner - Yahweh-Nissi

Chapter 18

2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back – Called Moses a “bridegroom of blood” – See Exodus 4:25. This chapter is the last time Zipporah is mentioned in the Scriptures

Chapter 14 –The Red Sea Crossing

1      Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea – Pi Hahiroth, the place of caves; Migdol, tower or fortress; Baal Zephon, land of the north

12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? - The people often fluctuated between trust and complaining, between belief and unbelief (4:31; 5:21; 14:10-12, 31; 15:24; 16:2-4; 17:2-3)

13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today –

Ephesians 6: ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then…

19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them – Theophany – appearance of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided – a true miracle of God!

24   Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the LORD looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians- Sometime between 3 a.m. and dawn

25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty – Wheels were stuck in the mud? Cf. Psalm 77:16-19.

Chapter 15 – Song Of Moses

2      the LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation

11   “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? – Psa. 35:10; 71:19; 77:13; 89:6; 113:5; Micah 7:18.

13 You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation – Key verse of Exodus – Redemption.

20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances - This is the first mention of a prophetess. She had a significant leadership role in Israel’s wilderness wanderings (see Micah 6:4) and she was in her 90s at this point.

22   So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water – “This is a vast, rugged, and sparsely populated wilderness region in the northern Sinai, stretching from what in modern times is the eastern side of the Suez Canal to the Negev of Israel.” Stuart, D. K. (2007). Vol. 2: Exodus (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (365). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah – Bitter – See Ruth 1:20

25    So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet – The cross Cf. gal. 3:13.

26    For I am the LORD who heals you – Yahweh-Rapha

27    Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters - 12 springs for each of the tribes of Israel, say the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem. 70 palm trees, one for each of the seventy elders that will later be chosen. Jesus sent out the 12 apostles to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:1). Later He sent out 70 others (Luke 10:1).

The First Plague – Water turned to blood (Ex. 7:14–25)

The Second Plague: Frogs

Chapter 11 – Plague #10 – The Firstborn Dies

Chapter 11 –Plague #10 – The Firstborn Dies

2 Speak now in the hearing of the people, and let every man ask from his neighbor and every woman from her neighbor, articles of silver and articles of gold – Used later for Tabernacle

5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals – The Israelites were not without fault and needed the blood – See Ezekiel 20:6-10. The goddess Isis supposedly protected children

Chapter 12 – Passover

2      Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you – The month of Abib (“fresh young ears” of, e.g., barley) or Nisan (“early” or “start.”)

Noah’s Ark rested on Mt. Ararat on the 17^th day of the 7^th month (Genesis 8:4) which here becomes the first month. Jesus resurrected from the dead on the 17^th day of the first month of Nisan.

3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household – The Sunday before Jesus was crucified was the 10^th of this month of Nisan,  Palm Sunday! John 12:1, 12, 13. Fulfilling Daniel 9:25 to the very day!

5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats -                             1Peter 1:¹⁸For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it –  Cf. vs. 22. The sign of the cross!

11 And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand – Ready to move out!

13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt – Even if an Egyptian was in the house with blood, they were spared. Cf. Heb. 11:28.

17 So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance– Yeast ferments or “rots” its host. Yeast is a symbol of sin. It corrupts by puffing up. Sin rots us!  See Matthew 13:33, 1Corinthians 5:6-10

46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones -                  Psalm 34:20; John 19:31-33

Chapter 13 – Feast Of Unleavened Bread

9      It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt – this is where the practice of the phylacteries comes from: small boxes holding parchment with scriptures on them, held to the forehead or hand with leather straps.

13   But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem – Donkeys for sacrifices were ceremonially unclean (Lev. 11:2-4). , Ishmael was compared to a Wild Donkey in contrast to Isaac who was a man of the Spirit (Gen 16:12). And In 1Sam 9:3 and Jer. 22:19, the donkey is symbolic of those who are lost.