Exodus: Reflections

I've been roughly familiar with the story in Exodus for most of my life, but never had read the story in its entirety or known the details.  I suspect that's the way it is with most non-Jewish people (including Christians), because the details are rather surprising.  Well, unless you already realize that this book is bereft of any moral value.

Exodus 38-40

I should have combined 35-40 in the same way that I combined 25-31.  Oh well.

Exodus 37

Making the ark of the covenant (again); and other details of the sanctuary.

Exodus 36

If you want to know how to hang curtains or make boards for the tabernacle, this is your chapter.

Exodus 35

In which we collect materials for another sanctuary, and threaten to put to death anyone who works on a Sunday.

Exodus 34

We are finally presented with the Ten Commandments.  And they're not what people generally claim they are.

Exodus 33

God is worried about what he'd have to do to the sons of Israel if he were to come among them.  He doesn't want anyone to see his face, but is okay if they look at his behind.

Exodus 32

In which the Israelites make a golden calf, get naked and have a partaaaaay.  When Moses returns and sees the debauchery, he smashes the tablets, divides the group into the faithful and the rest, and has the sons of Levi the mass-murderer slaughter the unfaithful.  Moses then goes back up the mountain to speak with God again, and God plagues the Israelites for worshiping the golden calf.

Exodus 25 - 31

I'm grouping these chapters together, because they're all basically the same: a list of instructions on making a sanctuary, the furniture inside, the clothing to be worn, procedures for slaughtering animals inside, recipes for oil and incense, and so on.  Oh, and we get two stone tablets with some writing on them.

Ex 25
Instructions on building the ark of the covenant, a table, golden candlesticks, dishes, spoons, bowls, covers and lamps.

Ex 26
Tabernacle

Ex 27
Altar, pans, shovels, basins, fleshhooks, firepans

Ex 28
Garments (a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, an embroidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle)

Ex 29
Instructions on how to hallow the tabernacle, including detailed procedures for slaughtering animals.

Ex 30
Another altar for burning of incense, and instructions on how much people are supposed to pay.  Instructions for making the oil and incense.

Ex 31
God talks about all the stuff they just did, and then gives Moses two stone tablets.

Exodus 24

In which God invites Moses up to the mountain top to get the law and commandments for the people to follow.

Exodus 23

In which God spells out more rules (with puzzling specificity) and again promises land to the Israelites.

Exodus 22

In which we get more rules, such as what to do with thieves, and how to treat strangers and witches.  And don't eat road kill.

Exodus 21

In which we get detailed rules about how to treat slaves and oxen.

Exodus 20

In which God gives a list of rules of things he doesn't want people to do. 

Exodus 19

In which God threatens to kill anyone who tries to see him on the mount (including any animals that may accidentally get too close).

Exodus 18

In which Moses sets up a judicial system.

Exodus 17

In which Moses provides water for the Hebrews (from a rock), and they fight a war with the Amalekites.

Exodus 16

In which Moses and the Hebrews get lost in the desert, but eventually make it to Canaan.

Exodus 15

In which the Hebrews celebrate God's mass murder of Egyptians with a song.

Exodus 14

In which God drowns the Egyptians in the Red Sea, in another stunning genocide.