The Pilgrimage Pattern in Exodus
Overview
Underlying Exodus in its priestly redaction is a pilgrimage. Smith's new book starts by reviewing pilgrimage shrines, feasts and practices in ancient Israel. Next, it examines the two pilgrimage journeys in Exodus. In Exodus 1-15, Moses' journeys to Mount Sinai, experiences God and receives his commission. In Exodus 16–40, Moses and the people together journey to Mount Sinai for the people's experience of God and their commission. Between lies Exodus 15, the fulcrum of the book: verses 1–12 look back and verses 13-18 look forward to Israel's journey to Sinai. Finally, the different meanings of Torah in the book of Exodus are contrasted, and the book concludes with a consideration of Exodus's larger place in the Pentateuch.
- Expert contributors
- Includes detailed table of contents, indexes, and bibliographies to aid study
Top Highlights
“Moses and the elders join in a meal and enjoy a partial vision of the heavenly palace and deity (24:9–11). The written character of instruction allows it to become unmediated again, but not in the sense of being able to dispense with legal authority. Rather, divine teaching is unmediated in that it is visibly present. Whereas the people heard the law of the decalogue directly from Yahweh and then had law mediated by Moses, now they have law directly in written form.” (Page 273)
- Title: The Pilgrimage Pattern in Exodus
- Author: Mark S. Smith
- Publisher: Sheffield Academic Press
- Publication Date: 1997
- Pages: 355
Mark S. Smith is Professor of Theology, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.