The exodus declared what?
(2006-12-15 19:34:46)
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The exodus declared that Israel exists by the powerful delivering action of Yahweh. The covenant shaped Israel's relationship with Yahweh. This relationship has clear expectations of both parties and holds the promise of a glorious future. Taken together these events establish Israel's elemental identity as a delivered people in covenant with God.
Moreover, the exodus is basic to Judaism and Christianity. It is celebrated in Judaism as pesach, the Passover, and is the premier festival of freedom and liberty. In Christianity it has been transformed into Easter, with Jesus of Nazareth being the Passover lamb.
The book of Exodus gets its name from the central event recounted therein: Israel's miraculous departure from Egypt. In serial order the book of Exodus follows the book of Genesis, but in terms of its religious and national significance it is number one. It can be divided into two main parts: traditions centering on the exit from Egypt (chapters 1-18) and traditions centering on the Mount Sinai revelation of Yahweh (chapters 19-40).