Lesson 15 Flashcards
- Describe the development of the problem of Egyptian oppression
The oppression of the Israelites in Egypt
The Israelites were oppressed by the Egyptians for 430 years. The Israelites were forced to perform harsh labor in the fields and make brick and mortar. The more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they multiplied, which led the Egyptians to work them even more ruthlessly. The Israelites eventually left Egypt for “The Promised Land”
- Describe the Egyptian worldview and the significant polemical value of the plagues
A. Pharaoh
1. A god
2. A ruler in complete control
3. The fountainhead of all power and might
4. He ensured the well-being of the nation
5. Hardening of his heart
a. חָזַק( (ḥāzaq) “strong”
b. כָּבַד(kābad) “heavy”
c. Anubis weighs the heart
d. Significance
B. The universe
1. A system of divine order (ma’at)
2. A harmonious whole
3. A well-balanced system
C. Their gods were unlimited in number
1. Polytheistic
2. Syncretistic
3. Immanent in nature
4. Animal idols
5. So numerous they are impossible to categorize
D. A single natural phenomenon could explain several things
1. Example: the sun
a. Creator
b. Victory over darkness
c. Justice
2. A single problem could be related to several natural phenomena
a. Existence was related to the earth (Ptah)
b. Existence was related to the sun (Amon-Re)
c. Existence was related to the ram (Khnum)
- What was the situation like just before God sent the plagues? How did God encourage the people and confirm the legitimacy of Moses and Aaron?
Bad situations get oppressed
1) Harder oppression by making bricks without straw because too much time (Exod 5:5-6)
2) Discouraged people (Exod 5:20-21; 6:9)
-people blamed Moses and Aaron because it upset Pharoah
3) Demoralized leadership (Exod 6:9, 12)
-Isr did not listen to Moses
Yahweh’s response:
1) Yahweh will deal with Pharoah
2) Reaffirms covenant promises (Ex 6:2-8)
3) Geneaoloy of Moses and Aaron to confirm leadership
- Describe the Egyptian view of the world, including the place of Pharaoh in the universe, the role of the gods, and how the Egyptians explained natural phenomena.
A. Pharaoh
1. A god
2. A ruler in complete control
3. The fountainhead of all power and might
4. He ensured the well-being of the nation
5. Hardening of his heart
a. חָזַק( (ḥāzaq) “strong”
b. כָּבַד(kābad) “heavy”
c. Anubis weighs the heart
d. Significance
B. The universe
1. A system of divine order (ma’at)
2. A harmonious whole
3. A well-balanced system
C. Their gods were unlimited in number
1. Polytheistic
2. Syncretistic
3. Immanent in nature
4. Animal idols
5. So numerous they are impossible to categorize
D. A single natural phenomenon could explain several things
1. Example: the sun
a. Creator
b. Victory over darkness
c. Justice
2. A single problem could be related to several natural phenomena
a. Existence was related to the earth (Ptah)
b. Existence was related to the sun (Amon-Re)
c. Existence was related to the ram (Khnum)
- How did the plagues attack the Egyptian view of the world
C. The ten plagues
1. Plague 1: Nile turned into blood (Exod 7:14-25)
a. Egyptian gods
i. Khnum, the guardian of the Nile sources
ii. Hapi, the spirit of the Nile
iii. Osiris, the god of the underworld whose bloodstream was the Nile.
b. Magicians can produce this plague (Exod 7:22)
c. The meaning is that false gods cannot sustain life
2. Plague 2: Frogs (Exod 8:1-14)
a. Egyptian gods of fertility
i. Hopi
ii. The goddess Heqt
b. Magicians can produce this plague (Exod 8:7)
c. The meaning is that false gods cannot produce life
3. Plague 3: Gnats (Exod 8:16-19)
a. Egyptian gods: Magicians are not able to produce gnats (intensification)
b. “This is the finger of God” (Exod 8:19)
c. The meaning is that false gods are powerless before the power of Yahweh
4. Plague 4: Swarms of flies (Exod 8:20-32)
a. Egyptian gods: Distinction between the land of Egypt and the land of Goshen (the word “distinction” in Exod 8:23 means “redemption”)
b. The meaning is that Yahweh is redeeming his people through the judgment of Egypt
5. Plague 5: Plague on livestock (Exod 9:1-7)
a. Egyptian gods
i. Hathor, the goddess of love, beauty, and joy (cow)
ii. Apis bull, the sacred animal of the god Ptah
iii. Ptah, the creator, the primary source of existence
b. Intensification by the “hand of God” and the first plague that brings death (Exod 9:3)
c. The meaning is that Yahweh is the creator God who determines existence
6. Plague 6: Boils (Exod 9:8-12)
a. Egyptian gods
i. Sekhmet, a lion-headed goddess who created and ended epidemics
ii. Imhotep, the god of medicine and the guardian of healing
b. Intensification by the inability of the magicians to “stand before” Moses
c. The meaning is that Yahweh has control over disease and can use it to make Egyptian power ineffective
7. Plague 7: Hail (Exod 9:13-35)
a. Egyptian gods
i. Nut, the sky goddess
ii. Isis and Seth, gods of the crops
b. “I will send the full force of my plagues” (Exod 9:14)
c. Meaning: Yahweh controls the elements of creation to bring destruction or productivity
8. Plague 8: Locusts (Exod 10:1-20)
a. Egyptian gods: many peasants prayed to a locust god
b. “Egypt is ruined” (Exod 10:7)
c. The meaning is that Yahweh’s power is a testimony to future generations that there is no other God (Exod 10:1-2)
9. Plague 9: Darkness (Exod 10:21-29)
a. Egyptian god Amon-Re, the sun god, represented by Pharaoh
b. The meaning is the destruction of the Egyptian world view and that Yahweh is the true source of light and life
10. Plague 10: Death of the firstborn (Exod 11:1-10; 12:29-30).
a. Egyptian gods
i. Pharaoh was considered a god
ii. Pharaoh’s eldest son was considered a god
b. Yahweh is the true king of the world
