Review of an Exodus Commentary by Terence Fretheim

The first half of the book of Exodus is a strange and exciting mixture of dramatic events, a brief expositions about Jewish feasts and a praise song by Moses after the people of Israel are rescued on the Sinai peninsula.  The second half is not as fast-paced; for me it seems to bog down in intricate details of the Jewish Law, given on Mount Sinai (twice!)  I have found the study of that material a bit of a struggle.  However, I have been greatly helped by both the Exodus class by Carmen Imes and the commentary on Exodus by Terence Fretheim.

Fretheim's study in Exodus (Exodus: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, John Knox Press, Louisville KY, 1991) is an exciting and detailed commentary on

an Old Testament book that I have generally found strange and tedious. Fretheim works through the ancient story of Moses with insight into passages that hint at God's plan to reveal himself, first to Moses, then to the Egyptian Pharaoh, and finally, in covenant, to the Israelite people on the plain before Mt. Sinai. Fretheim's analysis of Exodus 32-34 is especially enlightening, indeed inspiring, as Moses negotiates with YHWH, mediating for the people of Israel. When YHWH asks if He should start all over with just Moses (as He did with Noah), Moses responds by repeating back YHWH's statements about His reputation and plans for the nation and all mankind. The interaction is remarkable in ways I had never seen before. Can I make the same pleas to YHWH? Isn't that the point of intercessory prayer?

My previous experience with the book of Exodus has tended to be a watered down Vacation-Bible-School version. Fretheim makes it clear that instead this ancient text is a central, critical book for the nation of Israel and thus for both Jews and Christians. The book has deep theological statements about knowing God and interacting with Him and His Law. Fretheim points out numerous places, both in the conflict with Pharaoh and the later events at Mt. Sinai, where the Exodus text points back to Creation, eventually offering, in some sense, a way for the people of Israel to experience the original promises of Eden.

Fretheim, although orthodox and committed to Scripture as divinely inspired, does see parts of Exodus as organized by redactors, in a way that I interpret as a modification of a modification of the Document Hypothesis.

I have spent the last month studying the book of Exodus, watching a BibleProject course by Carmen Imes and reading this commentary (which was recommended by Imes.) I have benefitted greatly from both my time in the course and my time in the commentary.