Reading Exodus: A Literary and Theological Commentary

Exodus is perhaps best known for its rousing stories of Moses, the exodus from Egypt, and the theophany at Mt. Sinai: for its foundational themes of liberation and covenant. But it also includes instructions for constructing the tent-shrine known as the Tabernacle and recounts God’s glory descending on it.

This commentary invites the reader to examine how the stories of Exodus are told and the effects of its repetitions, digressions and differing perspectives. Drawing on critical and theological methodologies while prioritizing understanding the book in its received form and its ongoing relevance, the author addresses theological difficulties head-on, such as Pharaoh’s hardened heart, the Egyptian firstborns’ death, and divine punishment. The Tabernacle’s construction is made accessible, revealing fundamental insights into divine presence, absence, and the divine-human relationship.