Exodus is the second book of the English Bible and it’s base Hebrew text corresponds to the second book of Torah called Shemot שְׁמוֹת . I have found three different ways to spell or enunciate it – Shemot, Shemoth, Shemos. All of them are correct.
The first time “Exodus” is used to refer to this text was by the seventy-two Jewish translators of the Greek Septuagint (LXX). Later Jerome, using the Septuagint, used this name in his Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible. William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale depended heavily upon the Latin Vulgate and Luther’s German translations; so, continued the tradition of calling this text “Exodus”. I am sure you know Exodus means “to exit” or “The Departure.”
- Shemot– Exodus 1:1 – 6:1
- Halftorah: Isaiah 27:6 – 28:13; 29:22,23; Jer 1:1-2.3
Brit: 1 Cor. 14.13-15 - Vaeira– Exodus 6:2 – 9.35
- Halftorah: Ezk. 28:25-29:21
Brit: Rev. 16:1-21 - Bo – Exodus 10:1 – 13:16
- Halftorah: Jer. 46:13-28
Brit: Ro. 9:14-29 - Beshalach – Exodus 13:17 – 17:16
- Halftorah: Jud 4:4-5:31
Brit: Rev. 10:1-20:6 - Yitro – Exodus 18.1-20:26 (23)
- Halftora : Isa 6:1-7:6; 9:6-7 (5-6)
Brit: Mt. 5:8-20 - Mishpatim – Exodus 21:1-24:18
- Halftorah: Jer 34:8-22; 33:25-26
- Brit: Mat. 17:1-11
- Terumah – Exodus 25:1 – 27:19
- Halftorah: 1 Ki 55:26-6:13
Brit: 1 Co. 9:1-15 - Tetzaveh – Exodus 27:20 – 30:10
- Halftorah: Ezk. 43:10-27
Brit: Heb. 13:10-16 - Ki Tisa – Exodus 30.11 -34.35
- Halftorah: 1 Ki 18:1-39
Brit: 2 Cor. 3.1-18 - Vayakhel – Exodus 35.1 – 38.20
- Halftorah: 1 Ki 7.13-26, 40, 50
Brit: Heb. 9.1-11 - Pekudei– Exodus 38.21 – 40.38
- Halftorah: 1 Ki 7.51 – 8.21
Brit: Heb. 8.1-12
1917 JPS – Public Domain
The Rabbis refer to the first book of Torah as “Shemot” שְׁמוֹת because its opening phrase, “and these are the names” Ve-elech shemoth. The earliest name for this book is “the Book of the Going out of Egypt”.
Understanding Exodus (Shemot):
The events recorded in Exodus (Shemot) are the foundation of the remainder of the Bible. Until the 1950’s these things were seen as absolute truth. Since then, theories abound about the Pharaoh, the location of Mount Sinai, and the ark of the covenant. We are not given enough details to know for sure without a shadow of doubt about these topics. However, the belief in these things have shaped the world we live in today.
The Pharaoh
I have found at least twelve different proposed Pharaohs named as the Pharaoh of the exodus. The most popular and most accepted by mainstream scholars is Ramses II. However, no evidence has been discovered to prove this claim. Due to this, most scholars call into question the validity of the exodus.
The other Pharaohs who have been named are listed below.
- Pepi I
- Dedumose II
- Ahmose I
- Hatshepsut
- Thutmose II
- Akhenaten
- Ramesses I
- Ramesses III
- Memeptah
- Setnakhte
- Bakenranef
It must be concluded we are uncertain of the name of the Pharaoh of the exodus. This is difficult to accept as most names on this list has an agenda attached to them. Whither that agenda is to disprove the Bible text or to disprove those who disagree with the text.
In the Talmud, the Pharaoh is proposed to be Joseph’s Pharaoh. So the question remains who is the Pharaoh
Mount Sinai
The location of this mountain has been searched for by archaeologist, film makers, and curious people. The traditional site has been called into question.
The Ark of the Covenant
The ark is a great mystery many have sought to locate. Like mount Sinai, many have searched for it included are governments and world leaders. Although the Bible provide some details about it there remain many questions about its appearance. This includes its actual size and the angels on the top. Search any search engine and many drawings will appear. Most of these are very large and are impractical in their designs.
Exodus (Shemot) Themes, Content, and Keywords
THEME:
There are two major themes in Exodus (Shemot) they are redemption and revelation.
CONTENTS:
The content of this book is the nation of Israel leaving Egypt and the Mount Sinai experience culminating to the construction of the Mishkan, the tabernacle. It is mostly a narrative with some legal components and some poetry.
KEYWORDS:
Tabs | Understanding Exodus | Stats | Outline | Scribal Practices | Resources | Next Steps
Exodus (Shemot) Stats:
Exodus (Shemot) is the second book of the Torah of Moses.
KJV English Stats 1
Chapters: 40
Letter Count: ?
Word Count: 32,692
Verse Count: 1,213
Additional English Stats:
Shortest Chapter: 11 (with 10 verses)
Longest Chapter: 12 (with 50 verses)
Commands: ?
Promises: ?
Predictions: ?
Distant Messages from God: 73
Prophecies: 131
Hebrew Stats 2
Parsha Count: 11
Letter Count: 63,527
Word Count: 16,714
Verse Count 3: 1209
Double Count 4: 14
Shortest Parsha: See Chart Below
Longest Parsha: See Chart Below
Unique Hebrew Stats:
Scribal Practices 5: 4
- Enlarged: 0 (0)
- Diminished: 0 (0)
- Dotted: 0 (0)
- Raised (erect): 0
- Others: 0 (0)
Number of Mitzvot: 106 | 108
- Positive: 45
- Negative: 61 | 63
Exodus Torah Stats
| # | Hebrew | English | # of Letters | # of Words | # of P’sukim (Verses) | # of Lines in Torah Scroll |
| 13 (1) | שְׁמוֹת | Shemot | 6,762 | 1,763 | 124 | 215 |
| 14 (2) | וָאֵרָא | Vaeira | 6,701 | 1,748 | 121 | 222 |
| 15 (3) | בֹּא | Bo | 6,149 | 1,655 | 106 | 207 |
| 16 (4) | בְּשַׁלַּח | Beshalach | 6,423 | 1.681 | 116 | 216 |
| 17 (5) | יִתְרוֹ | Yitro | 4,022 | 1,105 | 75 | ? |
| 18 (6) | מִּשְׁפָּטִים | Mishpatim | 5,313 | 1,462 | 118 | 185 |
| 19 (7) | תְּצַוֶּה | Terumah | 4,692 | 1,145 | 96 | 155 |
| 20 (8) | תְּצַוֶּה | Tetzaveh | 5,403 | 1,412 | 101 | 179 |
| 21 (9) | כִּי תִשָּׂא | Ki Tisa | 7,424 | 2,002 | 139 | 245 |
| 22 (10) | וַיַּקְהֵל | Vayakhel | 6,181 | 1,558 | 122 | 211 |
| 23 (11) | פְקוּדֵי | Pekudei | 4,432 | 1,182 | 92 | 159 |
The source of these stats: Akhlah: The Jewish Children Learning Network
Tabs | Understanding Exodus | Stats | Outline | Scribal Practices | Resources | Next Steps
Exodus (Shemot) Outline:
While studying the various outlines for Exodus (Shemot) I read the following quote from Everett Fox, in his The Schocken Bible: Volume I: The Five Books of Moses. I believe all students would be wise to keep this in mind.
“When we turn to a closer consideration of the structure of Exodus, we must proceed on the assumption that a work of art stems from both artful and unconscious design. Therefore, any structuring of such a book can only be hypothetical and must not limit itself to ironclad categories.”
The outline used on this website for Exodus (Shemot) comes from the greatest Jewish scholar of the 20th Century Rabbi/ Professor Umberto Cassuto. His work was translated by Professor Israel Abrahams from the University of Cape Town. The book A Commentary on the Book of Exodus is published by Varda Books in Skokie, Illinois.
Part 1: Bondage and Liberation (1.1 – 17.16)
Part 2: Torah and its Precepts (18.1 – 24.18)
Part 3: The Mishkan and its Initiation (25.1 – 40.38)
Tabs | Understanding Exodus | Stats | Outline | Scribal Practices | Resources | Next Steps
Exodus (Shemot) Scribal Practices:
This is a visual introduction to the scribal practices in the Hebrew text. The Hebrew language contains 22 letters plus 5 additional final forms. I have been able to confirm from a trained scribe that each of these letters are both enlarged and diminished throughout the TaNaK. In Genesis (Bereshit), we have three enlarged letters (two which are final forms) and three diminished letters.
Scribal Stats in Genesis
Enl – enlarged letters – 4 appearances in Genesis | 3 are final forms
Dim – diminished letters – 3 appearances in Genesis
11 Torah Portions – Only 5 Torah portions contain scribal markings
| Letter | Name | Enl | Dim | Hebrew | Trans | Location | Parsha |
| נ | Nun | 1 | 0 | נֹצֵ֥ר | keeping | 34.7 | Ki Tisa |
| ט | Tet | 1 | 0 | ט֣וֹב | good | 2.2 | Shemot |
| צ | Tsade | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.8 | Bo |
| ק | Qof | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32.25 | Ki Tisa |
| ר | Resh | 1 | 0 | אַחֵ֑ר | other | 34.14 | Ki Tisa |
| שׂ | Shin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34.11 | Ki Tisa |
| ץ | Tsade Sofit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.36 | Tetzavah |
The source for this this is linked here. The italicized lines are not listed in the online Jewish Encyclopedia.
Tabs | Understanding Exodus | Stats | Outline | Scribal Practices | Resources | Next Steps
Exodus Resources:
Chumash
The Schocken Bible: Volume 1, The Five Books of Moses | Schocken Books | Everett Fox
The Pentateuch & Haftorahs | The Soncino Press | Dr. J.H. Hertz
The Living Torah | Maznaim Publishing | Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
The Steinsaltz Humash | Koren Publishers | Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz
Commentaries
The Parsha with Rabbi Juravel: Sefer Shemos | MC Publications | Rabbi M. Feinzeig
Covenant & Conversation Commentary | Schocken Books | Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Exploring Exodus: The Origins of Biblical Israel | Schocken Books | Nahum M. Sarna
A Commentary on the Book of Exodus | Varda Books | Umberto Cassuto
Hebrew Resources
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon | Hendrickson Publishers | Francis Brown
Tabs | Understanding Exodus | Stats | Outline | Scribal Practices | Resources | Next Steps
Next Steps:
Since you have finished reading all the background information about Exodus. Select a chapter and begin.
Notes:
- KJV English Stats at taken from the Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible. Finnis Jennings Dake . © 1961 . Lawrenceville ↩
- Hebrew Stats are pulled from various sources: Kefirah of the Week, Wikipedia, and other sources. Provided here are the total numbers. The specific numbers may be found on each parsha post. See the Parsha List for links to each post. ↩
- Verses In the Hebrew text are called “pesukim”. Translated it means “sentences“. ↩
- Hebrew Double Stats: “In the Hebrew, words are sometimes found duplicated. It is often the end of one sentence bumped up against the beginning of the next. E.g. “… was Noah. Noah began to…”.
In any other language or philosophy, such doubling would go unnoticed. But Chabad philosophy seeks meaning in every detail, so they include this in their statistics,” says David Negley (member of a closed Messianic group on Facebook) Each double word instance has several teachings related to them. Listed here are the verses with the Double Counts in Exodus. (2.19; 3.4; 7.17; 8.10; 15.1,21,25; 16.5,21; 23.30;30.7; 34.6; 36.3,4) ↩
- Scribal Practices: Are unique to the Hebrew language and are something that can’t be translated. They are enlarged letters, diminished letters, dotted letters, raised, and other unique features of the Hebrew language. Although they have practical applications additional meaning have been given to each of these instances. Much of the following information had been gathered from the Jewish Encyclopedia ↩