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Johnstone asks, “What kind of book is Exodus?” He describes it not only as a history book couched in a narrative, but also as a book dominated by stipulations for religious services, legal practices, and cultic institutions. As such, the author also states the book is also part calendar and liturgical handbook and part code of law. Johnstone thus divides the book into sections on historical matters, institutional matters, literary matters, and theological matters.
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“Theophany—the self-disclosure of God—must be regarded as the central theme of Exodus” (Page 47)
“The ḥuqqim, ‘statutes’ (21:12–17; 22:18–20[Heb. 17–19]) concern actions which threaten the established order of society—the sanctity of the life and freedom of the individual and duty to parents and to God. Infringements of these are absolutely prohibited and necessarily incur the death penalty.” (Page 56)
“The biblical chronology for the exodus and related episodes thus hangs in the air” (Page 16)
“Israel confesses that this is the work of none other than their God” (Page 33)
“narration has taken over and supplanted historiography” (Page 32)
William Johnstone is Professor of Hebrew and Semitic Languages and Head of the Department of Divinity with Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland.