by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
Almost nine (9) months into the war as a result of the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack and massacre in Israeli neighborhoods near Gaza, the IDF is in control of the entire Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border all the way up to the Mediterranean coast. But fighting continues in Rafah. The 100+ hostages (only half still alive?) are still held somewhere in Rafah or elsewhere in Gaza as evidenced by the last successful rescue of 4 hostages last June 8.
Meanwhile, as Hamas weakens, Hezbollah in the northern front continues to increase its daily missile, mortar and drone attacks and bombardment of northern Israel. It would seem the stage is getting prepared for a full-scale war in southern Lebanon as both sides threaten ground invasion.
Let us continue to pray for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Let us continue to stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9).
Exodus 14 narrates the wondrous, miraculous event of the parting of the יַם־ס֑וּף (“Yam Suph” Reed [or Red] Sea), the crossing of all the Israelites on dry land, and the destruction of Pharaoh’s chariot force when the waters engulfed them all. This momentous redemption event is celebrated in the Song of Moses. It is a song of deliverance found in chapter 15.
Exodus 15:13-21 of the song in particular, point to God’s steadfast love and the redemption of his chosen people and his leading them into the land he had promised to their patriarchs. The fear and trembling of the nations which come to know of the supernatural crossing of the sea is expressed in verses 14-16. The inhabitants and rulers of Philistia, Edom, Moab and Canaan are mentioned by name. These are the very nations that Israel will encounter enroute to their settlement of the land promised.
In verse 17 Moses prophetically looks forward to and sings about the implantation of the Israelites in God’s mountain, abode, and sanctuary. Previously, the Exodus chapters and verses spoke about the land having existing occupants such as the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Jebusites, etc. Also, the land was described as “flowing with milk and honey.” Now, Philistia, Edom and Moab are given some prominence. These places were encountered before by the patriarchs, like Jacob. These lands may also have been encountered by Moses during his exile in Midian. Now, in verse 17 different symbolic aspects of the land promised are given. The Hebrew verse of Exodus 15:17 is given below (read right to left, top down) with these 3 symbolic aspects of the land highlighted:
תְּבִאֵ֗מֹו וְתִטָּעֵ֙מֹו֙ בְּהַ֣ר נַחֲלָֽתְךָ֔ מָכֹ֧ון לְשִׁבְתְּךָ֛ פָּעַ֖לְתָּ יְהוָ֑ה מִקְּדָ֕שׁ אֲדֹנָ֖י כֹּונְנ֥וּ יָדֶֽיךָ׃
The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) translation is given below for this verse:
17You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your possession; LORD, You have prepared the place for Your dwelling; Lord, Your hands have established the sanctuary.
The phrase “bring them in and plant them” refers to the “people pass by whom you (the LORD) have purchased” in verse 16; the children of Israel redeemed by God. The LORD speaks to Moses, and Moses speaks to the people that the land promised to them was especially selected for them and points to the suitability of the mountain (Mt. Moriah or Mt. Zion) as the abode of the LORD himself, where God’s sanctuary will be. This sacred place may point to the eventual Temple in Jerusalem to come in the succeeding centuries.
Chapters 16-22 narrate the journey of the Israelites toward Canaan. They are given quail and manna (bread from heaven) by the LORD. Water is made to flow from rock. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law advises Moses on how to manage the “judgment” needs of the people by appointing and delegating lighter cases to appointed “chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” On the 3rd month since they departed from Egypt, Moses and the Israelites arrive at the wilderness of Sinai, Moses is asked to meet the LORD in Mt. Sinai and the Sinaitic Covenant is given. The NIV Study Bible comments that Exodus 20:18-21 which concludes the account of the giving of the Decalogue, is “most likely a continuation of (Exodus) 19:25.” The commentary says that the chronological offset was written in to set off the Decalogue (Exodus 20:1-17) from the “Book of the Covenant” of various laws and stipulations that follow in Exodus 20:22-23:19.
In the Decalogue, Exodus 20:12 (cf. Deuteronomy 5:16) points out that honoring one’s father and mother will bring about “long life” or a “full life” in the land that the LORD God is giving. It is the first Commandment with an attached specific promise of benefit. Exodus 20:12 is given below (read right to left, top down) with the LORD’s promise of a long, full life in the land promised highlighted:
כַּבֵּ֥ד אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּ֑ךָ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יַאֲרִכ֣וּן יָמֶ֔יךָ עַ֚ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃
The HCSB translation is given below for this verse:
12Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
The 5th Commandment thus carries an added weight to the goodness of the land (Canaan) being given to the Israelites. But it also obligates a responsibility to take care of one’s parents as a conditionality. It parallels by contrast, the requirement of God to drive out the current occupants of Canaan, as directed by the LORD in Exodus 23:20-33. In these verses, the literal conquest of Canaan is promised.
Exodus 23:20-23 narrates that the “angel/messenger of the LORD” will accompany the Hebrews in their journey to Canaan. In these verses, the LORD makes it very clear that if the Israelites maintain covenantal loyalty and obedience to him, God himself will drive out the existing occupants. Later, it would be clear that the people also need to do their part in taking possession of the land.
The Hebrew verse of Exodus 23:20 is given below (read right to left, top down) with the land prepared for the Israelites highlighted:
הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י שֹׁלֵ֤חַ מַלְאָךְ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ לִשְׁמָרְךָ֖ בַּדָּ֑רֶךְ וְלַהֲבִ֣יאֲךָ֔ אֶל־הַמָּקֹ֖ום אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֲכִנֹֽתִי׃
The HCSB translation for this verse is given below:
20I am going to send an angel before you to protect you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.
It is evident from the context that “the place” established/set up by the LORD for the Hebrews is the land he has promised to their patriarchs ever since. It is the land of Canaan. This is further fleshed out in verse 23.
The Hebrew verse of Exodus 23:23 is given below (read right to left, top down) with the land occupants to be driven out highlighted:
כִּֽי־יֵלֵ֣ךְ מַלְאָכִי֮ לְפָנֶיךָ֒ וֶהֱבִֽיאֲךָ֗ אֶל־הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְהַ֣חִתִּ֔י וְהַפְּרִזִּי֙ וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַיְבוּסִ֑י וְהִכְחַדְתִּֽיו׃
The HCSB translation for this verse is given below:
23For My angel will go before you and bring you to the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out.
The Hebrew verb translated as “wipe out” or “blot out” also means “to efface” or “to annihilate.” This verse and the succeeding verses make it clear that the land promised is to be conquered, but also makes it clear that God himself will do the conquering and the driving out. For instance, Exodus 23:27-28 seems to bear this out. However, there are also succeeding verses in Exodus 23:24-33 that also lay down the responsibilities of the Israelites and their role in the conquest of Canaan.
We will continue next time.
God bless us all.