"Translated by J.S. Bowden from ... Das zweite Buch Mose, Exodus."

Includes bibliographical references.

The beginnings of Egyptian oppression -- The birth of Moses -- Moses in Midian -- The return of Moses and his first meeting with Pharaoh -- Another call of Moses -- Divine signs and wonders before the stubborn Pharaoh -- Passover night and the Exodus -- The miracle at the sea -- Thanksgiving for deliverance -- The first stopping-places -- Quails and manna -- Water from the rock -- The victory over the Amalekites -- The meeting with the priest of Midian -- The theophany on Sinai with the Decalogue -- The book of the covenant -- The making of the covenant -- The instructions given on the mountain for the establishment of the cult -- Apostasy and another covenant -- The instructions are carried out -- The furnishing of the sanctuary.

Exodus is seen in its relation to the preceding Genesis and to the succeeding three books of the Pentateuch. Unlike Genesis, which dealt with individuals, Exodus is primarily concerned with Israel collectively and with the basic elements of Israel's faith. The author shows that the central motifs are the flight from Egypt, especially the crossing of "the sea", and the theophany and covenant at Sinai. The exegesis deals with the narrative as it appears in its final form but, in order to clarify the story, the author makes constant references to the successive stages in its literary development, and throughout the commentary he distinguishes the literary strands -- notably those know as J, E, and P -- that are woven into the fabric of the book.