This introduction to the interpretation of Exodus encourages in-depth study of the text, and genuine grappling with the theological and historical questions raised, by providing a critical assessment of key interpreters and interpretative debates. It draws on a range of methodological approaches (author-, text- and reader-centred), as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of understanding the text. It also reflects the growing scholarly attention to the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra.
Ralph K. Hawkins is Professor of Religion at Averett University, Danville, Virginia. He holds a PhD in Old Testament Archaeology from the University of St Andrews. His publications include The Iron Age I Structure on Mt Ebal: Excavation and Interpretation and How Israel became a People: From Exodus to Conquest.