Exodus

Abstract

This commentary views Exodus as a cultural document, preserving the collective memories of the Israelites and relating them to the major institutions and beliefs that emerged by the end of the period of the Hebrew Bible. It is intended to help the reader follow the story line of Exodus, understand its socio-cultural context, appreciate its literary features, recognize its major themes and values, and also note its interpretive and moral problems. It explains important concepts and terms as expressed in the Hebrew original so that both people who know Hebrew and those who don't will be able to follow the discussion. Frequent 'closer look' sections examine key elements of the Ancient Near East that bear on the text's meaning, while 'Bridging the Horizons' articles connect this world with the cultural, political and religious environments of today.

Pyrethroid insecticides

“…Although insects are invaluable in their aptitude to fertilize plants by pollination and to produce, in the case of honey bees, a highly valuable food, a few of them interact with humans either competitively or in other ways. 1 In fact, of 700 000 insect species, a mere hundred can be regarded as pests. 2 They:…”

“…(iii) act as vectors for possibly life-threatening diseases such as plague, leishmaniansis especially visceral leishmaniansis (fleas), typhus (lice), malaria, yellow fever, dengue and Zika fever (mosquitoes), lyme disease (ticks), and skin and allergic diseases (mites). 2 As a consequence, men have fought insects from very early times, 1,3 and crop protection can be estimated at the cost of $6 billions/year. 2 Fumigation with sulfur was first used (1000 BC), followed by natural extract of plants (such as pyrethrins, in the Middle Ages, 3,4 Figure 1), inorganic compounds [lead arsenate (PbHAsO4), cryolite (Na3AlF6) and borax (Na2B4O7)], organic compounds (DDT, 1939) 2,5,6 and bacterial, fungal and viral agents as well as DNA insecticides.…”

Julius Wellhausen goes to Copenhagen: Towards a more progressive commentary on Exodus

“…Informed by this material, readers can and should be allowed to draw their own conclusions. Meyers' commentary provides a rare example of this, on the implications of YHWH hardening Pharaoh's heart, 93 and I applaud her for it. Any new commentary series should feature discussions of this sort.…”

“…14 She is also mindful of the important contributions to pentateuchal studies from revisionist scholars, and offers an even-handed and comparatively lengthy (two-and-a-half pages) treatment of their conclusions. 15 But despite her open-minded attitude on these points, Meyers still seems unable to turn her back on the documentary hypothesis. She envisages numerous authors and redactors, drawing on a range of source material of disparate genres.…”

“…She envisages numerous authors and redactors, drawing on a range of source material of disparate genres. 16 Close attention to three particular publications should illustrate the enduring influence of the documentary hypothesis over Exodus commentaries. Below, I summarise three recent commentaries and their interactions with the documentary hypothesis and alternative theories.…”