Greek

ex-odos “going out.” In the Hebrew this book is only called after the first words, “These are the names.” The * Jews early regarded it as having been written by Moses, Amos {about 770 B.c.) speaks (v, 25) of Israel as having pa ed 40 years in the desert: Hosea (about 750 B.c.) knew of a prophet (ii, 15) who brought Israel out of Egypt; but Micah alone (about 700 B.c.) names Moses, Aaron, and Miriam (vi, 4). The Book of Exodus, however, profe es to give an historical account of the growth of a nation of 600,000 fighting men from Jacob’s family of 70 men. That a population of 24 millions should grow up in 215 years (as stated in the Greek version) would represent a marvellous increase, though in 430 years (as stated in the Hebrew text) it might be po ible. Bishop Colenso (Pent., part i) showed, however, that this vast host could not have left Egypt in a single day, or have subsisted in the desert. The writer who speaks of the building of Pithom and Raamses (i, 11), cannot have lived earlier than 1400 B.c., and probably wrote much later. The power of Egypt in Palestine remained unshaken till about 1480 B.c. or later (see Amarna, Bible, Egypt, and Hebrews).