The Listener’s Bible Commentary

Special Study: Slavery in the Torah   

Laws concerning slavery appear in several places in the Torah (the Pentateuch). This can be troubling, since slavery is a persistent human evil. In this special study of The Listener's Bible Commentary, we give one guiding principle and six considerations that help us hear the slavery laws as the were intended to be heard.

Our goal here is to prevent misunderstanding and promote a more full and accurate understanding because it’s too easy and too common for people to read what the Bible says through the lens of our modern experience and misunderstand what the Bible is actually communicating. 

 

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MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit

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Exodus 35-40

In this section of the Bible book of Exodus, the tabernacle is built and the priestly garments are made. Since the covenant has been renewed, it’s time to build the tabernacle, fashion the priestly garments, and get everything ready for God to move in. 

God gives his Spirit to two men, Bezalel and Oholiab, so that they can lead the project and the people respond with great generosity and dedication. They complete the tabernacle, all its furnishings, and the priestly garments exactly as the Lord had instructed Moses. 

And at the end of the book, God moves from Mount Sinai into the tabernacle. 

In this recording, we consider why so much space is devoted to the plans and construction of the tabernacle and what the theological message is in the context of the whole story of the Bible. 

 

BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com  

 

GIVE -  The Listener’s Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you!

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STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up

 

MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit

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Exodus 32-34, pt. 2  

These chapters recount the famous "golden calf" incident, where Israel convince Aaron to set an idol in the form of gold bull and they worship it as their god who led them out of Egypt. In a real, sense this is the fall of Israel. 

What makes it even more tragic and offensive is that they have just entered into their covenant with Yahweh less than 2 months ago and now they have violated that covenant. When Moses throws down and breaks the two tablets of the covenant, that action embodies what Israel has done.

The covenant is broken. 

So now, the threat of God's absence hangs over the camp of Israel. God has said he will not move in among... it's an act of mercy protecting them from his own holiness. 

But Moses intervenes. 

And God relents, agreeing to be with Moses and to go with the people. 

One very important moment in part 2 is when God shows himself to Moses. He passes by and declares, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth; 7 who keeps faithfulness for thousands, who forgives wrongdoing, violation of His Law, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, inflicting the punishment of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

This is who God is and how he desires to be known. This is the most quoted passage of the Bible in the Bible. Our understanding of God should start here. 

 

BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com  

 

GIVE -  The Listener’s Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you!

Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give  

 

STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up

 

MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Exodus 32-34, pt. 1  

These chapters recount the famous "golden calf" incident, where Israel convince Aaron to set an idol in the form of gold bull and they worship it as their god who led them out of Egypt. In a real, sense this is the fall of Israel. 

What makes it even more tragic and offensive is that they have just entered into their covenant with Yahweh less than 2 months ago and now they have violated that covenant. When Moses throws down and breaks the two tablets of the covenant, that action embodies what Israel has done.

The covenant is broken. 

And God's response is his just anger at their disloyalty.   

 

BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com  

 

GIVE -  The Listener’s Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you!

Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give  

 

STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up

 

MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit

https://www.johnwhittaker.net

Exodus 28-31  

In Exodus 28-31 God give Moses the instructions for the priests clothing and for their ordination service. Then he gives the plans for the final few items needed for the tabernacle. The section ends with God handing Moses the two tablets containing the words of the Covenant.

 

BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com  

 

GIVE -  The Listener’s Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you!

Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give  

 

STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up

 

MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit

https://www.johnwhittaker.net