The Passover
Using Exodus 12 (the “Passover”) as your text, write an eight-page paper interpreting this passage using the three-step method of interpretation consistently employed by Dr. Pratt in the video lectures: 1) determine and explain the literary structure of the passage; 2) determine and explain the original meaning of the passage. This step includes both a discussion of the passage’s meaning within its immediate context, and a consideration of how Moses’s inclusion/arrangement of the material was intended to function for his original audience, the Israelites redeemed from Egypt and headed to the promised land; and 3) a discussion of modern application. This final step should follow Dr. Pratt’s specific approach to modern application closely, namely, identifying the ways in which the New Testament writers used themes/ideas/motifs, etc., in the Pentateuch to explain the significance of the inauguration, continuation, and consummation of Christ’s kingdom. See video lesson 2 (“A Perfect World”) for a detailed discussion and application of this threefold approach to interpretation.
Sample Answer
Exodus 12: A Multi-Layered Passover: From Deliverance to Kingdom
Exodus 12, the intricate tapestry of the Passover story, offers a treasure trove for interpretation through the lens of Dr. Pratt’s three-step method. Unpacking its literary structure, original meaning, and modern application through the lens of Christ’s kingdom reveals profound layers of meaning that resonate across time.
1. Literary Structure: A Tapestry Woven with Precision
Exodus 12 unfolds in a deliberate and layered structure. It’s a divine instruction manual intertwined with narrative elements, weaving together commands, justifications, historical context, and symbolic imagery.
- Chapters 11-12 form a literary unit, with chapter 11 setting the stage for the climactic act of deliverance in chapter 12.
- The passage utilizes repetition and parallelism to emphasize key themes. The phrase “on the same night” echoes throughout, underscoring the synchronicity and urgency of the Passover ritual.
- The instructions are meticulously detailed, suggesting not just a one-time event but a model for ongoing remembrance and identity formation.