Shmot (Exodus) Parasha Summaries
Shmot
Summary: The book of Shmot begins directly from where the book of Genesis left off: listing the "names" of the descendants of Jacob who came down to Egypt after Joseph. Seventy members of Jacob's family down to Egypt, but we are told they were very fertile and increased greatly in Egypt. When a new king comes to the throne in Egypt, he oppresses and enslaves the people out of fear that this growing band of Israelites might prove to be a military or political threat. When this does not succeed in curbing their growth, he issues orders to kill all new-born Israelite boys. The infant Moses, however, survives this decree, and when his mother can no longer keep him hidden, she leaves him in a basket floating on the Nile. He is found by the daughter of Pharaoh, who adopts him and hires his mother as a wet-nurse. The text then jumps ahead. Moses, now a man, seeing a taskmaster beating an Israelite slave, Moses kills the Egyptian and then must flee. He runs to Midian, where he is welcomed by a Midianite priest and is given his daughter Zipporah as a wife. She gives birth to a son. While tending his new father-in-law's flocks, Moses is called by God from the burning bush. God instructs Moses to return to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery. Moses returns and is reunited with his Brother Aaron. Together they go and pay their first visit to Pharaoh. But Pharaoh dismisses Moses and his God, and increases the workload of the slaves.
Va'Era
Summary: On first approach, Moses has unsuccessfully confronted Pharaoh. Rather than heed God's instruction to let the slaves go, Pharaoh increases their workload and makes their situation even more difficult. Moses goes back to God, and is reassured that the Israelites will indeed be redeemed. The lineage of Moses and Aaron is given, and then they re-approach Pharaoh. When he will not listen, the battle of the plagues begins. However, Pharaoh will not be moved. After the sixth plague, when Pharaoh still fails to relent, God "hardens" Pharaoh's heart, and then the final plagues upon Egypt commence.
Bo
Summary: With the final three plagues, the battle between God and Pharaoh comes to a dramatic conclusion. Locust swarm down upon Egypt devouring all the crops and plants that remain. But Pharaoh still refuses to let the Israelites go. When darkness descends upon Egypt for three full days, Pharaoh seems to relent, but not completely. Moses refuses his offer, and Pharaoh declares that Moses can not come before him again, or he will be put to death. Moses then forewarns the Egyptians about the final plague: Death of the First Born.
Before the final plague, God presents the first Mitzvah to be given to the People of Israel collectively: the observance of the festival of Pesach (Passover). Moses and Aaron are instructed by God to offer a lamb as a sacrifice, and to mark the doorposts of the homes of the Israelites with its blood. Instructions are then given to eat Matzah (unleavened bread) and Maror (bitter herbs) and to annually observe a seven day festival of commemoration of the Exodus (which is yet to take place).
And then, as the climactic conclusion, the angel of death passes through, killing all of the first born of Egypt. With this final blow, Pharaoh sends the Israelites on their way, and they hurriedly depart. We are told that there were 600,000 adult men who left Egypt, along with all the Israelite women, children, and a "mixed multitude" - all the other non-Israelite slaves who also took the opportunity to leave. Our parasha concludes with a review of the laws of Pesach, as well as introducing the mitzvot of Redemption of the First Born and Tefillin.
Beshalach
Summary: The Israelites have finally left Egypt. God does not lead the Israelites along the closest route to the Land of Israel, which is through territory occupied by the Philistines. Rather, the people are led in the direction of the Yam Suf - the Sea of Reeds. One final time, God hardens Pharaoh's heart, and Pharaoh decides to chase after the Israelites with his army. The Egyptian army catches up with the Israelites as they camp by the edge of the sea. Dramatically, the Israelites are caught between the sea on one side, and Pharaoh's chariots on the other. Moses reassures the people that they only have to trust God, and, as he raises his staff, God parts the waters, and the Israelites are able to cross in safety. The Egyptians chase after them into the parted waters of the sea, but are drowned as the waters return to their natural state. Moses and Miriam lead the people in the "Song of the Sea," a spontaneous song of exaltation and thanksgiving.
Faced with the new reality of survival in the wilderness, the people begin to complain almost right away. Principal concerns include water and food. God promises that if the people follow the commandments, God will always provide and care for them. God provides fresh water at Marah, and again later at Horeb, and then provides the people with Manna, the miraculous food that will sustain them throughout their years of wandering. Also, through the detailed instructions about the Manna, the notion of Shabbat is introduced. The Parasha ends with the Amalekites' surprise attack. This is the Israelites first experience with war.
Yitro
Summary: After leaving Egypt, Moses and the Israelites meet up with Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, who also reunites him with his wife and son. Jethro observes Moses's daily schedule as chief administrator, judge, and teacher of Israel, and worries that he is taking on too much responsibility. He advises him to delegate the responsibilities of justice and administration to different levels of leadership, so that disputes can be resolved quickly and fairly. In the third month out of Egypt, God calls to Moses and tells him to prepare the people for a great revelation at Mount Sinai. After three days of preparation, the Presence of God is revealed on the mountain with smoke and lightning and shofar blasts. Moses leads the people to assemble at the foot of Mt. Sinai. God summons Moses to ascend the mountain and instructs him to emphasize the prohibition against anyone being on the mountain during Revelation. Moses then descends and, standing among the people at the foot of the mountain, God speaks the Ten Commandments to the entire people.
Mishpatim
Summary: From a literary point of view, the emphasis of the Torah now changes. Following Revelation and the giving of the Ten Commandments, the Torah moves away from narrative and continues directly with laws and legislation for the Israelites. This section of the Torah is known as Sefer HaBrit - "The Book of the Covenant." The word mishpatim means "rules" or "ordinances," coming from the Hebrew meaning "to judge." This parasha contains 53 distinct different mitzvot (there are 613 mitzvot in the entire Torah), including civil laws, liability laws, criminal laws, ritual laws, financial laws, and family laws. Specific laws in the parashah relate to sacrifices, slavery, accidental death, kidnapping, treatment of parents and responsibility for animals, and includes the famous (and usually misunderstood) Biblical statement of "talion": eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth... (Ex. 21:24). Towards the end of the parshah, the calendar for the three festivals (Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot) is established, and then the people reaffirm their commitment to the covenant. Moses offers a sacrifice, and then he, Aaron and his sons Nadav and Abihu, and 70 other elders go onto the mountain again, and there they are treated to an extraordinary vision of God. Then Moses goes back up to the top of the mountain, and remains there for forty days.
Terumah
Summary: With Parashat Terumah, the major theme of the rest of the Book of Exodus is now introduced. Great detail is given about the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the portable sanctuary that was the centre of the Israelites' religious life during the years they wandered in the wilderness. The Mishkan was "God's dwelling place amongst the people," where sacrifices where offered and God communicated with the people through Moses and the High Priest.
Very detailed instructions are given to Moses as to how the Mishkan should be built and what materials are to be used. Included among the Klay Kodesh ("holy implements") are the Menorah, the altar for sacrifices, the Ark, and the Holy of Holies. The portion begins with God asking Moses to ask the Israelites to bring Terumah, usually translated as "gifts," meaning something like "contributions" or "donations," but they are to be freewill offerings.
Tetzaveh
Summary: We continue with the theme that defines most of the rest of the Book of Exodus: the construction and institution of the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary, that was the place of worship for the Israelites and the House of God among the people during the years of wandering in the wilderness. Parashat Tetzaveh specifically focuses on the Cohanim, the Priests who perform the rituals and sacrifices on behalf of the people. Great detailed descriptions are given of the complex ritual garments of the Cohen Gadol (the High Priest) - regally resplendent in gold and adornments of precious stones. Details are also given for the seven day period of sacrifices and rituals required to consecrate the priests for service. The Parasha ends with a short description of the golden altar upon which incense was offered and how it too is to be consecrated.
Ki Tisa
Summary: Parashat Ki Tisa continues with discussion about the building of the Mishkan, (the Tabernacle). The portion begins with instructions for taking a census of the people. Each Israelite adult over the age of twenty must contribute half a shekel, to be used in support of the worship in the Mishkan. Next, there is description of the additional holy implements that need to be created: a copper washstand, the anointing oil and the incense. God then identifies Bezalel, a man endowed with "divine spirit of skill," as the chief artisan and architect of the Mishkan. But, before construction actually begins, God reminds Moses to tell the people about the importance of maintaining Shabbat. At the conclusion of this passage, God gives Moses the original set of the two Tablets, which are inscribed directly by God, and Moses returns to the people.
The Torah's focus then switches down the mountain to the people, and jumps back a bit in time. The people, upset at Moses's delay up on the mountain, approach Aaron to make them an idol, and Aaron complies by creating a molten calf for the people to worship. Both God and Moses become angry with the people, and, upon his return, Moses smashes the Tablets and, together with the Levites, resumes control of the people, and 3,000 are put to death. God threatens to wipe out the people, but, despite his anger and words of rebuke, Moses prays on the people's behalf, and God relents. Moses then returns up the mountain and beseeches God to reaffirm the Covenant. Moses carves a new second set of Tablets, and before he returns, he is treated to a viewing of the Divine Presence. God does reaffirm the Covenant along with all its ritual and ethical implications.
VaYakhel
Summary: The two short parashiyot of VaYakhel and Pekudei are usually read together. Parashat VaYakhel seems a bit repetitive, telling the story of the actual building of the Mishkan. If it seems familiar, it is because it describes the people actually putting into effect the instructions we've already heard before. At Moses's bidding, the people bring all the materials required and the craftsmen begin to do the work. But, before the work even begins, everyone is reminded again to maintain Shabbat, emphasizing especially the prohibition against kindling fire.
Pekudei
Summary: Parashat Pekudei is the final portion of the Book of Exodus. Pekudei begins with Moses's full accounting of all the materials used in the construction of the Mishkan. He first inventories the building materials themselves, and then continues with the vestments of the Priests. Once all the work is completed according to God's instructions, Moses inspects the Mishkan and blesses the people. The Mishkan is then assembled for the first time, and the Divine Presence, manifest as a cloud, fills the Sanctuary, serving as a guide for the people.
