Exodus

Moses' descent from the mountain with the Ten Commandments had a significant impact on the Judeo-Christian tradition. The group discusses how these commandments provided fundamental rules that guided the tradition, providing a balance between tyranny and excess freedom and allowing for a more organized society.

Jordan and the roundtable explore the remaining five of the ten commandments, interpreting their meaning through the King James and Hebrew lenses, and discussing how they apply spiritually, philosophically, and morally to our lives. They posit that we should view them not as a series of constraints but as enabling principles.

Jordan and Douglas Hadley unpack the significance of God’s laws in Exodus 21-24, discussing how they established a moral order and binary boundaries to prevent mankind from becoming like a God or reverting to an animal state with no morals.

The roundtable discusses how the consequences of not taking sacrifice seriously in religious practice can include disunity, as well as a lack of living up to the highest ideals. In Exodus 24, sacred space, ritual, and worship all rely on sacrificing in order to be meaningful, and disregarding this importance can lead to a disconnect between people and God.

The potential negative impacts of idolatry in modern society are explored in Exodus 29, verses 43-46. The perils of choosing idolatry over the divine are discussed, as well as Moses’ role as intermediary between God and the Israelites in both Biblical and contemporary times.

Jordan and the scholars finish their reading of Exodus, reestablishing the covenant and uniting the Israelites in their vision of the promised land, restoring law and order. This episode also includes supplemental readings from Leviticus.

Jordan and the scholars discuss the Israelites' stubbornness and Moses' frustration. They highlight the importance of shared vision, gratitude, and avoiding resentment.

Jordan and the scholars trace Moses' journey from Numbers to the end of Deuteronomy. Despite being able to see the promised land, Moses is unable to enter it before his death, but his name becomes a symbol of Israel and God's promise to His people.

In the conclusion of Exodus, Jordan and the scholars recap the story of Exodus and the Israelites’ escape from tyranny to freedom. This episode also features a summation from each of the scholars as they share what has been illuminated for them through this discussion.