How many traditions are there in the Book of Exodus?

Answer 1

The Book of Exodus is considered part of the Deuteronomic History, put together by the anonymous source now known as the Deuteronomist. It also contains earlier material attributed to another anonymous source, the Yahwist, as well as later material attributed to the Priestly Source. Evidence of these multiple sources can readily be seen, for example in the Spies narratives of the Yahwist and Priestly Source. These were skilfully interwoven by the Redactor, to present what would appear to be a single, but rather muddled and complex account. They can be separated as follows:

Spies narrative of the Yahwist

• Moses dispatched the spies. (13:17b-20)
  
• The spies travelled only as far north as Hebron (in the future kingdom of Judah). (13:22-25)
  
• The spies returned and issued their report to one person (Moses), stating that the land was 'flowing with milk and honey', but that the inhabitants were giants and and their cities fortified. (13:27-29)
  
• Caleb alone tried to encourage the Israelites to proceed with the conquest. (13:30)
  
• The spies countered Caleb's claim, stating that the land was unconquerable. (13:31,33)
  
• The people refused to enter Canaan and plotted to elect a new captain to lead them back to Egypt. (14:1b, 4)
  
• God was angry, threatening to destroy the people by plague. (14:11-12)
  
• God chose not to destroy the Israelites, instead they were to wander the desert until the present generation had died. (14:20-25)
  

Spies narrative of the Priestly Source

• At God's command, Moses appointed twelve heads of tribes to scout the land, and dispached them from the Wilderness of Paran. (13:1-17a)
  
• The spies toured the entire Promised Land, 'from the Wilderness of Zin to the entrance to Hamath'. (13:21)
  
• The spies returned and displayed the land's fruit. They issued their report to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. (13:25-26)
  
• The report stated that Canaan was not only unconquerable, but a 'land that devours its inhabitants'. (13:32-33)
  
• The Israelites refused to enter Canaan. (14:1a, 2-3)
  
• Caleb and Joshua tried to encourage the Israelites to proceed with the conquest. The Israelites responded by calling for them to be stoned. (14:6-10a)
  
• God was angry and decreed that the Israelites will wander the wilderness for forty years, until the present sinful generation had died. (14: 26-35)
  
• The spies died in a plague, all except Joshua and Caleb. (14:36-38)