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Book Review: The Narrative Complexity of Exodus 1–2: Keith Bodner, An Ark on the Nile: The Beginning of the Book of Exodus

Exodus 1–2 acts as a transitional point in the Hebrew Bible. While Genesis covers a vast expanse of time and includes diverse characters and events, Exodus focuses on Moses and his role leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Thus, it is in Exodus 1 and 2 that the narrator introduces Moses and the themes that will be developed as the plot unfolds. Given its important narrative function, scholars have devoted much attention to analysing Exodus 1–2. Keith Bodner contributes to this discussion in his monograph, An Ark on the Nile: The Beginning of Exodus. In this study Bodner adopts narrative criticism to examine the connections between Exodus 1–2, Genesis, and other biblical narratives, demonstrating not only how the meaning of Exodus 1–2 comes to light when it is interpreted in its narrative context, but also the many thematic and verbal complexities inherent in the chapters themselves. Bodner’s work contains an introduction and seven chapters of analysis. Before discussing Exodus, in chapter 1 Bodner reviews the portrayal of Egypt in Genesis, which informs a reader’s experience with Exodus 1–2, where Egypt is an important location. In chapters 2–7 Bodner works through Exodus 1–2, discussing key themes and words that connect these chapters with Genesis and later narratives. Bodner’s analysis is fascinating and clearly demonstrates how interconnected Exodus 1–2 is with other parts of the Hebrew Bible. For example, Bodner observes a relationship between the papyrus basket in which Moses’ mother places him, Noah’s ark, and the tabernacle, arguing, ‘[t]he papyrus ark floated on the Nile is typologically configured on the ark of Noah, a floating sanctuary that anticipates the tabernacle in the wilderness’ (p. 100). Exodus 1–2 plays a pivotal role in the Hebrew Bible; its interpretation depending on much more than what is contained therein. Bodner’s piece demonstrates the truth of this assumption, marking its importance both for those studying Exodus 1–2 and for those interested in narrative criticism. As Bodner makes clear, it is when we interpret passages with an eye towards how they connect, both thematically and verbally, to the surrounding texts, that we might engage with the narrative complexity inherent not only in Exodus 1–2, but also in other passages in the Hebrew Bible.