". . . And he was put in a coffin in Egypt." What a finale to the story of Genesis, the book of beginnings!
It also provides a link to the book of Exodus, which begins, (in Hebrew) "And these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his own household." The name Exodus means "going out" or "departure," and without the background account in Genesis the story would be puzzling indeed!
How do we see the sixty-six books of the Bible? As so many separate stories, or one Big Story? The scale is cosmic. Even on the human level it dwarfs the longest Russian novel, yet each book always provides links, or clues, to its predecessors.
Here, in Exodus, we find the family of faith on the move. Can we follow them?
Go down, Moses!
The Bible as literature, yeah, and just as importantly, equally inspired. Stories upon stories, character, plot, conflict, climax, denouement, themes, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. And yes, the transitions are so cool to recognize Colin, as you did. I think that they also served as pneumonic (sp?) devices for ease of oral transmission since still so many couldn't read or did not have the time to learn and so those key pieces helped them to connect books and passages to one another but also kept the suspense going and attention riveted upon YHWH's dealings with His people. Great stuff!
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