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The narrative of the Exodus is designed to show the radical criticism and radical delegitimizing of the Egyptian empire. At the beginning the Egyptians are in full flower and full power. They “wheel and deal” and are subject to none…The language (in the Exodus text) is shaped to evoke anger and bring the deep resentment this whole system. But the story moves. At the end, these same masters, taskmasters, and foremen are vanquished, humiliated, and banished from history. From beginning to end the narrative shows, with no rush to conclude, how the religious claims of Egyptian gods are nullified by this Lord of Freedom. The narrative shows, with delighted lingering, how the politics of oppression is overcome by the practice of justice and compassion.  -Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination

The narrative of the Exodus is designed to show the radical criticism and radical delegitimizing of the Egyptian empire.

At the beginning the Egyptians are in full flower and full power. They “wheel and deal” and are subject to none…The language (in the Exodus text) is shaped to evoke anger and bring the deep resentment this whole system. But the story moves. At the end, these same masters, taskmasters, and foremen are vanquished, humiliated, and banished from history. 

From beginning to end the narrative shows, with no rush to conclude, how the religious claims of Egyptian gods are nullified by this Lord of Freedom. The narrative shows, with delighted lingering, how the politics of oppression is overcome by the practice of justice and compassion. 

-Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination