Exodus
Deliverance & Salvation
Summary | About | Why You Should Read it | Author | When Written | Context | Timeline | Location | Outline | Observations | Resources
Summary
The book of Exodus is a significant part of the Torah (first 5 books of the bible, written by Moses) that tells the story of the Israelites being freed from slavery and entering into a new covenant with God. It provides the foundation for the Law the people were to follow and deals with their disobedience in the wilderness.
Exodus deals with the following major topics:
- Israel’s enslavement and Moses’ calling.
- The ten plagues and the exodus from Egypt.
- The crossing of the Red Sea and the journey to Mt. Sinai.
- The giving of the Law.
- Instructions for the tabernacle and worship.
- The failure of the golden calf and the covenant renewal.
- Building the tabernacle and God’s presence.
The following table provides a high-level look at the structure and contents of the book of Exodus.
About
Exodus is the second book of the Torah (Hebrew), also known as the Pentateuch (Greek), written by Moses. This collection is commonly referred to as “The Law”.
Why You Should Read It
The book of Exodus offers foundational insights into God’s character, His relationship with His people, and key themes that resonate throughout the entire Bible. Exodus helps us to understand God’s nature by revealing key aspects of His character, such as His power, justice, mercy and faithfulness. It provides the foundation of redemption by telling us the story of deliverance, showing God rescuing His people from slavery in Egypt, which serves as a powerful symbol of spiritual redemption. This theme foreshadows the ultimate redemption Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, making Exodus foundational for understanding salvation history.
Exodus also teaches us about the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant at Mount Sinai, including the giving of the Ten Commandments, highlights the importance of a covenantal relationship between God and His people. This covenant sets the stage for understanding the New Covenant in Christ, emphasizing the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.
In addition, Exodus provides us with moral and ethical guidance, lessons on faith and obedience, and tells us about God’s presence and how we are to worship Him. Reading Exodus helps Christians gain a deeper understanding of God’s actions in history, His expectations of His people, and the grand narrative of redemption that runs throughout the Bible, making it an essential part of the Christian faith.
Author
Despite all of the debate over this topic, there is a simple and clear answer to this question, assuming you believe Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus said himself, the answer is Moses, when he said, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luk 24:27 KJV). It is generally accepted that Moses is the author of the first 5 books, known in Hebrew as the Torah and in Greek as the Pentateuch.
There are those who argue against this. The Documentary Hypothesis (Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis) says that the Torah was compiled by later editors: J (Jehovahist, Yahwist); E (Elohist); D (Deuteronomic source); and, P (Priestly source). This hypothesis was created without any compelling historical, linguistic or textual evidence and has been shredded by Oswalt T. Allis, R.N. Whybray, E.J. Young, Umbertos Cassuto, R.K. Harrison, Kenneth A. Kitchen and others.
“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” – John 5:45-47
When Written
1446 – 1406 BC
This topic is hotly debated among the best Christian scholars because there is more than one way to interpret the chronology. The issue is that most of the ways result in issues with one or more of the biblical statements regarding such dating. What is presented here is our best understanding of the various chronologies that enable the logic and mathematics to align so that all biblical statements are true and accurately add up to the dates presented. As such, the dating of the Exodus used by LearningGod.org assumes it took place in 1446 B.C. as shown in the timeline below. The timeline shows from the birth of Abraham, which is shortly before the dating related verses begin. The timeline reflects the 430 year period referred to Exodus 12:40 and the 400 year period of Genesis 15:13 and Acts 7:6. It also shows the 480 year period after the Exodus until the building of the Temple referred to in 1st Kings 6:1.
Moses wrote and compiled the contents of all five books of the Law by the end of the wilderness wanderings, before the Israelites entered into the promised land, as described in the verse below.
“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you;” – Deu 31:26
Context
Moses had been called out of his own personal exile to lead a family of slaves to freedom from a harsh empire. Egypt was at the pinnacle of their power at this time and was ruler of the known world. The family descended from Abraham and had grown exponentially during their roughly 400 years of captivity. This family knew nothing but slavery and Moses was challenged with getting Pharaoh to free them. Moses was the second in command in Egypt before fleeing into exile 40 years earlier. He was familiar with the Egyptian might and knew he had a challenging task before him. It was only by the power of God that they would be freed.
Timeline
The timeline below shows from the birth of Abraham until the Temple.
Location
The route of the exodus from Egypt is just as hotly contested as the timing. We know the Israelites departed from Goshen, where they lived and went into the wilderness, crossing the Red Sea before going to Mt Sinai. Archeological evidence suggests that Mt Sinai, also known biblically as Mt Horeb, is east of the Sinai Peninsula.
Outline
| I. Prologue (chs. 1-2) |
| A. Israel Blessed and Oppressed (ch. 1) |
| B. A Deliverer Prepared (ch. 2) |
| 1. Infant Moses spared (2:1-10) |
| 2. Mature Moses’ escape from Egypt (2:11-25) |
| II. God’s Deliverance of Israel (chs. 3- 18) |
| A. The Deliverer Called (ch. 3) |
| B. The Deliverer’s Objections and Disqualifications Overcome (ch. 4) |
| C. Unsuccessful Attempts to Deliver (5:1;6:12) |
| 1. Oppression made more harsh (5:1-21) |
| 2. Promise of deliverance renewed (5:22;6:12) |
| D. The Deliverers Identified (6:13- 27) |
| E. Judgment of Plagues on Egypt (6:28;11:10) |
| 1. Deliverer’s commission renewed (6:28;7:7) |
| 2. Presenting the signs of divine authority (7:8-13) |
| 3. First plague: water turned to blood (7:14-24) |
| 4. Second plague: frogs (7:25;8:15) |
| 5. Third plague: gnats (8:16-19) |
| 6. Fourth plague: flies (8:20-32) |
| 7. Fifth plague: against livestock (9:1-7) |
| 8. Sixth plague: boils (9:8-12) |
| 9. Seventh plague: hail (9:13-35) |
| 10. Eighth plague: locusts (10:1-20) |
| 11. Ninth plague: darkness (10:21-29) |
| 12. Tenth plague announced: death of the firstborn (ch. 11) |
| F. The Passover (12:1-28) |
| G. The Exodus from Egypt (12:29- 51) |
| H. The Consecration of the Firstborn (13:1-16) |
| I. Crossing the “Red Sea” (13:17;15:21) |
| 1. Deliverance at the “Red Sea” (13:17;14:31) |
| 2. Song at the sea (15:1-21) |
| J. Journey to Sinai (15:22;18:27) |
| 1. The waters of Marah (15:22-27) |
| 2. The manna and the quail (ch. 16) |
| 3. The waters of Meribah (17:1-7) |
| 4. The war with Amalek (17:8-16) |
| 5. Basic administrative structure (ch. 18) |
| III. Covenant at Sinai (chs. 19-24) |
| A. The Covenant Proposed (ch. 19) |
| B. The Decalogue (20:1-17) |
| C. The Reaction of the People to God’s Fiery Presence (20:18-21) |
| D. The Book of the Covenant (20:22;23:33) |
| 1. Prologue (20:22-26) |
| 2. Laws on slaves (21:1-11) |
| 3. Laws on homicide (21:12-17) |
| 4. Laws on bodily injuries (21:18-32) |
| 5. Laws on property damage (21:33;22:15) |
| 6. Laws on society (22:16-31) |
| 7. Laws on justice and neighborliness (23:1-9) |
| 8. Laws on sacred seasons (23:10-19) |
| 9. Epilogue (23:20-33) |
| E. Ratification of the Covenant (ch. 24) |
| IV. God’s Royal Tent in Israel (chs. 25-40) |
| A. Instructions concerning the Royal Tent (chs. 25-31) |
| 1. Collection of the materials (25:1-9) |
| 2. Furnishings of the tent (25:10-40) |
| a. Ark and atonement cover (25:10-22) |
| b. Table of the bread of the Presence (25:23-30) |
| c. Gold lampstand (25:31- 40) |
| 3. The tent and its courtyard (26:1;27:19) |
| a. Curtains and frames (ch. 26) |
| b. Altar of burnt offering (27:1-8) |
| c. Courtyard (27:9-19) |
| 4. The tent’s personnel (27:20;29:46) |
| a. Priesthood (27:20;28:5) |
| b. Garments of the priests (28:6-43) |
| c. Ordination of the priests (ch. 29) |
| 5. Remaining provisions concerning the tent (ch. 30) |
| a. Altar of incense (30:1- 10) |
| b. Census tax (30:11-16) |
| c. Bronze basin (30:17-21) |
| d. Anointing oil and incense (30:22-38) |
| 6. Appointment of craftsmen (31:1-11) |
| 7. Observance of Sabbath rest (31:12-18) |
| B. Rebellion Threatens Withdrawal of God (chs. 32-34) |
| 1. The golden calf (32:1-29) |
| 2. Moses’ mediation (32:30-35) |
| 3. Threatened separation and Moses’ prayer (ch. 33) |
| 4. Renewal of the covenant (ch. 34) |
| C. God’s Royal Tent Set Up (chs. 35- 40) |
| 1. Summons to build (35:1-19) |
| 2. Voluntary gifts (35:20-29) |
| 3. Bezalel and his craftsmen (35:30;36:7) |
| 4. Progress of the work (36:8;39:31) |
| 5. Moses’ blessing (39:32-43) |
| 6. Erection of God’s royal tent (40:1-33) |
| 7. Dedication of God’s royal tent (40:34-38) |
Observations
- 300 years separate Exodus from Genesis.
- Exodus is the record of Israel’s birth as a nation.
- Exodus begins in pain and ends in liberation.
- 70 people entered Egypt (1:5). Joseph was already there.
- Exodus covers the period from the arrival of Jacob in Egypt (1875 B.C.) to the erecting of the Tabernacle in the wilderness some 431 years later. (1445 B.C.)
- After the death of Joseph, a change of dynasty made Israel a nation of slaves.
- Israel’s sojourn in Egypt took place from about 1900-1400 B.C.
- During the time Israel was in Egypt, Egypt became a world empire.
- God raised up Moses to be the deliverer of Israel.
- Moses was a Levite.
- At the time of the Exodus there were 600,000 men above the age of 20 besides the women and children.
- Probably 3 to 4 million people left Egypt in the Exodus.
- While it took God one night to get Israel out of Egypt, it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel.
- With Exodus begins the story of Moses himself.
- The story of Moses constitutes about one-seventh of the whole Bible.
- The story of Moses is about two-thirds as large as the New Testament.
- Egyptians were the descendants of Ham.
- Exodus records:
- God’s Commission of Moses – 3:1 – 4:17
- The ten plagues – 7:14 – 11:10
- The beginning of the Passover – 12:1 – 13:14
- The opening of the Red Sea – 14:13-31
- The Ten Commandments – 20:1-17
- Instructions for the Tabernacle – 24:12 – 27:21
- Offerings for the Tabernacle – 35:1 – 36:7
- The building of the Tabernacle – 35:1 – 36:7
- The erecting of the Tabernacle – 40:1-33
- God filling the Tabernacle – 40:34-38
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