Names of the Book
| English: | Exodus |
| Hebrew: | שׁמוֹת |
| Transliterated: | Shemot ("Names") |
| Other names: |
Who
| Wrote the book: | Moses |
| Are the key people: | Moses, Miriam, Aaron, Joshua, Bezalel, Jethrom, Pharaoh, Pharaoh's daughter |
| Is it written to: | The people of Israel |
What
| Israel in Egypt and the story of the plagues (Exodus 1:1-12:30) |
| Israel in the Wilderness and the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 12:31-18:27) |
| Israel at Mt. Sinai, the giving of the Torah, and the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 19:1-40:38) |
When
| Was it written: | c 1450-1410 BCE |
| Did the events occur: | c 1476 BCE |
| Was it canonized: | c 499-100 BCE |
| (see the Timeline of the Tanakh) | |
Where
| Was it written: | At Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:4) |
| Did the events occur: | Egypt, the Red Sea, the wilderness, and Mt. Sinai |
Why
| Exodus was written to inform us that: |
| G-d is the Redeemer. |
| G-d is the Protector. |
| G-d is the Savior. |
| G-d is the Law-giver. |
Introduction
The book of Exodus is a narrative history that describes G-d's fulfillment of His promise to Abraham to make his descendants into a great nation, His deliverance of that nation from slavery in Egypt, and His betrothal of that nation to Himself with the covenant at Mount Sinai. That nation, called Israel, was led by Moses as G-d's chosen agent and leader. Moses delivered G-d's commandments, ordinances, and rulings that would govern life and worship for Israel. He also led the nation in the construction of the tabernacle, a place where G-d's presence dwelled among His people and where they made sacrifices and offerings to Him.
Scripture- Book Selection
| Chapter | Description |
| 1 | The children of Israel multiply in Egypt. A new king fears them and enslaves them and tries to kill all the male babies. |
| 2 | Moses is born a Hebrew but raised as an Egyptian by Pharaoh's daughter. Moses kills an Egyptian and flees from Egypt to Midian. Moses marries Zipporah who gives birth to a son: Gershom. G-d hears the cry of Israel in their bondage in Egypt. |
| 3 | G-d calls to Moses from the burning bush and appoints him to lead the sons of Israel out of Egypt. G-d reveals His special name, YHVH ("I AM"), to Moses. G-d sends Moses to Pharaoh with the demand, "Let My people go." |
| 4 | Moses resists G-d's call. G-d gives signs to Moses to validate his mission to Pharaoh and the israelites. Moses meets his brother Aaron, returns to Egypt, and performs signs for Israel. The people of Israel believe and worship G-d. |
| 5 | Moses asks Pharaoh to let Israel go, Pharaoh refuses, and increases Israel's workload. The people of Israel blame Moses. Moses asks G-d why He sent him. |
| 6 | G-d tells Moses that He will deliver Israel because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. G-d tells Moses to speak to Israel and to Pharaoh. The heads of the tribes of Israel are listed. |
| 7 | G-d speaks with Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron speak to Pharaoh. Moses' staff becomes a serpent that eats the serpents of Pharaoh's magicians. Moses strikes the Nile with his staff and its water turns to blood. |
| 8 | G-d visits the plagues of frogs, gnats, flies on Egypt. Pharaoh relents after each plague but then reneges on his promises to let Israel go. |
| 9 | G-d visits a plague on the livestock, the plague of boils, and the plague of hail mixed with fire on Egypt. Once again Pharaoh relents after each plague and then renegs on his promises to let Israel go. |
| 10 | G-d visits a plague of locusts on Egypt. Pharaoh relents but again reneges on his promise. G-d visits the plague of darkness on Egypt. Pharaoh relents, again reneges on his word, and threatens to kill Moses if he sees him again. |
| 11 | G-d tells Moses about the coming final plague: the death of the firstborn of the Egyptians and their cattle. |
| 12 | Passover occurs and the firstborn of Egypt die. Pharaoh tells Israel to leave. G-d delivers Israel out of Egypt: about 600,000 men (plus women and children). The Israelites eat unleavened bread in their haste to leave. |
| 13 | The LORD tells Moses to sanctify every firstborn in Israel both of men and beast. The LORD instructs Moses regarding the anniversary observance of Passover and Unleavened Bread. The LORD goes before Israel in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. |
| 14 | Israel camps by the Red Sea. Pharaoh has a change of heart and pursues Israel with all of his army, horsemen, and chariots. Israel complains to Moses and G-d protects them with the pillar of fire and cloud. Moses stretches out his hands, parts the Red Sea, and Israel crosses over on dry ground. The Egyptians attempt to follow Israel and drown in the sea. |
| 15 | Israel sings a song of praise to G-d for His deliverance and power over Egypt. Miriam and the women dance. G-d makes the bitter water at Marah become sweet. G-d promises Israel health if they obey Him. Israel travels to Elim. |
| 16 | Israel travels to the wilderness of Zin and complain about the lack of food. G-d sends quail and manna for them to eat. Some Israelites ignore G-d's instruction about gathering manna for the Sabbath. |
| 17 | Israel travels to Rephidim and complains about the lack of water. Moses strikes the rock at Horeb and water comes out. Amalek comes out to fight against Israel. Aaron and Hur hold up Moses' hands so that Israel prevails against Amalek. |
| 18 | Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, brings Moses' wife and sons to him. Moses shares G-d's deliverance and instructions with Jethro. Moses delgates lower-level judicial matters to the tribal leaders of Israel. |
| 19 | Three months after the exodus, Israel encamps at Mt. Sinai. Moses goes up on Mt. Sinai and meets with G-d. Moses consecrates the Israelites. The LORD descends on Mt Sinai in smoke and fire with the sound of a very loud trumpet. |
| 20 | G-d speaks the Ten Commandments to Israel. The Israelites tremble in fear at G-d's presence and ask Moses to speak with G-d on their behalf. G-d tells the Israelites not to be afrain and approaches G-d in the thick cloud. G-d warns Israel against idolatry. |
| 21 | G-d delivers additional commandments to Moses: Protection for slaves, prohibitions against murder, striking father or mother, penalties for certain actions that could occur in a fight, repayment for injury to humans and animals. G-d establishes the standard of "equivalent measures" in judicial penalties: "an eye for an eye". |
| 22 | G-d delivers additional commandments to Moses: consequences for theft, restitution, trespassing, borrowing, betrothal, prohibitions against sorcery, oppression of the poor, usury, and the requirements for firstfruits of the harvest. |
| 23 | G-d delivers additional commandments to Moses: False witnesses, laws of justice, the seventh year sabbath of the land, cease work on the seventh day Sabbath, the three annual pilgrimmage feasts (Unleavened Bread, Pentecost/Shavuot, the Feast of Tabernacles), the prohibition against having other gods, and a prohibition against making a covenant with the inhabitants of Canaan. |
| 24 | Moses relates the commandments G-d had given to him. Israel sprinkles blood on the covenant and the people to seal the covenant. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel go up on the mountain and see G-d. Moses goes up on Mt. Sinai alone for forty days and forty nights. |
| 25 | G-d calls for a contribution from Israel: gold, silver, bronze, colored material, animal skins, oil, spices, incense, and precious jewels. G-d describes how to construct the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that covers it, the table of show bread, and the six-branched menorah. |
| 26 | G-d instructs Moses about the construction of the tabernacle: curtains, the coverings of the tent, the boards and their sockets, the holy place, the holy of holies, the location of the furniture within the tabernacle, and the screen for the doorway. |
| 27 | G-d describes to Moses the design of the bronze altar and the courtyard curtains and pillars. G-d requires clear oil of beaten olives for the menorah. |
| 28 | G-d chooses Aaron and his sons to be priests and minister before G-d. G-d describes their garments including the special breastplate, ephod, robe, tunic, turban, and sash for the high priest. |
| 29 | G-d describes the ceremony to consecrate Aaron and his sonss as priests. He describes the offerings and sacrifices that are involved. |
| 30 | G-d describes the altar of incense and its use. G-d calls for a census ransom offering. G-d describes the bronze laver and its use. G-d instructs Moses regarding the formulation of the priestly anointing oil and the holy incense. |
| 31 | G-d tells Moses He has chosen Bezalel and Oholiab and has filled them with His Spirit. His Spirit makes them skilled artisans so they can create the tabernacle and its furniture. He reminds Moses about ceasing from work on the Sabbath on penalty of death. G-d gives Moses two stone tablets of the testimony written by the finger of G-d. |
| 32 | Aaron makes a golden calf & leads Israel to worship it as G-d. G-d sends Moses down to the people because of their idolatry. G-d is angry with Israel and Moses pleads on their behalf. Moses becomes angry and breaks the two tablets. The tribe of Levi chooses G-d and 3,000 men die as a result of their idolatry. |
| 33 | G-d commands Israel to depart for Canaan but says He will not go with them. Israel mourns. Moses intercedes for Israel and requests that G-d go with them. G-d favors Moses and causes His glory to pass before him. |
| 34 | Moses makes two new stone tablets for the covenant. The LORD's name is proclaimed. G-d reiterates His covenant with Israel and reviews His appointed festival days. Moses' face shines as He comes down the mountain from G-d. |
| 35 | Moses tells Israel about the Sabbath, asks for sanctuary offerings. Israel gives all the offerings that G-d asks and more. Bezalel & Oholiab are called to build the sanctuary and its furnishings. |
| 36 | Israel bring too many offerings for the sanctuary and G-d tells Moses to have them stop. The construction of the outer parts of the sanctuary begins. |
| 37 | Bezalel makes the ark, the mercy seat with the cherubim, the table of showbread, the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the holy anointing oil and incense. |
| 38 | Bezalel constructs the bronze altar, the bronze laver, the courtyard curtains and gate. The tabernacle materials and weights are listed. |
| 39 | The garments of the priesthood are made (the ephod, breastplate, robe, tunic, and crown). The material for the tabernacle and its furniture are completed and brought to Moses. |
| 40 | On the first day of the first month Moses set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. Moses annoints the furniture of the tabernacle then clothes and annoints the priests. The glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle so that not even Moses was able to enter into it. |