The book of Exodus is the second book of the Torah and of the Old Testament. It continues the story of the Israelites following the death of Joseph in Egypt. The book gets its name from the Greek word “exodos” meaning “departure,” referring to the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. The key events of Exodus include the calling of Moses, the ten plagues, the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, the provision of manna and quail, the Ten Commandments, the golden calf idol, and the construction of the tabernacle.
The book begins by recounting the Israelites living in Egypt and greatly multiplying to become a threat to Pharaoh. To control their population growth, Pharaoh enslaves them and orders the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn boys. However, Moses is saved by being placed in a basket in the Nile River and found by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses grows up a prince of Egypt but flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian taskmaster. God then appears to Moses in the burning bush and commissions him to go to Pharaoh and demand, “Let my people go.” Moses and his brother Aaron repeatedly come before Pharaoh, but he refuses to let the Israelites go. As a result, God sends ten plagues on Egypt – blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and death of firstborn. The tenth plague leads Pharaoh to finally release the Israelites. They hastily prepare unleavened bread and flee from Egypt.
Pharaoh changes his mind and pursues the Israelites with his army. The Israelites are trapped at the Red Sea but God miraculously parts the waters for them. After they cross safely, the Egyptians follow but the waters close over them, drowning Pharaoh’s army. Moses then leads the people into the wilderness towards Mount Sinai. However, the people grumble and complain about lack of food and water. God graciously provides manna from heaven and quail for them to eat and brings water from a rock. Two months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites camp at Mount Sinai. God makes a covenant with the people, giving them the Ten Commandments. While Moses is on the mountain, the people lose patience and convince Aaron to make a golden calf idol for them to worship. Moses intercedes for the people and God relents from destroying them. Moses then has the idol destroyed and 3,000 idolaters killed.
For the rest of the year at Sinai, Moses constructs the Tabernacle as a dwelling place for God among his people. The plans and instructions for the Tabernacle furnishings and priestly garments come directly from God. When the Tabernacle is finished, God’s glory fills it. The book ends with all the parts of the Tabernacle being assembled and arranged by Moses just as God had instructed.
Some key themes in Exodus include:
- God’s power over Egypt and their gods through the ten plagues
- God’s miraculous deliverance of Israel from slavery
- God’s provision of food, water and guidance in the wilderness
- Establishment of God’s covenant with Israel at Sinai
- Giving of the Ten Commandments and the law
- Instructions for the Tabernacle and worship system
- God’s presence dwelling among His people
The calling and preparation of Moses is recounted in Exodus 1-4. As an infant, Moses is providentially placed in a basket and finds favor with Pharaoh’s daughter who adopts him (Exodus 2:1-10). As a young man, Moses attempts to help the Israelites but flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian. God then appears to him in a burning bush and commissions him to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:1-4:17). Moses’ brother Aaron is assigned to assist him as spokesman.
God sends ten plagues upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to let Israel go. The plagues get progressively worse, culminating in the death of the firstborn. Exodus 7-12 describes each plague in detail: water to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and death of the firstborn. Before the tenth plague, God commands Israel to sacrifice a lamb and put its blood on their doorposts so that the Lord will pass over them in judgment (Exodus 12:1-30). Pharaoh finally releases Israel after the tenth plague kills his own firstborn son.
After leaving Egypt, Pharaoh changes his mind and pursues Israel with his army (Exodus 14:5-9). Trapped at the Red Sea, God miraculously parts the waters so Israel can escape (Exodus 14:21-22). After crossing on dry land, the Egyptians follow but the waters close over them, destroying the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:26-28). Moses then composes a song celebrating God’s deliverance (Exodus 15:1-21). The Israelites continue towards Sinai but grumble about lack of food and water. God graciously provides bread from heaven (manna) and quail in the evenings (Exodus 16:1-36). At Rephidim, the people complain about having no water so God brings water from a rock (Exodus 17:1-7). Israel then defeats the Amalekites who attack them (Exodus 17:8-16).
In the third month after leaving Egypt, the Israelites camp at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-2). God makes a covenant with Israel, promising to make them His treasured possession as a kingdom of priests if they will keep His commandments (Exodus 19:3-6). God then descends upon Sinai in fire, causing the mountain to tremble and smoke as He calls Moses to the top of the mountain (Exodus 19:16-19). God gives the people the Ten Commandments, which are later written on stone tablets (Exodus 20:1-21). Additional laws and ordinances are given regarding altar construction, treatment of servants, violence, theft, and justice. Moses instructs the people on God’s commandments and covenant, and they agree to obey (Exodus 24:3-8).
Moses goes back up Sinai for forty days and nights to receive further instructions from God (Exodus 24:15-18). During this time, the people become impatient for Moses’ return and convince Aaron to construct a golden calf idol for them to worship (Exodus 32:1-6). God threatens to destroy Israel for their idolatry but relents after Moses intercedes and pleads for mercy (Exodus 32:7-14). Moses descends from the mountain, breaks the stone tablets in anger, destroys the golden calf, and has 3,000 idolaters killed (Exodus 32:15-35).
Moses returns to the mountain and intercedes for Israel for another forty days and nights (Exodus 34:1-9). God renews the covenant and gives Moses new stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written again (Exodus 34:10-28). Moses face shines radiantly from speaking with God, frightening the Israelites, so he wears a veil (Exodus 34:29-35).
For the remainder of the year at Sinai, the Israelites construct the Tabernacle as a dwelling place for God in their midst (Exodus 35-40). Following God’s precise instructions, Bezalel and Oholiab oversee construction of the Tabernacle, ark of the covenant, table of showbread, lampstand, altar of incense, altar of burnt offering, laver, and the priestly garments. When the Tabernacle is finished, the glory of the Lord fills it (Exodus 40:34-38). The book ends with Moses setting up all the elements of the Tabernacle just as the Lord had commanded.
In summary, Exodus recounts Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and journey to Mount Sinai under the leadership of Moses. At Sinai, God makes a covenant with Israel, gives them the Ten Commandments and instructions for worship, and has the people construct the Tabernacle for Him to dwell among them. Key events include the exodus from Egypt, parting of the Red Sea, provision of manna and water, golden calf idolatry, renewal of the covenant, and building of the Tabernacle. Through it all, Exodus emphasizes God’s faithfulness in delivering and caring for His people and establishing His presence among them.