Exodus
“And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” — Exodus 6:2–3 (KJV)
Overview
- Testament: Old
- Author: Moses — the narrative is written from Moses’ perspective; he is both the subject and, by tradition, the author; the Pentateuch’s Mosaic authorship is attested in the OT (Joshua 8:31; 1 Kings 2:3), the NT (Mark 12:26 references “the bush” passage), and by Jesus (John 5:46)
- Date Written: ~1446–1406 BC — during the wilderness period; the traditional early-date Exodus places the event c. 1446 BC (1 Kings 6:1 backward from Solomon’s fourth year); late-date proponents suggest c. 1270 BC
- Key Themes: Redemption from bondage, the divine name (YHWH), the Passover as the paradigm of substitutionary atonement, covenant at Sinai, the Tabernacle as the pattern of divine dwelling, Moses as mediator
- Chapters: 40
Summary
Exodus (Greek: “departure”) is the pivotal book of the Old Testament — the event referenced more than any other in Scripture. Israel’s salvation from Egypt establishes the paradigm that all subsequent salvation language draws from, culminating in Christ’s Passover death and resurrection. The book divides into two equal and theologically paired halves.
Chapters 1–18 (Deliverance): Israel’s 400-year bondage in Egypt has become crushing. God tells Moses his name — “I AM THAT I AM” (Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh, 3:14; the four Hebrew letters YHWH, “the LORD”) — and commissions him as deliverer. Ten plagues escalate in severity, each targeting a specific Egyptian deity and culminating in the death of every firstborn. The Passover — blood on the doorposts, a roasted lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, loins girded — is the defining act: death passes over the blood-covered household. Israel departs, crosses the Red Sea on dry ground as the waters drown Pharaoh’s army, and receives manna, water from the rock, and victory over Amalek in the wilderness.
Chapters 19–40 (Covenant and Tabernacle): Israel arrives at Sinai — the mountain burns with fire, trembles, and thunders. God descends. The Ten Commandments are given (ch. 20), then the Book of the Covenant (21–23), then the detailed Tabernacle instructions (25–31). The golden calf rebellion (ch. 32) — Israel’s apostasy at the very moment God is delivering the blueprint for worship — ruptures the covenant. Moses intercedes (32:11–14), descends, breaks the tablets, and returns to beg God’s presence: “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence” (33:15). God renews the covenant. Moses’ face shines. The Tabernacle is constructed exactly as instructed, and the glory of the LORD fills it (40:34–38) — God has come to dwell among his people.
Key Characters
| Character | Role | Key Passages |
|---|---|---|
| Moses | Deliverer, mediator, lawgiver; “slow of speech”; found in basket; trained in Pharaoh’s court | 2:1; 3:1; 32:11 |
| Aaron | Moses’ brother; spokesman; first High Priest; makes the golden calf | 4:14; 28:1; 32:4 |
| Miriam | Prophetess; Moses’ sister; led the women in song at the Red Sea | 2:4; 15:20–21 |
| Pharaoh | Egyptian ruler; hardened heart (both God hardens and Pharaoh hardens himself, alternately) | 5:2; 7:13; 14:8 |
| Jochebed | Moses’ mother; hid him three months; placed him in an ark of bulrushes | 2:1–3 |
| Pharaoh’s Daughter | Rescued Moses from the Nile; raised him as her son | 2:5–10 |
| Jethro (Reuel) | Moses’ Midianite father-in-law; counseled Moses to delegate (ch. 18) | 2:16; 18:1 |
| Zipporah | Moses’ wife; circumcised their son at the inn in a cryptic passage | 2:21; 4:25 |
| Joshua | Moses’ aide; first introduced in the battle against Amalek | 17:9; 24:13 |
| Bezalel | Chief craftsman of the Tabernacle; “filled him with the spirit of God” in craftsmanship | 31:2–5; 35:30–35 |
The Ten Plagues
| Plague | Reference | Egyptian Deity Targeted |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Water to blood | 7:14–25 | Hapi (Nile god) |
| 2. Frogs | 8:1–15 | Heqet (frog-headed goddess) |
| 3. Lice/Gnats | 8:16–19 | Geb (earth god); magicians cannot replicate — “finger of God” |
| 4. Flies | 8:20–32 | Khepri (scarab deity); first plague distinguishing Goshen |
| 5. Livestock disease | 9:1–7 | Hathor (cow goddess); Israelite livestock spared |
| 6. Boils | 9:8–12 | Sekhmet (healing/disease goddess); magicians cannot stand |
| 7. Hail | 9:13–35 | Nut (sky goddess); worst in Egyptian history |
| 8. Locusts | 10:1–20 | Osiris (crops/vegetation) |
| 9. Darkness | 10:21–29 | Ra/Aten (sun god); three days |
| 10. Death of Firstborn | 11:1–12:36 | Pharaoh himself (regarded as divine); Passover blood protects |
Key Events
| Event | Reference | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oppression in Egypt | 1:1–22 | New king who knew not Joseph; forced labor; infanticide decree |
| Birth and rescue of Moses | 2:1–10 | Basket in the Nile; Pharaoh’s daughter; his mother as nurse |
| Burning bush | 3:1–15 | ”I AM THAT I AM”; Moses commissioned; divine name revealed |
| The ten plagues | 7:14–12:36 | Escalating judgment on Egypt and its gods |
| The Passover | 12:1–36 | Blood on doorposts; death angel passes over; first Passover feast |
| The Exodus | 12:37–51 | 600,000 men plus women and children depart; ~2 million total |
| Crossing the Red Sea | 14:1–31 | Moses lifts his rod; waters divide; Israel crosses; Egyptians drown |
| Song of Moses | 15:1–21 | Israel’s great victory hymn; Miriam leads the women |
| Manna from heaven | 16:1–36 | Daily provision; double portion on sixth day; none on Sabbath |
| Water from the rock | 17:1–7 | Massah and Meribah at Rephidim; Moses strikes the rock |
| Amalek defeated | 17:8–16 | Moses’ arms held up by Aaron and Hur; Joshua leads the battle |
| Jethro’s counsel | 18:1–27 | Moses’ father-in-law teaches delegation of justice |
| Covenant at Sinai | 19:1–24:18 | Theophany; Ten Commandments; Book of the Covenant |
| Golden calf | 32:1–35 | Aaron makes idol while Moses is on the mountain; 3,000 die |
| Moses’ intercession | 32:11–14; 33:12–23 | ”Show me thy glory”; God’s name proclaimed; covenant renewed |
| Tabernacle completed | 40:1–38 | Glory fills the dwelling; cloud by day, fire by night |
Chapter Outline
| Chapters | Section | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Oppression and Moses’ Birth | Israel enslaved; Moses born, rescued, and exiled to Midian |
| 3–4 | The Burning Bush | YHWH commissions Moses; divine name; signs given |
| 5–7 | Confrontation with Pharaoh | Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh; preliminary plagues begin |
| 8–10 | Plagues Continue | Frogs through darkness; distinction between Israel and Egypt |
| 11–12 | Passover and Exodus | Final plague; Passover institution; Israel departs |
| 13–15 | Red Sea Crossing | Passover laws; pillar of cloud/fire; crossing; Song of Moses |
| 16–18 | Wilderness Provision | Manna; water; Amalek; Jethro’s governance counsel |
| 19–20 | Sinai Theophany | Mountain burns; Ten Commandments given |
| 21–24 | Book of the Covenant | Social, ceremonial, and civil law; covenant sealed with blood |
| 25–27 | Tabernacle Instructions | Ark, table, lampstand, curtains, altar, courtyard |
| 28–29 | Priestly Garments and Ordination | Aaron and sons; ephod, breastplate, Urim and Thummim |
| 30–31 | Further Tabernacle Details | Incense altar, basin, anointing oil, Sabbath; Bezalel appointed |
| 32 | The Golden Calf | Apostasy at the foot of Sinai; Moses intercedes; tablets broken |
| 33–34 | Renewed Covenant | ”Show me thy glory”; new tablets; Moses’ face shines |
| 35–39 | Tabernacle Constructed | People give freely; craftsmen build exactly as instructed |
| 40 | Glory Fills the Tabernacle | Assembly complete; cloud covers; glory of the LORD fills it |
Cross-References
Old Testament:
- Genesis 15:13–14 — God tells Abraham that his seed will be afflicted 400 years, then come out with great substance — fulfilled here
- Psalm 78; 105; 106; 114; 135; 136 — The Exodus rehearsed repeatedly as Israel’s central saving act
- Isaiah 43:16–21; 51:9–11 — The “new exodus” promise: God will do again what He did at the Red Sea
- Jeremiah 2:1–3 — God recalls leading Israel through the wilderness with the tenderness of a bridegroom
New Testament:
- John 1:14 — “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt [eskēnōsen, “tabernacled”] among us” — the Tabernacle fulfilled in the Incarnation
- John 6:32–35 — “Moses gave you not that bread from heaven… I am the bread of life” — manna fulfilled in Christ
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 — “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” — the Passover lamb fulfilled in Christ
- 1 Corinthians 10:1–4 — Paul reads the Exodus typologically: cloud = baptism, rock = Christ
- Hebrews 3:1–6 — Moses faithful in God’s house as a servant; Christ faithful as a Son
- Hebrews 9:1–28 — The Tabernacle and its sacrifices as shadow of Christ’s priestly work
- Revelation 15:2–4 — The redeemed sing “the song of Moses… and the song of the Lamb”
Key Verses
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” — Exodus 3:14
“And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” — Exodus 12:13
“I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:2–3
“If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?” — Exodus 33:15–16
“And it came to pass… that the cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” — Exodus 40:34
Notes & Reflections
- The Exodus is the central saving event of the OT — referenced 120+ times across the Hebrew Bible; every subsequent act of divine salvation is interpreted through its categories; Isaiah promises a “new exodus,” and Jesus performs one
- The divine name YHWH (“LORD” in most English translations) is revealed for the first time in its full theological weight at 3:14: Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh — “I AM WHO I AM” or “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE”; the name denotes both absolute self-existence and covenantal faithfulness; Jesus’s “I am” declarations in John all echo this
- The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is both God’s action and Pharaoh’s own — the early plagues say Pharaoh hardened his own heart (8:15; 8:32); later God is said to harden it (9:12; 10:20); the theological point: God gives people up to what they have already chosen (Romans 1:24–28; 9:17–18); Pharaoh is an example of judicial hardening
- The Passover (ch. 12) is the theological center of Exodus: The lamb must be without blemish, slain at twilight, its blood applied to the doorposts and lintel, its flesh eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, with loins girded for departure. Paul (1 Cor. 5:7), Peter (1 Pet. 1:18–19), and John (John 1:29; Rev. 5:6) all identify Christ as the Passover lamb. The Eucharist is explicitly connected to Passover at the Last Supper
- The Tabernacle (chs. 25–40) is not peripheral: It occupies more chapters than the creation narrative. The detailed instructions — ark, mercy seat, lampstand, bread of presence, incense altar, priestly garments — are not architectural curiosity but theology in three dimensions. Hebrews 9 reads every element as a “shadow” of Christ’s priestly work. John 1:14 (eskēnōsen) is the New Covenant Tabernacle
Sequential Connections
- Preceded by: Genesis — the patriarchal promises (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) that Exodus begins to fulfill
- Defines: The rest of the Pentateuch — Leviticus (Tabernacle worship), Numbers (wilderness journey), Deuteronomy (covenant renewal) all presuppose Exodus
- NT fulfillment: John 1 (Tabernacle in flesh), 1 Corinthians 5 (Passover), Hebrews 3 and 9 (Moses and the sanctuary), Revelation 15 (song of Moses and the Lamb)
- Followed by: Leviticus — Tabernacle regulations and the holiness of God
Tags
OldTestament Pentateuch Exodus Passover Redemption YHWH Tabernacle TenCommandments Plagues Moses Covenant RedSea