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Old Testament · Book 2 of 66

Book of Exodus

The book of deliverance: Israel’s exit from Egypt, the covenant at Sinai, and God’s royal tent among His people.

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40 Chapters

Exodus 1–40

Author

Moses

Written

c. 1450 – 1410 B.C.

Greek Title

Exodos — “exit, departure”

Summary
Title
Author
Outline
Prologue
Deliverance
Sinai
The Tent
About the Name

Title

The word “Exodus” is derived from the Greek Exodos, the name given to the book by those who translated the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the Old Testament). “Exodus” means “exit” or “departure” (see Luke 9:31; Hebrews 11:22).

The name was retained by the Latin Vulgate, by the Jewish author Philo (a contemporary of Christ) and by the Syriac version.

Who Wrote It

Author and Date of Writing

Traditionally, Jewish and Christian scholars have agreed that Moses compiled and wrote Exodus, along with the other books of the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy). It was written by Moses about 1450–1410 B.C.

Exodus was not intended to exist separately. It was thought of as a continuation of a narrative that began in Genesis and was completed in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Overview

Book of Exodus Summary

Exodus means exit, departure or a going out. It gives a record of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, which signified the end of a period of oppression for Abraham’s offspring and the commencement of the fulfillment of the covenant promised to Abraham.

It records the tremendous numerical growth of Jacob’s family in Egypt, which grew into a vast nation, filling the land of Goshen.

Explore the Exodus Journey in Greater Detail
Study Guide

Exodus Outline

40 chapters in four parts. Tap any section to expand it, and tap a verse reference to read it at BibleGateway.

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Part I

Prologue

Chapters 1–2

  1. Israelite population multiplies · 1:1–7
  2. The oppression under the Pharaohs · 1:8–22
  1. Infant Moses spared · 2:1–10
  2. Mature Moses’ escape from Egypt · 2:11–25
Part II

God’s Deliverance of Israel

Chapters 3–18

Read this passage · 3:1–22

  1. Signs for Moses · 4:1–17

Read this passage · 4:18–31

  1. Oppression made more harsh · 5:1–21
  2. Promise of deliverance renewed · 5:22–6:12

Read this passage · 6:13–27

  1. Aaron to speak for Moses · 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

Read this passage · 12:1–28

  1. Passover restrictions · 12:43–50

Read this passage · 13:1–16

  1. Deliverance at the “Red Sea” · 13:17–14:31
  2. Song at the sea · 15:1–21
  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
Part III

Covenant at Sinai

Chapters 19–24

  1. Moses meets God at Mt. Sinai · 19:1–13
  2. Moses prepares the Israelites to meet God · 19:14–25
  1. Ten Commandments · 20:1–17
  1. People’s reaction · 20:18–21
  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
  1. The covenant confirmed · 24:1–18
Part IV

God’s Royal Tent in Israel

Chapters 25–40

  1. Collection of the materials · 25:1–9
  2. Furnishings of the tent · 25:10–40
    1. Ark and atonement cover · 25:10–22
    2. Table of the bread of the Presence · 25:23–30
    3. Gold lampstand · 25:31–40
  3. The tent and its courtyard · 26:1–27:19
    1. Curtains and frames · ch. 26
    2. Altar of burnt offering · 27:1–8
    3. Courtyard · 27:9–19
  4. The tent’s personnel · 27:20–29:46
    1. Priesthood · 27:20–28:5
    2. Garments of the priests · 28:6–43
    3. Ordination of the priests · ch. 29
  5. Remaining provisions concerning the tent · ch. 30
    1. Altar of incense · 30:1–10
    2. Census tax · 30:11–16
    3. Bronze basin · 30:17–21
    4. Anointing oil and incense · 30:22–38
  6. Appointment of skilled workers · 31:1–11
  7. Observance of Sabbath rest · 31:12–18
  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
  1. Summons to build · 35:1–19
  2. Voluntary gifts · 35:20–29
  3. Bezalel and his skilled workers · 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

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Outline adapted from NIV Study Bible notes, Copyright © 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2011 by Zondervan.