Exodus Summary

As the name implies, the book of Exodus is focused around the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. This is one of the most important events in the history of God’s people; many times, for the rest of the Old Testament, He will refer to Himself as “the LORD who brought you out of Egypt”.

The reason this is such an important event, and that the LORD refers to it when naming himself, going forward, is that it’s all about Him. Everything that happens, during the exodus from Egypt, happens in such a way that there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that it was done by the LORD. Then, for the latter half of the book (or thereabouts), the focus moves to how the Israelites are to live for God. He presents them with some rules to live by, and some detailed instructions on how to build the Tabernacle, where they will worship Him.

We sometimes forget, when reading the book of Exodus, that this is really God’s introduction to the Israelites—before this time, they didn’t know much about Him. Before the book of Exodus, they didn’t even have the Ten Commandments; they knew it was wrong to murder, because He’d told them that, but they really didn’t know much about God, compared with what they knew after He revealed these commandments to them. They knew that there was a God, and that He had made a promise to Abraham, but they didn’t really know a lot about His character.

They will continue to learn about God in the books to come; much of the books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus will be devoted to laws, rules, and regulations, that the Israelites are to follow.

Exodus 1: The Israelites are oppressed Exodus 2: Moses is born, grows up, and flees the country Exodus 3: Moses and the Burning Bush—Part 1 Exodus 4: Moses gives more excuses, relents, and returns to Egypt Exodus 5:1–21: Moses makes his first appearance before the Pharaoh Exodus 5:22–6:27: God reassures His people; genealogy Exodus 6:28–7:24: Moses and Aaron go back to Pharaoh; Aaron’s staff becomes a snake; the plague of blood Exodus 7:25–8:32: the plague of frogs; the plague of gnats; the plague of flies Exodus 9: the plague on livestock; the plague of boils; the plague of hail Exodus 10: The plague of locusts; the plague of darkness Exodus 11: The plague on the firstborn Exodus 12: Passover is instituted; the plague on the Egyptians’ first born; the exodus; more rules for Passover Exodus 13:1–16: Consecration of the firstborn Exodus 13:17–14:31: The Red Sea Exodus 15: the song of Moses and Miriam; the waters of Marah and Elim Exodus 16: Manna and Quail Exodus 17: Water from a rock; the Amelekites defeated Exodus 18: Moses’ father-in-law gives him some advice Exodus 19: Moses consecrates the people, to prepare to meet with the LORD Exodus 20: The 10 Commandments

Exodus 21: Various laws; the concept of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is introduced Exodus 22: Laws about protection of property, and other laws Exodus 23: Various laws; God promises to send His angel Exodus 24: God confirms His covenant with Moses; Moses and the elders of Israel see God Exodus 25: The Tabernacle: Offerings, the Ark, the table, the lampstand Exodus 26: The Tabernacle: The Tent itself Exodus 27: The Tabernacle: The altar, the courtyard, and oil for the lampstand Exodus 28: The Tabernacle: the ephod, the breastpiece, and other priestly garments Exodus 29: Consecration of the priests Exodus 30: The Tabernacle: altar of incense, atonement money, basin for washing, anointing oil, and incense Exodus 31: The Tabernacle: Specific workers; the Sabbath Exodus 32: The Golden Calf Exodus 33: Moses asks to see the Glory of the LORD Exodus 34: The Glory of the LORD Exodus 35: Work begins on the Tabernacle Exodus 36–38: The building of the Tabernacle Exodus 39: The priestly clothing is made Exodus 40: The Tabernacle is erected, and the Glory of the LORD fills it