Exodus

Overview

Exodus is the second book of the Torah and the founding story of Israel as a nation. It picks up where Genesis ends: Jacob's descendants are living in Egypt, now numerous but forgotten by a new Pharaoh. Over forty chapters the book moves from slavery to freedom, from Egypt to Mount Sinai, and from a people without a home to a people with God dwelling in their midst. Its name comes from the Greek for "going out".

Jewish and Christian tradition attribute the book to Moses; many scholars see it as drawing on several sources brought together over time. The date of the exodus itself is also debated, with the fifteenth and thirteenth centuries BC the main proposals. Whatever the view, the book presents itself as Israel's defining memory: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt."

The book falls into three parts: deliverance from Egypt (chapters 1–15), the journey through the wilderness to Sinai (15–18), and the covenant at Sinai with the building of the tabernacle (19–40). The golden calf (32–34) sits right in the middle of the tabernacle instructions and their fulfilment, a crisis that threatens the whole relationship.

Part 1 — Deliverance from Egypt (chapters 1–15)

Oppression (1). Israel's family of seventy has multiplied. A new king "who did not know Joseph" fears them and forces them into hard labour, building the store cities of Pithom and Rameses. When oppression fails to stop their growth, he orders the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah to kill newborn boys. They fear God and refuse, so Pharaoh commands that every son be thrown into the Nile.

The birth of Moses (2). A Levite woman hides her baby for three months, then places him in a pitch-coated basket among the reeds. His sister watches as Pharaoh's daughter finds him and, through the sister's quick thinking, hires the baby's own mother to nurse him. He is named Moses and raised in the palace.

Flight to Midian (2). As a grown man Moses kills an Egyptian he sees beating a Hebrew. When the deed becomes known he flees to Midian, defends the daughters of Jethro (also called Reuel) at a well, marries Zipporah and becomes a shepherd. Meanwhile Israel groans in slavery, and "God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

The burning bush (3–4). At Horeb, the mountain of God, Moses sees a bush burning but not consumed. God calls him to bring Israel out and reveals his name: "I AM WHO I AM" (the LORD, YHWH). Moses raises objection after objection; God gives him signs (a staff that becomes a snake, a hand made leprous and healed) and appoints his brother Aaron as his spokesman.

Before Pharaoh (5–6). "Let my people go," Moses and Aaron demand. "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him?" Pharaoh answers, and makes the slaves gather their own straw while keeping the brick quota. The people turn on Moses, but God repeats his promise: "I will bring you out... I will take you as my people, and I will be your God."

The plagues (7–11). Ten plagues strike Egypt: the Nile turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, three days of darkness, and finally the death of the firstborn. Egypt's magicians copy the first two, then admit, "This is the finger of God." Several plagues spare Goshen, where Israel lives. Again and again Pharaoh relents, then hardens his heart, and the text also says God hardened it, a theme that has long been discussed.

The Passover (12–13). Each household kills a spotless lamb, marks its doorposts with the blood and eats the meal in haste with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. At midnight the LORD strikes Egypt's firstborn but passes over the marked houses. Pharaoh finally sends Israel away. The night is to be remembered every year, and the firstborn of Israel are dedicated to God. About six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, leave after 430 years, carrying Joseph's bones, led by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

The sea (14–15). Pharaoh pursues with six hundred chariots and traps Israel against the sea. "Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD." Moses stretches out his hand, an east wind drives back the waters, and Israel crosses on dry ground; the returning waters drown the Egyptian army. Moses leads the Song of the Sea ("The LORD is my strength and song") and Miriam leads the women with tambourines.

Part 2 — Through the Wilderness (chapters 15–18)

Bitter water and bread from heaven (15–16). Three days on, at Marah, the water is bitter; God shows Moses a piece of wood that makes it sweet. In the Wilderness of Sin the people grumble for the food of Egypt. God sends quail in the evening and manna each morning, enough for each day, with a double portion before the Sabbath. A jar of manna is kept as a memorial.

Water from the rock and Amalek (17). At Rephidim Moses strikes the rock at Horeb and water flows. When Amalek attacks, Joshua leads Israel in battle while Moses holds up his hands on a hilltop; when his arms tire, Aaron and Hur hold them up until sunset. Moses builds an altar called "The LORD is my banner."

Jethro's counsel (18). Moses' father-in-law visits, rejoices at what God has done, and sees Moses judging disputes from morning to evening. On his advice Moses appoints capable, honest men over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens, keeping only the hardest cases himself.

Part 3 — Covenant and Tabernacle at Sinai (chapters 19–40)

Arrival at Sinai (19). In the third month Israel camps before the mountain. God offers a covenant: "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." The people consecrate themselves, and on the third day the mountain is wrapped in smoke, thunder, lightning and a growing trumpet blast as the LORD descends in fire.

The Ten Commandments (20). God speaks the "ten words": no other gods; no idols; do not misuse God's name; keep the Sabbath; honour father and mother; do not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness or covet. Terrified, the people ask Moses to speak to God for them.

The Book of the Covenant (21–23). Laws apply the commandments to daily life: the treatment of Hebrew slaves, injury and compensation ("eye for eye" as a limit on revenge), property, care for the stranger, widow and orphan ("for you were strangers in Egypt"), honest courts, the Sabbath year and three annual feasts.

The covenant sealed (24). Moses writes down the words, builds an altar with twelve pillars and sprinkles the blood of sacrifice on the altar and the people, who answer, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders see the God of Israel and eat in his presence. Then Moses climbs into the cloud for forty days.

Instructions for the tabernacle and priesthood (25–31). "Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." God gives detailed patterns: the ark of the covenant with its mercy seat and cherubim, the table for the bread of the Presence, the golden lampstand, the curtained tent, the altars and the courtyard. Aaron and his sons are to wear holy garments, including the breastpiece bearing the names of the twelve tribes, and be ordained as priests. Bezalel and Oholiab are filled with God's Spirit for the craftsmanship. The Sabbath is a lasting sign, and Moses receives two stone tablets written by the finger of God.

The golden calf (32). Below, the people despair of Moses' return. Aaron collects their gold earrings and makes a calf: "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." God threatens to destroy them; Moses intercedes. Coming down, he sees the dancing and smashes the tablets. He burns and grinds the calf, makes the people drink the water, and the Levites rally to him; about three thousand die.

Moses intercedes (32–33). Moses offers himself: "Blot me out of your book." God says he will send an angel but will not go with them, and the people mourn. In the tent of meeting outside the camp, the LORD speaks to Moses "face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." Moses insists, and God promises, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

God's glory and the renewed covenant (33–34). Moses asks, "Show me your glory." Hidden in a cleft of the rock, he sees God's back and hears his name proclaimed: "The LORD, the LORD, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness and truth." The covenant is renewed on new tablets. When Moses comes down, his face shines so brightly that he must veil it.

The tabernacle built (35–40). The people bring offerings so generously that Moses must tell them to stop. The workers make everything exactly "as the LORD had commanded Moses", a phrase repeated again and again. On the first day of the second year, the tabernacle is raised and anointed. The cloud covers the tent, and the glory of the LORD fills it so that even Moses cannot enter.

Key themes, and the bridge to Leviticus

• The God who rescues. The LORD hears the cry of the oppressed, remembers his promises to Abraham and acts in history; the exodus becomes the pattern of salvation for later Scripture.
• Knowing the LORD. The plagues are aimed at the gods of Egypt so that both Israel and Egypt "shall know that I am the LORD." God reveals his name and his character.
• Covenant and law. Freedom leads to Sinai: rescued people are called to live as a holy nation, and the law is given to a people already redeemed.
• Presence. The book moves from God appearing in a bush to God filling a tent at the centre of the camp. The golden calf shows how fragile that relationship is, and Moses' intercession shows God's mercy.
• Grumbling and grace. The people complain about water, food and leadership, yet God provides daily.

Exodus ends with the glory cloud filling the tabernacle and guiding Israel's journeys, lifting when they were to move and resting when they were to stay. But the closing image raises a question: Moses himself cannot enter the tent. How can a sinful people approach a holy God who now lives among them? Leviticus, spoken from that same tent of meeting, gives the answer through sacrifice, priesthood, purity and holiness.