The Law (Torah)
The book of Exodus
Israel’s rescue from Egypt, the giving of the law at Sinai, and the building of the tabernacle.
Moses is named as the writer of parts of the Law (Exodus 17:14; 24:4; Deuteronomy 31:9), and Jesus and the apostles speak of “Moses” writing it (Luke 24:44; John 5:46–47). Exodus tells of the ten plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, the Ten Commandments, and the tabernacle. Moses was an eyewitness, and he was told to write down what happened (Exodus 17:14; 24:4).
Kinds of writing
- Narrative 66%
- Law 31%
- Song and psalm 2%
- Genealogy 1%
Key verses
God tells Moses his name. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14 (World English Bible)
The Passover: when I see the blood. The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:13 (World English Bible)
A kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
Exodus 19:5-6 (World English Bible)
The Ten Commandments begin. “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:2-3 (World English Bible)
God's glory fills the tabernacle. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and Yahweh’s glory filled the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:34 (World English Bible)
People
MosesAaronMiriamPharaohJethroJoshuaBezalel
Places
EgyptNileGoshenMidianRed SeaMarahRephidimMount Sinai
On the timeline
Moses born and adopted by Pharaoh's daughterGod speaks to Moses from the burning bushThe ten plaguesThe first PassoverCrossing the Red SeaThe Ten Commandments at Mount SinaiThe golden calfThe tabernacle is set up
The New Testament quotes or alludes to Exodus 27 times (counted in the site’s Old in the New).
Dating notes
Written in the wilderness, finished by about 1490 BC (Ussher). The conventional conservative date for the Exodus is 1446 BC, which would put the writing 45 years later than shown here; this timeline follows Ussher’s 1491 BC. Many modern scholars hold that the Pentateuch was put together from several sources over centuries after Moses; the traditional view, which this timeline follows, is that Moses wrote it, with small later touches such as the account of his death.