Exodus

The Israelites multiply greatly in Egypt and a new Pharaoh, who does not know Joseph, enslaves them with harsh labour. Pharaoh orders the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn boys, but they fear God and defy the order. Pharaoh then commands that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the Nile.

Moses is born and hidden for three months, then placed in a basket on the Nile where Pharaoh's daughter finds and adopts him. As an adult, Moses kills an Egyptian who is beating a Hebrew and flees to Midian. There he marries Zipporah and lives as a shepherd while God hears Israel's groaning.

God appears to Moses in a burning bush that is not consumed on Mount Horeb. He reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and commissions Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. When Moses asks God's name, God replies with the famous declaration: I AM WHO I AM.

Moses makes excuses about his inadequacy, and God gives him three signs: a staff turning into a snake, his hand becoming leprous and restored, and water turning to blood. God appoints Aaron as Moses's spokesman. Moses returns to Egypt, and on the way God nearly kills him until Zipporah circumcises their son.

Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh and demand that he let Israel go to worship in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses and increases the Israelites's workload by withholding straw for brickmaking. The Israelite foremen blame Moses and Aaron, and Moses cries out to God in frustration.

God reassures Moses by revealing His name Yahweh and reaffirming the covenant promises to Abraham. He pledges to redeem Israel with an outstretched arm and bring them to the Promised Land. The chapter also records the genealogy of Moses and Aaron through the tribe of Levi.

God tells Moses that He will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply His signs in Egypt. Aaron's staff becomes a serpent before Pharaoh, swallowing the staffs of the Egyptian magicians. The first plague strikes as the Nile turns to blood, killing the fish and making the water undrinkable.

God sends three more plagues upon Egypt: frogs cover the land, gnats infest all people and animals, and swarms of flies fill the country. Pharaoh repeatedly promises to let Israel go but hardens his heart each time the plague is removed. God begins to distinguish between Egypt and Goshen where Israel lives.

Three more devastating plagues strike Egypt: a disease kills all Egyptian livestock, painful boils afflict people and animals, and a severe hailstorm destroys crops and kills those caught in the open. God continues to distinguish between Egypt and Goshen. Pharaoh admits he has sinned but again hardens his heart.

God sends locusts that devour every remaining plant in Egypt, followed by three days of total darkness that paralyses the nation. Pharaoh offers partial compromises — letting the men go, or going without livestock — but Moses insists on complete release. Pharaoh threatens to kill Moses if he sees his face again.

God announces the final plague: the death of every firstborn in Egypt, from Pharaoh's son to the servant's son. Moses warns Pharaoh, but his heart remains hardened. God tells Israel to ask the Egyptians for silver and gold, and the Egyptians give generously because God has given the people favour.

God institutes the Passover: each family must sacrifice a lamb, put its blood on the doorposts, and eat the meal in readiness to depart. At midnight, God strikes down all the firstborn in Egypt, and Pharaoh finally releases Israel. The Israelites leave Egypt after 430 years of sojourning.

God commands the consecration of every firstborn and establishes the Feast of Unleavened Bread as an annual memorial of the exodus. God does not lead Israel by the shorter coastal route to avoid war but guides them through the wilderness. He leads them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Pharaoh pursues the fleeing Israelites and traps them at the Red Sea. God tells Moses to stretch out his staff, and the sea parts, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground. The Egyptian army follows but the waters close over them, destroying Pharaoh's entire force. Israel sees God's mighty deliverance and believes.

Moses and the Israelites sing a triumphant song celebrating God's victory over Egypt at the Red Sea. Miriam leads the women in dancing with tambourines. The people then travel into the wilderness where they find bitter water at Marah; God sweetens it and promises to be their healer.

The Israelites grumble about food in the wilderness, and God provides manna from heaven each morning and quail in the evening. God instructs them to gather only what they need daily, with a double portion on the sixth day for the Sabbath. Some disobey, and the leftover manna breeds worms.

The people quarrel with Moses at Rephidim because there is no water. God tells Moses to strike the rock at Horeb and water flows out. The Amalekites attack Israel, and as long as Moses holds up his hands, Israel prevails; Aaron and Hur support his arms until Joshua wins the battle.

Moses's father-in-law Jethro visits the camp, bringing Zipporah and Moses's sons. He observes Moses judging the people from morning to night and advises him to delegate by appointing capable leaders over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Moses follows Jethro's wise counsel.

Israel arrives at Mount Sinai and God proposes a covenant: if they obey, they will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The people agree. God descends on Sinai in fire, smoke, thunder, and earthquake, warning that no one may touch the mountain. Moses alone is summoned to the top.

God speaks the Ten Commandments directly to the people from Mount Sinai, covering duties toward God (no other gods, no idols, no taking God's name in vain, keep the Sabbath) and toward others (honour parents, no murder, adultery, theft, false witness, or coveting). The people tremble and ask Moses to speak to them instead of God.

God gives Moses detailed laws governing the treatment of servants, including conditions for their release. Laws address personal injury cases including murder, assault, and the principle of proportional justice — an eye for an eye. These civil laws establish justice and protect the vulnerable in Israelite society.

God continues the civil laws covering theft, property damage, and restitution. Laws protect the vulnerable — widows, orphans, and foreigners. God warns that He will personally hear the cry of the oppressed. Economic laws govern lending, pledges, and firstfruits offerings.

God gives laws about justice in court, sabbath rest for the land, and three annual pilgrimage festivals — Unleavened Bread, Harvest, and Ingathering. God promises to send an angel ahead of Israel to guard them and drive out the inhabitants of Canaan, warning them not to worship foreign gods.

Moses reads the Book of the Covenant to all Israel and they respond saying they will obey everything. He sprinkles blood on the people to ratify the covenant. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders ascend the mountain and see God, then Moses goes up alone for forty days and nights.

God instructs Moses to collect offerings from the people for building the tabernacle. He gives detailed specifications for the Ark of the Covenant (overlaid with gold, with two cherubim), the table of showbread, and the golden lampstand. Each item is to be made exactly according to the pattern shown on the mountain.

God provides detailed instructions for constructing the tabernacle itself — its curtains of fine linen with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, its coverings of goat hair and animal skins, its acacia wood frames, and the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

God gives instructions for the bronze altar of burnt offering and the courtyard of the tabernacle, enclosed by fine linen curtains hung on bronze pillars. He also commands that pure olive oil be used to keep the lampstand burning continually in the tabernacle.

God commands that Aaron and his sons be set apart as priests. He details the priestly garments: the ephod with two onyx stones, the breastpiece with twelve precious stones representing the twelve tribes, the blue robe with bells and pomegranates, the turban with a gold plate reading Holy to the LORD.

God prescribes the elaborate ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons, including washing, clothing, anointing with oil, and sacrificing a bull and two rams. The blood is applied to the right ear, thumb, and toe of the priests. Daily burnt offerings are established to consecrate the altar and God's dwelling among His people.

God gives instructions for the altar of incense placed before the veil, and the annual atonement made on its horns. He institutes the half-shekel census offering as ransom money. Recipes are given for the sacred anointing oil and holy incense, both reserved exclusively for tabernacle use.

God names Bezalel and Oholiab as Spirit-filled craftsmen to build the tabernacle and all its furnishings. He reaffirms the Sabbath as a perpetual sign of the covenant between Himself and Israel. God finishes speaking to Moses on Sinai and gives him the two stone tablets written by His own finger.

While Moses is on the mountain, the people grow impatient and persuade Aaron to make a golden calf, declaring it their god who brought them out of Egypt. God's anger burns and Moses intercedes, then descends and shatters the stone tablets. Moses calls the Levites to execute judgment, and about 3,000 people die.

God threatens to withdraw His personal presence from Israel because of their stubbornness. Moses pleads with God and sets up a tent of meeting outside the camp where God speaks with him face to face. Moses asks to see God's glory, and God agrees to let His goodness pass by while shielding Moses in the cleft of a rock.

God tells Moses to cut two new stone tablets and come back up Sinai. God passes before Moses, proclaiming His name: The LORD, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. God renews the covenant with Israel and gives further laws. When Moses descends, his face shines so brightly he must wear a veil.

Moses assembles Israel and reiterates the Sabbath command. He calls for voluntary offerings of materials for the tabernacle, and the people respond with overwhelming generosity. Bezalel and Oholiab are confirmed as lead craftsmen, filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom and skill.

The craftsmen receive so many offerings that Moses has to issue a command to stop giving — the people have brought more than enough. The construction of the tabernacle begins with the linen curtains, goat hair coverings, frames, crossbars, and the inner veil separating the holy places.

Bezalel crafts the Ark of the Covenant overlaid with pure gold, with its mercy seat and two cherubim. He also makes the table of showbread, the golden lampstand with its seven branches, and the altar of incense — all according to God's exact specifications given on the mountain.

The bronze altar and bronze basin are constructed for the tabernacle courtyard. The courtyard is enclosed with fine linen hangings on bronze pillars. A detailed inventory records all the gold, silver, and bronze used — nearly a ton of gold, over three tons of silver, and two and a half tons of bronze.

The priestly garments are completed exactly as God commanded Moses, including the ephod, breastpiece with twelve stones, robe of blue, tunics, turban, and the gold plate inscribed Holy to the LORD. The people bring all the completed work to Moses, and he inspects everything and blesses them.

God commands Moses to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month. Moses assembles everything, anoints it with oil, and consecrates Aaron and his sons. When Moses finishes, the cloud of God's glory fills the tabernacle so powerfully that even Moses cannot enter. The glory cloud guides Israel throughout their journeys.