Exodus Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study the Old Testament book of Exodus.
Israel’s escape from slavery in Egypt is commonly known as the exodus (meaning ‘a going out’). The most likely date for the event is about 1280 BC, and the historical account of the event is given in the book of Exodus.
Jump to: Background-Outlines; ** Maps; ** Encyclopedia; ** Key Words; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** History ** Next **Exodus Basics
- Historical period covered: There are two theories of when the Exodus happened: 1400s BC and 1200s BC. See When did the Exodus happen?
- Main events: Deliverance from slavery in Egypt (“the exodus”), receiving the law (divine instruction), building the tabernacle.
- Overarching theme: Who is the Lord? (Ex 5:2)
- Key issue: Idolatry. YHWH is truly God.
- Movement: From slavery to worship. The book begins with Israel’s need for deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It ends with the worshiping people of God ready to march into the promised land with the Lord’s presence as their guide.
- Exodus is a Greek title meaning “exit,” “departure” or “going out.”
- Egyptians were descendants of Ham.
Exodus Main Themes
- God controls nature.
- God controls history.
- History is purposeful.
- God is a redeemer from injustice and oppression.
- Exodus is a historical metaphor for redemption and salvation.
- The Jewish religious calendar is built around Exodus.
- History is a source and motive force behind ethical values.
- Adultery becomes the main metaphor for idolatry.
- Nation building: When Israel left a mixed multitude went with them (Exodus 12:38). The events of Exodus transform the people from a crowd to a nation of people, interconnected with a common purpose. They have shared history, traditions, values and close personal ties.
Exodus Main Characters
People of Israel
- Rebellious; They reject and question Moses’ leadership. They complain and want to return to Egypt.
- Obstinate: They repeat their rebellion despite God’s acts of care and provision.
- Impatient: Incident of the golden calf was the result of impatience.
- Paradigm for all humanity.
God
- Loyal to His promises; fulfills His promises to the patriarchs.
- Powerful: plagues and miraculous provision (water, manna, quail) demonstrate His power over the gods of Egypt, the forces of nature and human beings.
- Holy character: He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingingkindness and truth, forgiving but just (Exodus 34:6-7).
- God can be related to as a person. He is not an impersonal force. Moses can reason with Him.
- God has a plan and He is able to implement it.
Moses
- Humble; He was humbled by his experiences before leading the people of out Egypt.
- Intercedes for the people.
- Loyal, loving and forgiving; he mirrors those characteristics of God.
Why study Exodus?
- It is foundational (part of the Torah). The rest of Scripture assumes the reader is familiar with the Torah.
- It describes a time when God acted overtly in human history, proving that God is in control of history.
- The Exodus is the Bible’s paradigm for salvation.
Geographical Markers
- Chapters 1:1-15:21 – in Egypt
- Chapters 15:22-18:26 – in the wilderness
- Chapters 19-40 – at Mount Sinai
Exodus Short Outline
Exodus 1-4 | The Call of Moses: Gift of leader for theocratic state. | Moses becomes the political founder of the nation. (Abraham was the physical founder.) |
Exodus 5-18 | Salvation: Gift of deliverance from Egypt | God frees His people from oppression in order to worship Him in freedom and truth. |
Exodus 19-14 | Ethics: Gift of the covenant | Now that Israel is free, they are told how to live. God does not show Himself in an image or form; but in words which express His moral will. |
Exodus 35-40 | Religion Gift of worship | Now that Israel is free and know how to act, they are told how to worship. |
Genre: Understanding Narrative
Background & Outlines
Chart: Bible History at a glance
Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Timeline
Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament
Ray C Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
Introduction to the Pentateuch
ESV The Global Message of Exodus
Ligonier: Introduction to Exodus
Ligonier: Introduction to the Pentateuch
Biblehub: Timeline of Exodus
David Malick (Bible.org): An Introduction to the Pentateuch
David Malick: An Introduction to the Book of Exodus
David Malick: An Argument of the Book of Exodus
JVernon McGee: Exodus Notes and Outline
William Orr: 39 Keys to the Old Testament: A Practical Guide to Bible Study
Charles Swindoll – Overview of Exodus
James van Dine: Analysis of Exodus
Maps – Route of the Exodus
Route of the Exodus – Studylight.org
Route of Exodus from Egypt – Insight for Living
Route of Exodus – Holman Bible Atlas
Route of the Exodus – Bible-History online
Tabernacle Diagram – source unknown
Expulsion of the Hyksos – Holman Bible Atlas
Egypt and Palestine in the Late Bronze Age – Holman Bible Atlas
Sites in the Amarna Archive (Akhetaton; Tell el-Amarna) – Holman Bible Atlas
Campaigns of Thutmose III and Amenhotep II – Holman Bible Atlas
Canaan in the 14th Century: The Tell el-Amarna Tablets – Holman Bible Atlas
The Egyptian Empire and the Hittites – Holman Bible Atlas
Egyptian Empire and Balance of Power, ca. 1400 BCE – Holman Bible Atlas
The Route of the Exodus – Holman Bible Atlas
Events during the Sojourn at Kadesh-Barnea – Holman Bible Atlas
Journey of the Spies – Holman Bible Atlas
The Journey from Kadesh-Barnea to the Plains of Moab – Holman Bible Atlas
Exodus from Egypt (Map 3) – English Standard Version Bible
Key Words in Exodus
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
slave (14x/13v) – 11:5; 12:44; 13:3, 14; 20:2; 21:2, 5, 7, 20, 26f, 32; 23:12
bondage (5x/4v) – 2:23; 6:5f, 9
cry (10x/8v) – 2:23; 3:7, 9; 5:8; 11:6; 12:30; 22:23; 32:18; cried (6x/6v) – 2:23; 5:15; 8:12; 14:10; 15:25; 17:4
deliver/delivered (11x/10v) – 2:23; 3:7, 9; 5:8; 11:6; 12:30; 22:23; 32:18
passover (6x) – 12:11, 21, 27, 43, 48; 34:25
Sinai (13x) – 16:1; 19:1f, 11, 18, 20, 23; 24:16; 31:18; 34:2, 4, 29, 32
mountain of God (3x) – 3:1; 4:27; 24:13
die/died (27x/26v) – 1:6; 2:23; 7:18, 21; 8:13; 9:4, 6, 19; 10:28; 11:5; 14:11f; 16:3; 20:19; 21:12, 14, 18, 20, 35; 22:2, 10, 14; 28:35, 43; 30:20f
death (14x) – 1:16; 4:24; 10:17; 19:12; 21:12, 15-17, 28-29; 22:19; 31:14-15; 35:2
holy (57x/46v) – 3:5; 12:16; 15:13; 16:23; 19:6; 20:8, 11; 22:31; 26:33f; 28:2, 4, 29, 35f, 38, 43; 29:6, 29-31, 33f, 37; 30:10, 25, 29, 31f, 35-37; 31:10f, 14f; 35:2, 19, 21; 37:29; 39:1, 30, 41; 40:9f, 13
Lord commanded (6x) – 7:6; 16:34; 36:5 Exodus 23:15; 32:8; 34:18; Lord had commanded (26x) – 7:10, 20; 12:28, 50; 19:7; 34:4; 35:29; 38:22; 39:1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31f, 42f; 40:16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32
covenant (13x) – 2:24; 6:4f; 19:5; 23:32; 24:7f; 31:16; 34:10, 12, 15, 27f
cloud (21x/20v) – 13:21f; 14:19f, 24; 16:10; 19:9, 16; 20:21; 24:15f, 18; 33:9f; 34:5; 40:34-38
test/tested (27x/26v) – 15:25; 16:4, 34; 17:2, 7; 20:20; 23:2; 25:16, 21f; 26:33f; 27:21; 30:6, 26, 36; 31:7, 18; 32:15; 34:29; 38:21; 39:35; 40:3, 5, 20f
law (5x) – 12:49; 13:9; 18:16, 20; 24:12
Tent of meeting (34x/33v) – 27:21; 28:43; 29:4, 10f, 30, 32, 42, 44; 30:16, 18, 20, 26, 36; 31:7; 33:7; 35:21; 38:8, 30; 39:32, 40; 40:2, 6f, 12, 22, 24, 26, 29f, 32, 34f
Tabernacle (58x/55v) – 25:9; 26:1, 6f, 12f, 15, 17f, 20, 22f, 26f, 30, 35; 27:9, 19; 35:11, 15, 18; 36:8, 13f, 20, 22f, 25, 27f, 31f; 38:20f, 31; 39:32f, 40; 40:2, 5f, 9, 17ff, 21f, 24, 28f, 33ff, 38
Egypt (180x/153v) – 1:1, 5, 8, 13, 15, 17ff; 2:11f, 14, 19, 23; 3:7ff, 16ff; 4:18ff; 5:4, 12; 6:5ff, 11, 13, 26ff; 7:3ff, 11, 18f, 21f, 24; 8:5ff, 16f, 21, 24, 26; 9:4, 6, 9, 11, 18, 22ff; 10:2, 6f, 12ff, 19, 21f; 11:1, 3ff, 9; 12:1, 12f, 17, 23, 27, 29f, 33, 35f, 39ff, 51; 13:3, 8f, 14ff; 14:4f, 7ff, 17f, 20, 23ff, 30f; 15:26; 16:1, 3, 6, 32; 17:3; 18:1, 8ff; 19:1, 4; 20:2; 22:21; 23:9, 15; 29:46; 32:1, 4, 7f, 11f, 23; 33:1; 34:18
Exodus in the Psalms
Brief: Psa 44; Psa 66; Psa 68; Psa 74; Psa 77; Psa 80; Psa 81; Psa 95; Psa 99; Psa 103; Psa 125.
Extended: Psalm 78; Psalm 105; Psalm 106; Psalm 114; Psalm 136
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
Exodus, Book of
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Exodus, book of
Holman Bible Dictionary Exodus, Book of
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Book of Exodus
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Exodus book of
The Jewish Encyclopedia Exodus, Book of
Easton’s Bible Dictionary Exodus, Book of
Fausset Bible Dictionary Exodus, the Book of
Morrish Bible Dictionary Exodus, Book of
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Exodus, the Book of
The Exodus
American Tract Society Exodus
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Exodus
Chabad Knowledge Base Exodus
Easton’s Bible Dictionary Exodus
Holman Bible Dictionary Exodus
Hitchcock Bible Names Exodus
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Exodus
Watson’s Theological Dictionary Exodus
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica The Exodus
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Exodus
McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Exodus
The Nuttall Encyclopedia Exodus
The Jewish Encyclopedia Exodus
Moses
American Tract Society: Moses
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Moses
Baker Evangelical Dictionary: Moses
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Moses
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Moses
Holman Bible Dictionary: Moses
Hitchcock Bible Names: Moses
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Moses
Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT: Moses
Dictionary of Early Christian Biography: Moses
Whyte’s Bible Characters: Moses
Wilson’s Bible Types: Moses
Watson’s Theological Dictionary: Moses
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Moses
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia: Moses
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Moses
Law of Moses
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses
Holman Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses
Smith Bible Dictionary: Law of Moses
History
Alfred Edersheim
Old Testament History – The Exodus and The Wanderings in the Wilderness
Flavius Josephus: The Antiquities of the Jews
BOOK II. Containing The Interval Of Two Hundred And Twenty Years. From The Death Of Isaac To The Exodus Out Of Egypt.
CHAPTER 9. Concerning The Afflictions That Befell The Hebrews In Egypt, During Four Hundred Years.
CHAPTER 10. How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians.
CHAPTER 11. How Moses Fled Out Of Egypt Into Midian.
CHAPTER 12. Concerning The Burning Bush And The Rod Of Moses.
CHAPTER 13. How Moses And Aaron Returned Into Egypt To Pharaoh.
CHAPTER 14. Concerning The Ten Plagues Which Came Upon The Egyptians.
CHAPTER 15. How The Hebrews Under The Conduct Of Moses Left Egypt.
CHAPTER 16. How The Sea Was Divided Asunder For The Hebrews, When They Were Pursued By The Egyptians, And So Gave Them An Opportunity Of Escaping From Them.
BOOK III. Containing The Interval Of Two Years. From The Exodus Out Of Egypt, To The Rejection Of That Generation.
CHAPTER 1. How Moses When He Had Brought The People Out Of Egypt Led
CHAPTER 2. How The Amalekites And The Neighbouring Nations, Made War With The Hebrews And Were Beaten And Lost A Great Part Of Their Army.
CHAPTER 3. That Moses Kindly Received-His Father-In-Law, Jethro, When He Came To Him To Mount Sinai.
CHAPTER 7. Concerning The Garments Of The Priests, And Of The High Priest.
CHAPTER 8. Of The Priesthood Of Aaron.
CHAPTER 9. The Manner Of Our Offering Sacrifices.
CHAPTER 10. Concerning The Festivals; And How Each Day Of Such Festival Is To Be Observed.
CHAPTER 11. Of The Purifications.
CHAPTER 14. How Moses Sent Some Persons To Search Out The Land Of The Canaanites
Commentaries
Ligionier Top 5 Commentaries: Exodus
Tim Challies Best Commentaries: Exodus
Best Commentaries on Exodus – Logos
Commentary Reviews: Exodus
Biblehub Commentaries: Exodus
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Exodus
Albert Barnes Notes: Exodus
Matthew Henry: Exodus
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Exodus
Geneva Study Bible: Exodus
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Exodus
Journal Articles
Divine Hardening in the Old Testament – Chisholm
Israel in Slavery and Slavery in Israel- D. Jeffrey Mooney
The Duration of the Israelite Sojourn in Egypt – Paul J Ray
Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming Old Testament Narratives – Steven Mathewson
The Feast Of Cover-Over – Meredith G. Kline
Allen, Ronald B. “The Bloody Bridegroom in Exodus 4:24-26,” Bibliotheca Sacra 153 (1996) 259-69
Congdon, Robert N. “Exodus 21:22-25 and the Abortion Debate,” Bibliotheca Sacra 146 (1989) 132-47.
Davis, John J. “The Patriarchs’ Knowledge of Jehovah,” Grace Theological Journal 4.1 (1963) 29-43
Dyer, C. H. “The Date of the Exodus reexamined,” Bibliotheca Sacra 140 (1983) 225-43.
Finn, A. H. “The Tabernacle Chapters,” The Journal of Theological Studies — 16 (July 1915) 449-82.
Foote, Theodore C. “The Ephod,” Journal of Biblical Literature 21 (1902) 1-47.
Grisanti, Micahel A. “The Abortion Dilemma,” The Master’s Seminary Journal 11/2 (Fall 2000) 169-190.
Hoehner, Harold W. “The Duration of the Egyptian Bondage,” Bibliotheca Sacra 125 (1969) 306-16.
Klein, David J. “Proving and Provision at Marah,” Kerux 15.1 (2000) 24-29.
_________. “The Two Tables of the Covenant,” Westminster Theological Journal 22 (1960) 133-46.
Lee, Jeong W. “Introduction to the Ten Commandments,” Kerux 12.1 (1998) 33-40.
McDaniel, Thomas F. “The Septuagint has the Correct Translation of Exodus 21:22-23”
Patterson, Richard D. “The Song of Redemption,” Westminster Theological Journal 57.2 (1995) 453-61.
Wilson, R. D. “Critical Note on Exodus VI.3,” Princeton Theological Review 22 (1924) 108-19.
Worley, David R. “God’s Gracious Love Expressed: Exodus 20:1-17,” Restoration Quarterly 14 (1971) 184-204.
Young, E. J. “The Call of Moses, Part 1” Westminster Theological Journal (1966-67) 117-35.
________. “The Call of Moses, Part II,” Westminster Theological Journal 30 (1967-68) 1-23.
Zuck, Roy B. “The Practice of Witchcraft in the Scriptures,” Bibliotheca Sacra 128 (1971): 352-60
Theologyof Unclean Food – Gordon J. Wenham, Evangelical Quarterly 53.1 (January/March 1981): 6-15.
Got Questions.org
What should we learn from the life of Aaron?
What should we learn from the life of Moses?
Why did God speak to Moses out of the burning bush?
Who was Zipporah in the Bible?
Who was Moses’ wife? Did Moses have more than one wife?
What does the Bible mean when it refers to holy ground?
Why was God going to kill Moses in Exodus 4:24-26?
Why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart?
Who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus?
Are the pyramids mentioned in the Bible? Did the enslaved Israelites build the pyramids?
What was the meaning and purpose of the ten plagues of Egypt?
Is there extra-biblical evidence of the ten plagues in Egypt?
What is the importance of the parting of the Red Sea?
Did the Israelites in the book of Exodus cross the Red Sea or the Reed Sea?
What did the Law mean when it referred to a lasting ordinance?
What did the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night signify? (Exodus 13:21-22)
What is the location of the real Mount Sinai?
What are the Ten Commandments?
Why is “You shall have no other gods before me” in the Ten Commandments?
Why is “You shall not make for yourself an idol” in the Ten Commandments?
What is the true meaning of the second commandment?
Why is “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God” in the Ten Commandments?
Why is “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” in the Ten Commandments?
Why is “Honor your father and your mother” in the Ten Commandments?
Why is “You shall not murder” in the Ten Commandments?
Why is “You shall not commit adultery” in the Ten Commandments?
Why is “You shall not steal” in the Ten Commandments?
Why is “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” in the Ten Commandments?
Why is “You shall not covet” in the Ten Commandments?
What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday?
Does God require Sabbath keeping of Christians?
What did it mean to be devoted to destruction?
What was the significance of the sprinkling of blood?
What was the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30)?
What does the Bible mean by “an eye for an eye”?
What was the sanctuary shekel?
What was the significance of the anointed priest?
What should we learn from the golden calf incident in Exodus 32?
What sort of pagan revelry did the Israelites indulge in (Exodus 32:6)?
Why wasn’t Aaron punished for making the golden calf?
If Moses met face to face with God, why, later, was he not allowed to see God’s face?
Why did the Old Testament Law command against the eating of pork?
What does it mean that Christians are not under the law?
Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law?
What should Christians learn from the Mosaic Law?
Law vs. grace—why is there so much conflict among Christians on the issue?
Next: Leviticus
Previous: Genesis
Series: Resources by Book
Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash