Exodus

Exodus is the second book of the Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses, who stands at the center of its narrative as God's chosen deliverer and lawgiver. Set primarily in Egypt and the Sinai wilderness around the 15th or 13th century BC, the book picks up where Genesis left off, following the descendants of Jacob as they have grown into a great nation — yet one crushed under the weight of Pharaoh's oppression. Under God's sovereign call, Moses confronts Egypt's power through a series of mighty plagues, culminating in the Passover and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea.

The deeper purpose of Exodus is to reveal the character of God as Redeemer, Lawgiver, and the One who desires to dwell among his people. Its major themes include redemption from bondage, the holiness and faithfulness of God, the formation of a covenant community bound by the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Law, and the significance of worship through the detailed instructions for the Tabernacle. Christians have long read Exodus as pointing forward to Christ, whose own life echoes Moses' story and whose sacrifice fulfills the Passover's promise of liberation and life.