After Joseph's generation dies off, the population of the Hebrews, 'Tribes of Israel" (the sons of Jacob/Israel in Genesis 49:28) grew, even outnumbering the Egyptians. Terrified of their capacity and ability to overtake the Egyptians, the Pharoah enslaves the Hebrews, and made their lives rigorous and bitter. The population continued to grow, so the Pharoah ordered two Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah to end the lives of any newborn Hebrew males. They honored God and did not obey the order, which led to the continuous growth of the Hebrew population.

Two descendants of the tribe of Levi produced a baby boy. The woman kept him until he was three months, and created an enclosure to float the baby on water. The older sister watched over the child, and fortunately, the Pharoah's daughter was taking a bath in the river at that time. She discovered the child, later adopting him and naming him Moses. Moses as an adult, knows he is a Hebrew and kills an Egyptian he sees hurting another Hebrew. Playing privileged peacemaker, he intervenes in a conflict between two Hebrews. They do not appreciate this, and mock him, referencing the murder of the Egyptian from the day before. This is actually a great help to Moses, who becomes afraid of the consequences and flees to Midian, giving him a head start to escape consequences. Pharoah finds out and seeks Moses' death. The chapter ends with the Children of Israel suffering and God hearing it. The Pharoah that sought Moses' life dies. Moses has a wife and son now

An angel of God gets Moses' attention with a burning bush that is not consumed by the fire. God speaks to Moses and tells him that he will be the one to lead the enslaved children of Israel (Israelites) to the land promised to their ancestors. Moses doubts his ability to persuade the elders of Israel because he is not the best speaker. Moses asks God what His name is. God informs Moses that the king of Egypt will have to be forced to let the Israelites go.

Chapter 3 ends with Moses doubting his ability to communicate God's message to powerful leaders. Chapter 4 continues that conversation. God empowers Moses to demonstrate three signs or supernatural demonstrations to help convince the elders of Israel that God is making the request for the children of Israel to go into the wilderness to worship for three days. Again, he doubts his ability because he is not a confident speaker. Aaron is appointed to assist Moses with speaking to the king of Egypt. Moses stopped at a lodge while travelling with his family. An indecipherable incident causes a disagreement with God. God's anger is quelled by Moses' wife circumcising their son, touching Moses' feet with the foreskin, and declaring him her bridegroom.

Aaron and Moses tell Pharaoh that God commanded them to go into the wilderness for three days to honor Him. Pharaoh tells them he does not know this God and will not let the enslaved go to worship. This incident distracted the Israelites from work. Pharaoh decides that the enslaved must be idle if they are making these sorts of requests. He enacts a new rule that the enslaved must find their own straw to form bricks instead of the slavedrivers organizing the tools. He expects the same yield of production, and believes the Israelites are conspiring together to go worship their God. Remember, Exodus 1 verse 10...the reason for enslavement was that the Egyptian king felt threatened by the capacity of the Israelites because of their large number.

The chapter begins with Moses' conversation with God. He is doubtful because he followed God's directions, and things get even worse for his people. We find out that Aaron has four children and one grandchild. Aaron and Moses' parents were nephew and aunt.

Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go, and warns him that a plague of frogs would come next. Pharaoh's heart is hardened and he refuses. The magicians are able to replicate this feat. Once the plague is in full effect, Pharaoh asks Moses to take it away. Then the plague of lice descends upon the Egyptians. The magicians are unable to replicate this. They acknowledge that this is the true God. The lice affects all Egyptians and their animals. Ironically, this is not bad enough to make Pharoah ask Moses to take the plague away. The plague of flies makes Pharoah ask Moses to intercede and take the flies away. The magicians are not noted as having attempted to replicate this feat. God makes the distinction between Israel and Egypt, saying Israel will not be affected. Pharaoh rescinds the agreement to let the Hebrews leave for three days.

Pharoah is warned that the livestock will be plagued if the Israelites are not allowed to go. When it happened, Pharaoh still did not adhere to God's request. Then the Egyptians were plagued with festering boils. Next, a destructive hailstorm. Still Pharoah did not believe. Goshen, the country where the Israelites were dwelling since the days of Joseph was unaffected.

God has hardened Pharoah's heart. The locusts are the next plague that causes a disturbance. Pharoah agrees to only allow the able bodied men to leave, and that is not the terms of conditions God required. When Pharaoh refuses to listen to God, the next incident is three days of darkness. Pharoah agrees to allow the people to leave, but requires that the animals stay behind. This still does not meet God's request. Pharaoh tells Moses and Aaron they are dead if Pharoah ever sees their faces again. Moses agrees.

In the presence of Pharaoh, Moses communicates the message form God. The next plague will compel Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. The firstborn of every Egyptian family and animal will perish. Moses instructs the Israelites to borrow gold and silver from the Egyptians. Then Moses angrily left Pharoah. Moses and Aaron are greatly respected throughout the land by both Egyptian and Israelites. Neither octogenarians are employed, possessors of any special skills or great wealth.

The final plague happens in this chapter. Every firstborn human and animal of the outnumbered Egyptian population perishes. This finally convinces Pharoah to let the Israelites go. This event is an occurrence God wants his people to observe and remember. Israelites were given specific dietary commands, as well as instruction to remember the current month as the first month of the year. They are instructed to honor the 14th and 21st days of the month as time to rest and to avoid eating yeast. God details specific dietary instructions about preparing a meal for what becomes the Passover feast. Non-compliance with the dietary instructions regarding the Passover are a punishable offense. This is the second time God gave serious laws about consuming food since the fall of man.

God re-emphasizes the importance of observing the Passover and all of the dietary requirements. He asks that the Israelites annually remember this occasion as seriously as a physical branding. God led the Israelites through the wilderness to avoid possible opposition from the Philistines.

Pharaoh and his servants decided to pursue the Israelites, chasing them into the wilderness in front of the Red Sea. God empowered Moses to divide the water through spreading his arms. The Israelites were able to walk through it on dry land, water as a wall on both sides. The Egyptians tried to follow, but was engulfed by the water. Only then did the Israelites have special reverence for God and Moses.

Verse 1-19 is a song dedicated to the Lord, detailing the recent triumph over the Egyptians! In verse 20, Prophetess Miriam is named as a leader of a ceremony similar to praise and worship. She gets a tambourine and dances, with the other women, encouraging the people to sing in verse 21. This is the first mention of a woman having an occupation or any role other than handmaid, wife and mother. She praised the Lord with a tambourine and dance. The Israelites journeyed away from the red sea. After three days, the Israelites could not find any water. When they finally found water, it was bitter and undrinkable. The people complained and God gave them the solution to place a certain type of tree in the water to make it fit for consumption. God gives the Israelites a few commandments to maintain their faithfulness. God brings them to Elim which had 12 wells of water and palm trees.

The Israelites left Elim, travelled to the wilderness of Sin. The Israelites complain that they are hungry, mentioning that Egypt had food, and accusing Moses of wanting to starve them to death in the wilderness. God provides manna, bread from heaven and quail, and provides specific instructions on how to gather the bread. This is another set or rules, and a miracle directly related to dietary needs. God requests that the Israelites keep an omer, (two quart) container of the manna as evidence for future generations of God's provision in the desert. The Israelites ate manna for 40 years before they finally got to Caanan.

The people of Israel travel to Rephidim. There was no water to drink. They demanded water from Moses, who cried out to God for a solution. After God provides water, the Israelites were attacked by a group called Amalek, or the Amalekites. With the help of Aaron and another Israelite, Hur, Moses held up his arms over Joshua and the Israelites fighting the enemy. The Israelites prevailed, and God commands Moses to document this triumph in a memorial book.

Jethro, Moses' father in law brings Zipporah and their sons to reunite with him. The next day, Jethro observes Moses sitting outside, talking to Israelites one by one, judging their affairs. This takes the better part of the day, and Jethro advises Moses to enact a division of labor to assist in handling disputes.

The children of Israel are camped at the base of a mountain. God warns Moses that He will manifest Himself in a way that can be observed by everyone in three days. God gives the Israelites special instructions to prepare for this event.

God gives Moses and Aaron ten commandments from verse 3 through verse 17. God gives detailed instructions on how to honor Him. In verse 23, God specifically commands Moses to re-iterate three special commandments to the Israelites. No tablets were given to Moses in this chapter.

God gives Moses more statutes. God gives rules to organize slavery.

This is a continuation of the code of conduct started in chapter 20.

God continues to communicate the codes of conduct, judgments, treatment of the poor, and ordinances for land and animals.

God instructs Moses to bring a number of people up to worship him at a distance. To ensure the loyalty to God's commands, Moses has several animals slaughtered and sprinkles the blood onto the Israelites.

God instructs Moses to collect an offering from willing participants of specific materials needed to create an enclosure that God wants.

This is a continuation of God's instruction to create God's tabernacle.

God continues giving specific instructions on creating special holy items.

God gives special instructions to Moses to create garments for Aaron and the other high priests. God explicitly states twice that these garments will be created for glory and beauty.

God gives Moses specific instructions on how to consecrate Aaron and his sons for priesthood.

God continues to instruct Moses on multiple things. He requires Israelite payment for the upkeep of the tabernacle

God appoints two leaders to oversee the creation of His holy items listed in verse 7-11. God gives Moses the two tablets in this chapter.

Aaron creates a gold calf to worship as a god in Moses' absence while he is communing with God. This angers God. Moses is able to intercede for His atonement. Moses instructs the people to murder in order to prove their dedication. Nearly 3,000 people died. God still plagues the Israelites.

God tells Moses to take the Israelites to the land promised to his ancestors. He says He'll appoint an angel to lead them, but God will not go because of the rebellion of the Israelites. Moses asks to see God. God says he can see His back.

God tells Moses to make two more stone tablets so He can write His words on them. Moses broke the first ones. Moses asks God to travel with them, and God remembers His covenant. God reminds Moses that following His commands are the terms of the covenant. He reminds Moses that the Israelites are not to become friendly with the inhabitants of the new land.

Moses recants God's commands, maintaining the importance of keeping the sabbath holy. The Israelites begin working on God's enclosure, the first official church.

Moses appoints Bezaleel and Aholiab to gather the materials and make the holy items. The Israelites generously gave until Moses told them to stop.

The holy items are created in detail.

This is a continuation of the detailed construction of God's items.

This chapter documents the creation of the holy garments for Aaron and his son.

God gives Moses instructions of how and when to arrange and set up the items in the tabernacle. This is the last chapter of the book. This entire Exodus has been about Moses and the Israelites.