Exodus and wilderness · Old Testament
The Story of the Exodus from Egypt
Israel is enslaved in Egypt; God calls Moses from the burning bush, sends plagues on Egypt, and after the first Passover brings his people out.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Exodus begins generations after Joseph. A new king who does not know Joseph enslaves the Israelites and orders their baby boys killed. Moses is born, saved, and raised in Pharaoh’s household. Exodus 1:8–14Exodus 2:1–10
God hears Israel’s groaning and remembers his covenant. He calls Moses at the burning bush, sends him to Pharaoh, and after the plagues and the first Passover the Israelites leave Egypt. Exodus 2:23–25Exodus 3:7–10Exodus 12:40–42
Principal passages
People in this story
Places named
- Egypt Exodus 1:1
- Midian Exodus 2:15
- Horeb, the mountain of God Exodus 3:1
- Rameses and Succoth Exodus 12:37
Only places the passages name. Locations are not guessed.
The story, event by event
In the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here.
Slavery in Egypt
A new king fears the growing Israelites, forces them into hard labour and orders the Hebrew midwives, then all his people, to kill every boy born to them.
People: Pharaoh, Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives
The birth of Moses
A Levite woman hides her son, then sets him in a basket among the reeds. Pharaoh’s daughter finds him, his sister arranges for his own mother to nurse him, and he is named Moses.
People: Moses, his mother, his sister, Pharaoh’s daughter
Flight to Midian
Grown up, Moses kills an Egyptian who is beating a Hebrew and flees to Midian, where he marries Zipporah. Israel groans in slavery, and God remembers his covenant.
The burning bush
At Horeb the angel of the LORD appears in a bush that burns without being consumed. God tells Moses his name and sends him to bring Israel out; Moses objects, and God appoints Aaron to speak with him.
“Let my people go”
Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let Israel go to worship in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses and makes the Israelites gather their own straw for bricks.
The plagues
Through Moses and Aaron the LORD strikes Egypt: water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, the death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts and darkness. Each time Pharaoh’s heart is hardened.
The first Passover
God announces the death of the firstborn. Each Israelite household kills a lamb and marks its doorposts with the blood; at midnight the LORD strikes Egypt’s firstborn and passes over the marked houses.
Out of Egypt
Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron by night and tells them to go. The Israelites leave with flocks and herds after four hundred and thirty years in Egypt.
Related and parallel passages
Related stories
- The Crossing of the Red Sea Continues the story
The departure from Egypt leads straight to the crossing of the sea. Exodus 13:17–18
Later in the Bible
Later passages that recall or interpret this story. They are not events within it.
- Deuteronomy 26:5–9 Later recollection — A confession of faith that retells the exodus.
- Joshua 24:5–7 Later recollection — Joshua recalls the plagues and the departure.
- Psalm 105:23–38 Later recollection — A psalm retells the plagues on Egypt.
- Acts 7:17–36 Later recollection — Stephen recounts Moses’ life and the exodus.
- Hebrews 11:23–29 Direct reference — Moses’ parents, Moses and the people acted by faith.
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 Interpretive or typological connection (an interpretation, not a statement of the text) — Paul calls Christ “our Passover”. This is an interpretive connection.
Connected themes
- Justice Illustrates the theme
God sees the oppression of his people and acts. Exodus 3:7–9
- Redemption Illustrates the theme
God redeems Israel from slavery. Exodus 6:6
- Covenant
God remembers his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Exodus 2:24
Questions for study
Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
- How does Exodus 1:8 explain the change in Israel’s situation since Joseph?
- What does God say about himself and his people in Exodus 3:7-10?
- What objections does Moses raise in Exodus 3–4, and how does God answer each?
- What does the Passover instruction in Exodus 12:24-27 ask families to do in later years?
Reading plans
- Following the Life of Moses
The exodus story page. Exodus 3:1–10
Use offline
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