The Name “Exodus”:
The name “Exodus” for the second Book of Moses comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint.
Writer: Moses.
See on Christian Inconnect the Introduction To The Pentateuch for biographical information on the life of Moses and for details about the Mosaic authorship.
For Whom Exodus Was Written: God’s chosen nation, the Israelites
Date Written: During the time of the exodus 1,440-1,400 B.C
Place Where Written: The wilderness enroute to Canaan
Dates Of Events Recorded In The Book Of Exodus:
The year when the exodus began: About 1,440 B.C. Prior to that date, about 1,870 B.C. (see on Christian Inconnect in the Overview Of Genesis the Chronological Table Of The Patriarchal Age) Jacob, together with his family, moved to Egypt (Ex.1:1-5; Gen.46:8-27). According to Exodus 12:40,41 it was 430 years later to the very day that the nation of Israel left Egypt. That being the case, the exodus began about 1,440 B.C. as stated above.
The birth of Moses occurred about 1,520 B.C. (Ex.2:2). Moses was 80 years old when the exodus from Egypt began in 1,440 B.C. That would put his birth in 1,520 B.C.
Moses visited his Hebrew brothers, killed the Egyptian, and fled to Midian when he was nearly 40 years old. That would make the date of his killing the Egyptian and his fleeing to Midian about 1,480 B.C. (Ex.2:11-15)
Moses confronted Pharaoh, the 10 plagues occurred, the exodus began, the Ten Commandments were given on Mt. Sinai, and the tabernacle was built and erected about 1,440 to 1,439 B.C.
The Duration Of Time Covered By The Book Of Exodus:
Except for the events recorded in Exodus 1 & 2, all the events recorded in chapters 3 through 40 of the Book of Exodus occurred within a two-year period of time, 1,440-1,439 B.C. This time period covers Israel’s last year in Egypt and the first year of its exodus.
What To Look For In The Book Of Exodus:
What you need to look for in the Book of Exodus is the same as what you need to look for in the Old Testament as a whole, as explained on Christian Inconnect in “What is The Old Testament About?” Following the information given there:
1. Look for what information is given in the Book of Exodus that God did to carry out his plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. See 1. below.
2. Look for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. See 2. below.
1. According to the Book of Exodus what did God do to carry out his plan of salvation in Jesus Christ?
The Book of Exodus reveals God acted to fulfill his Word to Abraham and to carry out his Abrahamitic covenant of salvation by divine grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In doing this he at the same time was acting to carry out his gospel promise that he first gave to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen.3:15). Genesis 15:12-21 reveals that in the covenant that God made with Abraham, God foretold beforehand all that would happen to Abraham’s descendants in Egypt for 400 years: they would be strangers in a land that would not be their own; they would be enslaved and oppressed in that foreign land; God would judge and punish the nation of Egypt to whom Abraham’s descendents would be enslaved; they would then be freed and come out of Egypt with many possessions; and at that time they would return to Canaan. The Book of Exodus reveals that God remembered his covenant with Abraham (Ex.2:24,25; 6:2-8) and that God acted to fulfill his Abrahamitic covenant and all that he had foretold would happen to Abraham’s descendants. In his covenant with Abraham God said he would make Abraham’s descendents into a great nation from whom Christ the Savior of all people would come. The Book of Exodus reveals that in Egypt God did make Abraham’s descendants into the great nation of Israel, from whom Christ did come about 1,400 years later. The Book of Exodus further reveals that God did judge and punish Egypt, devastating the country by 10 plagues, and that God did lead the Israelites out of Egypt with a great many possessions taken from the Egyptians, and that he then led the Israelites to Canaan. What the Book of Genesis said God promised to Abraham in his covenant, the Book of Exodus says God carried out.
2. Next, where do you look for and find the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Book of Exodus?
First, look for and find Jesus Christ in the Abrahamitic covenant that God made with Abraham, which the Book of Exodus says God carried out. That covenant with Abraham was all about Christ. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation (Gen,12:) and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore (Gen.15:5; 22;17). The Book of Exodus reveals that in Egypt God did indeed make Abraham into a great nation (Ex.1:7,9,12; Nu.1:44-46) having 603,550 young men of military age and accordingly a population of about 2,000,000. God raised up this great nation of Israel so that Christ could descend from it. Christ was the key descendant of Abraham whom God promised (Gal.3:15,16), for God said that in Abraham all the families and nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen.12:3; 22:15-18; 26:3-5; 28:10-14); Christ was that one descendant of Abraham through whom all the people in the world would be blessed with eternal salvation. And the giving of the land of Canaan was an important part of the covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen.15:7 & 18-21), because it would be in that land of Canaan that Christ would be born into the world; it would be in that land of Canaan that Christ would carry out his ministry of teaching and of performing miracles and then give himself on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world and rise from the dead. The Book of Exodus reveals that God did bring the Israelites out of Egypt to lead them to Canaan where these redeeming works of Christ could be accomplished. In Exodus one sees that God remembered his Abrahamitic covenant that centered in Christ, and one sees what God did in Egypt to bring about his great gift of salvation in Christ for the Israelites and for all the nations of the earth.
Having looked for and found Jesus Christ in the Abrahamitic covenant that God acted to carry out, next look for and find Christ in the angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses in the burning bush. The angel of the Lord was an Old Testament designation that was used a number of times for the Son of God.
Then look for and find Christ in the tabernacle with its furnishings that God designed and had Moses build. When you read about the tabernacle, which was a tent and was replaced about four centuries later with the permanent structure of the temple, understand the tabernacle symbolized the presence of God and was a figure for Christ Jesus, who said his body was a temple (John 2:19-22). What is more, John 1:14 literally says that Jesus Christ “tabernacled” or “tented” among us. Similarly Rev.21:3 says that in heaven the tabernacle of God is among us and that he “tabernacles” with us.
In the Holy Place of the tabernacle stood a table on which laid the 12 loaves of sacred bread. When you read about that table with its sacred breads, think of Christ Jesus who said in John 6 that he was the bread of life.
In the Holy Place stood a lampstand that foreshadowed Christ Jesus who said in John 8:12 that he was the light of the world.
In front of the curtain between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place stood the altar of incense. The burning of the incense was connected with the prayers of the people rising up to God. Once again, be reminded of Christ through whom the prayers of God’s believers must rise up to God.
And in the small compartment of the tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies stood the Ark of the Covenant with its atonement cover or mercy seat on which the high priest once a year sprinkled the blood of the lamb for the atonement or the people’s sins. This was a figure of Christ Jesus, the true high priest, who offered up himself as the one perfect atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Be sure to find Christ Jesus in the Passover lamb that was sacrificed and had to be but one year old in the prime of life without spot or blemish. That Passover lamb typified Christ who was perfect and without sin and was in the prime of life. The sacrificing of that Passover lamb, the blood of which was smeared on the doorposts of the Israelites’ houses to save the people from death, foreshadowed the sacrifice that Christ would make of himself on the cross and the blood he would shed for the sins of the world to save all people from eternal death in hell.
And when you read about the manna in Exodus that came down out of heaven for the people to eat, recall that Jesus said in John 6:32-35 that he was the true bread that came down out of heaven to give life to the world, and all that believed in him would never hunger.
Do not forget the Sabbath day that God established in the law of Moses; remember that it was a shadow of Christ in whom is found the true rest for the soul and the eternal rest with God in heaven through the forgiveness of sins that Christ purchased with his holy precious life (Col.2:16,17; Rev.14:13).
And the offices of high priest and priest that God set up in the law of Moses to offer up sacrifices for the people’s sins clearly were types of Christ, the one true high priest who offered up himself as the one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. What is more, in the person of Moses who was the mediator between the people and God see Christ the one, true mediator between God and man according to 1 Tim.2:5,6.
Regarding The Lord’s Sinaitic Covenant With Israel:
The covenant that the Lord made with Israel at Mount Sinai is called the Sinaitic Covenant, and also the Mosaic Law or the law of Moses. For this discussion the Sinaitic Covenant will be referred to for the most part as the law of Moses. The law of Moses did not abrogate, repeal, and rescind the Abrahamitic Covenant of God’s grace that the Lord made with Abraham 430 years earlier (see Gal.3:17). The law of Moses did not repeal and replace that promise of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. As from the time of Adam, when God first promised the Messianic Savior who would come as the Seed-Of-The-Woman to crush Satan and to undo the evil Satan had done (Gen.3:15), which promise God reaffirmed to Abraham (Gen.12:3; 18:18; 22:18), so also when the Lord established the law of Moses his promise of salvation by grace through faith in the promised coming Savior Jesus Christ remained intact and in effect.
The Lord added the law of Moses along side of his promise of grace for the chief purpose of making his Israelite people conscious of their sins (Ro.5:20; 3:20; 7:7) in order to drive them (Gal.3:24) to the gospel of his grace for forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ. The moral law of Moses as summarized in the Ten Commandments has continued to serve this useful purpose of showing people their sins to make them despair of trying to save themselves by keeping the commandments. Having been shown their sins and the threat of God’s punishment, they are prepared for hearing the good news of the gospel of God’s grace that Jesus Christ has redeemed them from the guilt of their sins and has saved them for everlasting life in heaven. The Lord never gave the Ten Commandments so people could try to save themselves by keeping them. As stated above, the law was given chiefly to show people their sins and to prepare them for the good news of Christ.
The Sinaitic Covenant, or law of Moses, was only temporary and was abrogated when Christ Jesus fulfilled it perfectly and gave his holy, innocent life as the redeeming sacrifice and payment for the sins of the world. Now that Christ Jesus has come and fulfilled the law’s demands perfectly and suffered its punishment for all sins, its demands and threats have been cancelled. They no longer apply to us. And the civil laws given in the law of Moses for ruling ancient Israel, as well as the ceremonial laws of the Sabbath Day and circumcision and animal sacrifices that regulated the forms of worship of the Israelites, do not apply to us New Testament Christians either.
Indeed, the law of Moses did not abrogate God’s promise of salvation by his grace that he made 430 years earlier with Abrahan; rather, the law of Moses itself was repealed and rescinded according to 1 Tim.1:9; Acts 15:5 & 10,11; Eph.2:14,15; Col.2:16,17. The Lord made the Sinaitic Covenant, or law of Moses, with the nation of Israel for the Jews, and it applied only to them. This is evident from the fact that the Lord began the Sinaitic Covenant and law of Moses by saying,“I am the Lord your God, who led you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery”(Exodus 20:2). The Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt, not any other nation; so to that nation of Israel alone the Lord gave his law of Moses. That law of Moses, then, does not apply to other nations or to us Gentiles.
As stated above, the law of Moses was abrogated and done away with. However, the moral laws, such as “You shall have no other Gods”, “You shall not commit adultery” and “You shall not murder”, and so forth, which Moses summarized in the Ten Commandments, remain in effect and apply to all people and to us New Testament Christians as well, because those commandments are in agreement with the moral law of God that he wrote in the heart of mankind at creation. What is more, those commandments are re-taught in the New Testament by Christ and his apostles, though not necessarily in the same order or words that Moses used.
One might ask, then, “Since the Ten Commandments of the law of Moses have been abrogated and repealed, why are the Ten Commandments still being taught and followed by us New Testament Christians? The reason is: Because Moses’ wording of the commandments is so orderly and well written that in Christian freedom we choose to use his wording.
But we need to always understand and remember that we do not live by and carry out the moral laws of God that Moses summarized in the Ten Commandments, in order to save ourselves and to have eternal life. Christ Jesus our Savior saved us and gave us eternal life when he fulfilled all of God’s commandments perfectly for us and gave his life and died as the payment for our sins. Now we keep the commandments of God not to save ourselves but because God in Christ has already saved us and we want to love and serve God by doing his will of obeying his commandments.
Theme Of The Book Of Exodus: The Beginning Of Israel As The Lord’s Covenant Nation
Overview Of The Book Of Exodus:
I. The Lord Delivers His Nation Of Israel
II. The Lord Establishes His Covenant With Israel
III. The Lord’s Tabernacle, The Tent For His Worship And of His Covenant With Israel
Outline Of The Book Of Exodus:
(For more details about Moses and his leading the Israelites, see on Christian Inconnect the biographical information on the life of Moses in The Introduction To The Pentateuch)
I. The Lord Delivers His Nation Of Israel Ex. 1:1-15:21
A. God makes the Israelites into a great nation Ex.1:1-7
B. A new Pharaoh comes to power, who enslaves the Israelites and tries to prevent their growth as a nation Ex.1:8-22
C. The Lord raises up Moses as a deliverer for his Israelite people Ex.2:1-10
1. The birth of Moses (about 1,520 B.C.) Ex.2:1,2
2. The early life of Moses (about 1,520 to 1,480 B.C.) Ex. 2:3-10
D. The Lord prepares Moses from age 40 to 80 (about 1,480 to 1,440 B.C.) to be the leader of his nation of Israel Acts 7:22 & Ex.2:11-25
1. When Moses has grown up, he asserts himself as a deliver of his fellow Israelite people and kills an Egyptian; he then must flee to Midian Ex.2:11-15; Acts 7:23-25
2. Moses settles in Midian with Jethro and marries Zipporah Ex.2:16-22
3. While Moses is in Midian a new Pharaoh comes to power; the Lord hears the Israelites’ groans in bondage and remembers his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Ex.2:23-25
E. The Lord calls Moses at age 80 to lead his nation of Israel (about 1,440 B.C.) Ex.3:1-4:17
1. The angel of the Lord (the Son of God) appears to Moses in a burning bush and calls Moses to go to Pharaoh and to lead the Israelites out of Egypt Ex. 3:1-10
2. Moses makes excuses for himself of why he cannot go to Egypt, speak to Pharaoh, and lead the Israelites out of bondage Ex.3:11-4:17
F. The Lord sends Moses back to Egypt Ex.4:18-31
1. Enroute to Egypt the Lord seeks to kill Moses for failing to fulfill the Lord’s covenant of circumcision on his son Ex.4:1-26
2. The Lord tells Aaron to meet Moses; in Egypt they tell the Israelites what the Lord said and they perform the miraculous signs the Lord gave to Moses; the people then worship the Lord Ex.4:27-31
G. The Lord sends Moses and Aaron to speak to Pharaoh Ex.5:1-6:1
1. Pharaoh refuses to listen to Moses and Aaron; he increases the Israelites’ bitter bondage by decreeing they must gather straw themselves for the making of bricks while still producing their daily quota of bricks Ex.5:1-14
2. The Israelite foremen complain to Moses that they are in danger of being put to death; Moses in turn complains to the Lord that Pharaoh has hurt the people and the Lord has not delivered them Ex.5:15-6:1
H. The Lord sends Moses and Aaron to speak to the sons of Israel, who refuse to listen, and he charges Moses and Aaron to bring his nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt Ex.6:2-27
I. The Lord stretches out his hand against Pharaoh and Egypt; the Lord devastates Egypt with ten plagues over a period of about 10 months Ex.6:28-12:42
1. Moses at age 80 and Aaron age 83 speak to Pharaoh and perform the miraculous signs Ex.6:28-7:13
2. The plague of blood Ex.7:14-25
3. The plague of frogs Ex.8:1-15
4. The plague of gnats Ex.8:16-19
5. The plague of flies Ex.8:20-32
6. The plague on livestock Ex.9:1-7
7. The plague of boils Ex.9:8-12
8. The plague of hail Ex.9:13-35
9. The plague of locusts Ex.10:1-20
10. The plague of darkness Ex.10:21-29
11. The Lord threatens one last plague, the death of Egypt’s firstborn Ex.11:1-10
12. The Lord institutes the Passover Ex.12:1-28
13. The plague of death of Egypt’s firstborn Ex.12:29, 30
J. The exodus from Egypt begins Ex.12:31-42
1. Pharaoh orders Moses and Aaron and the nation of Israel to leave Egypt Ex.12:31, 32
2. The Egyptian people urge the Israelites to leave quickly; the Israelites leave taking the Egyptians’ gold and silver and clothing Ex.12:36-42
K. The Lord’s laws on the Passover and the consecration of the firstborn of Israel Ex.12:43-13:16
L. The Lord strikes down Pharaoh and his army Ex.13:17-14:31
1. The Lord leads the nation of Israel to the Red Sea in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night Ex.13:17-22
2. The Lord has Moses lead the people back to camp between Migdol and the Red Sea, so Pharaoh will think the Israelites are wandering about; then the Lord says he will harden Pharaoh’s heart to chase after the Israelites Ex.14:1-4
3. Pharaoh and his officers decide to chase after the Israelites; Pharaoh overtakes them by the Red Sea Ex.14:5-9
4. The Israelites cry out in fear to the Lord and blame Moses for leading them out of Egypt, but Moses tells them not to be afraid and to watch the Lord fight for them Ex.14:10-14
5. The Lord orders Moses to stretch out his staff, divide the Red Sea, and have the Israelites go though it on dry land, while the Lord hardens the Egyptians’ hearts to chase after them into the sea Ex.14:15-20
6. When Moses stretches out his hand, the Lord divides the sea with a strong east wind that also dries the seabed. When Pharaoh and the Egyptians pursue the Israelites into the sea, the Lord causes the wheels to come off of their chariots. He then has Moses stretch out his hand to collapse the walls of water on Pharaoh and his army; they all are drowned. Then the Israelites believe in the Lord and Moses Ex.14:21-31
M. The victory song of Moses and Israel Ex.15:1-21
II. The Lord Establishes His Covenant With Israel Ex.15:22-24:18
A. The journey to Mt. Sinai Ex.15:22-18:27
1. In the wilderness of Shur the Israelites grumble at Marah about the bitter, brackish water; the Lord makes it sweet by having Moses throw a tree into it Ex.15:22-27
2. In the wilderness of Sin the Israelites blame Moses and Aaron for a lack of meat and bread; the Lord gives them quail and manna, and gives instructions for gathering the manna Ex.16:1-36
3. At Rephidim the people quarrel with Moses over a lack of water; the Lord has Moses strike the rock with his staff, and the Lord makes water flow out of the rock Ex.17:1-7
4. The nation of Amalek attacks the Israelites, to whom the Lord gives the victory by Moses having his hands raised up and supported by Aaron and Hur until the sun sets Ex.17:8-16
5. Jethro advises Moses about having able men help him with judging the affairs of the Israelites Ex.18:1-27
B. The preparation of the people for the giving of the law Ex.19:1-25
1. In the third month of the exodus the nation of Israel comes to Mt. Sinai, and the Lord declares that if the people obey his covenant, they shall be a kingdom of priests (a royal priesthood 1 Pet.2:9) and a holy nation; the people agree to do all the Lord said Ex.19:1-8
2. The Lord has Moses consecrate the people and has the people wash their garments Ex.19:9-15
3. On the third day the Lord appears on the mountain in thunder and lightning and fire and smoke and with a loud trumpet; the people are forbidden to come on the mountain Ex.19:16-25
C. The Lord gives the Israelites his law Ex.20:1-23:33
1. The Lord gives the Israelites his Ten Commandments Ex.20:1-17
2. The people tremble with fear and plead for Moses to speak to them instead of the Lord Ex.20:18-21
3. In keeping with the first commandment the Lord instructs the Israelites about the kind of altar they may build and that they are to offer sacrifices to him only wherever he causes his name to be remembered Ex.20:22-26
4. The Lord gives the Israelites civil laws to live by Ex.21:1-23:9
5. The Lord gives the Israelites ceremonial laws to follow in worship Ex.23:10-19
6. The Lord makes promises to his nation of Israel for their exodus to Canaan and their entrance into it and possession of it Ex.23:20-33
D. The covenant of the law is established Ex.24:1-18
1. The people promise to do everything the Lord had spoken and Moses writes down all the words of the Lord Ex.24:1-4
2. Young men of the sons of Israel offer sacrifices to the Lord; Moses sprinkles blood from the sacrifices onto the altar and the book of the covenant; the people after hearing the book of the covenant promise to do and obey all that the Lord had said, and Moses sprinkles the blood of the sacrifices on the people also Ex.24:5-8
3. Moses, Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, and 70 elders of Israel go up on the mountain and see the God of Israel Ex.24:9-11
4. On the mountain the Lord gives Moses the stone tablets of the law, and Moses is in the cloud with the Lord for forty days and nights Ex.24:12-18
III. The Lord’s Tabernacle, The Tent For His Worship And Of His Covenant With Israel Ex.25:1-40:38
A. The Israelites’ offering of valuables and materials for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings Ex.25:1-19
B. The Lord instructs Moses in what furnishings he shall make for the tabernacle – the ark, the table for sacred breads, and the lampstand Ex.25:10-40
C. The Lord instructs Moses in how he shall make the tabernacle Ex.26:1-27:21
D. The Lord instructs Moses in how to make Aaron’s and his son’s priestly garments and to consecrate them, and in what daily offerings they are to make Ex.28:1-29:46
E. The Lord instructs Moses in how to make the altar of incense and in the burning of incense Ex.30;1-1O
F. The Lord instructs Moses that the sons of Israel must make an offering of atonement for themselves when they are counted in a census Ex.30:11-16
G. The Lord instructs Moses to make a washbasin for the priests to wash their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle Ex.30:17-21
H. The Lord instructs Moses in the making and the use of holy anointing oil Ex.30:22-33
I. The Lord instructs Moses on how to make the incense Ex.30:34-38
J. The Lord informs Moses that he has chosen Bezalel and Oholiab to be the chief artisans for building the tabernacle and all its furnishings Ex.31:1-11
K. The Lord instructs Moses that his Sabbath days are to be kept and no work is to be done on those days Ex.31:12-17
L. The Lord gives Moses the two stone tablets of the law written by the finger of God Ex.31:18
M. Israel’s breaking of the covenant of the law stops the construction of the tabernacle before it starts Ex.32:1-34:35
1. Israel breaks the covenant of the law Ex.32:1-6
a. The people apply pressure on Aaron to make them a god E.32:1
b. Aaron makes a golden calf, to which the people offer sacrifices and then engage in revelry Ex.32:2-6
2.The Lord’s anger burns against the people of Israel; Moses intercedes for them Ex.32:7-14
3. Moses goes down the mountain, shatters the stone tablets of the law, destroys the golden calf, and has the Levites kill 3,000 of the idolaters Ex.32:15-29
4. Moses again pleads for the nation of Israel; the Lord declares he will blot out those who sinned against him with the golden calf Ex.32:30-35
5. After the Lord declared he would not go with the people but would send his angel, Moses again intercedes for Israel and finds favor with the Lord, who then said he would go with the people also Ex.33:1-17
6. When Moses asked to see the Lord’s glory, the Lord tells him to cut out 2 new stone tablets and come up again on the mountain; the Lord then shows Moses his glory while proclaiming the meaning of his name “the Lord” Ex.33:18-34:9
7. The Lord renews the covenant with Israel; Moses is on the mountain with the Lord for 40 days and nights for the second time; when Moses comes down from the mountain, his face shines with the glory of the Lord and he veils his face to hide from the people the Lord’s fading glory Ex.34:10-35
N. The construction of the tabernacle, its furnishings, and its courtyard Ex.35:1-39:43
1. The Lord’s Sabbath days are to be kept; all work is to cease on the Sabbath days Ex.35:1-3
2. The Lord’s command for an offering to be taken of the materials needed for the tabernacle Ex.35:4-9
3. The call for skillful workmen to make all that the Lord commanded Ex.35:10-19
4. Those who had willing hearts bring the offering of needed materials Ex. 35:20-29
5. The Lord’s call of Bezalel and Oholiab to be the chief artisans and workmen Ex.35:30-35
6. The people bring sufficient offerings and are restrained from bringing more Ex.36:1-7
7. The construction of the tabernacle Ex.36:8-38
8. The construction of the ark, the table, the lampstand, and the altar of incense 37:1-29
9. The construction of the altar of burnt offerings, the washbasin for the priests, and the courtyard Ex.38:1-20
10. The totals of the materials used in the construction Ex.38:21-31
11. The making of the priestly garments 39:1-31
12. The completed tabernacle, all its furnishings and its courtyard, and the priestly garments are brought to Moses, who accepts them and blesses the workers Ex.39:32-43
O. The erection of the tabernacle Ex.40:1-38
1. The Lord instructs Moses on setting up the tabernacle with all its furnishings, courtyard, and priestly garments Ex.40:1-16
2. On the first day of the first month of the second year of the exodus Moses erects the tabernacle with all its furnishings, courtyard, and priestly garments Ex.40:17-33
3. The cloud of the Lord then covers the courtyard and the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle Ex.40:34-38
The name “Exodus” for the second Book of Moses comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint.
Writer: Moses.
See on Christian Inconnect the Introduction To The Pentateuch for biographical information on the life of Moses and for details about the Mosaic authorship.
For Whom Exodus Was Written: God’s chosen nation, the Israelites
Date Written: During the time of the exodus 1,440-1,400 B.C
Place Where Written: The wilderness enroute to Canaan
Dates Of Events Recorded In The Book Of Exodus:
The year when the exodus began: About 1,440 B.C. Prior to that date, about 1,870 B.C. (see on Christian Inconnect in the Overview Of Genesis the Chronological Table Of The Patriarchal Age) Jacob, together with his family, moved to Egypt (Ex.1:1-5; Gen.46:8-27). According to Exodus 12:40,41 it was 430 years later to the very day that the nation of Israel left Egypt. That being the case, the exodus began about 1,440 B.C. as stated above.
The birth of Moses occurred about 1,520 B.C. (Ex.2:2). Moses was 80 years old when the exodus from Egypt began in 1,440 B.C. That would put his birth in 1,520 B.C.
Moses visited his Hebrew brothers, killed the Egyptian, and fled to Midian when he was nearly 40 years old. That would make the date of his killing the Egyptian and his fleeing to Midian about 1,480 B.C. (Ex.2:11-15)
Moses confronted Pharaoh, the 10 plagues occurred, the exodus began, the Ten Commandments were given on Mt. Sinai, and the tabernacle was built and erected about 1,440 to 1,439 B.C.
The Duration Of Time Covered By The Book Of Exodus:
Except for the events recorded in Exodus 1 & 2, all the events recorded in chapters 3 through 40 of the Book of Exodus occurred within a two-year period of time, 1,440-1,439 B.C. This time period covers Israel’s last year in Egypt and the first year of its exodus.
What To Look For In The Book Of Exodus:
What you need to look for in the Book of Exodus is the same as what you need to look for in the Old Testament as a whole, as explained on Christian Inconnect in “What is The Old Testament About?” Following the information given there:
1. Look for what information is given in the Book of Exodus that God did to carry out his plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. See 1. below.
2. Look for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. See 2. below.
1. According to the Book of Exodus what did God do to carry out his plan of salvation in Jesus Christ?
The Book of Exodus reveals God acted to fulfill his Word to Abraham and to carry out his Abrahamitic covenant of salvation by divine grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In doing this he at the same time was acting to carry out his gospel promise that he first gave to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen.3:15). Genesis 15:12-21 reveals that in the covenant that God made with Abraham, God foretold beforehand all that would happen to Abraham’s descendants in Egypt for 400 years: they would be strangers in a land that would not be their own; they would be enslaved and oppressed in that foreign land; God would judge and punish the nation of Egypt to whom Abraham’s descendents would be enslaved; they would then be freed and come out of Egypt with many possessions; and at that time they would return to Canaan. The Book of Exodus reveals that God remembered his covenant with Abraham (Ex.2:24,25; 6:2-8) and that God acted to fulfill his Abrahamitic covenant and all that he had foretold would happen to Abraham’s descendants. In his covenant with Abraham God said he would make Abraham’s descendents into a great nation from whom Christ the Savior of all people would come. The Book of Exodus reveals that in Egypt God did make Abraham’s descendants into the great nation of Israel, from whom Christ did come about 1,400 years later. The Book of Exodus further reveals that God did judge and punish Egypt, devastating the country by 10 plagues, and that God did lead the Israelites out of Egypt with a great many possessions taken from the Egyptians, and that he then led the Israelites to Canaan. What the Book of Genesis said God promised to Abraham in his covenant, the Book of Exodus says God carried out.
2. Next, where do you look for and find the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Book of Exodus?
First, look for and find Jesus Christ in the Abrahamitic covenant that God made with Abraham, which the Book of Exodus says God carried out. That covenant with Abraham was all about Christ. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation (Gen,12:) and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore (Gen.15:5; 22;17). The Book of Exodus reveals that in Egypt God did indeed make Abraham into a great nation (Ex.1:7,9,12; Nu.1:44-46) having 603,550 young men of military age and accordingly a population of about 2,000,000. God raised up this great nation of Israel so that Christ could descend from it. Christ was the key descendant of Abraham whom God promised (Gal.3:15,16), for God said that in Abraham all the families and nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen.12:3; 22:15-18; 26:3-5; 28:10-14); Christ was that one descendant of Abraham through whom all the people in the world would be blessed with eternal salvation. And the giving of the land of Canaan was an important part of the covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen.15:7 & 18-21), because it would be in that land of Canaan that Christ would be born into the world; it would be in that land of Canaan that Christ would carry out his ministry of teaching and of performing miracles and then give himself on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world and rise from the dead. The Book of Exodus reveals that God did bring the Israelites out of Egypt to lead them to Canaan where these redeeming works of Christ could be accomplished. In Exodus one sees that God remembered his Abrahamitic covenant that centered in Christ, and one sees what God did in Egypt to bring about his great gift of salvation in Christ for the Israelites and for all the nations of the earth.
Having looked for and found Jesus Christ in the Abrahamitic covenant that God acted to carry out, next look for and find Christ in the angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses in the burning bush. The angel of the Lord was an Old Testament designation that was used a number of times for the Son of God.
Then look for and find Christ in the tabernacle with its furnishings that God designed and had Moses build. When you read about the tabernacle, which was a tent and was replaced about four centuries later with the permanent structure of the temple, understand the tabernacle symbolized the presence of God and was a figure for Christ Jesus, who said his body was a temple (John 2:19-22). What is more, John 1:14 literally says that Jesus Christ “tabernacled” or “tented” among us. Similarly Rev.21:3 says that in heaven the tabernacle of God is among us and that he “tabernacles” with us.
In the Holy Place of the tabernacle stood a table on which laid the 12 loaves of sacred bread. When you read about that table with its sacred breads, think of Christ Jesus who said in John 6 that he was the bread of life.
In the Holy Place stood a lampstand that foreshadowed Christ Jesus who said in John 8:12 that he was the light of the world.
In front of the curtain between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place stood the altar of incense. The burning of the incense was connected with the prayers of the people rising up to God. Once again, be reminded of Christ through whom the prayers of God’s believers must rise up to God.
And in the small compartment of the tabernacle known as the Holy of Holies stood the Ark of the Covenant with its atonement cover or mercy seat on which the high priest once a year sprinkled the blood of the lamb for the atonement or the people’s sins. This was a figure of Christ Jesus, the true high priest, who offered up himself as the one perfect atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.
Be sure to find Christ Jesus in the Passover lamb that was sacrificed and had to be but one year old in the prime of life without spot or blemish. That Passover lamb typified Christ who was perfect and without sin and was in the prime of life. The sacrificing of that Passover lamb, the blood of which was smeared on the doorposts of the Israelites’ houses to save the people from death, foreshadowed the sacrifice that Christ would make of himself on the cross and the blood he would shed for the sins of the world to save all people from eternal death in hell.
And when you read about the manna in Exodus that came down out of heaven for the people to eat, recall that Jesus said in John 6:32-35 that he was the true bread that came down out of heaven to give life to the world, and all that believed in him would never hunger.
Do not forget the Sabbath day that God established in the law of Moses; remember that it was a shadow of Christ in whom is found the true rest for the soul and the eternal rest with God in heaven through the forgiveness of sins that Christ purchased with his holy precious life (Col.2:16,17; Rev.14:13).
And the offices of high priest and priest that God set up in the law of Moses to offer up sacrifices for the people’s sins clearly were types of Christ, the one true high priest who offered up himself as the one perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. What is more, in the person of Moses who was the mediator between the people and God see Christ the one, true mediator between God and man according to 1 Tim.2:5,6.
Regarding The Lord’s Sinaitic Covenant With Israel:
The covenant that the Lord made with Israel at Mount Sinai is called the Sinaitic Covenant, and also the Mosaic Law or the law of Moses. For this discussion the Sinaitic Covenant will be referred to for the most part as the law of Moses. The law of Moses did not abrogate, repeal, and rescind the Abrahamitic Covenant of God’s grace that the Lord made with Abraham 430 years earlier (see Gal.3:17). The law of Moses did not repeal and replace that promise of grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. As from the time of Adam, when God first promised the Messianic Savior who would come as the Seed-Of-The-Woman to crush Satan and to undo the evil Satan had done (Gen.3:15), which promise God reaffirmed to Abraham (Gen.12:3; 18:18; 22:18), so also when the Lord established the law of Moses his promise of salvation by grace through faith in the promised coming Savior Jesus Christ remained intact and in effect.
The Lord added the law of Moses along side of his promise of grace for the chief purpose of making his Israelite people conscious of their sins (Ro.5:20; 3:20; 7:7) in order to drive them (Gal.3:24) to the gospel of his grace for forgiveness and salvation in Jesus Christ. The moral law of Moses as summarized in the Ten Commandments has continued to serve this useful purpose of showing people their sins to make them despair of trying to save themselves by keeping the commandments. Having been shown their sins and the threat of God’s punishment, they are prepared for hearing the good news of the gospel of God’s grace that Jesus Christ has redeemed them from the guilt of their sins and has saved them for everlasting life in heaven. The Lord never gave the Ten Commandments so people could try to save themselves by keeping them. As stated above, the law was given chiefly to show people their sins and to prepare them for the good news of Christ.
The Sinaitic Covenant, or law of Moses, was only temporary and was abrogated when Christ Jesus fulfilled it perfectly and gave his holy, innocent life as the redeeming sacrifice and payment for the sins of the world. Now that Christ Jesus has come and fulfilled the law’s demands perfectly and suffered its punishment for all sins, its demands and threats have been cancelled. They no longer apply to us. And the civil laws given in the law of Moses for ruling ancient Israel, as well as the ceremonial laws of the Sabbath Day and circumcision and animal sacrifices that regulated the forms of worship of the Israelites, do not apply to us New Testament Christians either.
Indeed, the law of Moses did not abrogate God’s promise of salvation by his grace that he made 430 years earlier with Abrahan; rather, the law of Moses itself was repealed and rescinded according to 1 Tim.1:9; Acts 15:5 & 10,11; Eph.2:14,15; Col.2:16,17. The Lord made the Sinaitic Covenant, or law of Moses, with the nation of Israel for the Jews, and it applied only to them. This is evident from the fact that the Lord began the Sinaitic Covenant and law of Moses by saying,“I am the Lord your God, who led you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery”(Exodus 20:2). The Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt, not any other nation; so to that nation of Israel alone the Lord gave his law of Moses. That law of Moses, then, does not apply to other nations or to us Gentiles.
As stated above, the law of Moses was abrogated and done away with. However, the moral laws, such as “You shall have no other Gods”, “You shall not commit adultery” and “You shall not murder”, and so forth, which Moses summarized in the Ten Commandments, remain in effect and apply to all people and to us New Testament Christians as well, because those commandments are in agreement with the moral law of God that he wrote in the heart of mankind at creation. What is more, those commandments are re-taught in the New Testament by Christ and his apostles, though not necessarily in the same order or words that Moses used.
One might ask, then, “Since the Ten Commandments of the law of Moses have been abrogated and repealed, why are the Ten Commandments still being taught and followed by us New Testament Christians? The reason is: Because Moses’ wording of the commandments is so orderly and well written that in Christian freedom we choose to use his wording.
But we need to always understand and remember that we do not live by and carry out the moral laws of God that Moses summarized in the Ten Commandments, in order to save ourselves and to have eternal life. Christ Jesus our Savior saved us and gave us eternal life when he fulfilled all of God’s commandments perfectly for us and gave his life and died as the payment for our sins. Now we keep the commandments of God not to save ourselves but because God in Christ has already saved us and we want to love and serve God by doing his will of obeying his commandments.
Theme Of The Book Of Exodus: The Beginning Of Israel As The Lord’s Covenant Nation
Overview Of The Book Of Exodus:
I. The Lord Delivers His Nation Of Israel
II. The Lord Establishes His Covenant With Israel
III. The Lord’s Tabernacle, The Tent For His Worship And of His Covenant With Israel
Outline Of The Book Of Exodus:
(For more details about Moses and his leading the Israelites, see on Christian Inconnect the biographical information on the life of Moses in The Introduction To The Pentateuch)
I. The Lord Delivers His Nation Of Israel Ex. 1:1-15:21
A. God makes the Israelites into a great nation Ex.1:1-7
B. A new Pharaoh comes to power, who enslaves the Israelites and tries to prevent their growth as a nation Ex.1:8-22
C. The Lord raises up Moses as a deliverer for his Israelite people Ex.2:1-10
1. The birth of Moses (about 1,520 B.C.) Ex.2:1,2
2. The early life of Moses (about 1,520 to 1,480 B.C.) Ex. 2:3-10
D. The Lord prepares Moses from age 40 to 80 (about 1,480 to 1,440 B.C.) to be the leader of his nation of Israel Acts 7:22 & Ex.2:11-25
1. When Moses has grown up, he asserts himself as a deliver of his fellow Israelite people and kills an Egyptian; he then must flee to Midian Ex.2:11-15; Acts 7:23-25
2. Moses settles in Midian with Jethro and marries Zipporah Ex.2:16-22
3. While Moses is in Midian a new Pharaoh comes to power; the Lord hears the Israelites’ groans in bondage and remembers his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Ex.2:23-25
E. The Lord calls Moses at age 80 to lead his nation of Israel (about 1,440 B.C.) Ex.3:1-4:17
1. The angel of the Lord (the Son of God) appears to Moses in a burning bush and calls Moses to go to Pharaoh and to lead the Israelites out of Egypt Ex. 3:1-10
2. Moses makes excuses for himself of why he cannot go to Egypt, speak to Pharaoh, and lead the Israelites out of bondage Ex.3:11-4:17
F. The Lord sends Moses back to Egypt Ex.4:18-31
1. Enroute to Egypt the Lord seeks to kill Moses for failing to fulfill the Lord’s covenant of circumcision on his son Ex.4:1-26
2. The Lord tells Aaron to meet Moses; in Egypt they tell the Israelites what the Lord said and they perform the miraculous signs the Lord gave to Moses; the people then worship the Lord Ex.4:27-31
G. The Lord sends Moses and Aaron to speak to Pharaoh Ex.5:1-6:1
1. Pharaoh refuses to listen to Moses and Aaron; he increases the Israelites’ bitter bondage by decreeing they must gather straw themselves for the making of bricks while still producing their daily quota of bricks Ex.5:1-14
2. The Israelite foremen complain to Moses that they are in danger of being put to death; Moses in turn complains to the Lord that Pharaoh has hurt the people and the Lord has not delivered them Ex.5:15-6:1
H. The Lord sends Moses and Aaron to speak to the sons of Israel, who refuse to listen, and he charges Moses and Aaron to bring his nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt Ex.6:2-27
I. The Lord stretches out his hand against Pharaoh and Egypt; the Lord devastates Egypt with ten plagues over a period of about 10 months Ex.6:28-12:42
1. Moses at age 80 and Aaron age 83 speak to Pharaoh and perform the miraculous signs Ex.6:28-7:13
2. The plague of blood Ex.7:14-25
3. The plague of frogs Ex.8:1-15
4. The plague of gnats Ex.8:16-19
5. The plague of flies Ex.8:20-32
6. The plague on livestock Ex.9:1-7
7. The plague of boils Ex.9:8-12
8. The plague of hail Ex.9:13-35
9. The plague of locusts Ex.10:1-20
10. The plague of darkness Ex.10:21-29
11. The Lord threatens one last plague, the death of Egypt’s firstborn Ex.11:1-10
12. The Lord institutes the Passover Ex.12:1-28
13. The plague of death of Egypt’s firstborn Ex.12:29, 30
J. The exodus from Egypt begins Ex.12:31-42
1. Pharaoh orders Moses and Aaron and the nation of Israel to leave Egypt Ex.12:31, 32
2. The Egyptian people urge the Israelites to leave quickly; the Israelites leave taking the Egyptians’ gold and silver and clothing Ex.12:36-42
K. The Lord’s laws on the Passover and the consecration of the firstborn of Israel Ex.12:43-13:16
L. The Lord strikes down Pharaoh and his army Ex.13:17-14:31
1. The Lord leads the nation of Israel to the Red Sea in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night Ex.13:17-22
2. The Lord has Moses lead the people back to camp between Migdol and the Red Sea, so Pharaoh will think the Israelites are wandering about; then the Lord says he will harden Pharaoh’s heart to chase after the Israelites Ex.14:1-4
3. Pharaoh and his officers decide to chase after the Israelites; Pharaoh overtakes them by the Red Sea Ex.14:5-9
4. The Israelites cry out in fear to the Lord and blame Moses for leading them out of Egypt, but Moses tells them not to be afraid and to watch the Lord fight for them Ex.14:10-14
5. The Lord orders Moses to stretch out his staff, divide the Red Sea, and have the Israelites go though it on dry land, while the Lord hardens the Egyptians’ hearts to chase after them into the sea Ex.14:15-20
6. When Moses stretches out his hand, the Lord divides the sea with a strong east wind that also dries the seabed. When Pharaoh and the Egyptians pursue the Israelites into the sea, the Lord causes the wheels to come off of their chariots. He then has Moses stretch out his hand to collapse the walls of water on Pharaoh and his army; they all are drowned. Then the Israelites believe in the Lord and Moses Ex.14:21-31
M. The victory song of Moses and Israel Ex.15:1-21
II. The Lord Establishes His Covenant With Israel Ex.15:22-24:18
A. The journey to Mt. Sinai Ex.15:22-18:27
1. In the wilderness of Shur the Israelites grumble at Marah about the bitter, brackish water; the Lord makes it sweet by having Moses throw a tree into it Ex.15:22-27
2. In the wilderness of Sin the Israelites blame Moses and Aaron for a lack of meat and bread; the Lord gives them quail and manna, and gives instructions for gathering the manna Ex.16:1-36
3. At Rephidim the people quarrel with Moses over a lack of water; the Lord has Moses strike the rock with his staff, and the Lord makes water flow out of the rock Ex.17:1-7
4. The nation of Amalek attacks the Israelites, to whom the Lord gives the victory by Moses having his hands raised up and supported by Aaron and Hur until the sun sets Ex.17:8-16
5. Jethro advises Moses about having able men help him with judging the affairs of the Israelites Ex.18:1-27
B. The preparation of the people for the giving of the law Ex.19:1-25
1. In the third month of the exodus the nation of Israel comes to Mt. Sinai, and the Lord declares that if the people obey his covenant, they shall be a kingdom of priests (a royal priesthood 1 Pet.2:9) and a holy nation; the people agree to do all the Lord said Ex.19:1-8
2. The Lord has Moses consecrate the people and has the people wash their garments Ex.19:9-15
3. On the third day the Lord appears on the mountain in thunder and lightning and fire and smoke and with a loud trumpet; the people are forbidden to come on the mountain Ex.19:16-25
C. The Lord gives the Israelites his law Ex.20:1-23:33
1. The Lord gives the Israelites his Ten Commandments Ex.20:1-17
2. The people tremble with fear and plead for Moses to speak to them instead of the Lord Ex.20:18-21
3. In keeping with the first commandment the Lord instructs the Israelites about the kind of altar they may build and that they are to offer sacrifices to him only wherever he causes his name to be remembered Ex.20:22-26
4. The Lord gives the Israelites civil laws to live by Ex.21:1-23:9
5. The Lord gives the Israelites ceremonial laws to follow in worship Ex.23:10-19
6. The Lord makes promises to his nation of Israel for their exodus to Canaan and their entrance into it and possession of it Ex.23:20-33
D. The covenant of the law is established Ex.24:1-18
1. The people promise to do everything the Lord had spoken and Moses writes down all the words of the Lord Ex.24:1-4
2. Young men of the sons of Israel offer sacrifices to the Lord; Moses sprinkles blood from the sacrifices onto the altar and the book of the covenant; the people after hearing the book of the covenant promise to do and obey all that the Lord had said, and Moses sprinkles the blood of the sacrifices on the people also Ex.24:5-8
3. Moses, Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, and 70 elders of Israel go up on the mountain and see the God of Israel Ex.24:9-11
4. On the mountain the Lord gives Moses the stone tablets of the law, and Moses is in the cloud with the Lord for forty days and nights Ex.24:12-18
III. The Lord’s Tabernacle, The Tent For His Worship And Of His Covenant With Israel Ex.25:1-40:38
A. The Israelites’ offering of valuables and materials for the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings Ex.25:1-19
B. The Lord instructs Moses in what furnishings he shall make for the tabernacle – the ark, the table for sacred breads, and the lampstand Ex.25:10-40
C. The Lord instructs Moses in how he shall make the tabernacle Ex.26:1-27:21
D. The Lord instructs Moses in how to make Aaron’s and his son’s priestly garments and to consecrate them, and in what daily offerings they are to make Ex.28:1-29:46
E. The Lord instructs Moses in how to make the altar of incense and in the burning of incense Ex.30;1-1O
F. The Lord instructs Moses that the sons of Israel must make an offering of atonement for themselves when they are counted in a census Ex.30:11-16
G. The Lord instructs Moses to make a washbasin for the priests to wash their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle Ex.30:17-21
H. The Lord instructs Moses in the making and the use of holy anointing oil Ex.30:22-33
I. The Lord instructs Moses on how to make the incense Ex.30:34-38
J. The Lord informs Moses that he has chosen Bezalel and Oholiab to be the chief artisans for building the tabernacle and all its furnishings Ex.31:1-11
K. The Lord instructs Moses that his Sabbath days are to be kept and no work is to be done on those days Ex.31:12-17
L. The Lord gives Moses the two stone tablets of the law written by the finger of God Ex.31:18
M. Israel’s breaking of the covenant of the law stops the construction of the tabernacle before it starts Ex.32:1-34:35
1. Israel breaks the covenant of the law Ex.32:1-6
a. The people apply pressure on Aaron to make them a god E.32:1
b. Aaron makes a golden calf, to which the people offer sacrifices and then engage in revelry Ex.32:2-6
2.The Lord’s anger burns against the people of Israel; Moses intercedes for them Ex.32:7-14
3. Moses goes down the mountain, shatters the stone tablets of the law, destroys the golden calf, and has the Levites kill 3,000 of the idolaters Ex.32:15-29
4. Moses again pleads for the nation of Israel; the Lord declares he will blot out those who sinned against him with the golden calf Ex.32:30-35
5. After the Lord declared he would not go with the people but would send his angel, Moses again intercedes for Israel and finds favor with the Lord, who then said he would go with the people also Ex.33:1-17
6. When Moses asked to see the Lord’s glory, the Lord tells him to cut out 2 new stone tablets and come up again on the mountain; the Lord then shows Moses his glory while proclaiming the meaning of his name “the Lord” Ex.33:18-34:9
7. The Lord renews the covenant with Israel; Moses is on the mountain with the Lord for 40 days and nights for the second time; when Moses comes down from the mountain, his face shines with the glory of the Lord and he veils his face to hide from the people the Lord’s fading glory Ex.34:10-35
N. The construction of the tabernacle, its furnishings, and its courtyard Ex.35:1-39:43
1. The Lord’s Sabbath days are to be kept; all work is to cease on the Sabbath days Ex.35:1-3
2. The Lord’s command for an offering to be taken of the materials needed for the tabernacle Ex.35:4-9
3. The call for skillful workmen to make all that the Lord commanded Ex.35:10-19
4. Those who had willing hearts bring the offering of needed materials Ex. 35:20-29
5. The Lord’s call of Bezalel and Oholiab to be the chief artisans and workmen Ex.35:30-35
6. The people bring sufficient offerings and are restrained from bringing more Ex.36:1-7
7. The construction of the tabernacle Ex.36:8-38
8. The construction of the ark, the table, the lampstand, and the altar of incense 37:1-29
9. The construction of the altar of burnt offerings, the washbasin for the priests, and the courtyard Ex.38:1-20
10. The totals of the materials used in the construction Ex.38:21-31
11. The making of the priestly garments 39:1-31
12. The completed tabernacle, all its furnishings and its courtyard, and the priestly garments are brought to Moses, who accepts them and blesses the workers Ex.39:32-43
O. The erection of the tabernacle Ex.40:1-38
1. The Lord instructs Moses on setting up the tabernacle with all its furnishings, courtyard, and priestly garments Ex.40:1-16
2. On the first day of the first month of the second year of the exodus Moses erects the tabernacle with all its furnishings, courtyard, and priestly garments Ex.40:17-33
3. The cloud of the Lord then covers the courtyard and the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle Ex.40:34-38
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