Editing Book of Exodus (section)

== Summary ==
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| footer            = Historical representations of the [[Stations of the Exodus]]
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The text of the Book of Exodus begins after the events at the end of the [[Book of Genesis]] where [[Jacob]]'s sons and their families joined their brother [[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph]] in [[Egypt]], which Joseph had saved from famine. It is 400 years later and Egypt's new [[Pharaoh of the Exodus|Pharaoh]], who does not remember Joseph, is fearful that the [[slavery|enslaved]] and now numerous [[Israelites]] could become a [[fifth column]]. He hardens their labor and orders the killing of all newborn boys. A [[Levite]] woman named [[Jochebed]] saves her baby by [[Finding of Moses|setting him adrift]] on the Nile in an [[ark of bulrushes]]. [[Bithiah|Pharaoh's daughter]] finds the child, names him [[Moses]], and brings him up as her own.

[[File:Dura Europos fresco Moses from river.jpg|thumb|''[[Finding of Moses]]'' in the [[Dura-Europos synagogue]], c. 244]]
Later, a grown Moses goes out to see his kinsmen. He witnesses the abuse of a Hebrew slave by an Egyptian overseer. Angered, Moses kills him and flees into [[Midian]] to escape punishment. There, he marries [[Zipporah]], daughter of  [[Jethro (Bible)|Jethro]], a Midianite priest. While tending Jethro's flock, Moses encounters God in a [[burning bush]]. Moses asks God for his name, to which God replies with three words, often translated as "[[I Am that I Am]]". This is the book's explanation for the origin of the name [[Yahweh]], as God is thereafter known. God tells Moses to return to Egypt, free the Hebrews from slavery and lead them into [[Canaan]], the land promised to the seed of [[Abraham]] in Genesis. On the journey back to Egypt, God seeks to kill Moses.  Zipporah [[circumcision|circumcises]] their son and the attack stops. ''(See [[Zipporah at the inn]].)''

Moses reunites with his brother [[Aaron]] and, returning to Egypt, convenes the [[Israelite]] elders, preparing them to go into the wilderness to worship God. Pharaoh refuses to release the Israelites from their work for the festival, and so God curses the Egyptians with [[Plagues of Egypt|ten terrible plagues]], such as a [[Plagues of Egypt#1. Turning water to blood: Ex. 7:14–24|river of blood]], an [[plague of frogs|outbreak of frogs]], and the [[Plagues of Egypt#9. Darkness for three days: Ex. 10:21–29|thick darkness]]. Moses is commanded by God to fix the spring month of [[Aviv]] at the head of the [[Hebrew calendar]]. The Israelites are to take a lamb on the 10th day of the month, [[Korban Pesach|sacrifice the lamb]] on the 14th day, daub its blood on their [[Mezuzah|mezuzot]] (doorposts) and lintels and to observe the [[Passover]] meal that night, during the full moon. The [[10th plague]] comes that night, causing the death of all Egyptian firstborn sons, prompting Pharaoh to expel the Israelites. Regretting his decision, Pharaoh commands his chariot army after the Israelites, who appear trapped at the [[Yam Suph|Red Sea]]. God [[Crossing the Red Sea|parts the sea]], allowing the Israelites to pass through, before drowning Pharaoh's pursuing forces.

[[File: ISS035-E-007148 Nile - Sinai - Dead Sea - Wide Angle View.jpg|thumb|Geography of the Book of Exodus, with the Nile River and its delta, left, the Red Sea and Sinai desert, center, and the land of Israel, upper right]]
As desert life proves arduous, the Israelites complain and long for Egypt, but God miraculously provides [[manna]] for them to eat and [[Meribah|water]] to drink. The Israelites arrive at the mountain of God, where Moses's father-in-law Jethro visits Moses; at his suggestion, Moses appoints [[Biblical judges|judges]] over Israel. God asks whether they will agree to be his people – they accept. The people gather at the foot of the mountain, and with thunder and lightning, fire and clouds of smoke, the sound of trumpets, and the trembling of the mountain, [[theophany|God appears]] on the peak, and the people see the cloud and hear the voice (or possibly sound) of God. God tells Moses to ascend the mountain. God pronounces the [[Ten Commandments]] (the Ethical Decalogue) in the hearing of all Israel. Moses goes up the mountain into the [[presence of God]], who pronounces the [[Covenant Code]] of ritual and civil law and promises [[Canaan]] to them if they obey. Moses comes down from the mountain and writes down God's words, and the people agree to keep them. God calls Moses up the mountain again, where he remains for forty days and forty nights, after which he returns, bearing the set of stone [[tablet (religious)|tablets]].

God gives Moses instructions for the construction of the [[tabernacle]] so that God may dwell permanently among his [[chosen people]], along with instructions for the [[Priestly robe (Judaism)|priestly vestments]], the altar and its appurtenances, procedures for the [[ordination]] of priests, and the daily [[sacrifice]] offerings. Aaron becomes the first [[High Priest of Israel|hereditary high priest]]. God gives Moses the two tablets of stone containing the words of the ten commandments, written with the "[[finger of God]]".<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|31:18}}; {{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|9:10|9}}</ref>
[[File: Gerrit de Wet - The Adoration of the Golden Calf - WGA25563.jpg|thumb|''The Adoration of the Golden Calf'', [[Gerrit de Wet]], 17th century]]

While Moses is with God, Aaron casts a [[golden calf]], which the people worship. God informs Moses of their [[apostasy]] and threatens to kill them all, but relents when Moses pleads for them. Moses comes down from the mountain, smashes the stone tablets in anger, and commands the [[Levites]] to massacre the unfaithful Israelites. God commands Moses to construct two new tablets. Moses ascends the mountain again, where God dictates the [[Ritual Decalogue|Ten Commandments]] for Moses to write on the tablets.

Moses descends from the mountain with a [[Transfiguration (religion)|transformed face]]; from that time onwards he must hide his face with a [[veil]]. Moses assembles the Hebrews and repeats to them the commandments he has received from God, which are to keep the [[Sabbath]] and to construct the Tabernacle. The Israelites do as they are commanded. From that time God dwells in the Tabernacle and orders the travels of the Hebrews.