Comprehensive outline of the book of Exodus

The second book of the Old Testament, Exodus, was written by Moses. The information in chapter 1:1-2:10 may have come from his parents or his sister, or some other source.

I like having titles on the paragraphs or sections of my Bible. This helps to indicate the context of a particular passage of scripture. A comprehensive outline (section headings) of the book of Exodus is given below.

The top level of headings in this post give a simple outline of the book of Exodus (Appendix).

God’s redemption of His firstborn, Israel, from Egypt at the cost of the firstborn 1-18

The subjection of the children of Israel to slave labor 1

The growth of the children of Israel in Egypt 1:1-7
1:1-4 The names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt with their families
1:5 The number of the people: 70
1:6 The death of the first generation
1:7 The tremendous increase of the clan

The oppression of the children of Israel in Egypt 1:8-14
1:8 The rise of a king who did not know Joseph
1:9 His fear of the Israelis
1:10-11 His subjection of the Israelis to slave labor, building the storage cities of Pithom and Raamses
1:12 The continued multiplication of Israel, to the dread of the Egyptians
1:13-14 The Egyptians’ increased enslavement of the children of Israel

The attempted ethnic cleansing through infanticide 1:15-22
1:15-16 The instructions of Egypt’s king to the Hebrew midwives to preserve female infants but kill male infants
1:17-21 The civil disobedience of the Hebrew midwives as blessed by God
1:22 Pharaoh’s command to the Egyptian populace to cooperate in the murder of Hebrew male infants

The raising up of Moses to be Israel’s deliverer 2 – 4

The birth of Moses 2:1-2

The upbringing of Moses in the courts of Pharaoh 2:3-10

Moses’ abortive attempt to deliver Israel 2:11-15

The residence of Moses in Midian 2:16-22

God’s commissioning of Moses to deliver Israel 2:23 – 4:31
2:23-25 God’s observance of Israel’s cry for help in her bondage; His remembrance of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
3:1-10 God’s commissioning of Moses from the burning bush
3:11 – 4:17 God’s rebuttal of Moses’ objections
3:13-22 The question of the identity of the God authorizing Moses’ leadership
4:1-9 The question of Moses’ credibility
4:10-12 Moses’ objection of ineloquence
4:13-17 Moses’ preference to decline the mission
4:18-31 Moses’ eventual obedience
– 4:18-23 Moses’ departure for Egypt with his family
– 4:24-26 God’s attempt to kill Moses for failure to keep the sign of the covenant (circumcision) in his family
– 4:27-31 Moses’ and Aaron’s gaining of the confidence of the children of Israel

Moses’ and Aaron’s sign-fortified requests of Pharaoh to release the children of Israel: The ten plagues 5:1 – 12:36

The first appearance of Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh 5:1 – 7:9
5:1-3 Their request to permit a three days’ journey in order to sacrifice
5:4-14 Pharaoh’s increasing of the work quota
5:15-21 The unhappy reactions of the leaders of Israel
5:22 – 7:9 Moses before God
5:22-23 Moses’ complaint at God’s harming Israel
6:1-9 God’s promise to reveal Himself as the LORD in mightily delivering Israel
6:10 – 7:9 the LORD ‘s renewed instructions to Moses and Aaron to request Israel’s deliverance from Pharaoh
– 6:10-13 The charge to bring the Israelites out of Egypt
– 6:14-27 Levite family history
– 6:28-30 Moses’ objection of ineloquence
– 7:1-9 God’s provisions
—- 7:1-2 Of credibility and aid: Moses as God; Aaron as prophet
—- 7:3-7 Of repeated knowledge of the future
—- 7:8-9 Of the sign of the staff becoming a snake

The second appearance of Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh: the rod to snake sign 7:10-13

The third appearance, the first plague: Water to blood 7:14-25

The fourth appearance, the second plague: frogs 8:1-15

The fifth appearance, the third plague: Gnats (or lice); the first non-duplicatable miracle 8:16-19

The sixth appearance, the fourth plague: Swarms of flies 8:20-32

The seventh appearance, the fifth plague: Diseased livestock 9:1-7

The eighth appearance, the sixth plague: Boils 9:8-12

The ninth appearance, the seventh plague: Hail 9:13-35

The tenth appearance, the eighth plague: Locusts 10:1-20

The eleventh appearance, the ninth plague: Darkness 10:21-29

The twelfth and final appearance, the tenth plague: The achievement of redemption through the death of the Egyptian firstborn 11:1 – 12:36
11:1-10 Moses’ prediction of the death of the Egyptian firstborn
12:1-13 The LORD ‘s instructions to Israel to guarantee the passing over of the Israeli firstborn because of the blood of the slain lamb
12:14-20 The perpetuation of the Passover: The Festival of Unleavened Bread
12:21-28 Moses’ conveyance of the instructions to Israel
12:29- 30 The death of the Egyptian firstborn
12:31-36 The Egyptians’ urgent request for Israel to depart

The flight of Israel from Egypt 12:37 – 15:21

The departure from Rameses to Succoth: Additional revelation concerning the Passover/Festival of Unleavened Bread 12:37 – 13:19
12:37-42 The departure of 600,000 plus people from Rameses to Succoth
12:43-51 The ordinance of the Passover sacrifice
13:1-2 The LORD ‘s instructions to set apart all Israel’s firstborn to Himself of both man and beast
13:3-10 The celebration of the Festival of Unleavened Bread in Canaan
13:11-16 The LORD ‘s instructions to redeem back from Himself in Canaan all essential firstborn
13:17-19 The circuitous route through the wilderness

The journey from Succoth to Etham, guided by the LORD in the cloud and in the fire 13:20-22

The LORD’s salvation of Israel from Egypt at the Red Sea 14:1 – 15:21
14:1-4 The LORD’s instruction to encamp at the Red Sea
14:5-9 Pharaoh’s pursuit
14:10-14 Israel’s terror
14:15-20 The LORD’s promise of salvation
14:21-25 The passage of the children of Israel through the Red Sea
14:26-31 The salvation of Israel through the drowning of the Egyptians
15:1-21 The songs of salvation

The journey from the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai 15:22 – 18:27

15:22-26 The Red Sea to Marah: Moses’ sweetening of the bitter water

15:27 Elim: Springs and date palms

16:1-36 Elim to the wilderness of Sin: the LORD’s provision of food and rest — quails, manna and sabbath observance

17:1 – 18:27 Wilderness of Sin to Rephidim:
17:1-7 Moses’ striking of the rock at Horeb to provide water for the grumblers
17:8-16 Israel’s overwhelming of Amalek with Moses’ upheld hands
18 Moses’ encounter with his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian
18:1-12 The journey of Jethro to visit Moses, accompanied by Zipporah, Moses’ wife, and their sons
18:13-27 Jethro’s suggestion to Moses to select men to help him judge Israel

God’s establishment of a covenant between Himself and Israel as His holy nation of priests 19-40

The covenant between the LORD and Israel 19 – 24

The LORD’s offer of the covenant 19
19:1-2 The encampment in front of the mountain in Sinai
19:3-6 The LORD’s offer of the covenant to Moses
19:3-4 The reminder of the LORD’s past providence
19:5a The condition of obedience and covenant-keeping
19:5b-6 The result: Israel God’s unique possession among the nations; God’s kingdom of priests and a holy nation
19:7-8 The peoples’ willingness to perform the terms of the covenant
19:9-25 The preparation for the LORD’s speech to the people
19:9 The LORD’s promise to create in Israel profound trust in Moses
19:10-15 The LORD’s instructions for sanctification and boundary setting
19:16-25 The LORD’s descent upon Mt. Sinai amidst lightning, thunder, thick cloud, piercing trumpet, fire, smoke, and earthquake

The terms of the covenant 20 – 23
20 The ten commandments
20:1-17 The Commandments
– 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me
– 20:4-6 You shall make no idol to worship or serve.
– 20:7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God
– 20:8-11 Remember to keep the sabbath day holy
– 20:12 Honor your father and mother
– 20:13 You shall not murder
– 20:14 You shall not commit adultery
– 20:15 You shall not steal
– 20:16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor
– 20:17 You shall not lust after anything that belongs to your neighbor
20:18-21 The terror of the people
20:22-26 How to approach the LORD: Via a sacrifice on an altar
21:1 – 23:19 The judgments
21:1-11 Regulating Hebrew slavery
21:12-27 Assault, murder and kidnapping
21:28-36 Livestock control
22:1-4 Theft of livestock
22:5-6 Property liability
22:7-15 Breach of trust
22:16-17 Premarital sex
22:18 Sorcery
22:19 Intercourse with animals
22:20 Idolatry
22:21-24 Abuse of minorities
22:25-27 Lending
22:28-30 Giving God His due
22:31 – 23:9 Holy living
23:10-13 Sabbaths
23:14-17 Festivals
23:18-19 Sacrifices and first-fruits
23:20-33 The LORD’s promised guidance, protection and blessing in Israel’s conquest of Canaan conditioned on her obedience

The ratification of the covenant 24
24:1-3 The peoples’ agreement to keep the words of the LORD
24:4-8 The sprinkling of blood on the book of the covenant and on the people: Ratification in Blood
24:9-11 The eating of the elders of Israel with the God of Israel: Ratification of food
24:12-18 Moses’ conference with the LORD: The engraving of the commandments in stone; the issuance of further revelation

The LORD’s revelation of the symbolism of the covenant 25 – 31

The LORD’s place of residence (Tabernacle) 25 – 27
25:1-9 The financing: freewill contributions
25:10-40 The furniture
25:10-22 The ark of the testimony and the mercy seat
25:23-30 The table for the bread of the Presence (of God)
25:31-40 The lampstand
26 The residence
26:1-14 The curtains for the tent covering
26:15-30 The timber frame for the residence
26:31-35 The shielding curtain
26:36-37 The curtain for the entrance doorway
27:1-8 The altar for burnt offerings
27:9-19 The court of the residence
27:20-21 The oil for the perpetually burning lamp

The priesthood 28 – 29
28 The garments of the priests
28:1-5 The introduction
28:6-14 The ephod (apron)
28:15-30 The breast-piece of judgment
28:31-35 The robe of the ephod
28:36-39 The plate, turban, tunic and sash
28:40-43 Clothing for Aaron’s sons; breeches for all
29 The consecration of the priests
29:1-9 The clothing and anointing of the priests
29:10-14 The sin offering of the bull
29:15-18 The burnt offering of one ram
29:19-28 The sacrifice of the ram of ordination along with bread for a wave offering
29:29-30 The anointment and ordaining of future (chief) priests
29:31-34 The eating of the ordination ram and the bread
29:35-37 The sin offering of a bull seven consecutive days
29:38-42 The morning and evening sacrifices of lambs
29:43-46 The consecrating response of the LORD

Additional items for the residence 30
30:1-10 The altar of incense
30:11-16 Atonement money for census-taking
30:17-21 The basin for washing
30:22-33 The holy anointing oil
30:34-38 The incense

The LORD’s provision of skilled workmen 31:1-11

The warning to observe the Sabbath 31:12-17

Israel’s violation of the covenant 32 – 33

The violation 32
32:1-6 Aaron’s construction of a calf “god” at the peoples’ request
32:7-9 God’s anger
32:10-14 The LORD’s sparing of Israel at Moses’ intercession
32:15-29 Moses’ reactions to the crime
32:15-19 His breaking of the tablets in anger
32:20 His causing the people to drink the gold-polluted water
32:21-24 His anger at Aaron
32:25-29 His call for mass execution; the death of 3000
32:30-35 God relented in response to Moses’ intercession and sent a plague

The reconciliation 33
33:1-6 The LORD’s decision to substitute an angel for His own presence among the people
33:7-16 The LORD’s decision to go personally among the people at Moses’ request
33:17-23 The LORD’s gracious display of His goodness and back view to Moses at the latter’s request

The LORD’s renewal of the covenant 34

The LORD’s instruction to Moses to recut two stone tablets and join Him again on the mountain 34:1-4

The LORD’s gracious display of Himself to Moses as promised 34:5-7

Moses’ plea for the LORD to accompany Israel personally 34:8-9

The LORD’s promise to proceed with the covenant and miraculously drive out the Canaanite nations 34:10-11

The LORD’s summary covenantal instructions to Moses for Israel 34:12-28

Moses’ return to the camp with the LORD’s glory reflected in his face 34:29-35

The manufacture and preparation of the symbols of the covenant 35 – 39

The freewill contribution 35:1-29

The skilled workmen 35:30 – 36:7

The preparation of the curtains for the tent covering 36:8-19

The preparation of the timber frame 36:20-34

The preparation of the shielding curtain and the entrance curtain 36:35-38

The construction of the ark and mercy seat 37:1-9

The construction of the table 37:10-16

The construction of the lampstand 37:17-24

The construction of the altar of incense 37:25-29

The construction of the altar of burnt offering 38:1-7

The construction of the basin for washing 38:8

The construction of the court 38:9-20

The summary of the workmen and materials 38:21-31

The manufacture of the priestly garments 39:1-31

The assembly of all the finished products 39:32-43

The erection of the symbols of the covenant 40

The instructions of the LORD 40:1-15

The obedience of Moses and the people 40:16-33

The filling of the residence with the LORD’s glory 40:34-38

Appendix: Simple outline of Exodus

The top two levels of headings in this post give a simple outline of the book of Exodus.

1-18 God’s redemption of His firstborn, Israel, from Egypt at the cost of the firstborn
1 The subjection of the children of Israel to slave labor
2-4 The raising up of Moses to be Israel’s deliverer
5:1 – 12:36 Moses’ and Aaron’s sign-fortified requests of Pharaoh to release the children of Israel: The ten plagues
12:37 – 15:21 The flight of Israel from Egypt
15:22 – 18:27 The journey from the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai

19-40 God’s establishment of a covenant between Himself and Israel as His holy nation of priests
19 – 24 The covenant between the LORD and Israel
25 – 31 The LORD’s revelation of the symbolism of the covenant
32 – 33 Israel’s renewal of the covenant
35 – 39 The manufacture and preparation of the symbols of the covenant
40 The erection of the symbols of the covenant

References

Bartsch T J “Analysis of Exodus”

Acknowledgement

This post is based on the work of James T Bartsch

Written, January 2025