About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand.  In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form. 

The book of Exodus was written by Moses.  The word "exodus" means to "go out" or "leave".  This book is about the Israelites leaving Egypt and going back to Canaan. Exodus begins about 350 after Joseph died.  The date that the Israelites leave Egypt is about  1445 B.C. (1, 445 years before Jesus Christ was born).

Exodus 13 - 15
The Israelites begin their trip back to Canaan.
Pharaoh's soldiers follow the Israelites.
God did a miracle and divided the water in the Red Sea so the Israelites could walk on dry land.

Exodus 13

God gives His laws about the firstborn and the celebration of Passover.

The Lord God talked to Moses.  He said that all the firstborn Israelites--the oldest children and the oldest animals in a family, would belong to Him.  
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Moses told the Israelites that the day they left Egypt would always be celebrated. On the day of celebration, no one would eat leavened bread. The day of celebration was held in the month of Abib.
[3] And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
[4] This day came ye out in the month Abib.


When the Israelites arrived in Canaan again, they would celebrate the Passover every year.  There were people living in Canaan now. The groups of people were called the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  God said that Canaan was a land "flowing with milk and honey".  That means it is a good place where food and animals would grow well.
[5] And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.


The Passover celebration would be for 7 days.  The 7th day is the day for the feast (special dinner). During the 7 days, no one was supposed to eat leavened bread. They could only eat unleavened bread (flat, without yeast).
[6] Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
[7] Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

The people were supposed to tell their sons all about the Passover and why they were celebrating that day. They were to tell their sons they celebrated because God brought them out of Egypt on that day.
[8] And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

The Israelites should always remember God's laws.
[9] And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
[10] Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

All firstborn children and animals would belong to God.
[11] And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,
[12] That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD's.
[13] And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

When the sons asked their fathers about this, the fathers must tell them that God brought them out of Egypt. They did not do it on their own.  God is powerful and brought the Israelites out of Egypt. God killed the firstborn in Egypt, and now the Israelites must give their firstborn to God.
[14] And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
[15] And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
[16] And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

Map from eBibleTeacher.com

The Israelites travel by following God.

This is the way the Israelites traveled from Egypt to Canaan.  God could have led them a shorter way, but if they traveled the shorter way, they would have had a war with the people called the Philistines.  God did not want them to have a war. He knew if they had a war, they  would be afraid and would want to go back to Egypt. 
[17] And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
[18] But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Moses took the bones of Joseph with them when they left Egypt. This is what Joseph had asked the Israelites to do before he died, many years before the Exodus.
[19] And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

Artist unknown From the La Vista Church of Christ web site

The Israelites continued to travel.  They camped in Etham. Because the Israelites did not know how to go to Canaan, God led them.  During the day, He used a big cloud shaped like a pillar (pole) and at night he used a pillar of fire. The Israelites could see the cloud and fire and followed them.
[20] And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
[21] And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
[22] He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Exodus 14

God helps the Israelites go through the Red Sea

God talked to Moses. He told Moses where to take the Israelites. He wanted them to camp near the Red Sea. Pharaoh would know where the Israelites were. Pharaoh would think that they were trapped and couldn't go over the Red Sea.
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
[3] For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.


God said that He would harden Pharaoh's heart, and Pharaoh would try to catch the Israelites. God wanted Pharaoh and all of the Egyptians to see His power. 
[4] And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.


One of the servants told Pharaoh that the Israelites had left Egypt. The people were upset because they wanted the Israelites to keep working for them. Pharaoh took his chariots (pulled by horses) and soldiers. There were 600 chariots. They tried to catch the Israelites.
[5] And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?
[6] And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:
[7] And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.
[8] And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.


Pharaoh and the Egyptian soldiers found the Israelites. The Israelites were in a camp by the Red Sea. When the Israelites saw the Egyptians close to them, they were very afraid.  They prayed to God.
[9] But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon.
[10] And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.


The Israelites were upset with Moses. They thought they would die there in the wilderness (no towns or cities near). They said it would have been better to stay in Egypt and work for the Egyptians.
[11] And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
[12] Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.


Moses told the Israelites to be patient. He said God would help them and that they would not see the Egyptians again.
[13] And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
[14] The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.


God told Moses that the Israelites should move forward.  He told Moses to lift his rod and stretch his hand out over the Red Sea. He said the sea would divide and the Israelites could walk through the sea on dry land.
[15] And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:
[16] But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

The Egytians would follow the Israelites into the Red Sea.
[17] And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
[18] And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.


The pillar of cloud moved from in front of the Israelites to behind them. The pillar of cloud was between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The pillar of cloud protected the Israelites from the Egyptians.
[19] And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
[20] And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

 

Graphics from  the video, "God's Story:  From Creation to Eternity" http://www.biblevideo.org/

Moses stretched his hand out over the sea.  The Lord God made the wind blow, and the wind made the water go back.  Now there was dry land to walk on.
[21] And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

The Israelites walked through the sea. The water was like walls on each side of them.
[22] And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

The Egyptians followed the Israelites into the Red Sea. The Egyptians had soldiers, horses, and chariots. God was watching the Egyptians through the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. God made the wheels of the chariots turn slow so they could not move fast.  The Egyptians saw that God was helping the Israelites. They decided to go back the other way.
[23] And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
[24] And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,
[25] And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

From the La Vista Church of Christ web site

God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the Red Sea again.  When he did this, the water went down over the Egyptians.  All of the Egyptian soldiers drowned in the water.
[26] And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.
[27] And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
[28] And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

The Israelites continued to walk on the dry land. They arrived at the other side of the Red Sea. They could see all of the dead Egyptian soldiers. The Israelites knew that God had helped them. They knew that Moses was a good leader.
[29] But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
[30] Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.
[31] And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

Exodus 15


Moses and the Israelites praise the Lord God

Moses and the Israelites sang a song to praise God.  They sang about the Egyptians drowning in the Red Sea.
[1] Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.


They sang that the Lord is strong and that He saved them. They will worship God.
[2] The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.


The Lord defeated the Egyptians in a war. The Lord God drowned the Egyptians. They sank in the water like a rock.
[3] The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
[4] Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
[5] The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

The Lord God defeated the Egyptians.
[6] Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.


The Lord God defeated the people who tried to defeat Him.  
[7] And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

The Egyptians tried to catch the Israelites. They planned to take their possessions. But God made the water drown them.
[8] And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
[9] The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
[10] Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

No one is like God. He is glorious.  He made the water drown the Egyptians He saved the Israelites and helped them to leave Egypt.
[11] Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
[12] Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
[13] Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

The people who now live in Canaan (the Edomites and the Moabites) will be afraid of the Lord God when they hear about what happened to the Egyptians.  They will be afraid to hurt the Israelites when they arrive back in Canaan.
[14] The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
[15] Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
[16] Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

The Lord God would take the Israelites to Canaan again. This was His promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. God would live there with the Israelites forever. The Lord God had brought the Israelites across the Red Sea on dry land, and the Egyptian soldiers drowned..
[17] Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
[18] The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
[19] For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

Moses' sister, Miriam, was a prophetess. This means that God spoke through her. She played the timbrel ( a musical instrument). The other women played timbrels, too. They all danced around.  Miriam sang about how God had helped the Israelites and had defeated the Egyptians. 
[20] And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
[21] And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

The Israelites complain, and God makes bad water taste good.


While they were traveling, the Israelites did not find water. Finally at a place called Marah, they found some water. But the water tasted bitter (bad).
[22] So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
[23] And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.


The people talked bad about Moses. They were thirsty, and they didn't know what they were going to find good water to drink.
[24] And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?


Moses prayed to God about the situation with the water.  God showed Moses a tree, and when Moses threw the tree into the water, the water was sweet and tasted good.
[25] And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,


Moses told the Israelites that if they would obey God and do what he told them to do, they would not have the same plagues that the Egyptians had.
[26] And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

The Israelites camped in an area called Elim.  There were a lot of palm trees and much water there.
[27] And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.