Exodus, book of

The second book of the Bible, Exodus is the story of God’s deliverance of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land of Canaan. The first twelve chapters of Exodus tell how Moses’s people—the Hebrews—lived as slaves for four centuries. God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians before they were willing to let the Hebrews leave Egypt. Chapters 13–19 tell how God worked miracles and provided food and water for the grumbling Israelites as they traveled across the wilderness. Chapters 19–40 tell how God gave the Ten Commandments and other instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai. These instructions include those for building the tabernacle and for the priests who would help the people worship God.