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Exodus

Exodus Ex"o*dus, n. [L., the book of Exodus, Gr. ? a going or marching out; ? out + ? way, cf. Skr. [=a]-sad to approach.] 1. A going out; particularly (the Exodus), the going out or journey of the Israelites from Egypt under the conduct of Moses; and hence, any large migration from a place. [1913 Webster]

2. The second of the Old Testament, which contains the narrative of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. [1913 Webster]

Bible Dictionary

Exodus
(that is, going out [of egypt]), the second book of the law orPentateuch. Its author was Moses. It was written probablyduring the forty-years wanderings int he wilderness, betweenB.C. 1491 and 1451. It may be divided into two principal parts:

Historical, chs. (exodus 1:1-18; 27:1) ... and

Legislative, chs. (exodus 19:40; 38:1)

The first part contains an account of the followingparticulars: the great increase of Jacob s posterity in theland of Egypt, and their oppression under a new dynasty,which occupied the throne after the death of Joseph; thebirth, education, flight and return of Moses; the ineffectualattempts to prevail upon Pharaoh to let the Israelites go;the successive signs and wonders, ending in the death of thefirst-born, by means of which the deliverance of Israel fromthe land of bondage is at length accomplished, and theinstitution of the Passover; finally the departure out ofEgypt and the arrival of the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

This part gives a sketch of the early history of Israel as anation; and the history has three clearly-marked stages.First we see a nation enslaved; next a nation redeemed;lastly a nation set apart, and through the blending of itsreligious and political life consecrated to the service ofGod.