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The Exodus
More fully The Exodus of Israel out of Egypt, was the departure of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt under the leadership of Moses and Aaron as described in the biblical Book of Exodus.
The Israelites had moved from the land of Canaan into Egypt when Joseph was prime minister of Egypt. After the death of Joseph and a change in rulership, the Egyptians were now suspicious of the Israelites. Therefore they enslaved the Israelites and used them as labor in building projects.
The Israelites were tasked with making bricks and were being oppressed by the Egyptian Pharaoh and his taskmasters. Moses is called to be a leader, and attempts to negotiate with the Pharaoh, who is not receptive. Moses, under God's instruction, calls forth a series of 10 plagues. Eventually Pharaoh agreed to the Israelites' request for Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
However the Pharaoh changed his mind soon after they left, and sent soldiers after the Israelites to bring them back. In a miraculous escape the Israelites crossed over a "sea" which had dried out, with the water standing up on both sides of them like a wall. Once the Israelites had crossed the sea, the water returned and caught the following Egyptians as they tried to turn back, as the Lord had caused their chariots to swerve.
After the their exit from Egypt, the Israelites travel through an itinerary of perhaps 40 locations, the modern counterpart of many of the ones at the beginning of the list being unknown or disputed. Significant events occur at these early locations or 'stations', including the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, along with the remainder of Mosaic law. The Israelites finally arrive at a site which may have been located, Kadesh-Barnea. Spies spy out Canaan as a prospect for invasion, but although Joshua and Caleb returned with optimistic reports, the other ten advised that an invasion not be attempted. All this seems to happen in the first year, as the Wandering takes place when Moses is between the ages of 80 and 120, and Israel is thereupon sentenced to wander 40 years in the wilderness (Nu. 14:34). (Note that as manna had just been introduced, Ex. 16:35 does not imply the 40 years to have happened previously, but is a forward-looking statement.) Moses then leads the Israelites through the remainder of a series of encampments known to scholars as the Stations for afore-mentioned 40 years. Only the descendants of the generation present at the start of the 40 years, along with Joshua and Caleb, would be able to cross into Canaan proper; an action which ultimately culminated in beginning the Conquest of Canaan with the crossing of the River Jordan from the East.
Exodus
Definition: The second book of the Old Testament, which tells the story of the departure of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt as they were led by Moses. ("Exodus" is a Greek word for departure.)
Context: In the Book of Exodus, God gave Moses and the Israelites the Ten Commandments.
Moses
Definition: The leader and prophet of the Israelites, who led his people out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land
Context: Moses and the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before reaching the Promised Land.
Aaron
Definition: Brother of Moses, and High Priest of the Old Law.
Joshua
Definition: The successor of Moses. Josue was chosen by God to succeed Moses. The son of Nun; the genealogy of the family is given in it belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. Josue commanded the army of Israel, after the Exodus, in its battle with Amalec (Exodus 17:9-13), was called the minister of Moses ,accompanied the great lawgiver to and from Mount Sinai and into the tabernacle of the covenant and acted as one of twelve spies whom Moses sent to view the land of Chanaan (Numbers 13:9). Josue enters the land of promise, after being assured by spies that the way is safe. It is the tenth day of the first month, fortyone years since the Exodus. The channel of the Jordan is dry during the passage of Israel. A monument is erected in the midst of the Jordan, and one at Galgal, to commemorate the miracle. Josue camps at Galgal). The Israelites born during the wandering are circumcised; the pasch is eaten the first time in the land of promise; the manna ceases to fall; Josue is strengthened by the vision of an angel. The walls of Jericho fall without a blow; the city is sacked; its inhabitants are put to death; only the family of Rahab is spared. Israel goes up against Hai. The crime of Achan causes defeat. Josue punishes that crime and takes Hai; sets up an altar on Mount Hebal; subjugates the Gabaonites, defeats the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jerimoth, Lachis, and Eglon; captures and destroys Maceda, Lebna, Lachis, Eglon, Hebron, Dabir, and the South even to Gaza; marches North and defeats the combined forces of the kings at the waters of Meron. The Division of the Land among the Tribes of Israel.
