This page will also discuss ''Leviticus'', ''Numbers'', ''Deuteronomy'' and ''Joshua'' for convenience.

'''''Exodus''''': 400 years after the Israelites' migration to Egypt at the end of Genesis, a new pharaoh subjects them to slavery and has all their newborn children killed. One baby escapes and is found by pharaoh's daughter and named Moses. As an adult, he kills an overseer for beating an Israelite and flees to the desert. He settles down into the life of a shepherd when he is called by God to liberate his brethren.

'''''Leviticus''''': The guide book about how the Israelites are to properly worship God.

'''''Numbers''''': The Israelites are on their way to ThePromisedLand. Moses, with God's help, guides his people to the land flowing with milk and honey while battling hostile nomadic peoples and internal dissension. Things do not go entirely to plan.

'''''Deuteronomy''''': [[AuthorFilibuster Moses' last instructions to the new generation of Israelites about to enter Canaan]].

'''''Joshua''''': Moses and the previous generation of Israelites are dead and its up to Joshua to lead the new generation in conquering the Promised Land.

''Joshua'' is followed by the Literature/BookOfJudges.
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!!These books contain the following tropes:
* AfterActionReport: According to tradition, these books were written near the end of Moses' and Joshua's lifetimes.
* AmbiguouslyJewish: In rabbinical tradition, Moses was never circumcised, hence why he wasn't allowed into the Promised Land. Freud theorized that Moses wasn't Jewish at all, but Egyptian royalty that for some reason [[DefectorFromDecadence threw in with their lot]].
** According to Exodus, Moses was not allowed into the promised land because of his disobedience to God in his leadership of the Isrealites. Circumcision had nothing to do with it.
* BadassGrandpa - Moses was 120 when he died. Joshua finally became leader, at 80.
* BittersweetEnding: The Israelites conquer Canaan but it's foretold the next generation will be unfaithful to God.
* BuryYourGays: The infamous Leviticus 20:13... Two men having sex with each other must be put to death.
* ChurchMilitant: Contrary to what you see in Film/TheTenCommandments, the worshipers of the golden calf were not swallowed up by the earth. God had Moses command the Levite priests to slaughter them. The swallowed up by the earth vent happened later, in an unrelated incident.
* CrazyPrepared / TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything: The laws of Moses. Covers civil law, criminal law, public sanitation, religious rituals... It even gives some case studies for unusual events.
* DeusExMachina: Whenever the people of Israel are in need, God provides.
* DoesNotLikeShoes: God in the burning bush. "Remove your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
* [[DroppedABridgeOnHim Dropped A Sea On Him]]: Pharaoh and those unfortunate Egyptian soldiers caught in the Red Sea at the wrong time.
* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Pharaoh in sharp contrast to two Hebrew midwives identified by name.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Exodus describes an exodus. Deuteronomy means "second law".
* FatalFlaw
** Moses' anger.
** Pharaoh's arrogance.
** Aaron's weak leadership.
** Miriam's jealousy of Moses.
** Joshua's overconfidence.
** Balaam continuing to antagonize the Israelites even after experiencing God's power.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Deut. 17:14 was about how to choose a good king, [[Literature/BooksOfSamuel centuries before any Israelite even thought this was a good idea]].
* GeoEffects: Taken advantage of by the Israelite army (and occasionally it also gets the better of them because they weren't right with God).
* GodWasMyCopilot: God (or a messenger thereof) shows up to help Joshua take town the city of Jericho.
* HeroicBlueScreenOfDeath: After Joshua's failed attack on Ai.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Pharaoh.
* HolyBacklight: Moses gets glowy from spending so much time in God's direct presence.
* HolyIsNotSafe: Exodus 33:20 provides the page quote. Moses asks to see God's face, but He replies that seeing it would kill Moses. God arranges for Moses to see His back instead.
* JustSoStory - These books explain the origins of the names of places known only to Middle Easterners.
* KillEmAll: Well, all the first-born unprotected by lamb's blood, anyway.
* KillItWithWater: Drowning Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea.
* LyricalDissonance: The song of Moses (Deut. 32:1-43) which was sung as the Israelites finally entered the Promised Land. In the passages beforehand, God had flat out told Moses that his people were going to mess up badly in the end, and gave the song to Moses as a reminder of what they needed to do once that day came to repent. Nevertheless, it's about as uplifting as a kick in the balls.
* MeaningfulEcho: The generation after Moses crosses the Jordan river in a manner similar to how their parents crossed the Red Sea.
* MosesInTheBullrushes: The TropeNamer.
* OnlyFatalToAdults: Only those Israelites under the age of 20 make it to the Promised Land, the rest being wiped out by various means as a result of [[JewishComplaining their complaining]]...and the fact that they were a RagTagBunchOfMisfits wandering a vast expanse of desert for 40 years.
* PalsWithJesus: Moses talks to God all the time and spends a lot of time in His presence. He also got to see God's "back", whatever that's supposed to mean.
* SacredHospitality: Various clans get cursed for not extending it, Israel gets in trouble for being stupid about it (they made a promise they shouldn't have because they didn't consult God), and the laws of the new nation codify being kind to strangers, extending sanctuary for escaped slaves, etc.
* TakeAThirdOption: Joshua meets a stranger after prayer. He demands to know whether the stranger is an enemy or an ally. The stranger replies: "Neither, I'm here to command you." Joshua realizes [[GodWasMyCopilot Who he's talking to]].
* TenMinuteRetirement: Well, forty years for Moses, but who's counting?
* TorchesAndPitchforks: The crowds have a tendency to get a little volatile whenever things don't go exactly their way.
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