From the ESV Literary Study Bible (which looks great online)
The book of Exodus is presented in the form of an *epic. Like most epics, it begins in the middle of things, with the Israelites languishing in slavery and their would-be deliverer born under the threat of death by drowning. The story proceeds along epic lines, with a cosmic confrontation between good and evil that is happily resolved through a mighty act of rescue and a long journey to freedom. Moses is the heroic (albeit imperfect) national leader who serves as the human instrument of a divine deliverance. Like many epics, Exodus is also the story of the founding of a nation. This helps to explain how the second half of the book connects to the first: once they are delivered from bondage, the people of God meet to receive a national constitution (the Ten Commandments) and to establish a place for their national assembly (the tabernacle). Within its epic framework, Exodus also contains a wealth of subgenres: *rescue story, *calling story, human-divine *encounter, diplomatic negotiation, plague story, *genealogy, institution of a festival,*song of victory, *travelogue, *miracle story, legal code, case law, covenant renewal ceremony, architectural blueprint, garment design, building narrative.
