Exodus is not a paraphrase of the biblical book, but rather a re-telling of the story of the Israelites' flight from Egyptian captivity and the Crossing of the Red Sea in the manner of a "heroic epic", much like Old English poems Andreas, Judith, or even Beowulf.

Some scholars consider this change of subject a feature of the "epic style" comparable with the similar digressions in Beowulf, while others have proposed it is a later interpolation.

[citation needed] In recent decades, attention has shifted away from the "heroic" aspects of Exodus to consider its densely allusive structure and possible typology.

In the poem, the Israelites are being led across the path through the Red Sea by a pillar of cloud which is described as a “segle” (sail).

In the Old English version of the poem, Moses is said to have parted the sea with a “green” staff, a description which does not appear in the Latin script.

According to Luria, the cross which Jesus was nailed to was also described as being “green,” and therefore he equates this with meaning that Moses was pious, while others, such as the Egyptians, represented “dry wood” or impious people.

Noah, who built an ark to survive the great flood, and Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, both represent a symbol of Christian salvation.

One particular line from Exodus also appears in The Seafarer: “atol yða gewealc” – “the horrible rolling waves”.