Through an examination of the text, we understand the direction and goal of the scriptural narrative that continues all across the book of Bereishit and into the book of Shemot. We shall adopt a broad perspective and try to understand the lengthy narrative that stretches out over the two chumashim, in accordance with the literary and substantive characteristics found therein, and through an understanding of how the smaller units contribute to the story as a whole.

Literary Structure
Introduction to Shemot
Courtesy of the Virtual Beit Midrash, Yeshivat Har Etzion