Two Million Children of Israel Leave Egypt
October 16, 2025
Commentary
As the children of Israel leave Egypt they go south from Rames to Succoth (v. 37) which is along the western side of the Red Sea. It states that there were 600,000 Israelite men plus women and children. Therefore it is estimated that the entire group must have surpassed two million. They had multiplied, to this number during the 430 years they had been in the land, from 70 when they entered (vv. 38-42).
In addition to the over two million Israelites there were an un-designated number of non-Israelites. This mixed multitude was probably made up of Egyptians and those from other nations who resided in Egypt. They may have come along for a variety of reasons but it seems Satan had failed to keep them from accompanying Israel to Canaan. However, it was this group, that later in the wilderness, caused the Israelites to complain against Moses.
Further instructions were given concerning the celebration of the Passover, which was a time to remember their deliverance (vv. 43-51). Here we are told that three classes of people were forbidden from eating the Passover. First, no stranger was to eat thereof (v. 43). Second, no foreigner or hired servant should eat the Passover (v.45). Third, no un-circumcised person was to eat thereof (v. 48).
Application
I thank God for great memories of what He has allowed us to do for His glory over the years but I’m more excited about what He wants to do in our lives now and in the days ahead should He tarry.
Exodus 22:7–17 (NET)
7 “If a man gives his neighbor money or articles for safekeeping and it is stolen from the man’s house, if the thief is caught, he must repay double. 8 If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought before the judges to see whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor’s goods. 9 In all cases of illegal possessions, whether for an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any kind of lost item, about which someone says ‘This belongs to me,’ the matter of the two of them will come before the judges, and the one whom the judges declare guilty must repay double to his neighbor. 10 If a man gives his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep, and it dies or is injured or is carried away without anyone seeing it, 11 then there will be an oath to the Lord between the two of them, that he has not laid his hand on his neighbor’s goods, and its owner will accept this, and he will not have to pay. 12 But if it was stolen from him, he will pay its owner. 13 If it is torn in pieces, then he will bring it for evidence, and he will not have to pay for what was torn.
14 “If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is hurt or dies when its owner was not with it, the man who borrowed it will surely pay. 15 If its owner was with it, he will not have to pay; if it was hired, what was paid for the hire covers it.
16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and goes to bed with her, he must surely pay the marriage price for her to be his wife. 17 If her father refuses to give her to him, he must pay money for the bride price of virgins.