Two Million Children of Israel Leave Egypt
January 19, 2022
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 12:37– 51 (NET)
37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about 600,000 men on foot, plus their dependents. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and flocks and herds—a very large number of cattle. 39 They baked cakes of bread without yeast using the dough they had brought from Egypt, for it was made without yeast. Because they were thrust out of Egypt and were not able to delay, they could not prepare food for themselves either.
40 Now the length of time the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, on the very day, all the regiments of the Lord went out of the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of vigil for the Lord to bring them out from the land of Egypt, and so on this night all Israel is to keep the vigil to the Lord for generations to come.
43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the ordinance of the Passover. No foreigner may share in eating it. 44 But everyone’s servant who is bought for money, after you have circumcised him, may eat it. 45 A foreigner and a hired worker must not eat it. 46 It must be eaten in one house; you must not bring any of the meat outside the house, and you must not break a bone of it. 47 The whole community of Israel must observe it.
48 “When a resident foreigner lives with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord, all his males must be circumcised, and then he may approach and observe it, and he will be like one who is born in the land —but no uncircumcised person may eat of it. 49 The same law will apply to the person who is native-born and to the resident foreigner who lives among you.”
50 So all the Israelites did exactly as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on this very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their regiments.