The March from Egypt Exodus 12:37-4337And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 39And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 40Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. 43And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: (Exodus 12:37‑43)
IT was a very great company of people who left Egypt after the Passover night: there were men, women, boys, girls, and little ones. Do you remember when Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and his brothers to come live in Egypt, how many came? Seventy-five persons; and now after many years their children and grandchildren had become so many that when they were leaving, there were “six hundred thousand men to go on foot,” besides there were the women and children, we do not know how many of them.
“There was not one feeble,” so we know God had kept them in spite of the king’s cruel laws and heavy work. (Psalm 105: 37). They are not often spoken of as Hebrews after this, but as Israelites or Children, or People, of Israel (which was a name of Jacob).
These people did not go as you might think, each as he pleased, but marched, “harnessed”, which word here means, in rank, or, in a certain order. And Moses and Aaron were with them to give the commands of God. They carried their bread dough wrapped up with clothing on their shoulders and drove their many flocks and herds. Some people who were not from the family of Jacob went with them, perhaps they too had been slaves and wanted to be free.
There was something else very wonderful about these people leaving: God had told Abraham in Canaan that his children’s children should go to a strange land, and there be badly treated, and now on the “selfsame day” as God had said, He led them away! So, again we learn that God’s words always come true (Genesis 15:18-14 Exodus 12:4141And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:41)).
ML 03/07/1937