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"And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people that they might send them out of the
land in haste,for they said, We be all dead men." Ere the morning had broken, the
children of Israel were on theirmarch from Rameses, around which most of them had
probably been congregated. Their "army"consisted in round numbers of "600,000 on
foot - men, beside children" (12:37), or, as we maycompute it, with women and
children, about two millions.
This represents a by no means incredible increase during the four hundred and thirty
years that hadelapsed since their settlement in Egypt, even irrespective of the fact
that, as Abraham had had threehundred and eighteen "trained servants born in his own
73 house," (Genesis 14:14) and thereforeafterwards circumcised (Genesis 17:13),
whom he could arm against the invaders of Sodom, so thesons of Jacob must have
brought many with them who were afterwards incorporated in the nation.
With these two millions of Israelites also went up a mixed multitude of varied descent,
drawn in thewake of God's people by the signs and wonders so lately witnessed - just
as a mixed crowd stillfollows after every great spiritual movement, a source of
hindrance rather than of help to it,(Numbers 11:4) ever continuing strangers, and at
most only fit to act as "hewers of wood anddrawers of water." (Deuteronomy 29:11)
But a precious legacy of faith did Israel bear, when theytook with them out of Egypt
the bones of Joseph, (Exodus 13:19) which all those centuries hadwaited for the
fulfillment of God's promise. As Calvin aptly writes: "In all those times of adversity
thepeople could never have forgotten the promised redemption. For if, in their
communings, the oathwhich Joseph had made their fathers swear had not been
remembered, Moses could in no wise havebeen aware of it." Such a sight had never
been witnessed in the land of Egypt as when the nation, sodelivered, halted for their
first night-quarters at Succoth, or, "booths." The locality of this and thefollowing
station, Etham, cannot be exactly ascertained; nor is this the place to discuss
suchquestions. Succoth may have been fixed upon as the general rendezvous of the
people, while atEtham they had reached "the edge of the wilderness," which divides
Egypt from Palestine. Thestraight road would have brought them shortly into the land
of the Philistines, face to face with awarlike race, against which even Egypt could
often scarcely stand. Of course they would havecontested the advance of Israel. To
such test God in His mercy would not expose a people sounprepared for it, as was
Israel at that time. Accordingly, they were directed to "turn" southward,and march to
"Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea," where they were to encamp.
Two events, as we understand it, marked Etham, the second stage of their journey. It
wasapparently here, at the edge of the wilderness, (Exodus 13:21) that Jehovah first
"went before" Hispeople "by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by
night in a pillar of fire, to give themlight, to go by day and night," that is, to enable
them at all times to march onward. In Exodus 13:17,18, we read that "God (Elohim)
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