Exodus 12:37
And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "about six hundred thousand men on foot" isn't just stating a number; it highlights the type of men being counted—those fit for battle or travel, implying a much larger total population including women, children, and the elderly. This detail emphasizes the immense scale of the exodus, not just of fighting men, but of an entire nation suddenly on the move.
The Israelites have just experienced the tenth and final plague, the death of Egypt's firstborn, which finally broke Pharaoh's will and secured their release from slavery. Now, with Pharaoh's urgent command to leave and the Egyptians themselves pushing them out, the massive population of Israel begins its journey from Rameses to a place called Succoth, marking the very beginning of their exodus. This departure is a pivotal moment, signifying not just their freedom but the start of their wilderness journey, and the sheer scale of their numbers—six hundred thousand men alone—underscores the miraculous nature of their growth and God's providence.
Imagine packing up your entire life in a hurry, not knowing exactly where you're going, but knowing you must leave. This was the beginning of an epic journey for millions.
This verse marks the very start of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, a pivotal moment in their history.
From Rameses to Succoth
A Monumental Number
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This isn't just a headcount; it's the birth certificate of a nation on the move. What does this massive, yet specific, number truly represent?
The mention of 'six hundred thousand men' isn't just about population size; it speaks volumes about Israel's identity and God's power.
The 'Men on Foot'
God's Power in Multiplication
Understand the original words
nasa' · Hebrew Verb
To depart from a place; in the biblical context, it often refers to a significant movement initiated by God for deliverance or judgment.
This verse marks the very beginning of the Exodus, the moment the Israelites physically moved out from their place of slavery. The immense number given, alongside the scholarly debate about its literal accuracy, highlights the miraculous nature of God's multiplication of His people, emphasizing His power to fulfill His promises even against overwhelming odds.
c. 1845 BC
Abraham Receives Promise of Land and Descendants
God promises Abraham numerous descendants and the land of Canaan, initiating a covenant relationship that sets a 430-year timeline for the fulfillment of these promises, including the eventual ensloming of his descendants in a foreign land before their release.
c. 1675 BC
Jacob and Family Enter Egypt
Jacob and his large family, numbering around 70 people, migrate to Egypt during a famine and settle in the land of Goshen, initially welcomed but eventually becoming enslaved.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
The Ten Plagues Culminate in Destruction of Firstborn
Following Pharaoh's persistent refusal to release the Israelites, God unleashes the tenth and final plague, striking dead every firstborn male in Egypt, including Pharaoh's own son, leading to Pharaoh's terrified command for the Israelites to leave immediately.
c. 1445 BC
Israel Departs from Rameses to Succoth
The Israelites, comprising approximately 600,000 able-bodied men along with women, children, and a mixed multitude, begin their exodus from Rameses, their starting point, and march to Succoth, their first encampment.
c. 1445 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Exactly 430 years after God's initial promise to Abraham, the entire host of Israel, numbering over two million people, marches out of Egypt, signifying the completion of their 400 years of sojourning and servitude.
c. 1445 BC
The Passover Institution
God institutes the Passover festival to commemorate the night of the Exodus, a perpetual ordinance for Israel to remember their liberation from slavery and God's protective judgment, serving as a shadow of greater redemptions to come.
This passage confirms the massive number of men (over 600,000) recorded in Exodus, showing this wasn't just a singular mention but a consistent census figure.
Psalm 105:37This Psalm reflects on the Exodus event, highlighting that not only were the people numerous but also that 'not one of them was feeble,' underscoring the miraculous nature of the exodus population and their strength.
Galatians 3:17Paul explains that the 430 years of sojourning in Egypt, mentioned in relation to the Exodus timeline, was the period from God's promise to Abraham to the giving of the Law, connecting this monumental departure to God's long-standing covenant promises.
Nehemiah 13:3This later passage mentions a 'mixed multitude' that left Egypt with Israel, echoing Exodus 12:38 and showing that this departure wasn't solely Israelites but included others, adding complexity to the departure narrative.
1 Corinthians 10:17This New Testament passage, drawing a parallel between the Old Testament community and the church, speaks of believers as 'one loaf' formed from many, reflecting the unified, massive body of people that God brought out of Egypt.
gillExodus 12:37: "And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children."
And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth,.... Rameses was a place in Goshen, or rather the land of Goshen, from whence the country was so called; See Gill on Genesis 47:11 . The Targum of Jonathan takes it to be Pelusium, or Sin, now called Tinah, formerly the strength of Egypt, and which lay at the entrance of it, and says it was o…
cambridgeExodus 12:37: "And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children."
37 . journeyed ] lit. plucked up (viz. tent-pegs), a metaphor from breaking up camp. So regularly, as Exodus 13:20 , Exodus 16:1 , &c. Ra‘meses ] Very possibly (p. 4) Tell er-Reṭâbeh, 10 m. W. of Succoth. Succoth ] No doubt the Eg. Thke , with the determinative of a foreign place, prob. (Griffith) a foreign name, the sing. of Succoth , ‘Booths,’ and to…
The phrase "about six hundred thousand men on foot" isn't just stating a number; it highlights the type of men being counted—those fit for battle or travel, implying a much larger total population including women, children, and the elderly. This detail emphasizes the immense scale of the exodus, not just of fighting men, but of an entire nation suddenly on the move.
The Israelites have just experienced the tenth and final plague, the death of Egypt's firstborn, which finally broke Pharaoh's will and secured their release from slavery. Now, with Pharaoh's urgent command to leave and the Egyptians themselves pushing them out, the massive population of Israel begins its journey from Rameses to a place called Succoth, marking the very beginning of their exodus. This departure is a pivotal moment, signifying not just their freedom but the start of their wilderness journey, and the sheer scale of their numbers—six hundred thousand men alone—underscores the miraculous nature of their growth and God's providence.
The Israelites have just experienced the tenth and final plague, the death of Egypt's firstborn, which finally broke Pharaoh's will and secured their release from slavery. Now, with Pharaoh's urgent command to leave and the Egyptians themselves pushing them out, the massive population of Israel begins its journey from Rameses to a place called Succoth, marking the very beginning of their exodus. This departure is a pivotal moment, signifying not just their freedom but the start of their wilderness journey, and the sheer scale of their numbers—six hundred thousand men alone—underscores the miraculous nature of their growth and God's providence.
"And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children." — The phrase "about six hundred thousand men on foot" isn't just stating a number; it highlights the type of men being counted—those fit for battle or travel, implying a much larger total population…
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