Exodus 12:38
A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the Exodus wasn't just a national liberation for the Israelites; a "mixed multitude" also joined them, suggesting the divine rescue had a broader impact, drawing in even those outside the covenant family. Their inclusion, alongside vast amounts of livestock, underscores the sheer scale and disruptive power of God's deliverance, setting the stage for a community that would be more than just one ethnic group.
In the wake of the devastating final plague, Pharaoh, terrified and broken, finally commands Moses and the Israelites to leave Egypt immediately, taking their flocks and herds with them. As they depart from Rameses towards Succoth, a large group of non-Israelites, drawn by various reasons including desperation or a desire for freedom, joins the departing crowds. This verse highlights that the exodus wasn't solely an Israelite affair but also included a diverse throng accompanying them, along with extensive livestock.
Understand the original words
ereb rab · Hebrew Noun phrase
A diverse group of non-Israelites who joined the Israelites in their exodus, highlighting the inclusive nature of God's covenantal community.
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The 'mixed multitude' included various non-Israelites – perhaps Egyptians sympathetic to the Israelites, foreign laborers, or prisoners – who seized the opportunity of the Exodus to leave Egypt, driven by the plagues, the desire for freedom, or the hope of prosperity.
c. 1800 BC - 1500 BC
Hyksos Rule in Egypt
A period when foreign rulers, possibly of Semitic origin, controlled Lower Egypt. Their presence may have influenced the later Semitic populations in Egypt.
c. 1550 BC - 1200 BC
New Kingdom: Egyptian Power and Expansion
Egypt rose to imperial power, frequently engaging in warfare and enslaving foreign populations, which could have included people who later joined the Israelites.
Unknown (pre-Exodus)
Israelites Settle in Goshen
The descendants of Jacob settled in the land of Goshen, a fertile region in the Nile Delta, where they prospered and grew into a large population.
Unknown (pre-Exodus)
Israelites' Forced Labor Begins
Following a change in Egyptian dynasties or policy, the Israelites were subjected to harsh enslavement, forced to build cities and labor extensively.
c. 1446 BC or 1290 BC
The Ten Plagues Afflict Egypt
A series of devastating plagues sent by God struck Egypt, culminating in the death of all firstborn Egyptians, leading Pharaoh to finally release the Israelites.
Night of the Exodus— this verse
Israelites Depart Egypt
Under immense pressure from the Egyptians, who feared total annihilation, the Israelites, along with a 'mixed multitude' and vast livestock, left Egypt in haste.
40 years post-Exodus
Mixed Multitude Complains
During the wilderness wanderings, this 'mixed multitude' began to complain and crave the foods of Egypt, leading to discontent and rebellion among the Israelites.
This passage directly references the 'mixed multitude' that left Egypt with the Israelites, highlighting their discontent and craving for Egyptian food, showing that not everyone leaving was truly committed to God's path.
Nehemiah 13:3The same Hebrew term for 'mixed multitude' appears here, indicating a recurring issue of foreigners mingling with God's people and needing to be separated, emphasizing the importance of distinct identity in faith.
Philippians 3:2The Apostle Paul warns against 'dogs' and 'evildoers' who mutilate the flesh, which echoes the concept of a 'mixed multitude' whose outward association with God's people masked an inner impurity or false commitment.
Joshua 24:14Joshua urges the Israelites to 'put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River' and to serve the Lord, addressing the lingering influences of foreign practices that a 'mixed multitude' could represent or introduce.
1 Corinthians 15:33This verse cautions that 'bad company corrupts good character,' which is a principle relevant to the 'mixed multitude,' as their presence could potentially lead the Israelites astray from their new covenant path.
cambridgeExodus 12:38: "And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle."
38 . a great mixed multitude ] cf. Numbers 11:4 (the Heb. word different). Non-Israelites (cf. the same word in Nehemiah 13:3 ) of various kinds are meant: e.g. Egyptians who had intermarried with Israelites (cf. Leviticus 24:10 ), other Semites who had found their way into Egypt, and prisoners taken in war who had been employed in the corvée ( Exodus 1:9 ). flocks and herds ] cf. v. 32,…
calvinExodus 12:29-39: "And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle."
- And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cat…
This verse highlights that the Exodus wasn't just a national liberation for the Israelites; a "mixed multitude" also joined them, suggesting the divine rescue had a broader impact, drawing in even those outside the covenant family. Their inclusion, alongside vast amounts of livestock, underscores the sheer scale and disruptive power of God's deliverance, setting the stage for a community that would be more than just one ethnic group.
In the wake of the devastating final plague, Pharaoh, terrified and broken, finally commands Moses and the Israelites to leave Egypt immediately, taking their flocks and herds with them. As they depart from Rameses towards Succoth, a large group of non-Israelites, drawn by various reasons including desperation or a desire for freedom, joins the departing crowds. This verse highlights that the exodus wasn't solely an Israelite affair but also included a diverse throng accompanying them, along with extensive livestock.
In the wake of the devastating final plague, Pharaoh, terrified and broken, finally commands Moses and the Israelites to leave Egypt immediately, taking their flocks and herds with them. As they depart from Rameses towards Succoth, a large group of non-Israelites, drawn by various reasons including desperation or a desire for freedom, joins the departing crowds. This verse highlights that the exodus wasn't solely an Israelite affair but also included a diverse throng accompanying them, along with extensive livestock.
"A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds." — This verse highlights that the Exodus wasn't just a national liberation for the Israelites; a "mixed multitude" also joined them, suggesting the divine rescue had a broader impact, drawing in even th…
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