Exodus 12:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.

NIV: The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.

NASB: Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.

CSB: The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand able-bodied men on foot, besides their families.

NLT: That night the people of Israel left Rameses and started for Succoth. There were about 600,000 men, plus all the women and children.

KJV: And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

NKJV: Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.

This verse marks Israel's first national steps from slavery (Exodus 1:11–14) toward freedom (Exodus 12:40–41). The walk officially began at Rameses (Numbers 33:3–5). This was somewhere in the land of Goshen where Jacob and his family settled upon coming to Egypt (Genesis 47:6, 11). It's likely the people assembled there before walking to Succoth where they camped on the first evening. Some archaeologists believe Rameses is the same location as modern-day Qantir.

The name Sukkot, or Succoth (Joshua 13:27), is first mentioned as where Jacob built a house and shelters for his livestock (Genesis 33:17). However, Jacob's camp is different from the Succoth in Egypt. The Succoth in this verse has not been exactly placed by modern archaeology. However, some suggest it was just west of modern-day Ismailia. This is close to a body of water which today is called Lake Timsah. Israel later commemorated Sukkot as the Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23:34), also known as the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:42–43; Deuteronomy 16:13).

This is the Bible's first use of the Hebrew word 'eleph in relation to a number of actual people. This term can mean "thousand," or it can refer to a "clan" or a "group." Many Christian historians and archaeologists prefer the latter meanings here. Infamously huge ancient armies, such as the Persians and Assyrians, numbered between 100,000 and 200,000 soldiers. A nation of 600,000 adult men could easily field an army that size or even larger. Yet the Hebrews could only be freed from Egyptian slavery by God's supernatural power (Exodus 3:19–20). When entering the Promised Land, God will note that Israel is smaller than the Canaanites they will displace (Deuteronomy 7:1, 17; 9:1–2). The census in Numbers (Numbers 3:39, 43) gives a count of firstborn and a size for Israel. An Israeli population of literally 600,000 adult men implies that only one in thirty was firstborn, requiring the average Israeli family to have around sixty children.

Israel's rescue from Egyptian slavery is credited only to God's miraculous intervention. The meaning and importance of the book of Exodus would be the same whether Israel's population was six thousand, six hundred thousand, or six million. Either interpretation—large or small—is compatible with a high view of Scripture and its perfection.

Exodus 12:33–42 depicts the moment for which this book is named. This is the literal "exodus," or "exit" of Israel from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 1:8–14). After more than four centuries, Jacob's descendants are finally free (Genesis 47:5–6). After the horrific tenth plague (Exodus 12:29–32), the Egyptians want the Israelites gone as soon as possible. The former slaves quickly gather everything they own and leave in a single group. This event is remembered each year during the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Israel is to realign their calendar to begin with the current month. They receive instructions to prepare a special meal. This includes sacrificing lambs and applying their blood to the doorway of each home. Following these instructions will cause God's wrath to "pass over" that house. Egypt's firstborn are killed and they demand Israel leave immediately. The people quickly gather their belongings and march out in a single massive group. These events are to be remembered with festivals to be celebrated for all time.

Moses was sent to lead Israel into freedom (Exodus 3:10). This meant announcing the Lord's supernatural judgments on Egypt (Exodus 3:19–21). After nine such disasters (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23), a tenth was promised (Exodus 4:21–23; 11:4–6). In this chapter, God provides instructions for Israel to both survive and commemorate this first Passover night. Egypt reels from the death of its firstborn and demands Israel leave that very night. More directions about the future are to come (Exodus 13). Then Pharaoh will once again change his mind and confront the Hebrews on the shores of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).