How many Israelites came out of Egypt and wandered in the desert?
Approximately three to seven million Israelites came out of Egypt and wandered in the desert. The context cites three to five, six, or seven million Jews and Israelites out there in the desert, calling that number unbelievable yet necessary for the biblical account.
Les explains that concerning the children of Israel coming out of Egypt, the number was three to seven million. He notes an article in the Jerusalem Post used the same numbers he has used for years. He calls it unbelievable but insists that is what it must have been: three to five, six, or seven million Jews, Israelites, out there in the desert. In that desert there was no water, so they became thirsty, along with their livestock. Their livestock were bawling and bleeding for a drink, and the Israelites chided with Moses, asking for water, as recorded in Exodus 17:2-3.