Who were the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt?
The mixed multitude were hangers-on who left Egypt with Israel—probably Egyptians and foreigners who had labored in Egypt but were not Jews themselves. They joined because they saw a good thing, yet they lacked true spiritual concern and later became the first murmurers in the wilderness.
Les explains that the mixed multitude went out with the six hundred thousand young Jewish men mentioned in verse 38. He identifies them as hangers-on, probably Egyptians and maybe foreigners who had been laboring in Egypt as well as the Jews, but whatever they were, they were not Jews themselves. They were not so much in the spiritual realm; he compares them to parasites. In the wilderness experience, they were the first ones to murmur. Les applies this to churches, saying many problems, splits, and complaints often come from the unsaved element in the church, who have no real spiritual concern or knowledge.
And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
More Questions
What does the mixed multitude picture spiritually?
The mixed multitude were hangers-on who saw a good thing and decided to go along with Israel; they were not so much in the spiritual realm but became something like a parasite.
Besides the 600,000 Israelite men, who else went out of Egypt with them?
Along with the six hundred thousand young Jewish men who left Egypt, the very next verse (Exodus 12:38) says a mixed multitude also went out with them.