What went out of Egypt along with the six hundred thousand men of Israel?
A mixed multitude went out of Egypt with the six hundred thousand men of Israel. The text describes them as hangers-on, likely Egyptians and foreigners who had labored in Egypt but were not Jews themselves. They joined Israel and later murmured in the wilderness.
Les explains that not only were there six hundred thousand young Jewish men, but in the very next verse, a mixed multitude also went out with them. These were the hangers-on, probably a lot of Egyptians and maybe foreigners who had been laboring in Egypt as well as the Jews, but they were not Jews themselves. Les says they saw a good thing and decided to go along, yet they were not in the spiritual realm and became something like a parasite. Later, in the wilderness, they were the first ones to murmur. Les applies this to churches today, saying many problems, splits, and complainers often trace back to the mixed multitude—the unsaved element in the church that has no real spiritual concern or knowledge.
And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
More Questions
Who were the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt with Israel?
The 'mixed multitude' who left Egypt with Israel (Exod 12:38) were non-Jews — hangers-on, probably Egyptians and foreigners who had been laboring in Egypt alongside the Jews, but not Jews themselves.