How many Jewish men left Egypt, and who else went with them?
Six hundred thousand Jewish men left Egypt. A mixed multitude also went out with them—hangers-on, likely Egyptians and foreigners who had labored in Egypt, but not Jews themselves. They were not true Israelites and later became murmurers and complainers in the wilderness.
Les teaches that the count is based on the six hundred thousand foot men, or young Jewish men, mentioned in the Exodus account. He notes that some estimates, such as a 1976 National Geographic article on Moses and Exodus, put the total number around two and a half million when women and children are included. But not only did those six hundred thousand Jewish men leave Egypt; the very next verse speaks of a mixed multitude that went out with them. Les explains that the mixed multitude were hangers-on, probably a lot of Egyptians and maybe foreigners who had been laboring in Egypt alongside the Jews, but whatever they were, they were not Jews themselves. They saw a good thing and decided to go along. Spiritually, Les says they were not truly concerned and became like parasites. When the wilderness experience began and murmuring started, the mixed multitude were the first to murmur. Les connects this to churches today, suggesting that many problems, splits, and complaints often trace back to the unsaved element in the church, who have 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.
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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.