Exodus 12:38

38 Many other people who were not Israelites went with them, as well as a large number of sheep, goats, and cattle.

Exodus 12:38 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:38

And a mixed multitude went up also with them
Some of these were Egyptians, and some of other nations that had resided in Egypt, and who, on various accounts, might choose to go along with the children of Israel; some through intermarriages with them, being loath to part with their relations, see ( Leviticus 20:10 ) , others on account of religion, being proselytes of righteousness, and others through worldly interest, the land of Egypt being by the plagues a most desolate place; and such wonders being wrought for the children of Israel, they saw they were a people that were the favourites of heaven, and judged it safest and best and most for their interest to keep with them; the Targum of Jonathan computes the number of those to be two hundred and forty myriads:

and flocks and herds, [even] very much cattle;
the greatest part of which must be supposed to belong to the children of Israel, whose cattle were not destroyed when those of the Egyptians were; and the rest might be the cattle of such who feared and regarded the word of God, and took their cattle into their houses at the time of the plague of hail, whereby they were preserved; and which might be an inducement to them to take their herds and their flocks, and go along with the children of Israel, see ( Exodus 9:20 ) .

Exodus 12:38 In-Context

36 The Lord caused the Egyptians to think well of them, and the Egyptians gave the people everything they asked for. So the Israelites took rich gifts from them.

37 The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men walking, not including the women and children.

38 Many other people who were not Israelites went with them, as well as a large number of sheep, goats, and cattle.

39 The Israelites used the dough they had brought out of Egypt to bake loaves of bread without yeast. The dough had no yeast in it, because they had been rushed out of Egypt and had no time to get food ready for their trip.

40 The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for four hundred thirty years;