Exodus 12:38

38 but also the common people of males and of females unnumberable went up with them; (and) sheep, and oxen, and full many beasts of diverse kind also.

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 Forsooth the Lord gave grace to the people before the Egyptians, that the Egyptians lent to them; and they made bare the Egyptians. (And the Lord gave grace to the people before the Egyptians, so that the Egyptians gave them all these things; and so they plundered the Egyptians.)

37 And the children of Israel went forth from Rameses into Succoth, almost six hundred thousand of footmen, without little children and women; (And the Israelites went forth from Rameses unto Succoth, almost six hundred thousand men on foot, not counting the women and the little children;)

38 but also the common people of males and of females unnumberable went up with them; (and) sheep, and oxen, and full many beasts of diverse kind also.

39 And they baked meal, which sprinkled together a while ago they took from Egypt, and made therf loaves baken under ashes; for the loaves might not be dighted with sourdough, for [the] Egyptians compelled them to go out, and suffered not them to make any tarrying, neither it was leisure to make any stew. (And they baked the meal, which they had taken from Egypt, and made unleavened bread baked under ashes; for the loaves did not have any yeast, for the Egyptians compelled them to go out, and did not allow them to tarry, nor was there time to even make any stew.)

40 Forsooth the dwelling of the sons of Israel, by which they dwelled in Egypt, was of four hundred and thirty years; (And the Israelites had lived in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years;)