Exodus 12:39

12:37-42 The children of Israel set forward without delay. A mixed multitude went with them. Some, perhaps, willing to leave their country, laid waste by plagues; others, out of curiosity; perhaps a few out of love to them and their religion. But there were always those among the Israelites who were not Israelites. Thus there are still hypocrites in the church. This great event was 430 years from the promise made to Abraham: see Ga 3:17. So long the promise of a settlement was unfulfilled. But though God's promises are not performed quickly, they will be, in their season. This is that night of the Lord, that remarkable night, to be celebrated in all generations. The great things God does for his people, are to be not only a few days' wonder, but to be remembered throughout all ages; especially the work of our redemption by Christ. This first passover-night was a night of the Lord, much to be observed; but the last passover-night, in which Christ was betrayed and in which the first passover, with the rest of the Jewish ceremonies, was done away, was a night of the Lord, much more to be observed. Then a yoke, heavier than that of Egypt, was broken from off our necks, and a land, better than that of Canaan, set before us. It was a redemption to be celebrated in heaven, for ever and ever.

And they baked unleavened cakes,.... While they were at Succoth; but since that was a desert place, where could they get ovens to bake them in? they might lay them upon coals, and by frequent turning them bake them, or under hot ashes, under a pan covered with hot embers and coals, on an hearth, in which way cakes and other things are now baked with us in many places: of the quick way of dressing cakes in the eastern countries; see Gill on Genesis 18:6 and some render the word, "cakes under ashes" (k) which were made of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt; for it was not leavened; of the manner of their bringing it; see Gill on Exodus 12:34, and the reason why it was not leavened follows: because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry: to leaven their dough, in such haste did they go out from thence.

When they are said to be "thrust out", it is not to be understood of force and compulsion used, or of any indecent and ill behaviour towards them; but of earnest entreaties and urgent persuasions to depart; though this no doubt gave rise to the stories told by Justin (l), Tacitus (m), and others, that they were drove and cast out of Egypt by force, because they were a filthy diseased people, infected with the scab, itch, and leprosy; whereas there was not a sick, unsound, infirm, and feeble person among them, as before observed: neither had they prepared for themselves any victual; they had their flocks and their herds, out of which they could take for their use, and they had dough, though unleavened and unbaked; but they had nothing ready dressed; what remained of the passover lamb they were obliged to burn; they had nothing which was got by hunting or fishing, as the word (n) used signifies; neither venison nor fish, of the latter of which there was great plenty in Egypt. (k) "subcineritios panes", V. L. "subcineritia", Samar, Sept. so Munster. (l) E Trogo, l. 36. c. 2.((m) Hist. l. 5. c. 3. Manetho apud Joseph. contr. Apion, l. 1. c. 15. & Chaeremon apud ib. c. 32. & Lysimachus apud ib. c. 34. (n) "vox autem proprie significat aliquid venando captum", Piscator.

It was not leavened; both because leaven was forbidden to them at that time, and because the great haste required gave them not time for leavening it. They were thrust out of Egypt; not by force, but by importunate requests, as was observed on Exodus 12:33 . Thus men are said to be driven to worship the sun, moon, &c., when they are persuaded to it, Deu 4:19 .

Verse 39. Unleavened cakes . Some of the modern Arabs make such cakes by simply mixing flour with water, and attaching flat circular pieces of the dough thus formed to the sides of their ovens after they have heated them. (Niebuhr, Description de l'Arabie , ? . 45, and pl. 1, F.) Others put a lump of dough into the ashes of a wood fire, and cover it over with the embers for a short time (Layard, Nineveh and Babylon , p. 288). All Arab bread is unleavened. They were thrust out of Egypt . Compare ver. 33. CHAPTER 12:40-42 Exodus 12:39

A mixed multitude - Probably remains of the old Semitic population, whether first brought into the district by the Hyksos or not is uncertain. As natural objects of suspicion and dislike to the Egyptians who had lately become masters of the country, they would be anxious to escape, the more especially after the calamities which preceded the Exodus. Very much cattle - This is an important fact, both as showing that the oppression of the Israelites had not extended to confiscation of their property, and as bearing upon the question of their maintenance in the Wilderness.

39 . Cf. v. 34; and for unleavened cakes see on v. 8. Here, however, there is an independent word for ‘cakes,’ the one found in Genesis 18:6 , 1 Kings 19:6 al. , and probably denoting cakes baked rapidly by being placed on the ‘hot stones’ (1 K. l.c. ),—i.e. stones heated by a fire having been made upon them ( EB. i. 604),—and covered with the hot ashes: LXX. ἐγκρυφίαι , Vulg. subcinericii panes . thrust out ] Exodus 6:1 (Heb.), Exodus 11:1 .

38. a mixed multitude went with them—literally, "a great rabble" (see also Nu 11:4; De 29:11); slaves, persons in the lowest grades of society, partly natives and partly foreigners, bound close to them as companions in misery, and gladly availing themselves of the opportunity to escape in the crowd. (Compare Zec 8:23).

In typical fulfilment of the promise in Genesis 12:3 , and no doubt induced by the signs and wonders of the Lord in Egypt to seek their good among the Israelites, a great crowd of mixed people (רב ערב) attached themselves to them, whom Israel could not shake off, although they afterwards became a snare to them ( Numbers 11:4 ). ערב: lit., a mixture, ἐπίμικτος sc., λαός (lxx), a swarm of foreigners; called אספסף in Numbers 11:4 , a medley, or crowd of people of different nations. According to Deuteronomy 29:10 , they seem to have occupied a very low position among the Israelites, and to have furnished the nation of God with hewers of wood and drawers of water. - On Exodus 12:29 , see Exodus 12:34 .

[Bible] 12:30. And Pharao arose in the night, and all his servants, and all Egypt: and there arose a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house wherein there lay not one dead. 12:31. And Pharao calling Moses and Aaron, in the night, said: Arise and go forth from among my people, you and the children of Israel: go, sacrifice to the Lord as you say. 12:32. Your sheep and herds take along with you, as you demanded, and departing bless me. 12:33. And the Egyptians pressed the people to go forth out of the land speedily, saying: We shall all die. 12:34. The people therefore took dough before it was leavened; and tying it in their cloaks, put it on their shoulders. 12:35. And the children of Israel did as Moses had commanded: and they asked of the Egyptians vessels of silver and gold, and very much raiment. 12:36. And the Lord gave favour to the people in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them: and they stripped the Egyptians. 12:37. And the children of Israel set forward from Ramesse to Socoth, being about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside children. 12:38. And a mixed multitude, without number, went up also with them, sheep and herds, and beasts of divers kinds, exceeding many. 12:39. And they baked the meal, which a little before they had brought out of Egypt in dough: and they made hearth cakes unleavened: for it could not be leavened, the Egyptians pressing them to depart, and not suffering them to make any stay; neither did they think of preparing any meat. 12:40. And the abode of the children of Israel that they made in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 12:41. Which being expired, the same day all the army of the Lord went forth out of the land of Egypt. 12:42. This is the observable night of the Lord, when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt: this night all the children of Israel must observe in their generations. 12:43. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron: This is the service of the Phase; no foreigner shall eat of it.