Exodus 12:37-42 comments: From Rameses to Succoth

12:37 ¶  And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 39  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 40  Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42  It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

Rameses, in Lower Egypt, which is the northern most part of the country, was the starting point for the Exodus. In its first reference it was spelled with two ‘a’s and an extra ‘e’. I have not been able to discern whether this represents two different places or just a variant spelling as I see scholars debating over how it should be spelled in English as well. But, consider the possibility that the difference in spelling meant that the translators did not believe it was the same place as the one listed in the verse in chapter one.

Exodus 1:11  Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

The Hebrews then travelled to Succoth. Six hundred thousand Hebrew men, plus women, children, and a mixed multitude of followers, meaning they weren’t necessarily Hebrews, and all of their cattle and belongings would have been slow travelers.

We don’t know where Succoth was. The name means booths according Strong’s dictionary. Jacob stopped at a Succoth in Genesis 33:17 but that one was in Canaan and is probably the one mentioned in Judges 8. The one mentioned in Exodus could have been any number of locations in Lower Egypt in or near the land of Goshen where the Hebrews lived, possibly named by them in memory of Jacob’s dwelling in Canaan.

It was probably not a northerly route which would have put them marching into the Philistines’ territory. A coastal march would have been most efficient but that would have them walking right into a fiercely warlike group of people, descendants of Ham and Mizraim, the founder of Egypt; the Philistim or Philistines. See Genesis 10. So, they marched south into the wilderness of the Red Sea, the sparsely inhabited area bordering the Red Sea as logically the center of Pharaoh’s power would be in Lower Egypt, the most fertile and rich area with less control the further south one went.

Exodus 13:17 ¶  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: 18  But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Verse 40 states that the sojourn of the Hebrews in Egypt was 430 years. Genesis 15 approximates 400 years as does the martyr, Stephen, in Acts 7:6.

Genesis 15:13  And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Acts 7:6  And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.

While Paul uses the more specific 430 number.

Galatians 3:17  And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Some Rabbis in history declared the beginning of the Hebrews’ bondage to the Egyptians at the persecution of Isaac by Ishmael, whose mother was an Egyptian. In any event, the Bible says they dwelt in Egypt for 430 years. It is not really that difficult to understand from looking at the lifespans of Moses’ family back in chapter 6.