EXODUS, THE (eks'i5-dtis), (Heb.
ve-ale'leh she-moth , a going out, a way out).
The intention of Jehovah to deliver the Israel ites from Egyptian bondage was made known to Moses from the burning bush at Mount Horeb, while he kept the flock of Jethro, his father-in law.
(1) Preparatory History. Under the divine direction Moses, in conjunction with Aaron, as sembled the elders of the nation, and acquainted them with the gracious design of Heaven. After this they had an interview with Pharaoh, and requested permission for the people to go, in order to hold a feast unto God in the wilderness. The result was, not only refusal, but the doubling of all the burdens which the Israelites had pre viously had to bear. \loses hereupon, suffering reproach from his people, consults Jehovah, who assures him that he would compel Pharaoh 'to drive them out of his land.' I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments' (Exod. iii-vi :6). Then ensue a series of miracles, commonly called the plagues of Egypt (Exod. vi-xii). (See PLAGUE.) (2) Departure. At last, overcome by the calamities sent upon him, Pharaoh yielded all that was demanded, saying. 'Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel: and go serve the Lord as ye have said; also take your flocks and your herds, and be gone.' Thus driven out, the Israelites, to the number of about foo,000 fighting men, ready for war (Num. i :46), beside women and children. and men not fit for war, left the land, attended by a mixed multitude, with their flocks and herds, even very much cattle (Exod. xii :31, sq.) Being 'thrust out' of the country, they had not time to prepare for themselves suitable provisions, and therefore they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt.
On the night of the selfsame day which termi nated a period of 430 years. during which they had been in Egypt, were they led forth from Rameses, or Goshen. (See GOSHEN ) (3) Route. There is considerable difficulty in settling the exact route of the Exodus. The miracles by the hand of Moses were wrought at Zoan, that is Tanis (Pc. lxxviii :IA and Rameses was a suburb of that capital. Thence the Israel ites journeyed to Succoth (Exod. xii:371, the site of which is marked by Tell el-Nlasklintali in the wady Tumilat. 32 miles south-southeast of Tank and ti miles west of Ismailia. They did not take the shortest route to Palestine. which lay through the land of the Philistines. hut they went by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea (xiii:17, t8). Their first encampment after leav ing Succoth was Etham. The site has not been identified; but it was on the edge of the wilder ness (verse 2o). Thence they turned back and en camped before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon (xiv :2 ; Num. xxxiii: 7). This camp has not been definitely located. It was, however, west of the Red Sea. (Davis,
Bib. Diei.).
(4) Passage of the Sea. When they were en camped before PI- II A II IROTII (which see) be tween Migdol and the Red Sea, news is carried to Pharaoh which leads him to see that the Israelites had really fled from his yoke; and also that, through some (to him) unaccountable error, they had gone towards the southeast, had reached the sea, and were hemmed in on all sides. He sum mons his troops and sets out in pursuit—'all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen and his army ;' and he 'overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth. before Baal-zephon, (Exod. xiv :9). The Israelites see their pursuing enemy approach, and are alarmed. Moses assures them of divine aid. A promise was given as of God that the Israelites should go on dry ground through the midst of the sea; and that the Egyp tians, attempting the same path, should be de stroyed; 'and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh and all his host, upon his chariots and his horse men' (verse 17). Here a very extraordinary event takes place: The angel of God, which went be fore the camp of Israel, removed and went be hind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them; and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel ; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these; so that the one came not near the other all the night' (verses to. 2o). Then comes the division of the waters, which we give in the words of the sacred historian: 'And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen,' but not Pharaoh himself. Delays are now oc casioned to the Egyptians; their chariot-wheels are supernaturally taken off, so that 'in the morn ing-watch they Brave them heavily.' The Egyp tians are troubled; they urge each other to fly from the face of Israel. 'Then Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared: and the Egyptians fled against it ; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the host of Plhfroob that came into the sea after them: there remained not as much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left. :\nd Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore; and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and his servant Nliises' ( verses 28„it i.