Allowed To Leave

God had instructed Moses what Israel was to do to prepare for leaving Egypt.  He also instructed Moses as to how they were to celebrate their deliverance in the future so that they would not forget what god had done for them.    Moses gave the people a simplified explanation of what they needed to do, in Exodus 12:21-27.  “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.  And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.”

Like the Egyptians, the Israelites had seen what God had done in each of the previous plagues..  Only part of the Egyptians had taken God’s warnings seriously.  The Israelites took this last warning very seriously as Exodus 12:28 describes.  “And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.”

Everything turned out exactly as the Lord had promised, according to Exodus 12:29-33.  “And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.  And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, 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, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.  And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.”

Someone died in every Egyptian home that night.  After the previous plagues. They were convinced they were all going to die if they didn’t set Israel free.  They literally drove them out of Egypt, in hopes of saving their own lives, offering their own belongings to encourage them to leave, in Exodus 12:34-36.  “And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.  And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.”  Following Moses’ instructions. The people had prepared bread dough they could carry along and cook whenever they got the chance,, but had put no leaven in it so that it would keep for a few days.   With the dough already mixed, they would not need to unpack their kneading troughs or mixing bowls while they traveled.  The scripture is very clear that they were carrying mixed dough, not the separate ingredients, yet modern day Rabbis insist that if the dough has set for more than fifteen minutes before being cooked, is no longer unleavened.  It clearly reveals how easily people can distort what the scriptures teach.  Anyone who has ever baked anything knows that the dough will not rise unless a leavening agent such as yeast, sour dough, or baking powder is added.  Sour dough was the form of leaven most common in ancient times, and is probably what is referred to here. 

Forced to leave Egypt in the middle of the night, the people traveled to Succoth, just east of the present day Suez Canal and north of the Gulf of Suez.   Traders from Ethiopia and inland Egypt, and caravans from Libya or Morocco would assemble there before beginning the journey east or north.  The name come from the corrals and barns for holding their livestock and trade goods while waiting.  Exodus 12:37-39 describes this first stage of their journey, from the Delta region known as Ramses to the edge of Egypt.  “And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.  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.”  Succoth was just outside to boundaries of Egypt, although still considered Egyptian territory.  At Succoth, they stopped to eat breakfast, using some of the dough they had prepared the day before. 

In Genesis 15:13-14, God had told Abraham Israel would be servants and slaves four hundred years.  “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; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.”  After that time they would be set free. 

Exodus 12:40-42 is very important, making it clear that the prophecy had been fulfilled.  “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.  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.  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.”  During the first thirty years joseph had great influence, but later, he was forgotten and the Israelites were enslaved.  They spent a total of four hundred thirty years in Egypt.  The celebration of Passover and the feast of unleavened bread is a reminder that God keeps his promise. 

Historical note  The Leiden Museum in Holland has a papyrus dating from the mid seventeenth century BC, known as the Ipuwer Papyrus.  It details a series of plagues similar to what is described in Exodus, and warns the Egyptians not to ignore the events.