After Passover, God led the Israelites out of Egypt where they had been in slavery for 430 years. They had to leave Egypt in a hurry, so they took their dough before the yeast was added and carried it out on kneading boards wrapped in clothing. The Egyptians begged them to hurry to appease the wrath of God and spare them from more plagues or death. They did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver, gold and for clothing; this was God's plan for them to be provided for at the mercy of the Egyptians.
The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. All the divisions of the Israelites were brought out of Egypt. There were about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people came with them, as well as large amounts of livestock.
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| A map showing the Exodus from Egypt on the way to the Promised Land. |
The story in Exodus 13:17 describes God as leading the Israelites on a path through the desert instead of a quicker route through the Philistine country. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him to fulfill a promise made to Joseph. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place" (Ex. 13:19).
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people (v. 20).
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"Cloud by Day and Fire by Night" Stained Glass by Edie Martin
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| EXODUS 13:20 |
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