The Exodus Departure

At midnight, the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon. There was loud wailing throughout Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night: “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.”

About 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children, left Egypt. A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with large droves of livestock. They had been in Egypt 430 years.

The Egyptians gave them articles of silver and gold and clothing. God did not lead them by the shorter coastal road, but by the desert road toward the Red Sea. By day, the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud; by night, in a pillar of fire.

The exodus had begun—the journey to the Promised Land.