Chapter 19—Israel Leaves Egypt
The children of Israel had followed the directions given them of
God, and while the angel of death was passing from house to house
among the Egyptians, they were all ready for their journey, and waiting
for the rebellious king and his great men to bid them go. “And it came
to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of
Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the
[229]
first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the first-born
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. And the people took their dough before it
was leavened, their kneading-troughs 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 favor
in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things
as they required; and they spoiled the Egyptians.”
The Lord revealed this to Abraham about four hundred years before
it was fulfilled. “And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy
seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their’s, 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
[230]
come out with great substance.”
“And a mixed multitude went up also with them, and flocks and
herds, even very much cattle.” The children of Israel went out of Egypt
with their possessions, which did not belong to Pharaoh, for they had
never sold them to him. Jacob and his sons took their flocks and cattle
144