I. Bate. — The particular Egj'ptian monarch under whom this great event, the first definite link of the Hebrew with other ancient history, occurred, is so dif- ferently identified with those of earlj' profane chroni- cles, and of the monuments by various Egyptologers, that but little reliance, unfortunately, can be placed upon anj' of them, based as they almost entirely are upon conjectural adaptations or arbitraiy premises. The only one of these hypotheses that seems to afford any independent evidence of agreement is that lately propounded by Osburn (in the Journ. of Sac. Lit. for July, 1860), who conceives that the Egyptian king in question was Sethos II, the grandson of the great Se- sostris, but of so odious a character and so inglorious a reign that his sarcophagus was demolished and his car- touche effaced bj' the early Egyptians themselves. See Pharaoh. This king, however, began to reign about B.C. 1240, a date entirely too late for the event un- der consideration. The historical questions connected with this point are noticed under Egypt. Hales places the Exode in B.C. 1648, Usher in B.C. 1491, Bunsen in B.C. 1320, and Poole in B.C. 1652. A careful colla- tion of the Biblical elements of the calculation, the onh' definite and trustworthy' data, point to the spring of 13. C. 1658 as the most probable date of the begin- ning of the series of exodic transactions. See Chro- nology. As to the account of the Exode given by !Manetho, it was confessedlj' a mere popular story, for he admitted it was not a part of the Egyptian records, but a tale of uncertain authorship (Josephus, c. Apion. i, 16). A critical examination shows that it cannot claim to be a veritable tradition of the Exode : it is, indeed, if based on any such tradition, so distorted that it is impossible to be sure that it relates to the king to whose reign it is assigned. Y'et, upon the supposition, that the king is really Menptah, son of Rameses II, the advocates of the Rabbinical date entirely base their adjustment of Helirew with Egyptian history at this period. See Manetiio.
II. The Outset. — The Exode is a great turning- point in Biblical history. With it the patriarchal dis- pensation ends and the law begins, and with it the Is- raelites cease to be a family and become a nation. It is therefore important to observe how the previous his- tory led to this event. The advancement of Joseph, and the placing of his kinsmen in what was, to a pas- toral pcoi)le at least, "the best of the land,"3'et, as far as possilde, apart from Egyptian influence, favor- ed the multiplying of the Israelites and the preserva- tion of their nationality. The subsequent persecution bound them more firmly together, and at the same time loosened the hold that Egypt had gained upon them. It was thus that the Israelites were ready, when Moses declared his mission, to go forth as one man from the land of their bondage. See Joseph.
The intention of Jehovah to deliver the Israelites from Egj'ptian bondage was made known to Moses from the
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burning bush at Mount Iloreb, while he kept the flocli of Jethro, his father-in-hiw. Under the divine direc- tion, Moses, in conjunction with Aaron, assembled the elders of the nation, and acquainted them with the gracious desijjn of Heaven. After this they had an interview with Pharaoh, and requested permission for tlie peo])le 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 previously had to bear. INIoses hereupon, suifer- ing 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, C). Then ensue a series of miracles (Exod. vi-xii), commonly called the Plagues of Egypt (q. v.). At last, over- come by the calamities sent upon him, Pharaoh yield- ed all that was demanded, sajang, "Kise 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 num- ber of about 000,000 adults, besides children, left the laud, 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 fortli out of Egypt. See Moses.
On the night of the self-same day that terminated a period of 430 years, during which they had been in Egypt, were they led forth from Kamescs or Goshen. They are not said to have crossed the River Nile, whence we maj^ infer that Goshen lay on the eastern side of the river. Their lirst station was at Succoth (Exod. xii, 37). See Succoth. The nearest waj' into the Land of Promise was through the land of the Phi- listines. This route would have reejuired them to keep on in a north-east direction. It pleased their divine conductor, however, not to take this path, lest, being opposed bj' the Philistines, the Israelites should turn back at the sight of war into Egjpt. If, then, Philis- tia was to be avoided, the course would lie nearly di- rect east, or south-east. Pursuing this route, " the ar- mies" come to Etham, their next station, " in the edge of the wilderness" (Exod. xiii, 17 sq.). Here they en- camped. Dispatch, however, was desirable. They journey day and night, not without divine guidance, for " the Lord went before them bj' day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pil- lar of tire, to give them light, to go V)y da}' and night." This special guidance could not well have been meant merely to show the way through the desert, for it can hardly be supposed that in so great a multitude no persons knew the road over a countr}'' lying near to that in which they and their ancestors had dwelt, and which did not exceed more than some forty miles across. The divine guides were doubtless intended to conduct the Israelites in that way and to that spot where the hand of God would be most signally dis- played in their rescue and in the destruction of Pha- raoh. See PiLL.\R.