Exodus 12:41-42

12:41 At the end of the 430 years, on the very day, all the regiments ¹  of the Lord went out of the land of Egypt. 12:42 It was a night of vigil for the Lord to bring them out from the land of Egypt, ²  and so ³  on this night all Israel is to keep the vigil ⁴  to the Lord for generations to come.

¹ sn This military term is used elsewhere in Exodus (e.g., 6:26; 7:4; 12:17, 50), but here the Israelites are called “the regiments of the Lord.”

² tn There is some ambiguity in לֵיל שִׁמֻּרִים הוּא לַיהוָה (lel shimmurim hu’ la’adonay [layhveh]). It is likely that this first clause means that Yahweh was on watch for Israel to bring them out, as the next clause says. He was protecting his people (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 102). Then, the night of vigil will be transferred to Israel, who now must keep it “to” him.

³ tn “and so” has been supplied.

⁴ tn Heb “this night is for Yahweh a vigil for all Israelites for their generations.”