Exodus 12:37

Context

12:37 The Israelites journeyed¹ from Rameses² to Sukkoth. There were about 600,000 men³ on foot, plus their dependants.⁴

Exodus 10:11

Context
10:11 No!⁵ Go, you men⁶ only, and serve the Lord, for that⁷ is what you want.”⁸ Then Moses and Aaron⁹ were driven¹⁰ out of Pharaoh’s presence.

[12:37] ¹tn Heb “and the sons of Israel journeyed.”

[12:37] ²sn The wilderness itinerary begins here. W. C. Kaiser records the identification of these two places as follows: The name Rameses probably refers to Qantir rather than Tanis, which is more remote, because Qantir was by the water; Sukkoth is identified as Tell el Maskhuta in the Wadi Tumilat near modern Ismailia – or the region around the city (“Exodus,” EBC 2:379). Of the extensive bibliography, see G. W. Coats, “The Wilderness Itinerary,” CBQ 34 (1972): 135-52; G. I. Davies, “The Wilderness Itineraries: A Comparative Study,” TynBul 25 (1974): 46-81; and J. T. Walsh, “From Egypt to Moab. A Source Critical Analysis of the Wilderness Itinerary,” CBQ 39 (1977): 20-33.

[12:37] ³tn The word for “men” (הַגְּבָרִים, haggÿvarim) stresses their hardiness and capability – strong men, potential soldiers – in contrast with the word that follows and designates noncombatants.

[12:37] ⁴tn For more on this word see 10:10 and 24.

[10:11] ⁵tn Heb “not thus.”

[10:11] ⁶tn The word is הַגְּבָרִים (haggÿvarim, “the strong men”), a word different from the more general one that Pharaoh’s servants used (v. 7). Pharaoh appears to be conceding, but he is holding hostages. The word “only” has been supplied in the translation to indicate this.

[10:11] ⁷tn The suffix on the sign of the accusative refers in a general sense to the idea contained in the preceding clause (see GKC 440-41 §135.p).

[10:11] ⁸tn Heb “you are seeking.”

[10:11] ⁹tn Heb “they”; the referent (Moses and Aaron) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[10:11] ¹⁰tn The verb is the Piel preterite, third person masculine singular, meaning “and he drove them out.” But “Pharaoh” cannot be the subject of the sentence, for “Pharaoh” is the object of the preposition. The subject is not specified, and so the verb can be treated as passive.