And they went out, "about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them." In this multitude were not only those who were actuated by faith in the God of Israel, but also a far greater number who desired only to escape from the plagues, or who followed in the wake of the moving multitudes merely from excitement and curiosity. This class were ever a hindrance and a snare to Israel.

Så drog de ud henved 600.000 mand til fods foruden kvinder og børn. Desuden fulgte en stor hob sammenløbet folk med. Denne hob talte ikke blot dem, som troen på Israels Gud tilskyndede til at rejse, men de fleste af dem var mennesker, der blot ønskede at komme bort fra plagerne, eller som fulgte med af nysgerrighed eller eventyrlyst. Disse var stadig en hindring og en snare for Israel.