26] There Was No Time To Waste!   

There was no time to gather in Goshen or Rameses during the 14^th day, only to then begin to “exodus” some 12–18 or 24 hours later. God’s command to Moses, which he explained to the elders of Israel days before the actual events took place, was that the Israelites were to eat the meal “with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in hand; and you shall eat it in haste…”

God knew that the children of Israel would be eating the Passover meal and leaving Egypt on the First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. God told Moses that you shall eat unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day I have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. On the very night The Eternal passed over Egypt was the night in which Israel left Egypt, the night of the 15^th of Abib.

Israel began its travel on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread - in haste, in a hurry, just as God promised they would.

Notice Exodus 11:1. And The Eternal said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

Exodus 12:34: So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing.

They ate unleavened bread with their meal and shortly afterwards, after midnight, they took their dough, still without yeast. The yeast had no time to start fermenting.

Exodus 12:35-36: The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

Did the Children of Israel spoil the Egyptians right there and then, as they were leaving in haste? Or did God arrange that the children of Israel ask of the Egyptians well in advance of the 15^th day of the first month?

Compare Exodus 12:35-36 with Exodus 11:2-3 which occurred well prior to the actual exodus.

Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver and jewels of gold. And The Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians.

Moses had informed the Israelites, at some point in time in advance, before the actual passing over and death of the first born had occurred, well before the 15^th day of the first month, even before the first day of the first month (Exodus 12:1) to ask of the Egyptians for spoil.

The Eternal had arranged that the Israelites be prepared and ready to leave Egypt at a moment’s notice. The Eternal had arranged in advance for the Israelite to spoil the Egyptians days before they selected their Passover lambs.

Notice Exodus 12:34 …had made… and Exodus 11:3 …The Lord gave the people fear… Both of these verses are past tense, actions that occurred prior to the 15^th.

Israel had already spoiled the Egyptians before they ate their Passover meal.

The truth from the Scriptures points out that Israel had no time on the 14^th to gather in Goshen, to collect jewelry and to wait for the 15^th to arrive.

The Scriptures do not support any scenario that would have allowed Israel to eat the Passover lamb at the beginning of the 14^th then hang around Egypt for a day only to depart on the 15^th. Israel left in haste, quickly, with no time to waste.

Now, continuing Exodus 12:37-39 as the narrative proceeds: The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

Does this verse in any way, shape or form indicate that Israel had time to linger in Goshen or even Rameses on the 14^th wasting some 24 hours, only to then depart on the 15^th?

The plain truth is, No, it does not.

Notice: Exodus 12:39 (New Jerusalem Bible) ... since they had been driven out of Egypt with no time to linger....

Exodus 12:39 (New American Bible) ...They had been rushed out of Egypt...

Exodus 12:39 (New Revised Standard Version)... because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait...

Exodus 12:39 (KJV) ...they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry...

This verse confirms what God promised Moses in Exodus 11:1: Pharaoh will thrust you out of Egypt.

Exodus 12:11 tells us that The Eternal commanded Israel to eat their meal, "in haste." Naturally, because they would be kicked out of Egypt - quickly, once the death of the firstborn occurred. The Egyptians did not want the Israelites around anymore, “lest they all be dead.”