Who constituted the mixed multitude in the OT?

The term “mixed multitude” appears in the Bible primarily in the context of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their subsequent journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land. This term refers to a diverse group of people who joined the Israelites as they left Egypt.

To understand who the mixed multitude were and their significance, we can examine the biblical references and historical context provided in the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible.

Origin and Composition of the Mixed Multitude

The mixed multitude first appears in the biblical narrative during the Exodus from Egypt, when the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, were delivered from slavery by God’s miraculous intervention. As they left Egypt, a significant number of non-Israelites joined them.

Exodus 12:38 (NKJV):

“A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds-a great deal of livestock.”

This verse indicates that along with the six hundred thousand Israelite men, besides women and children, there was also a mixed multitude that departed from Egypt. These individuals were not descendants of Jacob (Israel) but were likely Egyptians or people from other nations who were residing in Egypt at the time.

The mixed multitude likely consisted of various ethnic groups and individuals who were not ethnically Israelite but chose to leave Egypt with the Israelites. They may have been attracted by the signs and wonders performed by God through Moses, or they may have sympathized with the plight of the Israelites as slaves in Egypt.

Exodus 12:48-49 (NKJV):

“And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”

This passage indicates that non-Israelites who chose to join the Israelites were expected to conform to certain laws and practices, such as circumcision for males, symbolizing their inclusion into the community of God’s people.

The identity of this group is not explicitly given in the Bible. Some believe they were native Egyptians who were awestruck by the power of the God of the Hebrews and desired to share in the blessings of the Hebrews, so they joined them. Others believe they simply wanted to escape the oppression of the Pharaohs. Some speculate they could be the last group of the Hyksos or other Semites who had been imprisoned by the Pharaohs, and at the Exodus, they seized the chance to escape Egypt.

The mixed multitude traveled alongside the Israelites through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. They shared in the hardships, provisions, and experiences of the journey.

Numbers 11:4 (NKJV):

“Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: ‘Who will give us meat to eat?'”

This verse illustrates that the mixed multitude were integrated into the Israelite community, yet they also contributed to challenges and discontentment, as seen in their craving for meat during their journey through the wilderness.

Lessons and Spiritual Insights

The presence of the mixed multitude highlights God’s inclusiveness and His willingness to accept individuals from diverse backgrounds into His covenant people. It reflects God’s desire for all people to come to Him, regardless of nationality or ethnicity.

Isaiah 56:6-7 (NKJV):

“Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants-everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant-even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

The mixed multitude was considered a “rabble” and was a cause of continual distress and rebellion to Israel. Their presence brought challenges, particularly the temptation to compromise on God’s commands and adopt practices from other cultures or religions. This underscores the importance of maintaining fidelity to God’s word and worship practices.

Exodus 32:1 (NKJV):

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'”

In this instance, the mixed multitude’s influence contributed to the incident of the golden calf, where they pressured Aaron into making an idol for them to worship, contrary to God’s commands.

It is possible that this mixed multitude wanted to continue their pagan sacrificial practices as they did in Egypt, where they practiced the most immoral forms of heathenism. Among these practices was the worship of demons (Leviticus 17:7) and offering sacrifices to these demonic entities. These sins spread among the Israelites and started to corrupt the people, necessitating a reformation by God.

So, the Lord commanded His people, saying, ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to offer it to the LORD, that man shall be cut off from among his people” (Leviticus 17:8).

The Lord intended to separate the Israelites from the corrupting influences of the Egyptians (Leviticus 18:3). Before Sinai, Israel was without an appointed priesthood. The father was the priest of his family; but now God ordered the holy priests to be the only ones that would offer the sacrifices to protect the people from corrupt pagan Egyptian practices.

It is possible that the mixed multitude were the ones who started the demand for flesh food, which resulted in the death of thousands (Numbers 11:4-6, 18-20, 31-33). Even though they saw firsthand God’s daily miracle of providing manna, the bread of angels from heaven, they were ungrateful to God and demanded more.

In summary, the mixed multitude were a diverse group of non-Israelites who joined the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt. They played a significant role in the journey to the Promised Land, presenting troubles to the Israelite community. Their presence underscores God’s inclusiveness and His desire for all people to come to Him. However, it also highlights the challenges of maintaining fidelity to God’s commands amidst non-believers and the temptation to compromise.

Studying the mixed multitude provides valuable insights into God’s covenant relationship with His people and the importance of faithfulness in worship and obedience to His word.