And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
And a mixed multitude went up also with them, х `eereb (H6154) rab (H7227)] - a great mixture or rabble (see Numbers 11:4; Deuteronomy 29:11), slaves in the lowest grades of society, partly natives and captives obtained by foreign conquests, bound to the Israelites by companionship in misery, or convinced by recent judgments of the supremacy of Yahweh, and all gladly availing themselves of the opportunity to escape in the crowd (Zechariah 8:23). And flocks and herds, even very much cattle. Beasts of this description, especially when existing in large numbers, cannot be collected and marched without considerable time and care. But in the case of the Israelites, a previous notice of several days had been given; and besides, as the greater part of their flocks and herds was kept at distant pastures in the wilderness, where numbers of the people were engaged as shepherds in tending them, these would be all considerably in advance of the main body of the people.