Did Israel leave at midnight?

[beckrl]

The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out boldly in full view of all the Egyptians, who were burying all their firstborn. (Numbers 33:3)

As we know, Passover is on the 14th day of Abib (Nisan) and the first Passover was in Egypt the day before all Israel were released from slavery. They marched out on the 15th. We also know that the Egyptian firstborn were killed by the angel at midnight of the 14th day. (Exodus 12:29)


Now, we are told that the Hebrew day is measured from sunset to sunset so the morning after would still be the 14th day, right? The fifteenth day wouldn’t begin for another twelve hours when sunset arrived again.

So, my question is this Did the Israelites wait in Egypt for approx. 18 hours (midnight till next sunset) before they left? And, if so, did they all march out at nighttime?

Or is there another explanation?

[beckrl]

No one got a guesstimation?

[TW]

It was probably more like 30 hours. The Angel of Death passover at midnight, it would take some time for the reports to reach Pharaoh, and for him to issue an edict. Then more time for that edict to reach Rameses. the time delay would also account for the time necessary to make funeral arrangements. So, you would have 6 hours (more or less) on the night of the Angel's passing, then and additional 12 hours (again more or less) before the 14 day was over. Logically no one set forth on a journey on foot at sundown, they would have waited until the morning light, another 12 hours. Giving a total of approximately 30 hours.


TW

[beckrl]

Right, on midnight the death angel passover and I think the Israelites were mandated by God to not go out of the door until morning. That again would be on the 14th day of passover.

The other thing that might play a role in this is that the Israelites didn't live in Rameses. They lived in the land of Goshed [maybe spelled wrong] So if they got the message to Moses then after morning on the 14th they left and came to Rameses, which they then would borrow from the Egyptians. Then on the 15th leave Rameses.

I'm trying to find the scriptures to see if that would be correct.

[beckrl]

I'm not to sure of my conclusions, where as to Goshen and Rameses.
They are in the same area, maybe only miles away at the lease. Would that still take them a day to get to Rameses? Maybe since they were hundreds of Israelites and farm animals. I know this didn't mean any thing but this has been eating at me

So I take it they didn't leave at midnight but left on the morning of the 14th and then arrived at Rameses sometime and remained until the 15th in which they left (numbers 33:3)

Any help from the scholars?