Bible Dictionary
Mixed multitude
The mixed multitude was a diverse group that accompanied Israel out of Egypt and contributed to unrest in the wilderness. The expression also describes non-Israelite elements associated with the returned Jewish community.
Definition
The mixed multitude was a miscellaneous group that accompanied the Israelites when they left Egypt. The expression could include Egyptians, people of mixed Israelite and Egyptian descent, or other non-Israelite persons attached to the Hebrew camp.
Biblical Usage
A mixed multitude went out with Israel from Rameses to Succoth and is mentioned again in connection with the wilderness community. A similar group accompanied the Jews on their return from Babylon.
Historical Background
The supplied accounts understand the group as miscellaneous followers of the Israelite camp, possibly including offspring of marriages with Egyptians, Egyptians themselves, or people of other nations.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Ex. 12:38), a class who accompanied the Israelites as they journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, the first stage of the Exodus. These were probably miscellaneous hangers-on to the Hebrews, whether Egyptians of the lower orders, or the remains of the Hyksos (see EGYPT; MOSES), as some think. The same thing happened on the return of the Jews from Babylon (Neh. 13:3), a “mixed multitude” accompanied them so far.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
When the Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, the first stage of the exodus from Egypt, there were up with them “a mixed multitude.” (Exodus 12:38; Numbers 11:4) They were probably the offspring of marriages contracted between the Israelites and the Egyptians; and the term may also include all those who were not of pure Israelite blood. In Exodus and Numbers it probably denoted the miscellaneous hangers-on of the Hebrew camp, whether they were the issue of spurious marriages with Egyptians or were themselves Egyptians, or belonging to other nations. The same happened on the return from Babylon, and in (Nehemiah 13:3) (comp. vs Nehe 13:23-30) a slight clue is given by which the meaning of the “mixed multitude” may be more definitely ascertained.