How many people did Moses lead?

Answer 1

Strictly speaking Moses did indeed lead the children of Israel to the promised land. He did not lead them into the land because of his own sin, but he led them close to the point of entry. They were not still wandering in the wilderness but were preparing to enter. This is made clear in:

Numbers 33:50 (King James Version) 50And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, Thus Moses was at the place where they were gather waiting to go in. This is repeated in chapter 35:1. It is also stated where Moses went to see the land, from Mount Nebo, before he died. This is not in the wilderness but opposite the land of Canaan: Deuteronomy 32:48-49 (King James Version) 48And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, 49Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: Deuteronomy 34:1-4 (King James Version) Deuteronomy 34 1And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, 2And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, 3And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. 4And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. Obviously, Moses had to be in a place of some height, as well as in a place of some relative proximity for him to see the land of Canaan. Neither of these would apply if he was 'wandering in the wilderness.'

The Numbers

The numbers of the Israelites are listed twice in the book of Numbers where two censuses are conducted.

The result of the first census conducted earlier in the time in the wilderness was given in:

Numbers 1:46 (King James Version) 46Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty

This number would most closely approximate the number of those who came out from Canaan.

Answer 2

AnswerThe Bible says that 600,000 fighting men joined Moses in the Exodus from Egypt. Including women, the young and elderly, infirm and the priests, scholars say that this must have represented at least two and a half million people, even though the entire population at the time attributed to the Exodus was only around three and a half million people.

The respected Israeli archaeologist, Israel Finkelstein says that over 90 per cent of scholars do not believe there ever was an Exodus from Egypt as described in the Bible. On this view, no people were in the Exodus, because it did not really happen.

Answer 3

The census recorded in the Bible shortly after the Exodus totaled 620,000 . But that tally

included only the potential fighting forces, i.e., males aged 20 to 50, less newlyweds.

Children, women, and the elderly were never enumerated. Estimates of the total population

of the Exodus have ranged as high as 3 million.

Answer 4

Strictly speaking, the Bible does not say that Moses led the people to the Promised lad, because it says he died while they still wandered in the wilderness.

However, the Book of Exodus, supported by the Book of Numbers, does say that Moses led 600,000 fighting men from Egypt. This is considered to mean approximately 2.5 million men, women and children. We know that the total population of Egypt was 3.5 million people at the time attributed to the Exodus and, if true, this would have left Egypt with a depleted economy and only 1 million people remaining.

For more information, please visit:

http://christianity.answers.com/theology/moses-in-history-and-tradition
http://christianity.answers.com/bible/the-book-of-exodus

Answer 5

The mature men were about 600,000 (Exodus 12:37), plus the 23,000 Levites (Numbers 3:39). To this must be added the converts (Exodus 12:38), and the women and children. Based on the ratio of firstborn to younger children (Numbers ch.3), it can be seen that the children were numerous. Estimates for the total number are usually given at two million or more.See also:

Timeline of Jewish history

Archaeology and the Hebrew Bible

Answer 6

It is commonly thought to be around 2 million people, including women and children.

Strictly speaking Moses himself did not save them - God did.

Answer 7

Moses led the Israelites.

Answer 8

40000