I am going to give you so many descendants that no one will be able to count them all; it would be as easy to count all the specks of dust on earth!

"I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go to Egypt; I will make your descendants a great nation there.

but their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and became so numerous and strong that Egypt was filled with them.

Then, in the LORD's presence you will recite these words: 'My ancestor was a wandering Aramean, who took his family to Egypt to live. They were few in number when they went there, but they became a large and powerful nation.

"When the time drew near for God to keep the promise he had made to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had grown much larger.

Though Abraham was practically dead, from this one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, as many as the numberless grains of sand on the seashore.

Then, a new king, who knew nothing about Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

He said to his people, "These Israelites are so numerous and strong that they are a threat to us.

The Israelites set out on foot from Rameses for Sukkoth. There were about 600,000 men, not counting women and children.