Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt, giving them property in the best of the land near the city of Rameses, as the king had commanded.

So the Egyptians put slave drivers over them to crush their spirits with hard labor. The Israelites built the cities of Pithom and Rameses to serve as supply centers for the king.

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

"This month is to be the first month of the year for you.

You are leaving Egypt on this day in the first month, the month of Abib.

The LORD made the king stubborn, and he pursued the Israelites, who were leaving triumphantly.

The Egyptians were afraid of them and were glad when they left.

This time you will not have to leave in a hurry; you will not be trying to escape. The LORD your God will lead you and protect you on every side.

God will open the way for them and lead them out of exile. They will break out of the city gates and go free. Their king, the LORD himself, will lead them out.