Goshen, the area where the Israelites resided, spans approximately 30 miles in width and 15 miles in length. Within this region lies the city of Rameses, constructed through Israelite labor as one of Egypt's treasure cities. From Rameses, the children of Israel embarked on their journey to Succoth, located about 25 miles to the southeast. The challenge of mobilizing 2.5 million people, including children, the elderly, the disabled, along with baggage, the riches of Egypt, and herds of livestock, to assemble in Rameses and march out in order was immense, especially without modern conveniences. The logistics of such a movement, particularly under the constraint of a five-hour window between 1 AM and 6 AM, as suggested by some understandings, raise significant doubts about its feasibility. Exodus 12:37 clearly indicates that the Israelites departed from Rameses, not directly from their homes, further complicating the scenario of a rapid nighttime exodus.

Goshen, the region in Egypt where the Israelites resided, spans approximately 30 miles in width and 15 miles in length. Within this area lies the city of Rameses, constructed through Israelite labor as one of Egypt's treasure cities. From Rameses, the children of Israel embarked on their journey to Succoth, located about 25 miles to the southeast. This exodus involved 2.5 million people, including children, the elderly, and the disabled, along with their baggage, the riches of Egypt, and vast herds of livestock, all moving on foot without modern conveniences. The challenge of assembling in Rameses and marching out in order, as described, raises significant logistical concerns, especially under the constraint of a mere five-hour window between 1 am and 6 am, during which they were to depart at night. Even with the urgency of the Egyptians pressing them to leave and their adrenaline high, the Israelites, burdened by their diverse group and possessions, could likely only manage an average speed of one mile per hour in the darkness. Given a column a mile wide stretching at least ten miles long, the time required for the last person to cross the starting point from Rameses would exceed ten hours, pushing their departure well past sunrise.

The Israelites' homes during the time of the Passover were located in Goshen, not assembled in Rameses, as repeatedly shown in the book of Exodus. They stayed in their houses in Goshen on the night of the fourteenth, adhering to the command not to leave until morning. Moses, following God's directive, remained in Goshen as well, receiving Pharaoh's message there through servants who braved the night after the Death Angel passed. The journey from their houses in Goshen to Rameses, a distance of about 15-20 miles, occurred during the daylight of the fourteenth, taking approximately 7 to 9 hours at a pace of about 2 miles per hour, allowing them to arrive around 2-3:00 in the afternoon to continue preparations for departure.