How did Moses Sprinkle Blood on Over a Million People?

We not only read about Moses sprinkling blood on the Israelites, we also read about how he talked to them and how they responded.  We know that the nation of Israel must have been at least a million people already.  So, how did Moses manage to pull this off?  This blog post elaborates on that question, considers possibilities, and then speculates on a possible answer.

We read about the people speaking to Moses and Moses responding many times in Exodus.  For example, in Exodus 20 the people ask Moses to speak to God on their behalf (v19) and Moses responds to them (v20) Then, after talking with God, Moses communicates with Israel, and they respond that they have heard and will obey (Exodus 24:3).  Moses “seals the deal” by sprinkling blood “on the people.” (Exodus 24:8).

We know that at this point, there were quite a few people.  There were “about 600,000” men, not counting women and children, who left Egypt (Exodus 12:37).        The men over 20 years old and able to go to fight were 603,550 soon after that at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 1:46) If one includes women and children, one soon reckons there were over a million Israeli’s by this point.

A few historians have estimated the number to be much lower (as little as 100,000), although they have been largely discredited.   A few have argued for a much greater number (many as 10 million) although they have been largely discredited also.  We think that the number of 600,000 men over 20 means an estimate of one million people total is about right.        

One million is a lot of people.  Even if one goes with the lowest estimate of 100,000, that is still a lot of people.   Think about trying to be heard, listen to, or sprinkle blood on that many people today.  This seems like a daunting task, even with today’s microphones, amplifiers, and lawn sprinklers.    None of those existed at this time.

As a practical matter, some have suggested a “representative” theory.  In this theory, the tribes or Moses would have all chosen people to represent them to Moses.   They assume Moses talked to them, listened to them, and sprinkled blood on them.   There is some reason to believe this may have been the case since it was not without precedent. For example, Moses on Jethro’s advice chose representatives to help him adjudicate matters (Exodus 18:25).  We know that by the time they were at Mt. Sinai there were 70 people who were called “elders.”  (Exodus 24:9, the verse after the “sprinkling”) It may have happened this way.

On the other hand, it may have just been miracle, plan and simple.  Remember God had already performed miracles.  He provided manna to eat (Exodus 16:4), and He took the form of a cloud and pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21), just to name two.    We do not have a problem accepting that Jesus was able to feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and have 12 basketfuls left over. (Matthew 14:17-21) We accept that Moses “sprinkled” (and that exact word is used) ashes in the air and caused boils to breakout on people all over the land. (Exodus 9:10)

We not only read about Moses sprinkling blood on the Israelites, we also read about how he talked to them and how they responded.  We know that the nation of Israel must have been at least a million people already.  So, how did Moses manage to pull this off?  This blog post elaborates on that question, considers possibilities, and then speculates on a possible answer.

We read about the people speaking to Moses and Moses responding many times in Exodus.  For example, in Exodus 20 the people ask Moses to speak to God on their behalf (v19) and Moses responds to them (v20) Then, after talking with God, Moses communicates with Israel, and they respond that they have heard and will obey (Exodus 24:3).  Moses “seals the deal” by sprinkling blood “on the people.” (Exodus 24:8).

We know that at this point, there were quite a few people.  There were “about 600,000” men, not counting women and children, who left Egypt (Exodus 12:37).     The men over 20 years old and able to go to fight were 603,550 soon after that at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 1:46) If one includes women and children, one soon reckons there were over a million Israeli’s by this point.

A few historians have estimated the number to be much lower (as little as 100,000), although they have been largely discredited.   A few have argued for a much greater number (many as 10 million) although they have been largely discredited also.  We think that the number of 600,000 men over 20 means an estimate of one million people total is about right.        

One million is a lot of people.  Even if one goes with the lowest estimate of 100,000, that is still a lot of people.   Think about trying to be heard, listen to, or sprinkle blood on that many people today.  This seems like a daunting task, even with today’s microphones, amplifiers, and lawn sprinklers.    None of those existed at this time.

As a practical matter, some have suggested a “representative” theory.  In this theory, the tribes or Moses would have all chosen people to represent them to Moses.   They assume Moses talked to them, listened to them, and sprinkled blood on them.     There is some reason to believe this may have been the case since it was not without precedent. For example, Moses on Jethro’s advice chose representatives to help him adjudicate matters (Exodus 18:25).  We know that by the time they were at Mt. Sinai there were 70 people who were called “elders.”  (Exodus 24:9, the verse after the “sprinkling”) It may have happened this way.

On the other hand, it may have just been miracle, plan and simple.  Remember God had already performed miracles.  He provided manna to eat (Exodus 16:4), and He took the form of a cloud and pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21), just to name two.    We do not have a problem accepting that Jesus was able to feed 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and have 12 basketfuls left over. (Matthew 14:17-21) We accept that Moses “sprinkled” (and that exact word is used) ashes in the air and caused boils to breakout on people all over the land. (Exodus 9:10)

If God wanted to amplify the voice and hearing of Moses, He could.  If He wanted to have Moses throw blood in the air and multiply it to hit everyone, He could.  The truth is, we just do not know how it happened.  We only know it did happen, and that is enough for us.

If God wanted to amplify the voice and hearing of Moses, He could.  If He wanted to have Moses throw blood in the air and multiply it to hit everyone, He could.  The truth is, we just do not know how it happened.  We only know it did happen, and that is enough for us.