The fate of the invasion was sealed, however, by a decisive battle in which the Egyptians almost annihilated their foes.

But the land of Goshen was left empty and desolate; the foreign tribes who had dwelt in it fled into the wilderness under the cover of the Libyan invasion.

The pressure of the invasion had forced the Pharaoh to allow his serfs a free passage out of Egypt, quite as much as the "signs and wonders" which were wrought by the hand of Moses.

Egypt was protected on its eastern side by a line of fortifications, and through these permission was given that the Israelites should pass.

But the permission was hardly given before it was recalled.