Legends of the Jews - Moses in the Wilderness

Louis Ginsberg, in The Legends of the Jews, refers to Mekilta Beshallah 1-2, 27a-27b; Mekilta d'Rabbi Shimeon ben Yochai (pp 44-45)-; and Midrash Tanchomah (Parasha Shofetim, paragraph 13). (Vol III, Moses in the Wilderness pp 12-13):

"The mind of the Egyptians was in no wise directed toward spoil and plunder in this expedition. Their sole determined purpose was to exterminate Israel, kith and kin. As the heathen lay great stress upon omens when they are about to start out on a campaign, God caused all their preparations to proceed smoothly, without the slightest untoward circumstances. Everything pointed toward a happy issue."