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NASB | Genesis 15:13 God said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 15:13 God said to Abram, "Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. [Ex 12:40] |
Subject: Israel in Egypt 430 yrs? |
Bible Note: The key to understanding the 400 years and 430 years can be found in Galatians 3:16-17. The Law, as stated in verse 17, began 430 years after the covenant. The Law was given shortly after the exodus. Exodus 12:41 states: “At the end of the 430 years, even that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out of Egypt.” The exodus out of Egypt occurred on the day of the Passover, exactly 430 years after an important event and 400 years after another. What were these events? We know from Gal. 3:17 the 430 years was from the time of the covenant. But which covenant, at which time? Gal. 3:16 states: “Now the promises were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed. He does not say, And to seeds, as if referring to many persons, but, And to your Seed, obviously referring to one individual, Who is Christ.” The term “Seed” as used in this context, meaning Jesus Christ, is not found until Gen. 22: 18: “And in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed and bless themselves, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.” What had Abraham heard and obeyed? This was right after Abraham had shown his intent to offer Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. However, Isaac was passed over. 430 years later the Israelites were passed over in Egypt. Later, again on the anniversary of this date, Christ became our Passover Lamb. So what happened 30 years later? The birth of Jacob-Israel, who would be a stranger dwelling as a temporary resident in Canaan and later in Egypt, where his descendants (known by his name) would be mistreated and enslaved. Total time in Egypt 270 years. This also means that Isaac was 30 years old when he was offered. A “young man” (Gen 22:5) who died when he was 180 years old (Gen 35:29). According to my calculations, the Israelites lived in Egypt for 216 years after the dead of Joseph. So, it very well could be that they were enslaved for 210 years. |