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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: What do these 430 years mean? |
Bible Note: Hi Bruce, In your previous note you stated: “2) the Massoretic Text and the LXX have the period referring only to the sons of Israel.” Can you give the exact scripture quotes in the Massoretic Text and the LXX that you are referring to so I can compare them? Otherwise, it is hard to understand exactly what you mean. Thank you in advance. You stated: “3) Even if Jacob and sons were in Canaan longer than 30 years, it can't be more than 39 - 6 or 33 years . . .” That is an excellent point! IF Joseph was 39 when the Hebrews arrived in Egypt and Joseph was 6 when they left Padan-Aram, then they would have been in Canaan no longer than 33 years. However, I would like to see the scripture quotes before I respond to this. You stated: “4) Ezer and Elead came after there were seven generations of Ephraimites, this could not be less that 120 years verses your 15 years.” 1 Chronicles 7:22 says that Ephraim was their father and that he mourned many days. Ezer and Elead were the sons of Ephraim, not Shuthelah. They were not born after 7 generations or Ephraim could not have mourned for them. You stated: “In acts 13:17-20 Refers to the period of about 450 years in Egypt up until Israel was fully settled in Israel. 400 years in Egypt plus 49 years wandering, conquest, and settling is 449 about 450 years Paul mentions.” This period of time began when “The God of this people Israel selected our forefathers. . .” I’m not sure how this time of 450 years plays out. However, Paul is very clear in Galatians 3:16-17. The 430 years started with the covenant with Abraham that in “your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” This is recorded in Genesis 22:17. The 430 years ended with the giving of the law, the Ten Commandments, shortly after the Exodus from Egypt, which took place 430 years to the very day. The Passover of Isaac for the Ram to the Passover of the firstborn of Israel for the Lamb was exactly 430 years. How could the Israelites have been in Egypt for 400 years when the 430 years began even before the birth of Jacob-Israel? Also, as you noted, Moses was 80 years old when he led the Exodus. Moses was the son of Amram, who lived to be 137 years old (Genesis 6:20). Amram was the son of Kohath, who lived to be 133 years old (Genesis 6:18). Kohath was living when the Hebrews came into Egypt (Genesis 46:11). So, even if Kohath was an infant when he arrived in Egypt and Amram was born in the last year of Kohath’s life and Moses was born in the last year of Amram’s life, you cannot get to 400 years of the Israelites being in Egypt. 133 plus 137 plus 80 equals 350 years max. You have made excellent points, but all the scriptures cited must be in harmony. If they are not in harmony, then we are failing to give them the correct interpretation. If the Israelites were in Egypt for 400 years, then how can the above scriptures be brought into harmony? Yours in Christ, Jim Estes |