First mention:-
Gen.15.13 And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's,
and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve,
will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16a But in the fourth generation they shall come here again:
18 In that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Ex.12.40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. (This is not saying that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt four hundred and thirth years; but that the sojourning of the children of Israel who dwelt in
Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years) 41 And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the self same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of
the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel
in their generations. 43a And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover:
51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring
the children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt by their armies.
The selfsame day is refering to the evening of the forteenth of Abib or Nisan; the passover; it is possible that 'that same day' refered to in Gen.15:17,18, when the sun went down, and the Lord made a covenant with Abram,
was also the evening of the forteenth of Abib or Nisan.
Acts 7.2 And he (Stephen) said, Men, brethren, and fathers, harken; The God
of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran (Haran), 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which
I shall show you. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell.
5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. 6 And God spoke on this
wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7 And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
Gal 3.16 Now to Abraham and his seed
were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which
was four hundred and thirty years after cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Four hundred years? four hundred and thirty years? the forth generation?
Gen.15.13 says, four hundred years.
Gen.15.16 says, the fourth generation.
Gen.15.18 says, in that same day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram.
Ex.12.40
says, the sojourning of the children of Israel was four hundred and thirty years.
Ex12.41a says, at the end of four hundred and
thirty years, even the self same day, that all the hosts of the Lord went out of from the land of Egypt.
Gal.3.17
says, that the covenant which was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after cannot disannul,
Acts 7.2 says that The God of glory appeared unto Abram, while he was yet in Mesoptamia, in Ur of the Chaldees, before he went to Haran, and told him to leave his country, and his kindred, and come
into the land.
Acts 7.6 says, God spoke to Abram in the land of Canaan, and told him that his seed should sojourn in a strange
land, in bondage, and evil entreated, four hundred years. 7 after that they shall come forth and serve me in this place. (in the land of Canaan).
From that same day that the Lord made a covenant with Abram in the land of Canaan, until the law was given on mount Sinai, was four
hundred and thirty years. (Gal.3.17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise
of none affect).
Or from the time of the covenant until the children of Israel came into the promised Land, was
four hundred and thirty years. (maybe).
From the day that Abram came into the land of Canaan, until the
children of Israel came out of Egypt, was four hundred years. (maybe.)
The children of Israel were in the land of Egypt, but
in the fourth generation, they came into the promised land. (Gen.15.16). (Definitely).
How does all this fit together?
It must fit together perfectly because it is the Word of God.
Israel into Egypt.
Gen.46.5 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons
which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his seed with him: 7 His
sons, and his son's sons, his daughters, and his son's daughters, all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
Gen 47.8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old are you? 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years.
Abram was seventy five years old when he went out of Haran. (Gen.12.4)
If we accept that Genesis 16, continues on from Genesis 15, then Abram was in the Land of Canaan ten years(Gen.16.3), and was eighty-five years old
when the Lord made the covenant of Abram's seed inheriting the land of Canaan.
[It is possible that the children of Israel went out
of the land of Egypt four hundred years after Abram came into the land of Canaan; and came back into the inheritance of land of Canaan four hundred
and thirty years after the covenant of promise; (which would be four hundred and forty years after Abram came into Canaan: the forty years being
in the wilderness)].
That the children of Israel were in, or sojourning in Abram, is attested to by Heb.7.5 And verily they that are of the sons
of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they came out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose decent is not counted from them (Melchisedec)
received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he received them, of whom it is witnessed
that he lives. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also who receives tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Abram had dwelt in the land of Canaan for eleven years,
and was eighty six years old when Ishamael was born. (Gen.16 3,16)
When Abram was ninety-nine years old,
the Lord, the Almighty God, made another covenant (of circumcision) with Abraham. (Gen.17.1-22).
Abram
was seventy-five when he went out of Haran. (Gen 12.4)
Twenty-five years later, when
Abraham was one hundred years old, Isaac was born. (Gen.21.5)
Isaac
was sixty years old when Esau and Jacob were born. (Gen 25.26)
Jacob was one hundred and thirty years
old when he went into Egypt.
25+60+130=215.
Therefore
it may be understood that Israel went into Egypt two hundred and fifteen years after Abram left Haran and came into the land of Cannaan,
and that Israel went into the land of Egypt two hundred and five years after the covenant of promise.
How many generations of the children of Israel were in Egypt?
Who went into Egypt with Jacob?
Gen.46.8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's first born. 9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phaliu, and
Hezron, and Carmi. 10 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of the Canaanitish woman. 11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 12
And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 And the sons
of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. 14 And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Pandan-aram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls
of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. 16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, Serah their sister: and the
sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph and Benjamin.
20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and
Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. 23 And the sons of Dan; Hushim. 24 And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel,
and Guni, and Jezer, and shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven. 26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came
out of his loins, beside Jacob's sons wives, all the souls were sixty six. 27 And the sons of Joseph, which were born to him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were seventy.
They went out of Egypt in the third generation (according to the generations of Judah), and into the promised land in the fourth generation.
Moses and Aaron led the children of Israel
out of Egypt.
What were the names of the leaders
of the tribes who led the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Num.1.5 of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Num.1.6 of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Num.1.7 of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Num.1.8 of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
Num.1.9 of Zebulun; Eliab the son
of Helon.
Num.1.10 of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Num.1.11 of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Num.1,12 of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Num.1.13 of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Num.1.14 of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
Num.1.15 of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan
Num.1.17 And Moses and
Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:;
These are the leaders of the tribes when the children of Israel came out of Egypt.
What generation are these leaders?
1Chr.2.1 These are the sons of Israel;
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Isaachar, and Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
1Chr.2.3 The sons of Judah
; Er, and Onan, and Shelar: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the first born of Judah, was evil in the sight of the Lord; and he slew him. 4 And Tamar his daughter in law bear him Pharez
and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. 5 The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.
1Chr.2.9 The
sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. 10 And Ram (Aram) begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah.
Nahshon led the children of Judah out of Egypt.
Jacob,
Judah, Pharez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon; (seven generations).
Jacob, Judah, Pharez and Hezron, went into Egypt. (Gen.46.12). Therefore Ram,
Amminadab and Nahshon were born in Egypt. ( As Hezron was the last generation to go in to Egypt, Nahshon led the children of Judah out of Egypt in the third generation, born in Egypt). The son of Nahshon, Salmon,
led the children of Judah into the promised Land, in the fourth generation, after Jacob's entry into Egypt, with Judah, Pharez, and Hezron. (comp.Gen.15.16).
It is the fourth generation of the children of Judah, born in Egypt, which were spoken of by the Lord in Gen.15.16, who would lead the children of Israel back into the land to be inherited,
according to the promise of the Lord God to Abram, ten years after he went out of Haran; and four hundred and thirty years after the covenant was made; and four hundred and forty years after Abram came into the land of Canaan.
The children of Israel came out
of Egypt four hundred years (Gen.15.13) after the Lord had appeared unto Abram in a vision, and made unto him the covenant of promise (Gen.15.18).
How long were they in bondage?
Gen.46.11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and
Merari. (went into Egypt).
Ex.6.16 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and
Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred and thirty and seven years.
Ex.6.18 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron,
and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred and thirty and three years.
Ex.6.20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to
wife; and she bear him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.
Ex.6.23 And Aaron
took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazer and Ithamar.
Eleazer
and Ithamar were the priests when The children of Israel entered the promised land, in the fourth generation from Levi. (but the third
generation born in Egypt).
Levi, Kohath, Amram, Aaron, Eleaser and Ithamar.
Of the sons of Levi, Kohath, and his
son Amram are the only ones whose ages are recorded. Moses was eighty years old when he led the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Ex.7.7 And Moses was eighty years old,
and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke unto Pharaoh.
(The decree to kill the new born male Israelite children, came sometime between the birth
of Aaron, and the birth of Moses. [Miriam was older than Aaron, as she stood watch over Moses in the ark of bulrushes. Ex.2.1-4]). Certainly they were in
bondage when Moses was born.
They were put in bondage by a Pharoah who knew not Joseph. Joseph was in Egypt for ninety-three years until he died.
Gen.37.2b Joseph being seventeen years old, (when he was sold into Egypt).
Joseph was in prison
for two years,(Gen.41.1); so he was in Egypt for eleven years before prison, because: 17+11+2=30.
Gen.41 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh
king of Egypt. (after interpreting Pharao's dream).
The years of plenty
and famine were fourteen years: so Joseph was between thirty-seven (when the famine started), and fourty-four years (when it ended), and Jacob came into Egypt sometime during those years.
Gen.50.26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old.
110-40=70
So the children of Israel had been in Egypt for about seventy years when
Joseph died: some time after which, they were put in bondage.
Ex.1.6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and
all that generation (that went into Egypt).
Ex.1.8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
Ex.1.11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.
The children of Israel
were put in bondage sometime during the days of Amram, the father of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses; and were in bondage in the years of the generations born in Egypt; as the generation which came into Egypt with Jacob had passed away.
As Amram lived for one hundred and thirty-seven years, and Moses was eighty
years old when the children of Israel went out of Egypt; (we do not know how old Amram was when Moses was born); so they were in bondage for maybe about two hundred years.
The children of Israel were put into bondage after the death of Joseph,which was after they had been in Egypt for seventy years; and were in bondage for maybe two hundred years. It seems to me, that they were in Egypt
for maybe two hundred and seventy years.
What then is the understanding of Gen.15.13-18; Ex.12.40,41; Acts7.2-7 and Gal.3.16,17?
But in the forth generation they shall come hither again:
The time in
Egypt was three generations. (According to the generations of Judah born in Egypt : Aram, Amminadab, and Nahshon). Nahshon's son Salmon led the children of Israel into the promised land; the fourth generation born
after entering Egypt. (see Gen.15.16).
It is established then, that the children of Israel went out
of Egypt in the third generation; and came into the Promised land, in fourth generation born after Jacob came into Egypt.
As they were in Egypt for seventy years (until Joseph's death), plus the years in bondage(starting sometime after Joseph's death); and went into
Egypt two hundred and fifteen years after Abram went out of Haran, and into the land of Canaan; then the four hundred years spoken of in Gen.15.13 is perhaps from Abram's departure from Haran, and entry into the land of Canaan; until the children of Israel went out
from Egypt; which would make the time in bondage less than one hundred and fifteen years; and the time in Egypt one hundred and eighty-five years; 400-215=185.
What then of the four hundred and thirty years unto the law; of Gal.3.17?
If we look again at Gal.3.17, as written in the Textus
Receptus of Robert Estienne (Stephanus) 1550:
Gal.3.17 This now I say, the covenant confirmed beforehand
by God in Christ, which took place four hundred and thirty years after, the law cannot annul so as to make the promises of no effect.
As compared to KJV Gal.3.17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before by God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul,
that it should make the promise of none effect.
This is saying that the law (given at Mount Sinai) was four hundred and thirty years after the covenant, and so it was
another thirty nine years before the children of Israel went into the promised land.
The law was received on mount Sinai, within the first year after the children of Israel
went out of Egypt. (Ex.19.1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.)
Textus
Recptus is saying that the promise of inheriting the land which took place four hundred and thirty years after the covenant, the law cannot annul.
This
would agree that the sojourning of the children of Israel, (some of which took place in Abraham), was four hundred years from Abram's departure from Haran and entry into the land of Canaan, until they went
out from Egypt; and four hundred and thirth years from the covenant (which was ten years after Abram had dwelt in Canaan),until the children of Israel came into the promised land,
in the fourth generation.
It is possible that the four hundred and thirty years written in Ex.12.40,41; spoken of by Stephen in Acts 7.2-7, and written
of by Paul in Gal.3.17 is from when the Lord made the covenant with Abram in the land of the Chaldees, unto the children of Israel's return into the promised land.
But!
Ex.12:41 And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the self same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
Then Israel went into Egypt 215 years after Abram came onto Canaan, and came out after 430 years; then they were in Egypt for 215 years, and came into the promised land after 470 years.
At this stage, I must say that I do not really have the understanding, of all this; and pray that our heavenly Father will grant us this understanding; in Christ Jesus. Amen.
If any have an understanding, please add your comments.
(work in progress)