Exodus 12:40Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, in addition to the seventy years, it is noted that “the dwelling of the children of Israel, who resided in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, totaled four hundred and thirty years.” Moses cites only the singular sojourn in Egypt for three primary reasons: first, it underscores that the entirety of their time spent in Egypt encompassed four hundred and thirty years, which can be precisely measured from their exodus. The onset of their time in Egypt is recounted in Genesis, where it is stated that upon Abraham's arrival in Canaan from Mesopotamia, he faced famine and migrated to Egypt.

The second consideration is that within the four hundred and thirty years of wandering, the majority were indeed spent in Egypt. Although three righteous individuals spent time in Canaan, their sojourn there was limited to one hundred and ninety-five years, while the Hebrews endured an extended presence in Egypt lasting two hundred and fifty years. The third factor is that the Hebrews' time in Egypt is significant due to three notable events. The first relates to Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was elevated to a position of great authority in Egypt, ruling for eighty years. Under Joseph's governance, the Jewish people experienced considerable joy and prosperity. Following Joseph’s death, the remarkable and exponential growth of the Hebrew population occurred despite the oppressive rule of the Egyptians. Ultimately, their miraculous deliverance and exodus from Egypt, facilitated by divine interventions, stand as a historic and wondrous event recognized worldwide. For these pivotal occurrences, Moses highlights the sole period of the Hebrews’ existence in Egypt.

This calculation, stating that they dwelt for four hundred and thirty years in Egypt and Canaan, seems inconsistent with Genesis, which notes the Israelites were in Egypt for only four hundred years (Genesis 15:13). "Thy seed shall dwell in a land not their own, and they shall enslave them, and afflict them, and humble them, four hundred years." This reference does not serve as an exact time frame but illustrates the limits of their bondage, as prophesied; thus, at the end of half the years of their affliction, the descendants of Abraham sought comfort and liberation. St. Augustine, in his writings, clarifies that this heavy burden was not intended to exceed four hundred years.

This aligns well with our understanding of the period of Abraham, as it is consistent with historical records regarding the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Asia Minor, and does not contradict available accounts of Egyptian history. The Hyksos' occupation of Lower Egypt and the presence of Egyptian dynasties in Upper Egypt could not have persisted for an extended time due to the Egyptians' animosity towards foreigners.

Following the prescriptive figure of seventy, which is supported by the most authoritative and numerous manuscripts available, we conclude that a span of 430 years unfolds from God's revelation to Abraham (Genesis 15:13). After settling in Palestine, Isaac is born twenty-five years later. Isaac is sixty at the time of Jacob's birth, and Jacob enters Egypt at one hundred thirty years of age, leading to a total of 215 years before their entrance into Egypt. Meanwhile, Moses spends forty years in the wilderness of Midian and another forty years in Egypt following his birth, making for eighty years of hardship under the XVIIIth dynasty, commencing with the reign of Amenhotep I, Thutmose I, and Thutmose II. It should be considered that the expulsion of the Hyksos and the oppression of Israel likely began somewhat prior to Moses’ birth. It is reasonable to assume that the Hyksos controlled the entire Delta for just over a century. Consequently, the interval from Joseph to the XIIth Dynasty to the XVIIIth Dynasty is estimated to be 115 years, with the proper oppression of Israel lasting a century, specifically from 1591 to 1491 B.C. Notably, the Apostle Paul, well-acquainted with Jewish tradition, mentions in his letter to the Galatians (3:17) that the law was delivered 430 years after the promise was made to Abraham.