Exodus 12:41

41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, on that precise day, all the LORD's people in military formation left the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:41 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:41

And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty
years
As soon as completed:

even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord
went out from the land of Egypt;
which was the fifteenth of Nisan; and Jarchi says it was on the fifteenth of Nisan that the decree was made known to Abraham between the pieces, concerning the affliction of his posterity four hundred years in a land not theirs; but this is not to be depended on; yet it looks as if at the close of the four hundred and thirty years, from the date of them, exactly to a day, the children of Israel, the armies of the Lord, came out of Egypt in great order: however, it seems certain by this that they all came out the same day, which was very wonderful that such a large number should be collected together, and that they should march out of the land on one and the same day; and it is pretty plain it was in the daytime, and very likely in the midst of the day; for they were not to stir out of their houses till morning, and then they had what remained of the passover to burn, as well as many other things to do, it is very probable, and some which they could not do; so that they did not go by night, or by stealth, but openly at noon day; and the words will bear to be rendered, "in the strength or body of the day" F18, when it is at its height, as it is at noon; and so the Jews represent the Lord speaking after this manner F19,

``If I bring out Israel by night, the Egyptians will say, now he does his work after the manner of thieves; but behold, I will bring them out in the midst of the day, in the strength of the sun, as is said, "and it was in the selfsame day", &c.''


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (hzh Mzyh Mueb) "in corpore diei hujus", Pagninus, Montanus; "in the body" or "strength of that day", Ainsworth.
F19 Pirke Eliezer, c. 48. fol. 58. 2.

Exodus 12:41 In-Context

39 They baked unleavened cakes from the dough they had brought out of Egypt. The dough didn't rise because they were driven out of Egypt and they couldn't wait. In fact, they didn't have time to prepare any food for themselves.
40 The length of time that the Israelites had lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years.
41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, on that precise day, all the LORD's people in military formation left the land of Egypt.
42 For the LORD, that was a night of intent watching, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For all Israelites in every generation, this same night is a time of intent watching to honor the LORD.
43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: This is the regulation for the Passover. No foreigner may eat it.
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