Exodus 12:41

41 and when those years were fulfilled, all the host of the Lord went out of the land of Egypt in the same day. (and when those years were ended, all the Lord's army went out of the land of Egypt on the same day.)

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 And they baked meal, which sprinkled together a while ago they took from Egypt, and made therf loaves baken under ashes; for the loaves might not be dighted with sourdough, for [the] Egyptians compelled them to go out, and suffered not them to make any tarrying, neither it was leisure to make any stew. (And they baked the meal, which they had taken from Egypt, and made unleavened bread baked under ashes; for the loaves did not have any yeast, for the Egyptians compelled them to go out, and did not allow them to tarry, nor was there time to even make any stew.)
40 Forsooth the dwelling of the sons of Israel, by which they dwelled in Egypt, was of four hundred and thirty years; (And the Israelites had lived in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years;)
41 and when those years were fulfilled, all the host of the Lord went out of the land of Egypt in the same day. (and when those years were ended, all the Lord's army went out of the land of Egypt on the same day.)
42 This night is worthy to be kept in the worshipping of the Lord, when he led them out of the land of Egypt; all the sons of Israel ought to keep this night in their generations. (This night is worthy to be kept for worshipping the Lord, when he led them out of the land of Egypt; all the Israelites ought to keep watch on this night in all their generations.)
43 Also the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, This is the religion of pask; each alien shall not eat thereof; (And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, This is the rite of the Passover; each foreigner, or each stranger, shall not eat it;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.