Exodus 12:41

41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, on that very day, all the companies of the Lord went out from 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 of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt; it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
40 The time that the Israelites had lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years.
41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, on that very day, all the companies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
42 That was for the Lord a night of vigil, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. That same night is a vigil to be kept for the Lord by all the Israelites throughout their generations.
43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: This is the ordinance for the passover: no foreigner shall eat of it,
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.