Israel in Egypt

Genesis 15:13-14, will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions…

Strangers in a land not theirs:

Exodus 12:40-41, Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 

Canaan was under the rule/dominion of Egypt, so the whole 430 could be said to be in Egypt.

Abe first lived in Egypt at age 75, 430 years before the Exodus, Genesis 12:10.

Abe’s descendants oppressed and afflicted: 

• Isaac by the son of an Egyptian –by Ishmael
• It began at Isaac’s weaning at age 5, thus 30 years after the Promise, so afflicted 400 years (Genesis 15:13)
• Isaac by Ahimelech – filling in of water wells
• Jacob by Laban and Shechemites
• Joseph by Ishmaelites and Potipher
• Jacob moved to Egypt by Egypt (by God)

Genesis 15:16, “But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

• Generation #1 Jacob into Egypt
• Generation #2 Joseph in Egypt
• Generation #3 Joseph’s sons 
• Generation #4 the exit from Egypt

Fourth generation left Egypt:

• Caleb was the 4^th gen from Jacob (I Chronicles 2:3-5, 18).
• Moses was the 4^th gen from Levi (Exodus 6:16-20).

1445 B.C. was the Exodus —

I Kings 6:1, And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord.  Judges 11:26

Solomon’s fourth year would be 966, so 480 since would be 1445 B.C.

1445 plus 430 makes the year 1875 B.C. when Abe moved to Canaan.

From the promise to Abe to the Law given was 430 years:

Galatians 3:16-18, Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

The law was given 430 years after the promise was made to Abraham.

Abram’s call by God to Jacob’s entry into Egypt was 215 years:

• Abe 75 when promised, Gen 12:4
• Abe 75 when first lived in Egypt, Gen 12:10
• Abe age 100 when Isaac born, Gen 21:5
• Isaac age 60 when Jacob born, Gen 25:26
• Jacob age 130 into Egypt, Gen 47:9

25 (promise to Isaac) plus 60 plus 130 = 215 years in Canaan before moving to Egypt.

Joseph was 39 when Jacob moved to Egypt and he died at 110 (Genesis 50:22), so 71 were good years.  After his death and under a new Pharaoh, things turned ugly.  So the years of harsh slavery were something around 215 (total years in Egypt) – 71 under Joseph or 144 and more likely 120 or even 100.