Exodus 12:41

41 And it came to pass after the four hundred and thirty years, all the forces of the Lord came forth out of the land of Egypt by night.

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.''

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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 the dough which they brought out of Egypt, unleavened cakes, for it had not been leavened; for the Egyptians cast them out, and they could not remain, neither did they prepare provision for themselves for the journey.

40 And the sojourning of the children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Chanaan, four hundred and thirty years.

41 And it came to pass after the four hundred and thirty years, all the forces of the Lord came forth out of the land of Egypt by night.

42 It is a watch kept to the Lord, so that he should bring them out of the land of Egypt; that very night is a watch kept to the Lord, so that it should be to all the children of Israel to their generations.

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, This is the law of the passover: no stranger shall eat of it.