Smith's Bible Dictionary
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Exodus
of the Israelites from Egypt. the common chronology places the date of this event at B.C. 1491, deriving it in this way: --In 1Ki 6:1 it is stated that the building of the temple, in the forth year of Solomon, was in the 480th year after the exodus. The fourth year of Solomon was bout B.C. 1012. Add the 480 years (leaving off one years because neither the fourth nor the 480th was a full year), and we have B.C. 1491 as the date of the exodus. This is probably very nearly correct; but many Egyptologists place it at 215 years later, --about B.C. 1300. Which date is right depends chiefly on the interpretation of the Scripture period of 430 years, as denoting the duration of the bondage of the Israelites. The period of bondage given in Ge 15:13,14; Ex 12:40,41 and Gala 3:17
as 430 years has been interpreted to cover different periods. The common chronology makes it extend from the call of Abraham to the exodus, one-half of it, or 215 years, being spend in Egypt. Others make it to cover only the period of bondage spend in Egypt. St. Paul says in Ga 3:17 that from the covenant with (or call of) Abraham the giving of the law (less than a year after the exodus) was 430 years. But in Ge 15:13,14 it is said that they should be strangers in a strange land,a nd be afflicted 400 years, and nearly the same is said in Ex 12:40 But, in very truth, the children of Israel were strangers in a strange land from the time that Abraham left his home for the promised land, and during that whole period of 430 years to the exodus they were nowhere rulers in the land. So in Ex 12:40 it is said that the sojourning of the children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was 430 years. But it does not say that the sojourning was all in Egypt, but this people who lived in Egypt had been sojourners for 430 years. (a) This is the simplest way of making the various statements harmonize. (b) The chief difficulty is the great increase of the children of Israel from 70 to 2,000,000 in so short a period as 215 years, while it is very easy in 430 years. But under the circumstances it is perfectly possible in the shorter period. See on ver. 7
(c) If we make the 430 years to include only the bondage in Egypt, we must place the whole chronology of Abraham and the immigration of Jacob into Egypt some 200 years earlier, or else the exodus 200 years later, or B.C. 1300. in either case special difficulty is brought into the reckoning. (d) Therefore, on the whole, it is well to retain the common chronology, though the later dates may yet prove to be correct. The history of the exodus itself commences with the close of that of the ten plagues. [PLAGUES, THE TEN] In the night in which, at midnight, the firstborn were slain,
Ex 12:29 Pharaoh urged the departure of the Israelites. vs. Ex 12:31,32 They at once set forth from Rameses, vs. Ex 12:37,39 apparently during the night v. Ex 12:42 but towards morning on the 15th day of the first month. Nu 33:3 They made three journeys, and encamped by the Red Sea. Here Pharaoh overtook them, and the great miracle occurred by which they were saved, while the pursuer and his army were destroyed. [RED SEA, PASSAGE OF]
Bibliography InformationSmith, William, Dr "Meaning and Definition for 'exodus' in Smiths Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Smith's; 1901.
Copyright Information© Smith's Bible Dictionary
Smith's Bible Dictionary Home
Bible History Online Home
Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
Online Bible (KJV)
Naves Topical Bible
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Hitchcock's Bible Dictionary
Popular and Trending:
Meaning and
Definition of Pharaoh, Who Was the Pharaoh of the Exodus, Did God Harden
Pharaoh's Heart, Which Pharaoh Reigned during the Time of Joseph and Moses
,
How Many
Watches of the Night, What were the Jewish Watches of the Night, What Is the
Meaning of the Fourth Watch, Midnight and the Cock Crowing
,
What Were
Thorns and Thistles in the Bible, What were the Different Thorns and Thistles,
How Many Different Plants And Trees Had Thorns In the Time of Jesus
,
Where Was Nineveh,
Definition and Meaning of Nineveh, Who Were the Assyrians, Which the Syrian King
Made Nineveh Their Capital, Which Palaces Were Nineveh, Did Archaeologists
Discovered Nineveh
,
What is
the meaning of Edom and Idumea, Where the Edomites Descendents of Esau, Was
Herod and Edomite, When was Petra A City of Edom, Why Did the Edomites Fail When
They Attacked Israel After Jerusalem Fell
,
Why did Noah send a
Raven? Was The Biblical Raven A Crow, Why Are Raven's Black, What Was the Raven
in the Mosaic Law, Do Raven's Attack the Eyes
,
What was a
Crown of Thorns, Which Thorny Shrub or Plant Was the Crown of Thorns Made from,
What Color Was the Crown of Thorns, in Matthew 27:29 Why did the Roman soldiers
mock Jesus using a Crown of Thorns
,
What was a Gergesenes, Where Was Gadara And What Is the Modern Name, Where Was
the Place That Jesus Healed the Two Demon Possessed Man, What Is the Meaning of
Gadarenes, What Is a Demoniac
,
What were the
10 Plagues, What Does the Bible Say about Each of the 10 Plagues, Did God Use
the 10 Plagues to Mock the Gods of Egypt, in Exodus 3-12 How Are the Plagues
Described, Was the Passover Part of the 10th Plague
,
Where was Zoar, What Is
the Biblical Meaning of okaythe Land of Zoar, Has Zoar Been Discovered, Where
Was Zoar in Relation to Sodom and Gomorrah