Patriarch Deaths and Israel in Bondage
From Welcomed Guests to Slavery in Egypt
As documented in the Bible and first chapter of Exodus, the sons of Jacob were the patriarchs of the tribes of Israel, and each died in Egypt. Their presence as honored guests who eventually became slaves in bondage occurred rather quickly in as little as two generations. The timing and reason is given in summary in chapter one before leaping ahead in time to the birth of Moses in Exodus chapter two.
The patriarch Joseph preceded his father, 11 brothers, and 1 sister and their families into Egypt, having been jealously sold as a slave by his brothers to a caravan of traders headed for Egypt. Joseph’s rise from slavery to second in command to Pharaoh over all of Egypt is documented in Genesis, and eventually saved his family from starvation had they stayed in their homeland.
The first verses of Exodus give the patriarch names of the family members who moved to Egypt, and then the total number of the original families and the deaths of that generation. Referring to the original migration of Jacob, who God had already renamed Israel, and his descendants into Egypt, Exodus 1:5-6 states:
And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. Exodus 1:5 (KJV)
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. Exodus 1:6 (KJV)
Joseph died in 1635 B.C., and he was survived by the youngest brother, Benjamin, and one older brother, Levi, who died 23 years later. The exact timing of “all that generation” is not given, yet not long after the deaths the fame of Joseph was forgotten. A new king of Egypt came into power and grew concerned over the amazing population growth of the Israelites. He felt a potential threat either directly or in the event of war, and placed taskmasters over them making them slaves.
From the birth of Moses it would be another 80 years before the bondage ended with the Exodus from Egypt.
Population Growth from 70 Persons to 2 Million
Some argue that the estimated 2 million Israelites who left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea with Moses was an exaggeration. I disagree.
Exodus 1:7 continues and describes the population explosion with four very descriptive phrases, each meaning to multiply rapidly. Repetition is used throughout the Bible for emphasis, so this repetitive instance begins to dispel the exaggeration theorists. As one example, the phrase translated to English as “increased abundantly” is from the verb sharats (shaw-RATS) in Hebrew, and means to teem, to swarm, or to multiply.
From the original 70 souls, or 35 couples, calculating an average family of 3 children per couple and the total over time until the Exodus easily adds up to 2,000,000. Others would argue that Exodus 12:37 provides a more accurate accounting when giving the number 600,000 who left Egypt. The number is true and and yet describes one portion. The total number was greater.
And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. Exodus 12:37 (KJV)
The word “men” above is not translated from the Hebrew “ish”, the common word for man, but “geber” which means valiant warrior. Even with only half of those married, and considering the number of women was not given, and each couple averaged three children, the 2 million estimate is easily reckoned. The geometric progression within a large family over a period as few as 10 generations is no different today.
Looking Back and Ahead in God’s Master Plan
This point in history provides evidence of the promise by God to Abraham that he would be the father of many generations with descendants numbering like the stars of heaven and the sands of the sea. Continue in Exodus chapter two for another leap through time with the birth of Moses, his departure from Egypt, and his return 40 years later.
Covenants made and broken by ancient people in relationship to God are a common theme throughout the Old Testament. It begins with Adam and Eve in Genesis, and then Exodus includes some of the most significant examples. As you study the Old Testament and broken covenants, the promise and importance of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and new covenant of the New Testament are put in clearer perspective. Study the Bible often and His master plan will become clearer over time, as well.
Previous Article † Next Article † Back to Exodus Directory