John Calvin Commentary Exodus 12:40

"Now the time that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years." — Exodus 12:40 (ASV)

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel. The beginning of this period is not reckoned from Jacob's coming down into Egypt, for it is very clear from other passages that, from the time Jacob entered Egypt until the Exodus, not more than 230 years at most had passed.¹⁴⁷ The Jews generally only reckon 210 years; but Moses also includes the period during which Abraham and his children were not in possession of the promised land.

The meaning, therefore, is that from the time the inheritance of the land of Canaan was given to Abraham, the promise was suspended for 400 years before his posterity enjoyed their right. For Paul also explains this difficulty (Galatians 3:17), where he says that God had confirmed His covenant with Abraham 430 years before the Law was promulgated.

Moses, therefore, dates the beginning of this period from the sojourning of Abraham, when he was still the lord of the land of Canaan by the just title of donation. Regarding the omission of the thirty years in Genesis 15, there is no contradiction in this, because the land had already been promised to Abraham some years previously, though, far from obtaining dominion over it, he had scarcely been permitted to occupy it as a stranger.

Therefore, God informs him that 400 years still remained before He would put his descendants into possession of it. Consequently, the short time that had elapsed was not sufficient for the trial of his patience; instead, both for himself and for his posterity, there was a need for extraordinary endurance, lest they faint under the weariness of the long delay.

Moreover, there is no departure from the usual way of speaking in His not reckoning the exact number of years. Indeed, more than 400 years remained—some twenty or so. But since God had no other object than to exhort His people to patience, He did not accurately compute or define the exact number of years, because it was sufficient to present 400 years to them as a round sum.

In the same way, it is added in the next verse, at the end of 430 years, that is, from the time that Abraham had begun to be the legitimate lord of the land. For Moses wished to show that although God had long delayed the fulfillment of His promise, His truth and faithfulness were nevertheless certainly proved, not only because He had precisely performed what He had promised, but also because He had observed the foreappointed time.

He calls the people, weak as they were, by the honorable title the hosts of the Lord, both to reinforce the power of God’s blessing and to give due honor to His grace in ruling and marshalling so confused a band.

Although soldiers may be accustomed to obedience and have learned through practice to keep their ranks; although they may have generals, commandants, and captains, and also banners under which to range themselves, it is still a very difficult thing to march an army of 20,000 or 30,000 men by night without confusion and in good order. How great a miracle was it, then, for 600,000 men, with women and children, much baggage, herds, flocks, and other encumbrances, to pass by night through the midst of enemies and all escape safely without a single exception!

To the same effect, Moses repeats in the last verse of this chapter that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out—by their armies, as if to say that there was no confusion in that immense multitude, since God performed the part of an incomparable Leader in His marvelous power.

¹⁴⁷ This sentence is omitted in the French. The Latin is, “Hebraei communiter tantum decem recensent.” A reference, however, to R. Sal. Jarchi explains it, “you will find, (he says,) that from the arrival of the Israelites in Egypt to the time of their departure, was 210 years.” — In loco. Compare the LXX.. Compare the LXX.