Texts in Conversation
In Exodus 12:40, the Hebrew text says the Israelites lived in Egypt for 430 years, but the Samaritan Pentateuch adds that this time was spent in both Canaan and Egypt. This change shortens their time in Egypt and harmonizes the story with earlier parts of Genesis, creating a smoother timeline.
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Exodus 12:40
Hebrew Bible
38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and flocks and herds—a very large number of cattle. 39 They baked cakes of bread without yeast using the dough they had brought from Egypt, for it was made without yeast. Because they were thrust out of Egypt and were not able to delay, they could not prepare food for themselves either. 40 Now the length of time the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, on the very day, all the regiments of the Lord went out of the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of vigil for the Lord to bring them out from the land of Egypt, and so on this night all Israel is to keep the vigil to the Lord for generations to come.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Samaritan Exodus 12:40
Samaritan Penteteuch
Samaritan
38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. 40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel and fathers of them, who dwelt in Canaan and in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Date: 130-120 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... In an editorial aside, Exodus reports the duration of the sojourn of the sons of Israel in Egypt (verses 40–42). On Exodus' reading of παροικήσις, see Wevers (1992, 263). A significant divergence occurs here in Exodus in the Masoretic text (also Syriac; Targum Onqelos, Targum Neofiti) reads that the time here involves the Israelite presence only “in Egypt” ..."
Gurtner, Daniel M.
Exodus: A Commentary on the Greek Text of Codex Vaticanus
(pp. 230-231) Brill, 2013
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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