Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 12:41
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.
41. the selfsame day ] See on v. 17.
the hosts of Jehovah ] cf. v. 17; and see on Exo 6:26.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
If this be the right translation, the four hundred and thirty years mentioned Gal 3:17 are to be taken in a latitude, for about or near so many years, as is very frequent in Scripture and other authors; else there wants one year of it, because the law was not given till about a year after their coming out of Egypt. Nor was it of any concernment to the apostles argument there, whether it wanted a year of that number or no, as here it is. But the words may be rendered here, as Gen 7:12, in the body or strength of the day, i.e. when the day-light was full, and clear, and strong, when it was broad day-light, the Egyptians seeing and not being able to hinder them. If it be said they went out by night, Deu 16:1, that is true, in regard of their resolution, and preparation, and the beginning of their journey; but their actual marching forth was by day-light, or in the morning; nor could it be done sooner from the nature of the thing, and the time necessarily required for so great a work.
The selfsame day: this circumstance is noted to set forth the accurateness and infallibility of Gods foreknowledge, and the efficacy of his providence in accomplishing all his own counsels in his own appointed time.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
41. even the selfsame dayimplyingan exact and literal fulfilment of the predicted period.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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” r, when it is at its height, as it is at noon; and so the Jews represent the Lord speaking after this manner s,
“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.”
r “in corpore diei hujus”, Pagninus, Montanus “in the body” or “strength of that day”, Ainsworth. s Pirke Eliezer, c. 48. fol. 58. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(41) The selfsame day . . . all the hosts . . . went out.All started, i.e., on one and the same daythe fifteenth of the month Abib. Some would start during the night, some in the morning, others at different periods of the day. They had different distances to traverse in order to reach the appointed halt, Succoth.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
41. The selfsame day That is, on the very day after the passover and death of the firstborn, whose incidents are previously related the fifteenth of Abib; not that it was four hundred and thirty years to a day since the sojourn commenced . The same phrase occurs in Exo 12:51.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 12:41. Even the self-same dayall the hosts of the Lord Archbishop Usher supposes, that as this day of their Exodus was Abib 15th, or May 5th, of this year, so Abraham’s coming out of Charran was Abib 15th of that year.
REFLECTIONS.1. Moses embraces the favourable moment. The people march immediately, an immense body; besides a mixed multitude, who, from curiosity, or a conviction of the truth, went out with them. Note; In the church there is a mixed multitude of professors, but there are many Egyptians among them. 2. Observe the memorable night: just four hundred and thirty years from the date of the promise to Abraham. The Egyptians remembered this night to their sorrow, the Israelites with unspeakable joy in their future generations. If temporal deliverances are so worthy a memorial, how should we be affected with that eternal redemption, which Jesus has obtained for his faithful people, from a servitude more intolerable than Egyptian, into a country infinitely superior to Canaan!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
DISCOURSE: 76
REDEMPTION CELEBRATED
Exo 12:41-42. It came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 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.
THE Lord, for wise and gracious reasons, often delays the execution of his promises; till we, in our impatience, are almost ready to think he has forgotten them. But, however long he may appear to neglect us, he is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness [Note: 2Pe 3:9.]. He has fixed a time, beyond which there shall be no delay [Note: Hab 2:3.]: and at the appointed hour he will shew himself mighty to save.
To Abraham and his seed God promised to give the land of Canaan. But behold, no less than four hundred and thirty years were ordained of him to pass, and a great portion of that time in extreme suffering, before his seed were permitted to see the long-wished-for period. But at the time fixed from the beginning in the divine counsels, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of Israel were brought forth out of Egypt; and Gods promises to them were fulfilled.
In like manner it was promised to Adam that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpents head. But four thousand years were suffered to elapse before that promised Seed was sent into the world. When, however, the fulness of time was come, God sent him, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons [Note: Gal 4:4-5.]. In effecting this great work, the Messiah was to die [Note: Heb 2:14-15.]. But he was not to see corruption [Note: Psa 16:10.]. On the third day he was to rise again [Note: Mat 12:40.]. To prevent this, every expedient was resorted to, that human ingenuity could contrive. But at the appointed moment the Saviour rose; and thus completed the deliverance of a ruined world.
These two events are referred to in the text; the one, historically; the other, typically.
To these events I will first call your attention
Great was the deliverance of Israel from Egypt
[Sore, beyond conception, was the bondage of the children of Israel; insomuch that God himself was grieved at it. But, through the judgments executed on their oppressors, Pharaoh was at last prevailed on to dismiss them. The last great judgment that was inflicted on their enemies was the destruction of their first-born throughout all the land of Egypt; from which the Israelites were protected by the blood of the paschal lamb sprinkled on their dwellings. This was altogether a wonderful deliverance, such as never had been vouchsafed to any other nation under heaven [Note: Deu 4:32-34.].
The end of that deliverance rendered it yet more glorious; because they were now consecrated to the Lord as a special people above all people upon the face of the earth: and they were led forth under the immediate guidance and protection of God himself, to a land flowing with milk and honey, a land that was the glory of all lands.
This was a redemption which might well be remembered by them, in all future ages, with wonder, and gratitude, and praise.]
But infinitely greater is the deliverance that has been vouchsafed to us
From how much sorer bondage are we rescued, even from the bonds of sin and Satan, death and hell! And how much more wonderful is the means of our preservation, even the blood of Gods only dear Son, once shed on Calvary, and now sprinkled on our souls! To how much higher a state too are we raised, not nominally, but really, the sons of God, and the inheritors of the kingdom of heaven! What shall we say of this? It surpasses the utmost conception both of men and angels: and has a height and depth, and length and breadth, that is utterly incomprehensible.]
Let me next commend to your special observance this [Note: Preached on Easter Day.] day, on which these great events are commemorated
They deserve well to be commemorated by the whole human race
[The deliverance from Egypt will be a standing memorial of Gods power and grace to the very end of time. But what shall we say of the redemption which that event typified? Should not that be held in remembrance by us? Should not that be annually commemorated with the devoutest acknowledgments? Verily, it is a day much to be observed unto the Lord, even unto the latest generations.
And here I cannot but regret that the stated remembrance of these wonderful events is by a great multitude of religious professors utterly disregarded. Under an idea of avoiding Popish superstition, many have run to an opposite extreme, and cast off the very semblance of gratitude, and put from them the most effectual means of exciting it in the soul. That such memorials may degenerate into form, I readily acknowledge; but that they may be subservient to the greatest spiritual elevation, I have no doubt: and I cannot but lament, that, through a licentious zeal for what they call liberty, many deprive themselves of most invaluable blessings. To us of the Established Church, I thank God, these privileges are preserved: and I would recommend to every one of you a conscientious and devout improvement of them. Nor can I doubt, but that as the memorial of our Lords death continued to us in the Sacramental Supper is found a blessing, so will the stated remembrance of our Lords birth, and death, and resurrection, on the days on which they are commemorated, prove a blessing to all who will consecrate the time to a special consideration of those stupendous mercies.]
The way in which they should be observed may be learned from the history before us
[The Israelites, to their latest generations, were on that day to eat of the paschal lamb, and to renew their dedication of themselves to him as his peculiar people. And in this way should we employ this holy day.
Let us this day keep a feast unto the Lord [Note: 4.]. Let us eat of the Paschal Lamb, and feed on that adorable Saviour who shed his blood for us, to redeem our souls from death But let us eat it with the bitter herbs of penitential sorrow, and with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth [Note: with Deu 16:1-4.]. Nor is this a suggestion of man; but of the Lord himself, who has given us this very command [Note: 1Co 5:7-8.]. Mark well, I pray you, these peculiar circumstances, which alone will ensure a favourable acceptance of your services before God: for without deep penitence and guileless sincerity your services will be only an abomination to the Lord
Let us also dedicate ourselves to him as his peculiar people [Note: Exo 13:2 with Num 8:17.]. We are not our own: we are bought with a price: we should therefore glorify our God with our bodies, and our spirits, which are his [Note: 1Co 6:19-20.]. Remember how entirely the people of Israel were now separated from the world, and how completely they were made dependent on their God. Remember too, that they had but one object in view, namely, the attainment of the promised land. Thus in spirit should we be: in spirit, I say; because we have offices to perform, which preclude a possibility of entire separation from the world. But if, whilst we fulfil the duties of our respective stations in the world, we attain in heart what the external situation of Israel was designed to represent, we shall do well. This should from henceforth be our one labour. Behold them, and God himself at their headhe theirs, and they his! So let us consecrate ourselves this day to him, that we may be his people, and he our God, for ever and ever.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
Observe what stress the Holy Ghost lays upon the exactness of the time, as if to show to man God’s uprightness.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 12:41 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.
Ver. 41. Even the selfsame day. ] God, saith one, had well nigh forfeited his bond; but ere the sun went down he payed the debt. His premises are good surehold. At midnight the firstborn were slain, because then exactly the four hundred and thirty years were expired.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the selfsame day: i.e. the fifteenth day of the seventh month. The years of the solar cycle show that it was the day that Abraham left “Ur of the Chaldees”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
selfsame: Psa 102:13, Dan 9:24, Hab 2:3, Joh 7:8, Act 1:7
hosts: Exo 12:51, Exo 7:4, Jos 5:14
Reciprocal: Gen 15:13 – four Exo 12:50 – as the Lord Deu 7:8 – Lord brought Deu 26:8 – the Lord Psa 114:1 – Israel Eze 40:1 – selfsame Act 7:6 – four Act 7:36 – brought Gal 3:17 – which
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12:41 And it came to pass at the end of the {s} 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.
(s) From Abraham’s departing from Ur in Chaldea to the departing of the children of Israel from Egypt are 430 years.