EXPOSITION. Vers. 40--42.-The narrative of the depar- twice repeated, so the.t uthe mistake of a ture from Egypt is follawed, not unnaturally, copyist" is almost impossible. by a notification of the length of the sojourn, Ver. 40.-The sojourning of the ohildren which is declared to he.ve been a. space of of Israel, which dwelt in Egypt. Rather, four hundred e.nd thirty years. In the "Which they sojourned in Egypt." (Compare .. Introduction" to the Book, we have exa- the Septua.gint-;, 1<a.Tobc11<T1s ~v Ka.Ttp/C'll<Ta.v.) Four hundred a.nd thirty years. Literally mined the question, which here arises, 1. All "thirty years and four hundred years." to the soundness ; a.nd 2. As to the true mean- Ver. 41.-The self-same day . . . all the ing, of the Hebrew text, a.nd have arrived a.t hosts went out. The setting forth upon the the conclusion that it is sound, and that it journey is regarded as the " going out "-not means what it says, ,·iz., that 430 years elapsed the actual exit, which was only effected by the passage of the Red See.. between the arrival of Ja.cob in Egypt, with Ver. 42.-It is a night to be much ob- his sons, a.nd sons' sons, and their families, as served. We must suppose the.t some of the related in Gen. xlvi. 1-27, and the com- Israelites a.ctaa.lly commenced their march mencement of the exodus The time is before the night was over, being "hastened" by the Egypti&llS (ver. 33), a.nd having oil required by the genealogy e,t Joshua. (1 Chr. things in readiness ; but the bulk of the vii. 22-27). It is in remarkable a.ccorda.nce people oa.n scarcely have started before day- with the traditions that Joseph wes the break. This is that night of the Lord-i.e., minister of Apepi, and that the Jews went the night concerning which directions had out under Menephthe.h. If not absolutely been already given (vers. 6-11}--the only required for the multiplication of the race "night" for which a.ny observances were appointed. In their generations. To e.ll from " seventy souls " to a.hove two millions, time--i;o long as they continue to be a people. it is a.t a.ny rate more in a.ccord with that On the bindingness of this commandment, fact than the alternative number, 215. It is see the comment on ver. 14 of this chapter.
HOMILETICS. Vers. 40-42.-God's discipline of his chosen ones. I. TRE TRIALS OF Gon's PEOPLB ARE SEVERE, nuT HAVE A JOYFUL END AT LABT. The sojourn in Egypt_was_from first to la~t an affliction (Gen. xv. 13). It was only on account of the fammo m Canaan un. xu. 40-42.] 'rHE llOOK OF EXODUS. 29/j
that Jacob consented to change his abode and his condition. In Canaan he and bis had heen free; hll.d " served" no one; had lived like the sons of the desert. But in Egypt, even during the lifetime of Joseph, they entered on a species of servitude. Not only were tl,ey Pharaoh's subjects, but to some extent his servants (Gen. xlvii. 6). They were no longer free to come and go as they chose. They had a certain province assigned to them. They had, it is probable, to pay rent for their lands (Gen. xlvii. 26). After a certain time, during which they suffered only this "light affiiction," the severe oppression bega.n. Their lives were "made bitter with hard bondage, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field" (Ex. i. 14); then their children were massacred (ib. ver. 22); lastly, they were required to" make bricks without straw" (eh. v. 7-19). So with God's people generally. They are given a time of suffering. 'l'hey have to learn to " endure hardness." But God affiicts them as a discipline, and makes even their worst afllictions tend to their growth in grace. At last their trial time is over. Sometimes in this world, oftener in another, they find their Cana.an, and "enter into rest." II. THE TRIAL-TIME SEEMS LONG ; BUT Goo DETERMINES ITS LENGTH, AND APPORTIONS IT TO THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICULAR OABE. Four hundred and thirty years is a. long space, even in the life of a nation. It is a.bout the period of time which separates us from the rebellion of Jack Ca.de and the commencement of the "Wars of the Roses." 'rhe severe oppression of Israel was not, however, nearly so long as this. Perhaps it lasted only about a. century. In any case, times and seasons a.re in God's hands, ancl ~s he fixed four centuries for the entire servitude many years before it began (Gen. xv. 13), so, we may be sure, he fixed the term in his own counsels for the severe oppres- sion. And it is doubtless the same with individuals. God knows what kind and length of chastisement they need, and assigns to each of his chosen ones the term of suffering that is needful for him. III. IF THE 'l'RIAL-TIME ENDS HERE, AND A SEASON OF HAPPINESS SUPERVENES, IT IS WELL TO OBSERVE YEARLY THE DAY OF THE CHA...''IGE AS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD. As national mercies are rightfully commemorated by national " days of thanks- giving," so the special blessings vouchsafed to individuals should receive private com- memoration. The day, or night, that brought us out of the Egypt of sin, is especially worthy of such honour. Wherever known, it should be "observed unto the Lord."