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Commentary on Exodus 1 verses 1–7
In these verses we have, 1. A recital of the names of the twelve patriarchs, as they are called, Act 7:8. Their names are often repeated in scripture, that they may not sound uncouth to us, as other hard names, but that, by their occurring so frequently, they may become familiar to us; and to show how precious God's spiritual Israel are to him, and how much he delights in them. The account which was kept of the number of Jacob's family, when they went down into Egypt; they were in all seventy souls (Exo 1:5). according to the computation we had, Gen 46:27. This was just the number of the nations by which the earth was peopled, according to the account given, Gen. 10. For when the Most High separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel, as Moses observes, Deu 32:8. Notice is here taken of this that their increase in Egypt might appear the more wonderful. Note, It is good for those whose latter end greatly increases often to remember how small their beginning was, Job 8:7. 3. The death of Joseph, Exo 1:6. All that generation by degrees wore off. Perhaps all Jacob's sons died much about the same time; for there was not more than seven years' difference in age between the eldest and the youngest of them, except Benjamin; and, when death comes into a family, sometimes it makes a full end in a little time. When Joseph, the stay of the family, died, the rest went off apace. Note, We must look upon ourselves and our brethren, and all we converse with, as dying and hastening out of the world. This generation passeth away, as that did which went before. 4. The strange increase of Israel in Egypt, Exo 1:7. Here are four words used to express it: They were fruitful, and increased abundantly, like fishes or insects, so that they multiplied; and, being generally healthful and strong, they waxed exceedingly mighty, so that they began almost to outnumber the natives, for the land was in all places filled with them, at least Goshen, their own allotment. Observe, (1.) Though, no doubt, they increased considerably before, yet, it should seem, it was not till after the death of Joseph that it began to be taken notice of as extraordinary. Thus, when they lost the benefit of his protection, God made their numbers their defence, and they became better able than they had been to shift for themselves. If God continue our friends and relations to us while we most need them, and remove them when they can be better spared, let us own that he is wise, and not complain that he is hard upon us. After the death of Christ, our Joseph, his gospel Israel began most remarkably to increase: and his death had an influence upon it; it was like the sowing of a corn of wheat, which, if it die, bringeth forth much fruit, Joh 12:24. (2.) This wonderful increase was the fulfillment of the promise long before made unto the fathers. From the call of Abraham, when God first told him he would make of him a great nation, to the deliverance of his seed out of Egypt, it was 430 years, during the first 215 of which they were increased but to seventy, but, in the latter half, those seventy multiplied to 600,000 fighting men. Note, [1.] Sometimes God's providences may seem for a great while to thwart his promises, and to go counter to them, that his people's faith may be tried, and his own power the more magnified. [2.] Though the performance of God's promises is sometimes slow, yet it is always sure; at the end it shall speak, and not lie, Hab 2:3.
Joseph means “increase”; the interpretation of this name is testimony to the Hebrew people who came out of the land of Egypt in increased numbers.
Scripture often substitutes “souls” for men, as in Exodus: “There went down to Egypt seventy-five souls.” The whole man is to be understood from his better part.
The expression “their souls” must be interpreted as meaning the men whom he is known to have slain in that calamity. The words of Exodus attest that the soul stands for the whole person, as we have said: “So all the souls that came out of Jacob’s thigh were seventy.” This expression is the result of the figure of synecdoche, which signifies the whole from the part.
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SUMMARY
Exodus 1:5 serves as a pivotal numerical and genealogical anchor, bridging the patriarchal narratives of Genesis with the foundational story of Israel's dramatic growth and subsequent oppression in Egypt. It precisely states that seventy direct descendants of Jacob, excluding Joseph who was already established in Egypt, comprised the initial family unit that migrated, thereby setting the stage for the miraculous multiplication and the unfolding of God's covenant promises to His chosen people.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Exodus 1:5 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The phrase "came out of the loins of Jacob" is a clear example of a Hebrew Idiom, a common expression used to denote direct biological descent, emphasizing the familial continuity and the purity of the lineage. The specific number "seventy" functions as Numerical Symbolism, often representing completeness or a foundational unit in biblical thought, underscoring the divine precision and intentionality behind the formation of Israel. Finally, the clause "for Joseph was in Egypt [already]" serves as a Parenthetical Clarification, providing essential background information without interrupting the main flow of the narrative, ensuring the reader understands the context of the census. This verse also subtly uses Foreshadowing, as this initial small number of seventy hints at the miraculous population growth that will soon lead to the nation of Israel.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 1:5 is far more than a simple census; it is a profound statement of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. From this modest group of seventy souls, God would miraculously multiply His people, demonstrating His power to build a great nation from seemingly insignificant beginnings. This verse underscores God's meticulous providence, as the migration to Egypt, though prompted by famine, was part of His larger plan to preserve Jacob's family and allow them to grow into a numerous people in a protected environment, away from the corrupting influences of Canaan. It reaffirms the continuity of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, showing His commitment to His word across generations and through challenging circumstances, setting the stage for the dramatic unfolding of His redemptive plan.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 1:5 offers a powerful reminder that God often initiates His greatest works from the most humble and seemingly insignificant beginnings. The mighty nation of Israel, from whom the Messiah would ultimately come, began with a family of just seventy individuals. This teaches us to trust God's process, even when our own beginnings, current circumstances, or resources seem small or inadequate. It underscores God's unwavering faithfulness in preserving His people and fulfilling His promises across generations, regardless of the challenges or the apparent smallness of the starting point. This verse encourages us to remain faithful in our own small steps of obedience, knowing that God can take our meager offerings and multiply them for His grand purposes. It inspires us to have patience and hope, understanding that God's timeline and methods often differ from our expectations, yet His faithfulness remains constant.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is the number "seventy" significant in this verse?
Answer: The number "seventy" in Exodus 1:5 is highly significant for several reasons. Biblically, "seventy" often represents completeness, totality, or a foundational group. For instance, in Genesis 10, seventy nations are listed as descending from Noah, symbolizing the totality of humanity. In the context of Israel, it marks the divinely appointed, precise number of Jacob's direct descendants who entered Egypt, establishing the initial, distinct family unit from which God would miraculously multiply a great nation. This specific number underscores God's meticulous planning and intentionality in fulfilling His covenant promises, demonstrating that from a seemingly small and manageable group, He would bring forth a multitude. It also serves as a numerical anchor, setting the stage for the dramatic population growth described later in the chapter.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The preservation and multiplication of the "seventy souls" in Exodus 1:5 are a profound testament to God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises, which ultimately find their climactic fulfillment in Jesus Christ. This small family, divinely protected and destined to become a great nation, forms the very lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come, as meticulously traced in genealogies like Matthew 1:1-17. God's faithfulness in preserving this nascent community, even in a foreign land and through severe famine, foreshadows His greater plan of salvation for all humanity through the singular "seed" of Abraham—Jesus Christ—as explained in Galatians 3:16. Just as God multiplied the seventy into a countless multitude, Christ, through His redemptive work, gathers a spiritual Israel, a vast multitude from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (as envisioned in Revelation 7:9), demonstrating that the ultimate purpose of God's covenant with Abraham, initiated with a small family, was to bless all the families of the earth through the person and work of His Son, the true Lamb of God (John 1:29).