Exodus 12:40–41’s 430 years spans Abraham to the Exodus, not Egypt alone. Textual variants and Paul confirm this broader chronology.
Exodus 12:40–41 and the 430 Years: Textual and Chronological Analysis
Old Testament Textual Commentary on Exodus 14:20
Exodus 14:20 shows the dual role of the cloud—darkness to Egypt and light to Israel. The MT preserves this, while the LXX smooths it away.
Old Testament Textual Commentary on Exodus 12:40
Exodus 12:40’s 430 years include both Canaan and Egypt, confirmed by the LXX, SP, Josephus, and Paul, not Egypt alone as the MT suggests.
Old Testament Textual Commentary on Exodus 8:23
Exodus 8:23 uses “redemption” (פְדֻת) in the MT, emphasizing salvation rather than mere distinction, unlike the simplified LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate.
