How many years were Israelites slaves in Egypt?

Answer 1

Exodus 12:40-41 says the Hebrews spent 430 years in Egypt: "Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years ..." Of course, not all of this time is said to have been as slaves. However, the genealogy of Moses does not allow such a long time, since he had to be born sometime between 15 years and 270 years after the arrival in Egypt, lived 120 years and yet led the Israelites on the Exodus for some forty years.

Perhaps in recognition of this problem, a Jewish midrash of the common era attempted to rationalise by stating that Moses protested to God that he could not lead the Hebrews, because they had only been in Egypt for 210 years and had not yet faced the 400 years of oppression that God had foretold to Abraham. God responded that the time of oppression had to be dated from the birth of Isaac, and so 400 years had indeed gone by.

The great majority of biblical scholars now believe that the Israelites were never slaves in Egypt and that there was no Exodus as described in The Bible.

Answer 2

According to ancient Middle Eastern historical records of the period, i.e. inscriptions, tablets, it would seem they never were. Only the Bible tells that story, and this story was recorded on scrolls made of animal skins. Does the fact that it is not corroborated by any other source prove it is only a legend? No.

One source is always better than none, especially when it is as detailed as the Biblical sources. There are many ancient events, some of great magnitude, such as the eruption of Mt. Thera (Santorini) or the disappearance of Atlantis that have little or no sources at all to corroborate them. The miraculous deliverance from bondage of the Israelites in Egypt has sparked traditions remembered over a period of three millennia by the generations that followed. Those events define the birth of Israel as a significant people on the stage of history, whose contributions to the world vastly outweighs its demographic size. Beyond the question of myth or historical fact, the sources must be studied for what they are.

The Duration Puzzle

To start with, a worthy effort to elucidate the 400 & 430 year puzzle is posted on one of the links below. If you are serious, next, consider chronological studies such as Old Testament scholar Eugene Merrill's book Kingdom of Priests (Baker Academic, 2 edition, 2008). Use the link below to see reviews of this book.

There are several possible answers mentioned in the Bible concerning the period of Israel's oppression in a land of their own (Keep in mind that Canaan also was not their own land, so maybe Canaan may have to be included with Egypt as "land of sojourn" that would be judged for oppressing the Israelites). The issue is still debated today in cultural and chronological studies by scholars. The Bible gives several clues, but no direct answer as to the exact number of years the Israelites experienced bondage as slaves in Egypt. The four biblical sources (clues) are:

1. 400 years (Genesis 15:13-14; Acts 7:6-7)
2. 430 years (Ex 12:40-41; Galatians 3 :15,17)
3. 450 years (Acts 13:16-21)
4. The minimal period of 80 years (Moses birth to Moses' departure from Egypt)
5. Scholars agree the actual length of stay could not be more than 350 years

The Ancient Conditions of Slavery

Exodus 1:9ff makes clear that a period of favor and prosperity in Goshen was followed by a period of forced labor in the storage cities of Pharaoh that violated the Israelites freedom. The reasons stated in the biblical context are ethnic, demographic and political. Below is a link where ancient slavery in Egypt can be further explored.

Answer210 years

to 400 years.

it is debatable, but a mere 200 years is irrelevant in the big picture.

Answer 3

Traditional answers regarding the amount of time the Israelites spent in slavery in Egypt include 400 years, 430 years, and 210 years.

It depends on when you start your timeline. Some say 430 years, figuring from the time that Jacob and his family came down to join Joseph in Egypt. But when the Israelites arrived in Egypt they were guests of the Pharaoh for whom Joseph served as grand vizier. Joseph arranged for his family to live in the Goshen area (that part of northern Egypt on the eastern side of the Nile Delta) where they were pretty much left alone by the Egyptians and continued to lead a peaceful life.

Others say 210 years, figuring from the time that "there arose in Egypt a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph. Even here, there's a clear lack of clarity, for while many believe that the oppressive Pharaoh was Ramses II there is (as yet) no conclusive archaeological evidence to support this.

Around 400 years is the most accurate answer. The Bible is the most accurate historical book we have.

The Septuagint translates verse 40 in Exodus chapter 12 as such: "And the sojourning of the children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan was four hundred and thirty years." The above verse falls into accordance with NLT's translation: "This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise" Galatians 3:17. From the two passages we may conclude that the 400 years specified in Genesis 15:13 commence 30 years after the covenant (agreement) mentioned in Galatians 3:17, making the sojourn of Israelites 430 years in a foreign land.

"The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.' So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran." Genesis 12:1-4 states the establishment of the covenant and Abraham's age upon arriving at Canaan. 30 (time from covenant to 5 years subsequent to birth of Isaac) + 55 (Genesis 25:26) + 130 (Genesis 47:9) + 215 (time after Jacob's arrival in Egypt to the Israelites' departure from Egypt and the giving of Ten Commandments at Mtn. Sinai) = 430.

Answer 4

Traditional chronology states that the actual harsh phase of the enslavement was not more than 210 years (Rashi commentary on Exodus 12).
The Ipuwer papyrus describes Egypt's experiencing the Plagues: "Pestilence is throughout the land....the river is blood, death is not scarce...there is no food...neither fruit nor herbs can be found...barley has perished...all is ruin...the statues are burned" (Professor John van Seters, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology no. 50).

• Link: More on the topic
  

The plagues were also described by ancient historians, including Herodotus and Diodorus. The Exodus is mentioned by Strabo, Berosus, Artapanus, Numenius, Justin, and Tacitus.

• Link: Evidence of the Exodus
  

But in any case, few nations are content to record embarrassing setbacks honestly. Even today, British and American textbooks describe the American Revolution in very different ways.

An example of the above principle:

The destruction of Sennacherib's army at the walls of Jerusalem was denied by secular theorists, because the Assyrians made no mention of it. But then it was found that Berosus and Herodotus both state that Sennacherib's military campaign in Judea ended in plague and defeat. It should not surprise us that the Assyrians themselves didn't record their own losses.

It is only the Hebrew Bible, because of its Divine origin, that exposes the faults of its own people and even magnifies them.

In no other religious text can one find such openness. None of the Israelites were immune to strong criticism: Abraham (Genesis 16:5), Reuben (Gen.ch.35), Simeon and Levi (Gen.ch.34 and 49), Judah (Gen.ch.38), Joseph's brothers (Gen.ch.37), Moses (Numbers ch.20), Aaron (Exodus 32:2-4), Samson (Judges 14:1-3), Eli's sons (1 Samuel 2:12), Samuel's sons (1 Samuel 8:1-3), Saul (1 Samuel ch.15), David (2 Samuel ch.11-12), Solomon (1 Kings ch.11), and many others.

See also the Related Links.

Link: Is the Hebrew Bible accurate?

Link: Moses was a real person

Answer 5

Tradition states that the actual slavery under increasingly harsh conditions lasted for not more than 115 years. During the rest (the early part) of the Israelites' sojourn in Egypt, they were not enslaved. Texts mentioning 400 years (Genesis 15) or 430 years (Exodus 12) are calculated from events in Abraham's lifetime (Rashi commentary) before the Israelites settled in Egypt and are easily understood by the fact that during the Patriarchal era, the Egyptians had military garrisons in Canaan and a degree of power there.

The Exodus:

In the Exodus, Moses brought the Israelites out of the Egyptian slavery under the guidance of God, after God brought plagues upon the Egyptians (Exodus ch.1-12).

After the Israelites left, Egypt was in turmoil for decades. Though Israel was later harassed (Judges ch.3,6 and 10) by its smaller neighbors (Ammon, Moab, Midian), not a peep was heard from Egypt for four hundred years.

Egypt's turmoil is also borne out by the Ipuwer papyrus, which mentions a number of the Plagues ("Pestilence is throughout the land....the river is blood, death is not scarce...there is no food...neither fruit nor herbs can be found...barley has perished...all is ruin...the statues are burned") (Professor John van Seters, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology no. 50). The plagues were also described by ancient historians, including Herodotus and Diodorus. The Exodus is mentioned by Strabo, Berosus, Artapanus, Numenius, Justin, and Tacitus.

See also the Related Links.

Link: Archaeology and the Hebrew Bible

Link: The Plagues

Link: The Exodus

Answer 6

Without Rabbinical tradition it is impossible to answer this question with any accuracy. Tradition states that the slavery began after the death of Levy and that the Israelites' sojourn in Goshen was just 210 years, and that the slavery intensified in stages. The total period of slavery was 116 years, not all of it harsh. (The number of 400 years given in Genesis includes part of the era before the Israelites went to Goshen, since Canaan was garrisoned by Egypt.)Sources: Rashi commentary based on the ancient Midrash, on Genesis 15:13, 42:2, and Exodus 12:40.

The Exodus:

In the Exodus, Moses brought the Israelites out of the Egyptian slavery under the guidance of God, after God brought plagues upon the Egyptians (Exodus ch.1-12).

After the Israelites left, Egypt was in turmoil for decades. Though Israel was later harassed (Judges ch.3,6 and 10) by its smaller neighbors (Ammon, Moab, Midian), not a peep was heard from Egypt for four hundred years.

Egypt's turmoil is also borne out by the Ipuwer papyrus ("Pestilence is throughout the land....the river is blood") (Professor John van Seters, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology no. 50). The plagues were also described by ancient historians, including Herodotus and Diodorus. The Exodus is mentioned by Strabo, Berosus, Artapanus, Numenius, Justin, and Tacitus.

See also:

Archaeology and the Hebrew Bible

Refuting Bible-criticism

Answer 7

The Bible states that the Israelites were in Egypt for 430 years, although there are other references that suggest only 400 years. On the bibilcal account they were not enslaved until perhaps a little before Moses was born, so if we know when Moses was born we would know at least how long the period of slavery lasted. Here we have a problem.

The biblical genealogy suggests that Moses was born sometime prior to 270 years after the arrival in Egypt. This means the Israelites were enslaved at least 160 years, but also means that Moses was at least 160 years old when the Exodus from Egypt occurred. However, the Bible also tells us that Moses was just 80 years old when the Exodus from Egypt occurred, so that the period of slavery could have been little more than 80 years.

The real answer lies with the overwhelming scholarly consensus that the Exodus from Egypt never really happened as described in the Bible. The stories of the enslavement of the Israelites and of their Exodus from Egypt are important to the development of Judaism, but are not historical events. This explains the total lack of archaeological evidence for them in Egypt.

Answer 8

According to the continuous tradition of the Israelites (Jews) themselves, they were in Egypt for a total of 210 years. Of this, the slavery itself lasted about 115 years.

Verses which mention 400 years (Genesis ch.15) and 430 years (Exodus ch.12) are calculated from events in Abraham's lifetime, not during the actual sojourn in Egypt (Rashi commentary, ibid).

See also:

More about the Exodus

Answer 9

Another answer from our community:

According to Moses and several later authors it was 400 years. Actually, the Israelites were in Egypt for 400 years, but they were not slaves until the latest Pharaoh came to power - a man who did not know Joseph.

Answer 10

There is little historical evidence that the Hebrews were actually slaves in Egypt. The Egyptians kept detailed records of their wealth, but there's no mentions of slaves. So, no-one can say for sure that the Hebrews were actually enslaved and how long for.

Answer 2

The Bible clearly says the Hebrews were to be enslaved for 400 years in Egypt. God said this to Abraham by an angel. They were slaves from 1896 B.C. to 1496 B.C.

God then brought plagues upon the Egyptians (Exodus ch.1-12). The Israelite exodus is also borne out by the Ipuwer papyrus, which mentions a number of the Plagues ("Pestilence is throughout the land....the river is blood, death is not scarce...there is no food...neither fruit nor herbs can be found...barley has perished...all is ruin...the statues are burned") (Professor John van Seters, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology no. 50). The plagues were also described by ancient historians, including Herodotus and Diodorus. The Exodus is mentioned by Strabo, Berosus, Artapanus, Numenius, Justin, and Tacitus.