99 Here as well some scholars work with the number 430 to try to reduce the stay in Egypt for the bondage. Some argue that if the number included the time in Canaan, that would reduce the bondage by half. S. R. Driver (Exodus, ) notes that P thought Moses was the fourth generation from Jacob (6:16–27), if those genealogies are not selective. Exodus 6 has Levi—Kohath—Amram—Moses. This would require a period of about 100 years, and that is unusual. There is evidence, however, that the list is selective. In 1 Chr 2:3–20 the text has Bezalel (see Exod 31:2–5) a contemporary of Moses and yet the seventh from Judah. Elishama, a leader of the Ephraimites (Num 10:22), was in the ninth generation from Jacob (1 Chr 7:22–26). Joshua, Moses’ assistant, was the eleventh from Jacob (1 Chr 7:27). So the “four generations” leading up to Moses are not necessarily complete. With regard to Exod 6, K. A. Kitchen has argued that the four names do not indicate successive generations, but tribe (Levi), clan (Kohath), family (Amram), and individual (Moses; K. A. Kitchen, Ancient Orient and Old Testament, 54–55). For a detailed discussion of the length of the sojourn, see E. H. Merrill, A Kingdom of Priests, 75–79.

In other versions

The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.

Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.

The time that the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years.

The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years.

And the period of dwelling of the Israelites that they dwelled in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

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