Jacob's 70

When Jacob went down to Egypt he was 70 in number. How many were part of Israel when they came out of Egypt? The 70th book, Numbers, tells us.

Exodus 1:1-7

¹These are the names of the children of Israel who came to Mizraim with Jacob, a man and his house came, ²Reuben and Simeon and Levi and Judah ³and Issachar and Zebulun and Benjamin ⁴and Dan and Naphtali and Gad and Asher. ⁵All the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were 70 souls. Joseph was in Mizraim. FE ⁶Joseph died and all his brothers and all that generation. Exodus 1:1-6⁷The children of Israel grew and begot children and increased and grew very strong and the land was filled with them. H Acts 7:17 H Acts 13:17 Exodus 1:7-10 (Exodus 1:1-7 BRB)

Count

70 = Numbers

Numbers

When Jacob went into Egypt he was 70 in number. When he came out of Egypt he was estimated to be about 2.5 million in number. That's a huge increase. We know the rough number because the book of Numbers records a census count of those who left Egypt.

⁴⁵All those were numbered who were of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from 20 years old and up, all who were able to go forth to war in Israel. ⁴⁶The total number of the children of Israel was 603,550. (Numbers 1:45-46 BRB)

The total from the census count, the 603,550, is only counting males old enough to serve in the army (meaning those in their 20th year and up) and excludes the Levites who were not to serve in the army. If you add the Levites and a wife and two kids for everyone, we arrive at around 2.5 million people. That's a big increase from the 70 that went to Egypt with Jacob. The book of Exodus is not kidding when it says "The sons of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, and multiplied and grew exceedingly strong; and the land was filled with them."

Ryan Eaton 2012-01-24