How Many Israelites Migrated to Egypt

Israel

The Fall Feast of Israel

 
Genesis 46:8-25 gives a name-by-name list of the descendants of Jacob who migrated from Canaan to Egypt.  Following this precise list there are two different figures given to identify the number of Israelites who entered Egypt—sixty-six and seventy.  In addition, Acts 7:14 states that seventy-five Israelites migrated to Egypt.  Do these numbers conflict or do they, upon closer examination, mesh harmoniously? 

The rhythm of life in ancient Israel revolved around the weekly Sabbath and a series of annual feasts.  There were four feasts in the spring—Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Weeks (Pentecost).  In addition, there were three fall feasts—Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Tabernacles (Ingathering).  Each feast carried historical and cultural connotations and each feast presents some prophetic or typological element as well.  The spring feasts had their typological fulfillment during Jesus’ first advent.  The fall feasts look ahead to His second advent.  It’s these fall feasts that are the focus of this article. 

​Rev. Dr. D.ana L. Goodnough​.

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