Exodus 1:5

“And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls, etc.] “Souls” are put for persons; of the number seventy, and how reckoned, ((see Gill on “<014627>Genesis 46:27”)). This was but a small number that went down to Egypt, when compared with that which went out of it; and that it should be compared with it is the design of its being mentioned, (see <021237>Exodus 12:37): for Joseph was in Egypt already; and is the reason why he is not reckoned among the sons of Jacob, that came thither with him; though rather it may be better rendered, “with Joseph who was in Egypt” f3; for he must be reckoned, and indeed his two sons also, to make up the number seventy; therefore…”

“Seventy - See Genesis 46:27. The object of the writer in this introductory statement is to give a complete list of the heads of separate families at the time of their settlement in Egypt. See the note at Numbers 26:5. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Seventy souls - According to the computation we had, Gen 46:27, including Joseph and his two sons. This was just the number of the nations by which the earth was peopled, Gen. 10:1-32, for when God separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel, Deu 32:8. Exodus 1:6”

“1:5 seventy descendants: The number 75 in the Greek version and the Dead Sea Scrolls might include the five sons of Ephraim and Manasseh (Num 26:29, 35). • Jacob’s eleventh son, Joseph, had been sold into Egyptian slavery by his jealous brothers (Gen 37:18-28). God accomplished good for his people in spite of the brothers’ sin. With Joseph present in Egypt, God could use him to save the lives of the chosen people from the famine that would have destroyed them (Gen 42:1-2; 50:19-20).”

“loins: Heb. thigh, Gen 46:26; Jdg 8:30 \*marg. seventy: Exo 1:20; Gen 46:26, Gen 46:27; Deu 10:22 Exodus 1:6”