SOME SAMPLES OF ITS ALLEGED INACCURACIES
JACOB’S GOING INTO EGYPT.
It has been stated, that because we read in Scripture of those who went down into Egypt being sixty-six in one place, in another seventy, and in a third seventy-five, there must necessarily be contradiction in the statements; but those who make such statements have not read the passages with sufficient care to perceive that they are three different calculations.
1. If we turn to Genesis 46, we find a complete list of those who composed the sixty-six, and accompanied Jacob into Egypt. Such accuracy is manifested in the account, that two who had died were named only to show they were not in the list. “All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, all the souls were threescore and six.” This is the first list.
2. The next verse tells us, “All the souls of the house of Jacob which came into Egypt were threescore and ten.” This is the second list. How is it so calculated? Because Joseph and his two sons which were born to him in Egypt, were already there. Hence these, with Jacob, as stated, made up the number of seventy souls. Now, where is the contradiction? Nay, more; is it possibly to read this chapter attentively without being struck with the care that is taken to avoid the appearance of any discrepancy? But further. If we look into the beginning of Exodus 1, we again find the list spoken of as seventy, and including not only Jacob’s eleven sons by name, who came out of his loins, and went with him into Egypt, but in strict agreement with Genesis 46:2727And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. (Genesis 46:27), it is added, “for Joseph was in Egypt already.” Now, where is there any contradiction?
3. When Stephen, in his famous speech, refers to this, he says, “Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls” (Acts 7:1414Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. (Acts 7:14)). This is the third list, and here, even to upright souls, a difficulty may present itself. Observe, however, in this calculation, that Joseph and his sons may not be included, and if so, it leaves room for nine more of the patriarch’s “kindred”; and kindred is certainly not the same thought as those who came out of his loins.” We do not offer any positive solution of the difficulty, nor is it needful to prove how exactly the list of seventy-five was made up. If we had been told that two of his sons’ wives had died, it would be made clear, but we are not told, and must be silent. It is enough to know that Stephen, in this statement, quoted from the Septuagint, the authority of which was generally allowed. The fact too, that Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, and speaking before an assembly of masters in Israel, who were well instructed as to every detail of the history of Jacob, these and other considerations leave no opening for question as to the veracity of the martyr’s statement.
(Continued and to be Continued).