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Chapter 4

The Time of Ratification

The covenant of the torch (Gen 15) was ratified after Abraham had rescued his nephew Lot in the battle between the kings of northern and southern Canaan and after his encounter with Melchizedek (Gen 14). It was also before Abraham took Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar (Gen 16), whom he took after living ten years in Canaan. Therefore, the covenant of the torch was ratified in Abraham’s tenth year in Canaan, in 2082 BC, when he was 84 years of age.

1. The Calculation of the Year of the Exodus

The exodus of the Israelites was the fulfillment of the covenant that God had made with Abraham. Through the covenant of the torch, God promised Abraham that his descendants would become strangers in a foreign land, where they would be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years, and return in the fourth generation (Gen 15:13–16). The question that arises here is, “When did the exodus take place?” To determine the year in which the covenant of the torch was established, we must calculate in reverse, starting from the year of the exodus.

There are two major theological methodologies for determining the year of the exodus. The “early date” theory dates the exodus to the fifteenth century BC, while the “late date” theory dates the exodus to the thirteenth century BC. Many theologians today support the “early date” theory.

The “late date” theory presumes that the exodus occurred during the reign of the Egyptian king Rameses II (1290–1224 BC). It also presumes that the pharaoh who tried to kill Moses (Exod 2:15) was the father of Rameses II, Seti I (1312–1289 BC).

The “early date” theory presumes that the exodus occurred in 1446 BC, during the reign of the Egyptian king Amenhotep II (1450 BC–?). Thus, the pharaoh who tried to kill Moses would have been Thutmose III (1504–1450 BC) from the eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Many evangelical theologians support this view.

Based on the Bible, the “early date” theory seems more appropriate than the “late date” theory as suggested by the reasons below:

(1) The “early date” theory agrees with the historical record in 1 Kings 6:1

1 Kings 6:1 states, “Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.” 2 Chronicles 3:2 cites the exact year, month, and date: “And he began to build on the second day in the second month of the fourth year of his reign.”

According to history, Solomon was enthroned as the king of Israel in 970 BC; thus, the fourth year of his reign was 966 BC. Adding 480 years in accordance with the record in 1 Kings 6:1 puts the exodus at exactly 1446 BC.

The “late date” theory perceives the 480 years as a symbolic number that represents 12 generations (i.e., 12 x 40 years). However, the advocates of the “late date” theory assert that one generation is actually only about 25 to 30 years. Accordingly, 12 generations would not amount to 480 years. The original Hebrew text of 1 Kings 6:1 makes no mention of 12 generations. Therefore, the “late date” theory holds little credibility.

(2) The “early date” theory agrees with Judges 11:26

Judges 11:26 states, “While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time?”

Thus, 300 years passed from the beginning of the Canaan conquest until the time of Jephthah’s reign. The period of the judges, which came after the conquest of Canaan, can be considered to be 340 years because the time from the end of Jephthah’s rule and the beginning of King Saul’s reign, which includes the prophet Samuel’s ministry, is considered to be 56 years.3 Then, adding to this 84 years and 6 months (the sum of 40 years of King Saul’s reign [Acts 13:21], 40 years and 6 months of King David’s reign [2 Sam 5:4–5], and four years of Solomon’s reign [1 Kgs 6:1]) would make the time between the conquest of Canaan and the construction of the temple of Solomon at least 424 years and 6 months.

The wilderness journey (Num 14:33–34) and the period of the Canaan conquest generally are viewed as 40 years and 16 years respectively (refer to p. 236–37, The Duration of the Conquest of Canaan, in Chapter 14, The Conquest of Canaan). Thus, adding 40 years and 16 years to 424 years and 6 months yields approximately 480 years.

According to this calculation, therefore, it took 480 years from the time of the exodus until the construction of the temple of Solomon; hence, the year of the exodus becomes 1446 BC (480 years + 966 BC, the fourth year of Solomon’s reign) and demonstrates that the “early date” theory is in agreement with the overall biblical standpoint.

2. The Calculation of the Time of Ratification

(1) The Israelites entered Egypt in 1876 BC

Adding 430 years (the duration of the Israelites’ dwelling in Egypt [Exod 12:40–41; Gal 3:17]) to the year of the exodus results in 1876 BC as the year the Israelites entered Egypt.

1446 BC (year of the exodus) + 430 years = 1876 BC

(2) Jacob was born in 2006 BC

Jacob was 130 years old when he entered Egypt (Gen 47:9).

1876 BC + 130 years = 2006 BC

(3) Isaac was born in 2066 BC

Isaac was 60 years old when he became the father of Jacob (Gen 25:26).

2006 BC + 60 years = 2066 BC

Incidentally, at the time of Isaac’s birth (2066 BC), Abraham was 100 years old (Gen 21:5).

(4) The covenant of the torch was ratified in 2082 BC

Abraham took Hagar after having dwelled in Canaan for ten years, when he was 85 years old (Gen 12:4; 16:3). Abraham was 86 years old when Ishmael was born to him through Hagar (Gen 16:16). Therefore, the covenant of the torch was ratified when Abraham was 84 years old, before taking Hagar as his wife. This was 16 years before Isaac’s birth (100 – 84 = 16). Therefore, it can be deduced that 2082 BC was the year for the ratification of the covenant of the torch.

2066 BC + 16 years = 2082 BC