Deuteronomy 10:22
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Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
One marvel among these great and terrible acts of the Lord as to be seen in Israel itself, which had gone down to Egypt in the persons of its fathers as a family consisting of seventy souls, and now, notwithstanding the oppression it suffered there, had grown into an innumerable nation. So marvellously had the Lord fulfilled His promise in Gen 15:5. By referring to this promise, Moses intended no doubt to recall to the recollection of the people the fact that the bondage of Israel in a foreign land for 400 years had also been foretold (Gen 15:13.). On the seventy souls, see at Gen 46:26-27.
Open source ↗Moses having, in the foregoing chapter, reminded them of their own sin, as a reason why they should not depend upon their own righteousness, in this chapter he sets before them God's great mercy to them, notwithstanding their provocations, as a reason why they should be more obedient for the future. I. He mentions divers tokens of God's favour and reconciliation to them, never to be forgotten. (1.) The renewing of the tables of the covenant (Deu 10:1-5). (2.) Giving orders for their progress towards Canaan (Deu 10:6, Deu 10:7). (3.) Choosing the tribe of Levi for his own (Deu 10:8, Deu 10:9). (4.) And continuing the priesthood after the death of Aaron (Deu 10:6). (5.) Owning and accepting the intercession of Moses for them (Deu 10:10, Deu 10:11). II. Hence he infers what obligations they lay under to fear, and love, and serve God, which he presses upon them with many motives (Deu 10:12, etc.).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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And with the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family who went to Egypt were seventy in all.
The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all, including Joseph, who was already in Egypt.
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.”
The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.
You who were as numerous as the stars in the sky will be left few in number, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.
You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess.
Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.
These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.
The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.
And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.