Genesis 15:13 Commentary and Bible Study

Then the prophecy becomes more specific. This is the first historic prophecy: ‘Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs.’ This is the taking of the children of Israel into Egypt. All was happy when they first arrived in Egypt, but before long the oppression began: ‘And shall serve them’ – they will be slaves – ‘and they shall afflict them four hundred years.’ That is a round figure. We know as the Bible says more precisely later on, that it was exactly 430 years. But there is no contradiction in the Bible. This is just a round number. The prophecy is not always given in every tiny detail, but Abram was told this in outline. There is going to be a time of suffering, many times of suffering, and before they inherit the land, there will be four hundred years plus in Egypt.