The problem is actually even worse than it first appears, because a close reading of the Torah contradicts BOTH of these numbers, to wit: (A) Among the souls entering Egypt with Jacob was Kehat, Jacob's grandson, who lives (Exodus 6:18) 133 years; (B) Amran, son of Kehat, lives
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since, like many deivine promises, this one was obviously conditional on the human being holding up their side of the bargain. just as G-d increased the wanderings of Israel in the desert to 40 years, he increased the slavery in Egypt to 240.
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The Ralbag (Gersonides) finds a different way to make the numbers work: The four hundred years begin from the birth of Jacob (preferable since he wandered while Isaac didn't really) and G-d HASTENED the Egyptian redemption by 30 years on account of its severity.
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The Ibn Ezra explains it the first way, and finds the extra 30 years by counting from when Abraham left Ur, which was 30 years prior to Isaac's birth,
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The only question remaing is that if G-d wished to tell Abraham how long the Egyptian exile would be, why did he do it with one obscure number (400) and not parse the various time periods contained therein?
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There are various reasons. One simple explanation is that if the longer exiles (the Egyptian and the Roman, which has lasted a very long time so far) were given exact numbers by G-d, it may lead to despair. The ambiguity makes it easier to await redemption every day.
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Another explanation is that these exiles really had not defined time limit, and G-d awaits the prayers for redemption and for our return back to Him in holiness. As it says in the Talmud in Tractate Sanhedrin, the Messiah would come "today, if only you listened to his voice."
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Knowing a specific time limit on an exile implies that we do not have to change our behavior, do not have to improve, since G-d is duty-bound to redeem us at the appointed time.
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The ambiguity is more in keeping with the purpose of exile, which is to find light from darkness, to be pushed to discover greater good through opposition and challenge. So yeah, they could do math. /thread
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