Israel’s population growth in Egypt was God’s fulfillment of His promise to make a great nation of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s descendants.
Scripture says Israel went from 70 souls to filling the land of Goshen (Exodus 1:5, 1:7). Les Feldick teaches that during Israel’s time in Egypt they multiplied so explosively that Moses later led out 5–7 million people, making Israel the largest nation in that part of the world — and setting the stage for God’s redemption and the return to the promised land.
Genesis 46:3 — God promises Jacob that He will make him a great nation in Egypt — the foundational promise behind Israel's growth.
Exodus 1:7 — Records the explosive multiplying of Israel in Egypt and the land being filled.
Exodus 1:9 — Shows Pharaoh’s reaction to Israel’s greater numbers, making the growth politically significant.
Scripture records that Israel entered Egypt with seventy souls — 'all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already' (Exodus 1:5). In Goshen, the children of Israel were 'fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them' (Exodus 1:7). The growth was so dramatic that the new king of Egypt said, 'Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we' (Exodus 1:9). Before Jacob went down, God told him, 'Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation' (Genesis 46:3). The Bible therefore presents Israel’s multiplication in Egypt as the promised work of God, not merely a demographic accident.
Les Feldick teaches that the explosive growth of Israel in Egypt was God preparing to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After more than 200 years in Egypt, Israel was multiplying, and God was about to take them into the land He had delineated in the Abrahamic covenant [Clip 0]. He emphasizes that the nation of Israel began to 'come into bloom' in Egypt — God told Jacob, 'Fear not to go down into Egypt, for I will there make of thee a great nation' (Genesis 46:3). Up to that point there were only Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, twelve sons and their children — still not much of a nation [Clip 1]. He connects Israel's multiplication to the biblical text in Exodus 1: five to verse 7: 70 souls out of Jacob's loins, then fruitful, increased abundantly, multiplied, waxed exceeding mighty, and the land was filled with them. The new Pharaoh sees that Israel is more and mightier than the Egyptians and has to do something drastic [Clip 2]. Les says that as long as Joseph lived, Israel had it good in prosperous Goshen, and as they prospered they multiplied [Clip 3]. Les estimates that after roughly 215 years of Israel's time in Egypt, Moses led out anywhere from 5–7 million people — not counting the mixed multitude — making Israel the largest nation in that part of the world at the time [Clip 4]. Elsewhere he says they went from 70-some souls to 3–7 million while in slavery, becoming a nation of people in Egypt [Clip 5]. He also underscores that this came about through Joseph being rejected by his brethren and ending up in Egypt, where God placed him to preserve the family [Clip 6]. Because Israel was then out of the land of promise and in a place of national death, Exodus is a book of redemption — God’s covenant people had to be brought back [Clip 7].
The Bible gives the starting point as 70 souls (Exodus 1:5), and the growth formula as being fruitful, increasing abundantly, multiplying, and waxing exceeding mighty until the land was filled (Exodus 1:7). Les places this in the middle of the 430-year period God had foretold, saying 215 years had elapsed since Abraham’s call and 215 years remained before the Exodus.
Pharaoh said Israel was more and mightier than Egypt (Exodus 1:9). Les says the king had to do something drastic because Israel’s numbers had made them stronger than the Egyptians.
Les says after some 215 years in Egypt itself, Moses led out a company of 5–7 million people, not counting the mixed multitude. He also estimates Israel went from 70-some souls to 3–7 million while in slavery and that this made Israel the biggest nation in the then-known world.
Les explains that when Israel ended up in Egypt, for all practical purposes they were out of the land of promise and in a place of national death. God's covenant people were lost nationally, so redemption was necessary. That is why Exodus is a book of redemption.
God’s Program Continues After Joseph’s Death
Israel had been in Egypt over 200 years, multiplying, and God was ready to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by taking them into the land.
Nation Begins to Bloom in Egypt
God told Jacob not to fear going down to Egypt because there He would make him a great nation — Israel began to 'come into bloom' as a nation in Egypt.
Explosive Multiplication Fills Goshen
Les walks through Exodus 1:5-9, showing that Israel went from 70 souls to filling the land, and Pharaoh had to do something drastic because Israel was more and mightier.
Prospering and Multiplying in Goshen
While Joseph was alive, Israel prospered in the productive Nile area and, as they prospered, they multiplied.
From 215 Years in Egypt to 5–7 Million
After about 215 years in Egypt, Moses led out 5–7 million Israelites, making Israel the biggest nation in the then-known world.
Seventy Souls Become Millions in Slavery
Israel went from 70-some souls to 3–7 million, not counting the mixed multitude, and became a nation while in slavery in Egypt.
God’s Promise to Jacob: A Great Nation
Israel became a nation because Joseph was rejected by his brethren, ended up in Egypt, and the family came down during the famine.
Exodus as Redemption Because Israel Was Lost Nationally
Israel was out of the land of promise and in a place of national death, so Exodus introduces redemption — buying back the covenant people.
Genesis 46:3: And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
This is the direct promise that Israel would become a great nation while in Egypt.
Exodus 1:5: And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
This establishes the small starting point from which Israel's explosive growth began.
Exodus 1:7: And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
This verse is the key biblical description of Israel's population growth in Egypt.
Exodus 1:9: And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
This shows how Israel's numbers changed Egypt's political situation and led to oppression.
Les Feldick says it shows God about to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From 70 souls, Israel multiplied so much that Egypt’s king regarded them as mightier than the Egyptians (Exodus 1:9).
Les places Jacob’s entrance into Egypt at the halfway point of the foretold 430-year period — 215 years after Abraham’s call and 215 years before the Exodus. He also says Moses led Israel out after some 215 years of their actual time in Egypt, and elsewhere speaks of the sojourn as about 400 years.
Because Israel had become more and mightier than the Egyptians (Exodus 1:9), and the land of Goshen was filled with them (Exodus 1:7). Les says the king therefore had to do something drastic.
At the entrance to Egypt there were only 70 souls from Jacob; during Israel’s time in Egypt they multiplied to millions, so the nation of Israel came into bloom there. God told Jacob, 'I will there make of thee a great nation' (Genesis 46:3).
Watch the Teaching: From Genesis to Exodus: Understanding the Biblical Timeline of Israel