Q&A: A Question About the Number of Those Who Left Egypt
A Question About the Number of Those Who Left Egypt
Question
Hello Rabbi Michael,
I came across an estimate of the world’s population at the time of the giving of the Torah, and they estimate it was around 40 million people. My question is: how could it be that the Israelites were almost a tenth of the world’s population at that time (three million), especially since it is said about them, “It was not because you were more numerous than all the peoples that the Lord desired you and chose you.” More generally, from some of the estimates of biblical criticism that I’ve heard, they estimate the number of those who left Egypt at something on the order of tens of thousands, which fits the historical data better.
Answer
The Maharal argues that the number 600,000 is typological (that is, it symbolizes a complete nation or a full composition. By the way, like at the founding of the State).
But I’m not sure those estimates are contradictory (even if they are correct, and I’m quite doubtful about such determinations. For example, Velikovsky shifts the dating by 600 years). It is possible that at that time the people of Israel were a large percentage of the world. At least the families there are counted one by one (how many people were in each family is, of course, another story). And as for “not because you were more numerous,” perhaps the meaning is that despite your numbers, you were not chosen because of that; and the proof is that in the future you will be the fewest of all peoples and will still remain the chosen people.
Discussion on Answer
I’m not well-versed in the Maharal. I just now saw references to Gevurot 26/29, 50, Netzach 39, Be’er HaGolah ch. 4, and there are more.
See also Tiferet 56 on the number 60 (ten-thousands) as completeness.
Your comments are valid. It’s not likely that it’s only typological.
You can see a short overview in this field regarding the numbers of the Exodus,
and how they can be read, here:
I tried to look for the source in the Maharal where he says that 600,000 is a typological number. I found something similar in his book Gevurot Hashem, chapter 12; is that the source you meant? And if so, does he mean that the number is only symbolic and does not really represent the actual number of Israelites, or perhaps that this really was their number in practice, and that there was also something symbolic about that number?
If you meant a different source, I’d be happy if you could point me to it.
And another question: if the number is indeed typological and does not really represent the actual number of the Israelites at the Exodus, how does that fit with the census results that were recorded, where detailed figures were given that added up to 600,000? In addition, the census totals were not round numbers. Usually typological numbers come in a round form, without leftovers afterward like 603,500.
Best regards,