A Confusing Timeline

Scripture: These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred and thirty-seven years. ... The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred and thirty-three years. ... Now Amram married Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven years. Exodus 6:16,18,20

Observation: In discussing the lineage of Moses, the author tracks Levi, to Kohath, to Amram, to Moses. The collective ages of Levi, Kohath, and Amram is 407 years old. By this lineage, Moses is the great grandson of Levi (or even just his grandson if it is true Amram married his aunt and thus the connection between Levi and Moses is one generation shorter on his mother's side).

So how long were the Jews in Egypt? Was it 400 years as is commonly taught? Or was it more like 150 - four generations?

These are places where the Bible in confusing, and for confusing reasons. If it does not matter how long the Jews were in Egypt and correspondingly in captivity, then why document it at all? If it does matter, then why is it confusing. Keep in mind the "shorter" duration would also mean that, given Levi's age at the time the Jews entered Egypt, that the sons of Jacob may have died as little as 40 years prior to the exodus, and all these subsequent generations were still alive. This fact would create a different understanding of the narrative of the patriarchs, as the stories of Genesis would still be just second-hand accounts (in the case of Jacob's sons).

Again, I did some research. One source says Jacob went down to Egypt in 1875 BC, died in 1859 BC, then the Exodus occurred in 1446 BC (413 years after Jacob's death). I found another source marking Jacob's entry in Egypt at 1711 BC and the Exodus at 1496 BC (215 years). This cannot be reconciled against the generation record of Moses.

Application: Again, while I am trying to figure out what is important in the Bible, I find new concepts. For example: One idea is there are biblical statements about the Jews misery lasting 430 years ... yet other statements that that number included the 215 years from Abraham's call to Jacob's move to Egypt ... just a perfect half-way point. The bottom line is that I will likely never understand the facts of the Bible. Yet another reason why debating facts is a waste of time for most 'laymen'.

Prayer: Lord, please provide me with your wisdom in my continued work over the next two weeks. Amen.