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this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2024
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As another commenter pointed out, the "40 years" was more figurative, likely meaning something more like "a generation."
The reason being, I've heard, as they fled Egypt, they were fleeing slavery, the only form of life they had known. For their people to settle successfully, they needed to wander for "40 years/a generation" so that they could know what it was like to live as a free people.
This, it is a figurative story intended for a jewish Babylonian exile community. Based on the communal memory of Egypt rule over Canaan/Israel centuries earlier.
I love how these religious texts are interpreted however tf you want. "Oh, this part is real and this person definitely existed. But this part is figurative to illustrate a concept. I have no evidence for anything but have faith and donate, bro. Also, live your life the way I say."
OP was just explaining the history of that bit of text. You are aware that these nations and peoples existed and had a real history, right?
Does my comment imply that I have a problem with their comment?
😳
40 seems to have a symbolic meaning: https://www.yeshiva.co/midrash/48664