Thy fathers went downe into Egypt with threescore and ten persons: and now the Lord thy God hath made thee as the starres of heauen, for multitude. Deuteronomy 10:22 (KJV)
Moses delivers this verse as part of his address to the Israelites, recounting their history and reminding them of God’s steadfast faithfulness. He points to the fulfillment of the promise given to Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation.
The reference to the ancestors who “went down into Egypt” recalls the time when Joseph and his brothers settled in Egypt during a severe famine, as recorded in Genesis 46:5‑7. Although the verse itself does not state a number, Genesis 46:27 and Exodus 1:5 identify the group as about seventy individuals—threescore and ten—comprising Jacob (Israel), his sons, and their families.
From this modest beginning God blessed the people and multiplied them abundantly over the generations. Moses emphasizes that the LORD their God has made them “as numerous as the stars of heaven,” a vivid image of an immeasurable multitude that underscores the dramatic growth of the Israelite nation.
This multiplication is presented as a direct fulfillment of the covenant promises to Abraham found in Genesis 12:2 and Genesis 15:5. The verse therefore serves as a reminder that God keeps His covenant, turning a small, seemingly insignificant group into a vast and mighty people.
The broader theological significance of Deuteronomy 10:22 lies in its illustration of God’s power to fulfill His promises. It demonstrates that God can take a few persons and, by His faithful action, bring about extraordinary transformation and abundance for His people.
In summary, Deuteronomy 10:22 celebrates God’s faithfulness in honoring the Abrahamic covenant, highlighting the journey from a handful of ancestors in Egypt to a nation as countless as the stars, and affirming that the same faithful God continues to work wonders for His people today.
