According to the Bible, it took 40 years to get to Cairo from Jerusalem. It’s a 6-hour drive which would be a few days by foot. Why would it take 40 years?

 The Bible does not explicitly state that it took 40 years to travel from Jerusalem to Cairo. The 40 years mentioned in the Bible is related to the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness after their escape from Egypt, not their journey from Jerusalem to Cairo.

According to the biblical narrative, after the Israelites left Egypt under the leadership of Moses, they were supposed to enter the Promised Land. However, due to disobedience and lack of faith, they were condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years before finally entering the land. This period of wandering is described in the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy in the Bible.

The journey from Jerusalem to Cairo would not have taken 40 years. The 40 years in the Bible are symbolic of a period of testing and preparation for the Israelites rather than a literal measurement of travel time between specific locations. It's essential to interpret biblical passages in their historical and cultural context and consider the symbolic and theological meanings behind the numbers and events mentioned.