Jacob Moves to Egypt – Genesis 46:1-47:12

The number of the family members of Jacob who are listed in this passage as going down to Egypt has been a source of discussion and debate.  The text lists the number at 70 (46:27).  “The number 70 is the total of the 71 names listed in verses 8–25, plus Jacob, minus the two who died as a result of divine judgment (Er and Onan; ch. 38)” (NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible).  The Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) lists the number as 75 and for this reason, Stephen, in Acts 7, says that is the number that went down to Egypt.  As the ESV Study Bible notes, “Perhaps 70 is a round number, expressing the idea that all Israel went down to Egypt.”

Therefore, “The list of names in these verses appears to have been selected so that the total numbers “seventy” (v.27). It can hardly be coincidental that the number of nations in Ge 10 is also “seventy.” Just as the “seventy nations” represent all the descendants of Adam, so now the “seventy sons” represent all the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the sons of Israel” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary).  “The long genealogy in these verses is proof of the fulfillment of God’s promises of fertility and prosperity. Everyone has been spared during the famine. The genealogical list shows that over time God is fulfilling his promise that Abraham will become a great nation. It also shows completeness by using the number 70 (v. 27), and it shows divine concern for each Israelite—none is missing, and each is important” (NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible).  Wiersbe‘s comment is apropos: “Some of the family may not have realized it, but they were a very special people to the Lord because He had important work for them to do in the years ahead. That little band of migrants would eventually bring blessing to the whole world (12:1–3).”

[1] So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. [2] And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” [3] Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. [4] I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”

[5] Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. [6] They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, [7] his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

[8] Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, [9] and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. [10] The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. [11] The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. [12] The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. [13] The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. [14] The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. [15] These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

[16] The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. [17] The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. [18] These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.

[19] The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. [20] And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. [21] And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. [22] These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.

[23] The son of Dan: Hushim. [24] The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. [25] These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.

[26] All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. [27] And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

[28] He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. [29] Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. [30] Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” [31] Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. [32] And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ [33] When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ [34] you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

[1] So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” [2] And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. [3] Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” [4] They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” [5] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. [6] The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

[7] Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. [8] And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” [9] And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” [10] And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. [11] Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. [12] And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents. (Genesis 46:1-47:12, ESV)

Israel/Jacob takes the first part of his journey toward Egypt by traveling to his former home place in Beersheba.  Yahweh had told his father Isaac not to go to Egypt the way Abraham had (Genesis 26:1-5), so Jacob’s consternation about this was met by a word from Yahweh that He approved Jacob going to Egypt, in fact would go with him, and would use his time there to make him a great nation.  He also promised that He would bring Jacob back to Canaan (he did not come back alive, as we shall see).

Though Pharaoh told them not to worry with bringing all their goods, that he would supply these anew, they brought them, and their herds, because they were coming to stay.  Jacob asks Judah to go before them and lead the way to Goshen (later called the land of Rameses, the name it obtained later but used here to give the present-day readers its location).

The concern of Joseph is that the Egyptians view shepherds as an abomination, so they will want Israel to live separate from them in this land.  As the ESV Study Bible notes, “The reason for the Egyptians’ dislike of shepherds is unknown.”  But Walton’s suggestion makes sense:  “perhaps Joseph’s advice concerns a more subtle issue of terminology. Toward the end of the Middle Kingdom in Egypt…large numbers of Semitic peoples began infiltrating Egypt. These people became known as the Hyksos, and they eventually gained a ruling position in much of Egypt that lasted until the middle of the sixteenth century b.c.  “Shepherds” may be ambiguous, referring not only to a vocation that was legitimate and acceptable (since there is no indication of dishonor attached to the profession in Egypt), but also to a group of people who were already infiltrating the land and, as a group, were despised. Joseph would want to ensure that his family was classified in the former category rather than the latter.”

The emotional reunion of Joseph with his father is most touching.  And then in his meeting with Pharaoh, Jacob blesses Pharaoh, another nod to the promise to Abraham that his offspring would bless all nations.  God is fulfilling His purposes and promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel.