Genesis — Chapter 46

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1And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

2And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

3And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

4I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

5And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

6And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

7His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

8And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

9And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

10And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.

11And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

13And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.

14And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.

15These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.

16And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.

17And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.

18These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.

19The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.

20And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him.

21And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.

22These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.

23And the sons of Dan; Hushim.

24And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.

25These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.

26All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were threescore and six;

27And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

28And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

30And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.

31And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father’s house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father’s house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

32And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.

33And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?

34That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

1And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

2And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

3And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

4I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

5And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

6And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

7his sons, and his sons` sons with him, his daughters, and his sons`s daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

8And these are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob`s first-born.

9And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, and Pallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

10And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.

11And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12And the sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13And the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puvah, and Iob, and Shimron.

14And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.

15These are the sons of Leah, whom she bare unto Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.

16And the sons of Gad: Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.

17And the sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel.

18These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.

19The sons of Rachel Jacob`s wife: Joseph and Benjamin.

20And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On, bare unto him.

21And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.

22These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.

23And the sons of Dan: Hushim.

24And the sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.

25These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.

26All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, that came out of his loins, besides Jacob`s sons` wives, all the souls were threescore and six;

27and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, that came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

28And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to show the way before him unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen; and he presented himself unto him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

30And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, that thou art yet alive.

31And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father`s house, I will go up, and tell Pharaoh, and will say unto him, My brethren, and my father`s house, who were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

32and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.

33And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?

34that ye shall say, Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

1So Israel began his journey, taking with him all that he had. When he came to Beer Sheba he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

2God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He replied, “Here I am!”

3He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.

4I will go down with you to Egypt and I myself will certainly bring you back from there. Joseph will close your eyes.”

5Then Jacob started out from Beer Sheba, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little children, and their wives in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent along to transport him.

6Jacob and all his descendants took their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they went to Egypt.

7He brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters—all his descendants.

8These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt—Jacob and his sons: Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob.

9The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul (the son of a Canaanite woman).

11The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.

14The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, along with Dinah his daughter. His sons and daughters numbered thirty-three in all.

16The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

17The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malkiel.

18These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter. She bore these to Jacob, sixteen in all.

19The sons of Rachel the wife of Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin.

20Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt. Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore them to him.

21The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.

22These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob, fourteen in all.

23The son of Dan: Hushim.

24The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter. She bore these to Jacob, seven in all.

26All the direct descendants of Jacob who went to Egypt with him were sixty-six in number. (This number does not include the wives of Jacob’s sons.)

27Counting the two sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt, all the people of the household of Jacob who were in Egypt numbered seventy.

28Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph to accompany him to Goshen. So they came to the land of Goshen.

29Joseph harnessed his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. When he met him, he hugged his neck and wept on his neck for quite some time.

30Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

31Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, ‘My brothers and my father’s household who were in the land of Canaan have come to me.

32The men are shepherds; they take care of livestock. They have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’

33Pharaoh will summon you and say, ‘What is your occupation?’

34Tell him, ‘Your servants have taken care of cattle from our youth until now, both we and our fathers,’ so that you may live in the land of Goshen, for everyone who takes care of sheep is disgusting to the Egyptians.”

1Israel traveled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.

2God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He said, “Here I am.”

3He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make of you a great nation.

4I will go down with you into Egypt. I will also surely bring you up again. Joseph will close your eyes.”

5Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

6They took their livestock, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt—Jacob, and all his offspring with him,

7his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and he brought all his offspring with him into Egypt.

8These are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

9The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

11The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.

14The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three.

16The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

17The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.

18These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls.

19The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin.

20To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.

21The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

22These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.

23The son of Dan: Hushim.

24The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls were seven.

26All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who were his direct offspring, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were sixty-six.

27The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, were seventy.

28He sent Judah before him to Joseph, to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen.

29Joseph 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.

30Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.”

31Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father’s house, “I will go up, and speak with Pharaoh, and will tell him, ‘My brothers, and my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.

32These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’

33It will happen, when Pharaoh summons you, and will say, ‘What is your occupation?’

34that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Jacob's entire family — seventy souls — moves to Egypt; God assures Jacob in a vision that He will make him a great nation there.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 46 records the migration of Jacob's entire family to Egypt — the beginning of Israel's 430-year sojourn (Exodus 12:40). Jacob stops at Beer-sheba (where both Abraham and Isaac worshipped) and God confirms the move with a night vision: "Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation" (v.3). The genealogy (vv.8-27) records 70 souls — the seed of a nation. The chapter ends with the emotional reunion of Jacob and Joseph after 22 years apart.
God's Confirmation at Beer-sheba (vv.1-7): Jacob stops at Beer-sheba — the southernmost point of Canaan, the last stop before Egypt (v.1). He offers sacrifices "unto the God of his father Isaac" (v.1). God speaks: "Jacob, Jacob" — the doubled name indicates urgency and intimacy (v.2). God's promises: (1) "I will there make of thee a great nation" (v.3); (2) "I will go down with thee" (v.4); (3) "I will also surely bring thee up again" (v.4); (4) "Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes" — Jacob will die peacefully with Joseph present (v.4).
The Genealogy (vv.8-27): The sons of Leah: 33 souls (vv.8-15). The sons of Zilpah: 16 souls (vv.16-18). The sons of Rachel: 14 souls (vv.19-22). The sons of Bilhah: 7 souls (vv.23-25). Total: 66 from Jacob's body (v.26), plus Jacob himself, Joseph, and Joseph's two sons = 70 (v.27). This number is significant — 70 nations in Genesis 10, 70 elders later appointed (Exodus 24:1), 70 sent by Jesus (Luke 10:1).
The Reunion (vv.28-34): Judah is sent ahead to Goshen (v.28) — Judah the leader, not Reuben the firstborn. Joseph rides his chariot to meet Jacob: "fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while" (v.29). Jacob: "Now let me die, since I have seen thy face" (v.30) — echoing Simeon's words centuries later (Luke 2:29-30). Joseph coaches them to identify as shepherds so they'll be settled in Goshen — separate from Egyptian society (vv.31-34).

Map & Geography

  • Beer-sheba (v.1) — Jacob's last stop in Canaan before entering Egypt. He offers sacrifices here, the traditional southern boundary of the Promised Land. God appears to confirm the journey.
  • Goshen (v.28) — the eastern Nile Delta, where Jacob reunites with Joseph. This fertile region becomes Israel's home for the next 400+ years.
  • The journey from Beer-sheba to Goshen crosses the Sinai Peninsula — approximately 200 miles through desert terrain.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes God's four promises at Beer-sheba and the significance of 70 souls — the seed of a nation preserved through famine by God's providence.
  • Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Fear Not" on v.3 (MTP Vol. 12, No. 680) "Fear not to go down into Egypt — God does not say 'Egypt will be pleasant' or 'Egypt will be easy.' He says 'I will go down WITH THEE.' That is enough. The presence of God transforms any Egypt into a Goshen. Jacob feared Egypt — and rightly so, for his grandfather Abraham sinned there, and Egypt would later enslave his descendants. But God says: fear not. Not because Egypt is safe, but because I am with you. Christian, your Egypt — whatever trial you face — is not safe. But God is with you in it. And He will surely bring you up again."

Reflection

  • 1. "Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation" (v.3). God doesn't promise the journey will be easy — He promises His presence and purpose. What "Egypt" are you facing? God goes with you.
  • 2. "I will go down with thee... and I will also surely bring thee up again" (v.4). God promises both presence AND return. Whatever valley you're in, it's not permanent. God will bring you through.
  • 3. Jacob stopped at Beer-sheba to worship before the journey (v.1). Do you seek God's confirmation before major life decisions? Or do you rush ahead?
  • 4. 70 souls became a nation of millions. Never despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10). What has God entrusted to you that seems small? Be faithful — He multiplies.
  • 5. "Now let me die, since I have seen thy face" (v.30). Jacob's deepest longing fulfilled. What is your deepest longing? Trust God's timing — even if it takes 22 years.