Jacob's final divine encounter shifts from his typical covenant-focused visions to God's unprecedented promise of provision and family preservation in foreign territory.
Genesis 46
Jacob's Journey to Egypt
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’s hand 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, in addition to 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.
28Jacob 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.”
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Theme
Jacob receives divine reassurance at Beersheba before departing for Egypt, where God promises to make him a great nation and eventually bring his descendants back to the Promised Land. The chapter provides a detailed census of Jacob's family—seventy people in total—who migrate to Egypt during the famine. This marks a pivotal transition as the covenant family leaves Canaan to reunite with Joseph, setting the stage for Israel's eventual bondage and exodus centuries later.
Context
This chapter concludes the famine narrative begun in chapter 41 and transitions from the patriarchal period in Canaan to Israel's sojourn in Egypt.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 God's Reassurance at Beersheba Jacob offers sacrifices and receives divine promises about going to Egypt and becoming a great nation there.
- 5-7 The Journey Begins Jacob's family departs for Egypt with their possessions, livestock, and all their descendants.
- 8-27 Census of Jacob's Descendants A comprehensive genealogical record lists all seventy members of Jacob's household by their mothers.
- 28 Arrival in Goshen Judah is sent ahead to Joseph to prepare the way to the land of Goshen.
Jacob's Journey to Egypt
46:1–46:34 narrative narration hopeful
Jacob receives divine assurance to go to Egypt, and the narrative provides a genealogical record of all seventy family members who migrated to Egypt with him.
person_contrast
Jacob's final divine encounter shifts from his typical covenant-focused visions to God's unprecedented promise of provision and family preservation in foreign territory.
Insights
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Genesis 46:6 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 31:18 Lexical
and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had…
Genesis 36:6 Lexical
Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals,…
Genesis 12:5 Lexical
Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they…
Genesis 46:8 1 reference
Genesis 46:9 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Chronicles 5:3 Lexical
the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
Exodus 6:14 Lexical
These are the heads of their fathers’ houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and…
Numbers 26:5 Lexical
Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of th…
Numbers 26:6 Lexical
of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
1 Chronicles 4:1 Lexical
The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
Genesis 46:10 3 references
Lexicals 3
Exodus 6:15 Lexical
The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these ar…
Numbers 26:12 Lexical
The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites;…
1 Chronicles 4:24 Lexical
The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
Genesis 46:11 4 references
Lexicals 4
1 Chronicles 23:6 Lexical
David divided them into divisions according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Numbers 3:17 Lexical
These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Exodus 6:16 Lexical
These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years o…
Numbers 26:57 Lexical
These are those who were counted of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Koha…
Genesis 46:12 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Chronicles 2:3 Lexical
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah, which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s fi…
Numbers 26:21 Lexical
The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
1 Chronicles 2:5 Lexical
The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
Numbers 26:20 Lexical
The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezi…
Numbers 26:19 Lexical
The sons of Judah: Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 46:13 3 references
Lexicals 3
1 Chronicles 7:1 Lexical
Of the sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
Numbers 26:23 Lexical
The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;
Judges 10:1 Lexical
After Abimelech, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir in t…
Genesis 46:14 1 reference
Genesis 46:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 35:26 Lexical
The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
Genesis 34:1 Lexical
Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Genesis 33:18 Lexical
Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan Aram; and encamped…
Genesis 28:5 Lexical
Isaac sent Jacob away. He went to Paddan Aram to Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and E…
Genesis 28:6 Lexical
Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take him a wife from there, and that as h…
Genesis 46:16 2 references
Genesis 46:17 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Chronicles 7:30 Lexical
The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Serah was their sister.
Numbers 26:44 Lexical
The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Be…
1 Chronicles 7:31 Lexical
The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
Numbers 26:45 Lexical
Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
Numbers 26:46 Lexical
The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.
Genesis 46:18 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 30:10 Lexical
Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a son.
Genesis 30:12 Lexical
Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a second son.
Genesis 35:26 Lexical
The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
Genesis 30:9 Lexical
When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
Genesis 29:24 Lexical
Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
Genesis 46:19 2 references
Genesis 46:20 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 41:50 Lexical
To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore…
Genesis 41:45 Lexical
Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Jo…
Genesis 50:23 Lexical
Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Jo…
Numbers 1:10 Lexical
Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Genesis 48:13 Lexical
Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’…
Genesis 46:21 5 references
Lexicals 5
Numbers 26:40 Lexical
The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: the family of the Ardites; and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
1 Chronicles 8:1 Lexical
Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,
Numbers 26:38 Lexical
The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites;…
1 Chronicles 7:6 Lexical
The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three.
1 Chronicles 8:3 Lexical
Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,
Genesis 46:22 4 references
Lexicals 4
Genesis 33:1 Lexical
Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the childr…
Genesis 30:1 Lexical
When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else…
Genesis 30:7 Lexical
Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son.
Genesis 30:25 Lexical
When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country.
Genesis 46:24 3 references
Lexicals 3
Numbers 26:48 Lexical
The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites…
1 Chronicles 7:13 Lexical
The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, Shallum, and the sons of Bilhah.
Numbers 26:49 Lexical
of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
Genesis 46:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 30:7 Lexical
Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son.
Genesis 30:25 Lexical
When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country.
Genesis 29:29 Lexical
Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
Genesis 31:33 Lexical
Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them. H…
Genesis 29:10 Lexical
When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob w…
Genesis 46:27 1 reference
Genesis 46:29 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 45:14 Lexical
He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
2 Samuel 3:34 Lexical
Your hands weren’t bound, and your feet weren’t put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you…
2 Kings 5:21 Lexical
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and s…
Genesis 33:4 Lexical
Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.
Genesis 50:1 Lexical
Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him.
Genesis 46:31 3 references
Lexicals 3
Genesis 47:1 Lexical
Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks, their herds, and all that…
Genesis 45:17 Lexical
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 47:14 Lexical
Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which the…
Genesis 46:32 5 references
Lexicals 5
Genesis 29:7 Lexical
He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go…
Exodus 12:38 Lexical
A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock.
2 Chronicles 32:29 Lexical
Moreover he provided for himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him abundan…
Genesis 47:17 Lexical
They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and f…
Ecclesiastes 2:7 Lexical
I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and…
Genesis 46:34 4 references
Lexicals 4
Genesis 47:4 Lexical
They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ f…
Exodus 2:19 Lexical
They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered th…
Genesis 29:7 Lexical
He said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go…
Genesis 47:3 Lexical
Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, an…
Interlinear
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