UST GEN Chapter 46

Jacob and His Family Move to the Country of Egypt

46:1-27

46 So Israel and his family started traveling toward Egypt with all their belongings. When they reached the city of Beersheba, he offered some of his animals on an altar there as sacrifices to God, whom his father Isaac had worshiped. 2 During the night God called to Israel in a vision, “Jacob! Jacob!” Jacob replied, “Yes, Lord?” 3 Then God said to him, “I am God, the God whom your father worshiped. Don’t be afraid of moving down to the country of Egypt, because I will make your descendants multiply and become a large people group while they live there. 4 I will personally go with you down to Egypt and take care of you there. Later I will definitely bring your descendants back here to Canaan. When you die, Joseph will be with you.”

5 After that, Jacob left the city of Beersheba, and his sons took him and their wives and children in the wagons that King Pharaoh had provided for them to ride in to Egypt. 6 They also brought with them their livestock and their other belongings that they had gotten in the region of Canaan. Then Jacob and all of his descendants arrived in Egypt. 7 He brought his entire extended family with him to Egypt, including his sons and daughters, and his grandsons and granddaughters.

8 Here is a list of the names of Israel’s descendants who came with him to Egypt, that is, the names of Jacob’s descendants: Reuben, who was his oldest son, 9 and Reuben’s sons, who were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 Simeon and Simeon’s sons, who were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul, who had a Canaanite mother. 11 Levi and Levi’s sons, who were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 Judah and Judah’s sons, who were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; actually, Er and Onan had already died in the region of Canaan. Perez’s sons were Hezron and Hamul. 13 Issachar and Issachar’s sons, who were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron. 14 Zebulun and Zebulun’s sons, who were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 Those were the sons and grandsons whom Jacob and his wife Leah had together in the region of Paddan Aram. They also had a daughter named Dinah. The total number of those descendants was thirty-three.

16 Jacob’s other descendants who came with him included his son Gad and Gad’s sons, who were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 He also took his son Asher and Asher’s sons, who were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah, and their sister Serah. Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malkiel. 18 Those were the children and grandchildren that Jacob had with Zilpah, who was the servant woman that Laban had given to his daughter Leah. Those descendants that Zilpah and Jacob had together totaled sixteen persons.

19 The sons that Jacob had with his wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. 20 Joseph’s sons who were born in the country of Egypt were Manasseh and Ephraim. Their mother was Joseph’s wife Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, who was the priest at the city of On. 21 Benjamin’s sons were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 Those were the sons and grandsons whom Jacob and his wife Rachel had together, a total of fourteen descendants.

23 Other descendants who came with Jacob included: his son Dan and Dan’s son Hushim. 24 Naphtali and Naphtali’s sons, who were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 Those were all the sons and grandsons that Jacob had with Bilhah, the servant woman whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel. The total number of those descendants was seven.

26 Altogether Jacob had sixty-six blood relatives who went with him to Egypt. That number does not include his wives or his sons’ wives. 27 If you include Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph’s two sons, who were born in Egypt, then there was a total of seventy members of Jacob’s family in Egypt.

Jacob Reunites with His Son Joseph and Meets King Pharaoh

46:28-47:12

28 When they reached Egypt, Jacob had Judah go to Joseph ahead of them to get directions from him to Goshen Province. After that, Jacob’s family traveled to Goshen. 29 Then Joseph got his chariot ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. There Joseph greeted his father and hugged him tightly and cried for joy on his shoulder for a long time. 30 Then Israel exclaimed to Joseph, “Now when I die I will be at peace, because I have seen you in person and know that you are still alive!”

31 Then Joseph announced to his brothers and the rest of his father’s family, “I will go to King Pharaoh and inform him, ‘My brothers and the rest of my father’s family have traveled here from the region of Canaan to live near me. 32 The men of my family raise sheep and goats. In fact, they raise all kinds of livestock for a living, and they have brought with them all their sheep and goats and cattle, and everything else that they own.’ 33 So then, when the king summons you and asks you what your occupation is, 34 you should tell him, ‘Sir, ever since the time we were young until now, we have been raising livestock, which is the same occupation that our ancestors had.’ That way he will allow you to live separately in Goshen Province, especially since Egyptians despise everyone who raises sheep.”