Genesis 46

Genesis 46:21

Benjamin] Benjamin not 24 years old when he came into Egypt, but hard upon 30. Yea some conceive him to be conceived in Padan-Aram, out of Gen. XXXV. 24, 26. and so to be 33 years old at that time; yet is he called a Lad, Gen. XLIII. 8. and XLIV. 22, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. and a little one, v. 20. And yet at that time said to be the father of ten sonnes, Gen. XLVI. 21. And two of them, Naaman, and Ard, (if not more) seeme to be his grand-children, Num. XXVI. 40. But not borne in Egypt: no more then Hezron and Hamul were borne there. And so both Benjamin, and his eldest sonne Belah must marry very young: as the like was observed in Er, Onan, and Pharez, before.

Genesis 46:26

The number] The number of the souls that came out of Jacobs loines, and came down with him into Egypt, are truly told and reckoned to be 66. Gen. XLVI. 26. And this is the exact number. For Joseph and his two children came not down with Jacob into Egypt, but were in Egypt before. And leaving out Er and Onan, that were dead before in Canaan; and reckoning in Hezron and Hamul, the grand-children of Judah by Tamar; as the expresse letter of the Text doth in both points require, the said number of 66. doth rightly arise.

And to imagine otherwise, that Hezron and Hamul were borne in Egypt, and did go down thither with Jacob onely virtually in the loines of their father Pharez, it doth not onely contradict the Text, as was said; but also doth overthrow the whole intent and drift of the Record, Catalogue, and Genealogy in that chapter; which is to shew the small number that went down personally with Jacob into Egypt, Deut. XXVI. 5. That thereby wonderful multiplication of their posterity in Egypt, Exod. XII. 37. and in little more then a year after, Num. I. 45, 46. by Gods blessing might the more gloriously appear. And if some; or any of those mentioned in the said Catalogue, went down onely virtually in the loines of their parents; in that sense as well might 46000; yea 600000. be said to have descended with Jacob into Egypt.

Again, the number of the souls of the house of Jacob which came into Egypt, are truly told to be 70. Gen. 46. 27. Exod. I. 5. Deut. X. 22. So justly reckoning Jacob himself, and Joseph with his two sons, who were then in Egypt already. And so these 70. are made up of those summes, 33. 16. 14. 7. set down in Gen. XLVI. 15, 18, 22, 25.

Again, the number is told to be 75. by Stephen, and Luke recording Stephens speech, Acts VII. 14. Here, denying any corruption of the Text; some would lay a failer of memory upon Stephen; as the like again in v. 16. as not being so priviledged in this sudden Speech, as the holy Pen-men were inspired for the writing of Scripture: And thereupon say, That Luke dealt tfaihfully in relating what Stephen spake. Others say, That Stephen herein did wittingly and willingly follow the Translation of the LXX. Interpreters on Gen. XLVI. 27. and Exod. I. 5.

As in divers citations the holy Writers of the New Testament do; That Translation being then in high esteeme, and almost onely in use. Yet the five persons superadded by them seeme not to be those which the LXX. fetch out of 1 Chron. VII. 14, 20. But rather all those that are named, Gen, XLVI. namely Jacobs four wives, and Er, and Onan; which make up 75. in all, leaving out Jacob himself.