Genesis 46

Jacob going down to Egypt with all his family et substance, is strengthened of God at Berseba, by a renewing of the promises, v. 1, etc. he comes into Egypt with all his, whose names are re-counted, 6. He sends Juda before unto Joseph, who goes to meet him to Gosen, where they receive one another with much affection, 28. Joseph communeth with his brethren, what he shall intimate to Pharao, and what they, coming before him, shall have to say, 31.

1. And Israel departed [This happened about the year after the creation of the world, 2239, ten years after Isaac’s death, when Joseph was thirty five years of age. See above chapter 35. 1.] with all that he had, and he came to Berseba, [See above chapter 21. on verse 31.] and he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. [i.e. to that God, whom his father Isaac did worship and adore; testifying thereby his steadfast faith in the promises of God, and his thankfulness for all his mercies, and praying unto him for his counsel and direction, help and assistance, in regard of this journey.]

2. And God spoke to Israel, in visions of the night, [The visions taken in the general, whereby God in those times used to reveal himself to men, happened sometimes without sleep, by seeing some shape or figure, which was represented either to the eyes of the body, as above ch. 15. 1, 5, & c. or to the apprehension of the spirit, Zach. 3. 1. Otherwise, in the sleep, by some kind of dreams, as above chapter 15. Verse 5. And here.] and said: Jacob. And he said: (Here) I am. [See above chapter 22. verse 1. He calls him twice together, to rouse him up to the more ready and accurate attention; as above chapter 22. 11. And 1 Samuel 3:10.]

3. And he said; I am that God, thy fathers God: fear not to go down to Egypt, [in regard namely, that thou and thy seed, shall for a time depart now out of that land, which I promised thee and thine, above chapter 28. Verse 13. Into a land, wherein thy grand-father hath conversed heretofore with a great deal of fear and perplexity; above chapter 12. Verse 12.] for I shall set, (or, settle) thee there a great people.

4. I will go down to Egypt with thee [viz. to guide, conduct, and assist thee; understand this likewise of the return. Compare above chapter 24. 7. Exodus 25:20. And chapter 32. 34. Observe here once for all, That the going up, or ascending, & c. and going down, or descending, are used in regard of the situation of the Countries, Cities, and places, high or low, going up or down to them accordingly, as above chapter 12. 10. And chapter 13. 1. And chapter 35. 1. Exodus 19:3. Matthew 20:18. Luke 10:30. Acts 3:1. Both are said of God, after the manner of men] and I shall make thee to come up again, coming up along: [this was indeed fulfilled in part, as to the dead body of Jacob, below chapter 47. Ver. 29, 30. And chapter 50. 23. But chiefly in his posterity, when Moseh led them forth out of Egypt, and Joshua brought them into the land of Canaan.] and Joseph shall lay his hand upon thy eyes, [i.e. Joseph shall be with thee at thy last departure, and (according to the custom of many nations) shall shut thy eyes after thy decease. Here Jacob. Is ascertained of God, that his dear son Joseph was alive yet indeed, and that he should die in peace in Joseph’s life-time and presence.]

5. Then Jacob arose from Berseba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, upon the charets which Pharao had sent to carry them.

6. And they took their cattle, and their substance, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, [understand withal, and in Mesopotamia besides] and they came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

7. His sons, and the sons of his sons with him, his daughters, and his son's daughters, [Jacob had but one daughter, to wit, Dinah, verse 15. And but one son’s daughter, verse 17. The holy Scripture doth sometimes make use of the plural for the singular: as also above chapter 21. verse 7. And below here verse 23. And Numb. 26. 8. 1 Chronicles 2:8, 31.] and all his seed he brought with him into Egypt.

8. And these are the names [This Genealogy is so carefully set down here and elsewhere by Moseh, first to show the wonderful working of God in multiplying the feed of Abraham. Secondly, to distinguish the Tribes, in regard of the Priesthood, the Royal Dignity, and the Division of the land of Canaan. Thirdly, and principally, to trace the coming forth of the Messiah, after that flesh.] of the sons of Israel [i.e. sons, and sons sons; Item the daughter, and grand-daughter.] that came into Egypt: Jacob and his sons; The first-born of Jacob, Ruben:

9. And the son of Ruben, Hanoch, [Compare the names of this Register, with repetitions thereof Num. 26. And 1 Chronicles 6. And 7. And 8. Chap.] and Pallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

10. And the sons of Simeon, Jemuel, [called likewise Nemuel, Numbers 26:12.] and Jamin, and Ohad. [who is not recorded among the children of Simeon, neither Numbers 26:12. Nor 1 Chronicles 4:24. It should seem that he and his were all dead before that time] and Jachin, [called likewise Jarib, 1 Chronicles 4:24.] and Zohar: [Otherwise Zerah, Numbers 26:13.] and Saul the son of a Canaanite-woman. [being of an accursed nation, with whom God’s people were forbidden to marry. This is recorded to the disgrace of Simeon; as likewise Juda his case, above chapter 38. And to the honour of the rest, that did not follow these examples.]

11. And the sons of Levi, Gerson, Kohath, and Merari.

12. And the sons of Juda; Er, and Onan, and Sela, and Percz, and Zera: yet Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. [See above chapter 38. 7. 10. These indeed are named here, but not to make up the number specified, below verse 15.] and Perez his sons were Hezron and Hamul.

13. And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Pua, and Job, [Otherwise called Ischuh, Numbers 26:24. This Job is to be distinguished from him, whose life and history is recorded in the book of Job; The names are likewise differently written in the Hebrew] and Simeon.

14. And the sons of Zebulon, Sered, and Elon, and Jachleel.

15. These are Lea’s sons, whom she bare to Jacob. In Paddan Aram; [See above chapter 35. 26. Lea her children were all born in Paddan Aram; but the progeny Canaan.] with Dina his daughter: all the souls [i.e. the men or persons. See above chapter 12. On verse 5.] of his sons and of his daughter were thirty and three. [Jacob himself counted in the number, and Er and Onan excluded. See above verse 12.]

16. And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, [Heb. Tsiphion Oth. Tsephon, Numbers 6:15. And so in the sequel Ezhon, for Etshon, and above verse 10. Zohar, for Tsohar, & c.], and Chaggi, Schuni, and Esho, Eri and Arodi, [Oth. Arod, Numb. 26. 17.] and Areli.

17. And the sons of Aser, Imna, and Ischva, and Ischvi, and Beria, and Sera their sister: and the sons of Beria; Heber, and Malchiel.

18. These are the sons of Zilpa, whom Laban had given to his daughter Lea, [viz. for an hand-maid; See above chapter 29. 24.] and she bare unto Jacob, these sixteen souls. [viz. thirteen sons, two grand –sons, and one daughter.]

19. The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife; [Thus Rachel is called particularly, forasmuch as Jacob had chosen her, and sought her at Laban her father’s hand, according to God’s Institution. See above chapter 29. 18.] Joseph and Benjamin.

20. And to Joseph there were born in the land of Egypt, Manasse and Ephraim, whom Asnath bare to him, the daughter of Potiphera, the Governor of On. [See above chapter 41. 50. And 48. 5.]

21. And the Sons of Benjamin; Bela, Becher, and Asbel, Gera, Naaman, Echi, and Ros, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.

22. These are Rachels Sons, that were born to Jacob, in all fourteen Souls.

23. And the Sons of Dan, [i.e. Son. See above on verse 7.] Chusim. [Called likewise Suham, Numb. 26. 42.]

24. And the Sons of Naftali; Jachzeel, and Guni, and Jeser, and Sillem.

25. These are the Sons of Bilha, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel, and she bare the same to Jacob: in all seven Souls.

26. All the Souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, [Oth. Belonged to Jacob; or thus, All the Souls of Jacob, that came into Egypt.] sprung forth out of his thigh, [i.e. that were born out of his flesh and blood. See the same phrase Exodus 1:5. Judges 8:30. Which is as much, as to be come forth out of one’s loins. See above chapter 35. 11.] except the wives of the Sons of Jacob, were in all sixty six Souls. [The fore-mentioned four sums, viz. of 33. V. 15. Of 16. V. 18. Of 14. V. 22. And of 7. V. 25. Do make up seventy together. But here are only cast up, those that were born out of Jacob, and came with him into Egypt; so that here must be excepted, first Jacob himself, who was not born out of himself, and Joseph with his two sons, who were not come into Egypt with Jacob.]

27. And Joseph sons, which were born to him in Egypt, were two Souls: all the Souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were Seventy. [In this sum, now Jacob and Joseph, with his two sons, are comprehended.]

28. And he sent Juda before his face away to Joseph; for to give direction before his face to Gosen: [to wit, how and where they might best pitch down in the Country] and they came into the land of Gosen: [see above chapter 45. Verse 10.]

29. Then Joseph made ready his Charet, and went up, to meet his father Israel, to Gosen: and when he showed himself unto him, [it should seem, that Joseph being come near his father, showed himself extraordinary friendly and respectful, that he might be known of him] he fell about his neck. [See above chapter 33. 4. And chapter 45. 14.

30. And Israel said to Joseph; Let me die now, [Heb. this time; The sense is, I am now willing and ready to die.] after that I have seen thy face, that thou art alive yet. [or, because, by reason.]

31. After that, Joseph said to his brethren, and to his father’s house; I will go up and relate to Pharao, and tell him: My brethren, and my father’s house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me:

32. And those men are Shepherds; for they are men, that deal with cattle, [Heb. men of Cattle, or, cattle-men, i.e. such as deal and negotiate with cattle. So below ver. 34. And thus men of Ships, 1 Kings 9:27. i.e. such as live by Shipping, Mariners or See-faring men. Compare likewise above chapter 9. The Annot. On vers. 20] and they have brought their sheep, and their oxen, and all that they have, with thm.

33. When it shall happen now, that Pharao shal call you, and say, what is your employment?

34. Then ye shall say, Thy servants are men, that from our youth up have dealt with cattle; both we, and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Gosen; for every (omnis) Shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians. [See above chapter 43. 32. This contemptible occupation, hath, through God’s Providence and guidance, procured the Israelites a threefold advantage, 1. That they got a very good fat pasture-Country for their beasts: 2. That they were kept all together in a body, and so might live quietly and peaceably among selves. 3. That being separated from the idolatrous Egyptians, they might with the more freedom exercise the pure worship of God.]