Genesis 46

Ge 46:1-4.

SACRIFICE AT

BEER-SHEBA.

1. Israel took his journey with all that he had--that is, his

household; for in compliance with Pharaoh's recommendation, he left his

heavy furniture behind. In contemplating a step so important as that of

leaving Canaan, which at his time of life he might never revisit, so

pious a patriarch would ask the guidance and counsel of God. With all

his anxiety to see Joseph, he would rather have died in Canaan without

that highest of earthly gratifications than leave it without the

consciousness of carrying the divine blessing along with him.

came to Beer-sheba--That place, which was in his direct route to

Egypt, had been a favorite encampment of Abraham

(Ge 21:33)

and Isaac

(Ge 26:25),

and was memorable for their experience of the divine goodness; and

Jacob seems to have deferred his public devotions till he had reached a

spot so consecrated by covenant to his own God and the God of his

fathers.

2. God spake unto Israel--Here is a virtual renewal of the

covenant and an assurance of its blessings. Moreover, here is an answer

on the chief subject of Jacob's prayer and a removal of any doubt as to

the course he was meditating. At first the prospect of paying a

personal visit to Joseph had been viewed with unmingled joy. But, on

calmer consideration, many difficulties appeared to lie in the way. He

may have remembered the prophecy to Abraham that his posterity was to

be afflicted in Egypt and also that his father had been expressly told

not to go

[Ge 15:13; 26:2];

he may have feared the contamination of idolatry to his family and

their forgetfulness of the land of promise. These doubts were removed

increasing prosperity.

3. I will there make of thee a great nation--How truly this

promise was fulfilled, appears in the fact that the seventy souls who

went down into Egypt increased

[Ex 1:5-7],

in the space of two hundred fifteen years, to one hundred eighty

thousand.

4. I will also surely bring thee up again--As Jacob could not

expect to live till the former promise was realized, he must have seen

that the latter was to be accomplished only to his posterity. To

himself it was literally verified in the removal of his remains to

Canaan; but, in the large and liberal sense of the words, it was made

good only on the establishment of Israel in the land of promise.

Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes--shall perform the

last office of filial piety; and this implied that he should henceforth

enjoy, without interruption, the society of that favorite son.

Ge 46:5-27.

IMMIGRATION TO

EGYPT.

5. And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba--to cross the border and

settle in Egypt. However refreshed and invigorated in spirit by the

religious services at Beer-sheba, he was now borne down by the

infirmities of advanced age; and, therefore, his sons undertook all the

trouble and toil of the arrangements, while the enfeebled old

patriarch, with the wives and children, was conveyed by slow and

leisurely stages in the Egyptian vehicles sent for their

accommodation.

6. goods, which they had gotten in the land--not furniture, but

substance--precious things.

7. daughters--As Dinah was his only daughter, this must mean

daughters-in-law.

all his seed brought he with him--Though disabled by age from

active superintendence, yet, as the venerable sheik of the tribe, he

was looked upon as their common head and consulted in every step.

8-27. all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt,

were threescore and ten--Strictly speaking, there were only

sixty-six went to Egypt; but to these add Joseph and his two sons, and

Jacob the head of the clan, and the whole number amounts to seventy. In

the speech of Stephen

(Ac 7:14)

the number is stated to be seventy-five; but as that estimate includes

five sons of Ephraim and Manasseh

(1Ch 7:14-20),

born in Egypt, the two accounts coincide.

Ge 46:28-34.

ARRIVAL IN

EGYPT.

28. he sent Judah before him unto Joseph--This precautionary

measure was obviously proper for apprising the king of the entrance of

so large a company within his territories; moreover, it was necessary

in order to receive instruction from Joseph as to the locale of

their future settlement.

29, 30. Joseph made ready his chariot--The difference between

chariot and wagon was not only in the lighter and more elegant

construction of the former, but in the one being drawn by horses and

the other by oxen. Being a public man in Egypt, Joseph was required to

appear everywhere in an equipage suitable to his dignity; and,

therefore, it was not owing either to pride or ostentatious parade that

he drove his carriage, while his father's family were accommodated only

in rude and humble wagons.

presented himself unto him--in an attitude of filial reverence

(compare

Ex 22:17).

The interview was a most affecting one--the happiness of the delighted

father was now at its height; and life having no higher charms, he

could, in the very spirit of the aged Simeon, have departed in peace

[Lu 2:25, 29].

31-34. Joseph said, . . . I will go up, and show

Pharaoh--It was a tribute of respect due to the king to inform him

of their arrival. And the instructions which he gave them were worthy

of his character alike as an affectionate brother and a religious

man.