Genesis 46

I.                Israel Journeys to Egypt

a.      Genesis 46:1 – And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

§        Deuteronomy 4:29 - … seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

§        Why Isaac and not Abraham and Isaac?

o       Posibly because of the instructions God gave to Isaac when he endured a famine back in Genesis 26

§        Beersheba is on the way to Egypt, Abraham (21:33) and Isaac (26:25) also communed with God at this place.

§        Jacob having second thoughts of going to Egypt?  Possibly remembering that God forbid his father Isaac from going to Egypt.

o       Genesis 26:1-3 - …And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.  And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries…

b.      Genesis 46:2 – And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here [am] I.

§        God - אלהים 'elohiym

§        God spoke in visions (מראה mar'ah) not the same word as dream (חלום chalowm)  that can be an ordinary dream or a dream with prophetic meaning.  This word is more representative of an actual vison and Jacob was awake.

§        God calls him Jacob – here again we see God call Jacob by the name Jacob when He has established his name as Israel.

o       Jacob is not demonstrating qualities of an Israel (God prevails)

§        God duplicates his name – Done for emphasis, seven time in Scripture with reference from God to men, three times under other circumstances.

o       God to man

·        Genesis 22:11

·        Here

·        Exodus 3:4

·        1 Samuel 3:10

·        Luke 10:41

·        Luke 22:31

·        Acts 9:4

o       Other circumstances

·        Matthew 7:21, Luke 6:46, Luke 13:25 (all reference same)

·        Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34

·        Mark 15:34, Matthew 27:46, Psalm 22:1

c.      Genesis 46:3 – And he said, I [am] God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

§        God of thy father à Isaac, the One whom you have called upon (the God of Isaac)

§        Fear -  ירא yare'

§        To go down - ירד yarad, to descend

§        Egypt - מצרים Mitsrayim, named after Mizraim, the son of Ham (Genesis 6:10)

§        God commands him to go to Egypt knowing that eventually this will bring Israel into bondage, why?

o       God had previously forbidden Isaac to go down to Egypt

d.      Genesis 46:4 – I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up [again]: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

§        Proverbs 3:6 - In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

§        If we atrust in God and acknowledge God, not only will He direct our steps, but He will also go with us.

e.      Genesis 46:5 – And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

§        Those who think of themselves to be settled should be prepared for change.

o       It is good to be ready, not only for the grave, but for whatever may happen betwixt us and the grave.  Matthew Henry

f.       Genesis 46:6 – And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:

g.      Genesis 46:7 – His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

II.             The Names of Israel that went to Egypt (Genesis 46:8-27)

a.      Genesis 46:8 – And these [are] the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.

§        Reuben is the firstborn, but lost the birthright

§        The word for sons is ben in the singular it refers to a male offspring but in the plural it can refer to both male and female children

b.      Genesis 46:9 – And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

§        Reuben (1)

o       Hanoch (2) - חנוך Chanowk, "dedicated" (same as Enoch)

o       Phallu (3) - פלוא Palluw', "distinguished"

o       Hezron (4) - חצרון Chetsrown, "surrounded by a wall"

o       Carmi (5) - כרמי Karmiy, "my vineyard"

c.      Genesis 46:10 – And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.

§        Simeon (6)

o       Jemuel (7) - ימואל Yĕmuw'el, "day of God"

o       Jarmin (8) - ימין Yamiyn, "right hand"

o       Ohad (9) - אהד 'Ohad, "united"

o       Jachin (10) - יכין Yakiyn, "He will establish"

o       Zohar (11) - צחר Tsochar, "tawny" (yellowish-brown)

o       Shaul (12) - שאול Sha'uwl, "desired"

d.      Genesis 46:11 – And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

§        Levi (13)

o       Gershon (14) - גרשון Gerĕshown, "exile"

o       Kohath (15) - קהת Qĕhath, "assembly"

o       Merari (16) - מררי Mĕrariy, "bitter"

e.      Genesis 46:12 – And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

§        Judah (17)

o       Er - ער `Er,  "awake"

o       Onan - אונן 'Ownan, "strong"

o       Shelah (18) - שלה Shelah, "a petition"

o       Pharez (19) - פרץ Perets, "breach"

·        Hezron (20) - חצרון Chetsrown, "surrounded by a wall"

·        Hamul (21) - חמול Chamuwl, "spared"

o       Zerah (22) - זרח Zerach, "rising"

f.       Genesis 46:13 – And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.

§        Issachar (23)

o       Tola (24) - תולע Towla`, "worm"

o       Phuvah (25) - פואה Puw'ah, "splendid"

o       Job (26) - יוב Yowb, "persecuted"

o       Shimron (27) - שמרון Shimrown, "watch-height"

g.      Genesis 46:14 – And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.

§        Zebulun (28)

o       Sered (29) - סרד Cered, "fear"

o       Elon (30) - אילון 'Eylown, "terebinth, mighty"

o       Jahleel (31) - יחלאל Yachlĕ'el, "God waits"

h.      Genesis 46:15 – These [be] the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters [were] thirty and three.

§        Leah – had already died in Canaan, Genesis 49:31 verifies that Jacob buried Leah in the field of Machpelah, in the land of Canaan.

o       Dinah (32)

o       Where is #33?

·        Numbers 26:58-59 - These [are] the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.

·        #33 was likely Amram, son of Kohath and Grandson of Levi was the father of Miriam, Aaron and Moses.  Married his father Kohath’s sister Jochabed (Levi’s daughter)

i.       Genesis 46:16 – And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.

§        Gad (34) (1)

o       Ziphion (35) (2) - צפיון Tsiphyown, "lookout"

o       Haggai (36) (3) - חגי Chaggiy, "festive"

o       Shuni (37) (4) - שוני Shuwniy, "fortunate"

o       Ezbon (38) (5) - אצבן 'Etsbown, "hasting to discern: I will be enlargement"

o       Eri (39) (6) - ערי `Eriy, "watchful"

o       Arodi (40) (7) - ארודי 'Arowdiy, "I shall subdue: I shall roam"

o       Areli (41) (8) - אראלי 'Ar'eliy, "lion of God"

j.       Genesis 46:17 – And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.

§        Asher (42) (9)

o       Jimnah (43) (10) - ימנה Yimnah, "right hand"

o       Ishuah (44) (11) - ישוה Yishvah, "he will resemble"

o       Isui (45) (12) - ישוי Yishviy, "he resembles me"

o       Beriah (46) (13) - בריעה Bĕriy`ah, "with a friend"

·        Heber (47) (14) - חבר Cheber, "comrade"

·        Malchiel (48) (15) - מלכיאל Malkiy'el, "my king is God"

o       Serah (49) (16) - שרח Serach, "the prince breathed"

k.      Genesis 46:18 – These [are] the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, [even] sixteen souls.

§        Zilpah

l.       Genesis 46:19 – The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.

§        Rachel

o       Joseph (50) (1)

o       Benjamin (51) (2)

m.    Genesis 46:20 – And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

§        Joseph

o       Manasseh (52) (3) - מנשה Mĕnashsheh, "causing to forget"

o       Ephraim (53) (4) - אפרים 'Ephrayim, "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"

n.      Genesis 46:21 – And the sons of Benjamin [were] Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.

§        Benjamin

o       Belah (54) (5) - בלע Bela`, "destruction"

o       Becher (55) (6) - בכר Beker, "young camel"

o       Ashbel (56) (7) - אשבל 'Ashbel, "a man in God: a man of Baal: fire of Bel: I will make a path"

o       Gera (57) (8) - גרא Gera', "a grain"

o       Naaman (58) (9) - נעמן Na`aman, "pleasantness"

o       Ehi (59) (10) - אחי 'Echiy, "my brother"

o       Rosh (60) (11) - ראש Ro'sh, "head"

o       Muppim (61) (12) - מפים Muppiym, "serpent"

o       Huppim (62) (13) - חפים Chuppiym, "protected"

o       Ard (63) (14) - ארד `Ard, "I shall subdue"

o.      Genesis 46:22 – These [are] the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls [were] fourteen.

p.      Genesis 46:23 – And the sons of Dan; Hushim.

§        Dan (64) (1)

o       Hushim (65) (2) - חושים Chuwshiym, "who makes haste"

q.      Genesis 46:24 – And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.

§        Naphtali (66) (3)

o       Jahzeel (67) (4) - יחצאל Yachtsĕ'el, "God divides"

o       Guni (68) (5) - גוני Guwniy, "my defender"

o       Jezer (69) (6) - יצר Yetser, "forming"

o       Shillem (70) (7) - שלם Shillem, "repaid"

r.       Genesis 46:25 – These [are] the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls [were] seven.

§        Bilhah

s.      Genesis 46:26 – All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls [were] threescore and six;

§        70 Less Leah = 69, Less Joseph, Manasseh & Ephraim = 66

o       Numbers 26:58

§        1 Chronicles 7:14-20 different names not included here

§        A lot of sons listed with very few daughters (2)

t.       Genesis 46:27 – And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, [were] two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, [were] threescore and ten.

§        Deuteronomy 10:22 - Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.

u.      Genesis 46:28 – And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

§        Judah sent ahead to give Joseph of their arrival.  Common courtesy to a host country that there is going to be a large migration into land to avoid alarm.

III.          Joseph Goes to Meet His Father (Genesis 46:29-34)

a.      Genesis 46:29 – And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

§        See how near sorrow and joy are to each other in this world, when tears serve for the expression of both. Matthew Henry

§        “A good while” - עוד `owd, “a going round, continuance”

o       When Joseph embraced Benjamin he wept upon his neck, but when he embraced his father he wept upon his neck a good while; his brother Benjamin was dear, but his father Jacob must be dearer. Matthew Henry

b.      Genesis 46:30 – And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou [art] yet alive.

c.      Genesis 46:31 – And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which [were] in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

§        Joseph becomes an advocate for Israel

§        Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

d.      Genesis 46:32 – And the men [are] shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.

§        Luke 18:22 - Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

§        To bring all that one has into a foreign country is placing takes a lot of faith, Jacob was told by God to go to Egypt and to not be afraid.  We see his obedience here.

e.      Genesis 46:33 – And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What [is] your occupation?

§        Occupation - מעשה ma`aseh, deed, work

f.       Genesis 46:34 – That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, [and] also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.

§        Luke 2:49 – And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

§       1 Corinthians 7:24 - Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.