1
So Israel set out with all that he had, and he came to Beersheba, and there he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2
And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, saying, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
3
Then He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.
4
I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you up again; and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”
5
Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. And the sons of Israel brought Jacob their father, together with their children and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6
They also took their livestock and their possessions, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.
7
His sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters—all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.
8
These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt, Jacob and his descendants. Jacob’s firstborn was Reuben.
9
The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
10
The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.
11
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
12
The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan; and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
13
The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron.
14
The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
15
These were the descendants of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah. Altogether, male and female, they numbered thirty-three persons.
16
The sons of Gad were Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.
17
The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah; and Serah was their sister; and the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel.
18
These were the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and who bore these to Jacob—sixteen persons in all.
19
The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, were Joseph and Benjamin.
20
To Joseph were born Manasseh and Ephraim in the land of Egypt, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.
21
The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
22
These were the descendants of Rachel, who were born to Jacob, fourteen persons in all.
23
And the son of Dan was Hushim.
24
The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
25
These were the descendants of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob—seven persons in all.
26
All the persons who came with Jacob into Egypt, who came out of his body, besides the wives of Jacob’s sons, were sixty-six persons in all.
27
The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. So all the family of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy persons.
28
And he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to show the way before him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.
29
Then Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet Israel his father. When he presented himself to him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time.
30
And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”
31
Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me;
32
and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’
33
When Pharaoh calls you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’
34
you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers’—so that you may dwell in the land of Goshen.” For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.
🐪🤝 Summary of Genesis 46
Genesis 46 tells of Jacob’s journey to Egypt after hearing that Joseph was still alive. This is the formal relocation of the great family of Israel from Canaan to Egypt — an important event that begins the time of Israel’s sojourn in Egypt.
1. Jacob Receives Confirmation from God (verses 1–7)
- Jacob stopped at Beersheba, where he offered sacrifices to God.
- God spoke in a dream and assured Jacob not to be afraid to go down to Egypt, with the promise:
“I will make you into a great nation there.” (verse 3)
2. List of Jacob’s Descendants Who Went to Egypt (verses 8–27)
- The details record the names of Jacob’s descendants, including sons and grandsons.
- The total who came to Egypt was 70 persons, including Joseph and his sons in Egypt.
3. The Emotional Meeting between Jacob and Joseph (verses 28–34)
- Jacob sent Judah ahead of them to Goshen.
- When Joseph came to meet his father, he embraced Jacob and wept for a long time (verse 29).
- Jacob said:
“Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.” (verse 30)
- Joseph gave instructions that they should identify themselves as livestock keepers, so they could live in Goshen — a suitable region set apart from the Egyptians.
📖 Main Lessons
- The Lord guides major life steps through peaceful confirmation (such as the dream at Beersheba).
- Obedience opens the way for the fulfillment of God’s promise.
- God can use a change of place for the growth and protection of a people.
- A loving meeting can heal old wounds.
- Wise planning (from Joseph) is still needed even when following God’s call.
✨ Spiritual Meaning
- Jacob is a picture of one who seeks the Lord’s will first before making major decisions.
- God reveals Himself as the One who is present in great life changes, even when going to a foreign land.
- Joseph becomes an example of a son who honors his parents, and also a leader who is wise and discerning.
- This is the beginning of God’s great plan: His people would live in Egypt, multiply, and later be delivered — leading to the Exodus.
