Canaan to Egypt. https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-46/
Some key verses from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you (your descendants) a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you (your people) up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes [to close them at the time of your death].” v.2-4
- "All the persons of the house of Jacob [including Jacob, and Joseph and his sons], who came into Egypt, were seventy." v.27
- "Now Jacob (Israel) sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to direct him to Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen; as soon as he presented himself before him (authenticating his identity), he fell on his [father’s] neck and wept on his neck a [very] long time. And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die [in peace], since I have seen your face [and know] that you are still alive.” v.28-30
- "And it shall be that when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth until now, both we and our fathers [before us],’ in order that you may live [separately and securely] in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is repulsive to the Egyptians.”
My personal observations and reflections...
- JACOB WORSHIPED GOD IN BEERSHEBA. We remember that this place was very significant to Abraham and his descendants:
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- "Therefore he called that place Beersheba (Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven), because the two of them swore an oath there... Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days." Genesis 21:31, 33-34 (Abraham's Covenant with Abimelech)
- "Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba." Genesis 22:15-19 (The Offering of Isaac)
- "Then he went up from there to Beersheba. And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well." Genesis 26:23-25 (When Isaac settled in Gerar)
- "Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it." Genesis 28:10-12 (Jacob Sent to His Uncle Laban / Jacob’s Vow at Bethel)
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Before leaving Canaan and setting out in Egypt, Jacob did not forget to worship and acknowledge God-- "So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba [where both his father and grandfather had worshiped God], and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac." (v.1)
* "This was the southernmost outpost of Canaan on the way to Egypt." David Guzik
That is an awesome act of faith, trust and love to God! After all the sufferings and heartaches from the past, Jacob demonstrated his belief by honoring and glorifying God, through offering sacrifices in Beersheba. I'm sure he thanked God that his beloved son Joseph was alive, and that all fears of losing his sons were washed away. By moving to Egypt (temporarily), Jacob's family (God's chosen people) will be able to survive the severe famine. God's hands were carefully guiding them, and providing for them. God also gave an assurance when 'God spoke to Israel in visions of the night'. Moving to Egypt was a BIG LIFE CHANGE, DECISION, and JOURNEY, but God told Israel to NOT BE AFRAID. Even while in Egypt, God "will make Israel (and his descendants) a great nation there." Back in Genesis 32, when 'Jacob Wrestled with God', he was around 92-97 y/o there. So at this point, he may be already 130 (or even older, I have yet to find a good resource about this.) God also assured Jacob/Israel that He will surely rescue his descendants, even after his death. Jacob can die peacefully knowing this, and that his favorite son will personally be with him as he lay to rest, "Joseph will put his hand on your eyes [to close them at the time of your death].” (v.4)
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"b. God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night: More than 40 years before, when Jacob was about to leave the Promised Land, God spoke to him in a dream (Genesis 28:12-17). Now, when he was about to leave the land again, God again brought assurance through a dream.
c. Do not fear to go down to Egypt: This indicates that Israel was afraid to go to Egypt. Jacob may have remembered that Abraham had gone to Egypt in a time of famine once before, and it was an expression of his unbelief, and much evil eventually came from it (Genesis 12:10-20). He also may have remembered God told his father Isaac not to go down to Egypt (Genesis 26:2).
c. Do not fear to go down to Egypt: This indicates that Israel was afraid to go to Egypt. Jacob may have remembered that Abraham had gone to Egypt in a time of famine once before, and it was an expression of his unbelief, and much evil eventually came from it (Genesis 12:10-20). He also may have remembered God told his father Isaac not to go down to Egypt (Genesis 26:2).
d. I will make of you a great nation there: God told Israel what His purpose was in bringing this large family or clan down to Egypt. Because of the exclusive, segregated nature of Egyptian life, Israel’s descendants could grow as a large, distinct nation there. Egypt became like a mother’s womb to Israel as a nation, where they grew to full size.
e. I will also surely bring you up again: The great reason Jacob need not fear the journey to Egypt was that God promised to bring him back to the Promised Land. This would be fulfilled after Jacob’s death, but it would be fulfilled — Egypt would not be the permanent home for Israel and his children.
f. And Joseph will put his hand on your eyes: The final assurance was for God Himself to tell Jacob that Joseph lived and would care for him until his dying day. This was sweet assurance. "
e. I will also surely bring you up again: The great reason Jacob need not fear the journey to Egypt was that God promised to bring him back to the Promised Land. This would be fulfilled after Jacob’s death, but it would be fulfilled — Egypt would not be the permanent home for Israel and his children.
f. And Joseph will put his hand on your eyes: The final assurance was for God Himself to tell Jacob that Joseph lived and would care for him until his dying day. This was sweet assurance. "
- BYE FOR NOW CANAAN. From Beersheba, all the family of Israel (with their livestock and the possessions which they had acquired in the land of Canaan) journeyed to Egypt.
Jacob and his whole family move to Egypt to be with Joseph.
This is the fulfillment of Abram's dream from Genesis 15:12-16!😱
"When the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram; and a horror (terror, shuddering fear, nightmare) of great darkness overcame him. God said to Abram, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But on that nation whom your descendants will serve I will bring judgment, and afterward they will come out [of that land] with great possessions. As for you, you shall [die and] go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation your descendants shall return here [to Canaan, the land of promise], for the wickedness and guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete (finished).”
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
a. All his descendants he brought with him to Egypt: This shows the great faith Israel had. He brought the entire family down to Egypt. No one was left behind to continue a presence in Canaan. Jacob knew they would be back.
b. The sons of Judah were: The sons of Judah are of special note because this is the Messianic lineage. The line of descent to this point went like this: Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Judah to Perez to Hezron (Luke 3:33-34).
c. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy: The total number of males of this clan was 70. There were 66, plus Jacob himself, Joseph, and his two sons. This large family would become a nation of perhaps more than two million over the next 400 years.
i. Like many great works of God, Israel had a slow beginning.
· From the time God called Abraham, it took at least 25 years to add one son – Isaac
· It took Isaac 60 years to add another son of Israel – Jacob
· It took 50 or 60 years for Jacob to add 12 sons and one daughter
· But in 430 years, Israel would leave Egypt with 600,000 men
· It took this family 215 years to grow from one to 70, but in another 430 years they grew to two million.
b. The sons of Judah were: The sons of Judah are of special note because this is the Messianic lineage. The line of descent to this point went like this: Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Judah to Perez to Hezron (Luke 3:33-34).
c. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy: The total number of males of this clan was 70. There were 66, plus Jacob himself, Joseph, and his two sons. This large family would become a nation of perhaps more than two million over the next 400 years.
i. Like many great works of God, Israel had a slow beginning.
· From the time God called Abraham, it took at least 25 years to add one son – Isaac
· It took Isaac 60 years to add another son of Israel – Jacob
· It took 50 or 60 years for Jacob to add 12 sons and one daughter
· But in 430 years, Israel would leave Egypt with 600,000 men
· It took this family 215 years to grow from one to 70, but in another 430 years they grew to two million.
- JACOB'S DESCENDANTS. We then get an update regarding Jacob's family, now totaling to 70 people.
* Bible Footnotes- "Genesis 46:21 Benjamin was already the father of ten sons at the time he met Joseph in Egypt. Joseph was seventeen when his brothers sold him; he was in prison thirteen years; and he had been ruler of Egypt during the seven good years and through two years of the famine. So Joseph was thirty-nine years of age at this time, and Benjamin was only a few years younger."
The most striking thing I noticed here was how Jacob's descendants was associating and intermarrying with Canaanite women, which the Lord did not want. That will surely have continued if God didn't allow the famine, the need to move to Egypt.. God had to remove them from Canaan for a while (or for a long time), or else they may get corrupted continually, and completely forget Elohim.
- JUDAH SENT AHEAD TO GOSHEN. Judah is being mentioned more and more lately. We already know that out of his descendants, God will send His one and only Son Jesus, the Messiah/Savior. Judah's leadership was developed by God-- he was restored by God because of his godly and repentant heart, not only from his sins with Tamar, but also with his step-brother Joseph.
- FATHER AND SON REUNION. What a tearful and heartfelt moment when Joseph and his old man finally met! There are not enough words to describe that. Gratitude, relief, joy, maybe a li'l sense of regret over the years lost, longingness, love, being proud of what Joseph has attained, yearning, peace, so many emotions! And in all these, Israel said “Now let me die [in peace], since I have seen your face [and know] that you are still alive.” (v.30)
- SHEPHERDS. Apparently, a "shepherd is repulsive to the Egyptians” (v.34), that's why Israel's family will settle in Goshen, to live [separately and securely] there. First, they didn't dine with Hebrews, and now they also don't like shepherds. What was the meaning behind those customs and traditions? I'm curious how did that started. Anyway, for us who knows that even the Lord is our Shepherd, who cares for the sheep (us)-- we love Shepherds.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"a. Every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians: The Egyptians were agricultural in the sense of farming crops. They considered sheep unclean, and therefore detested shepherds."
PSALM 23
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A Psalm of David.
A Psalm of David.
"The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],
I shall not want.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord."
Read the Bible here:
Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Gen/Gen-46.cfm ©2013 David Guzik
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