Genesis 46
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1Israel traveled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. 2God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He said, “Here I am.” 3He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make of you a great nation. 4I will go down with you into Egypt. I will also surely bring you up again. Joseph will close your eyes.” 5Jacob rose up from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel carried Jacob, their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6They took their livestock, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt—Jacob, and all his offspring with him, 7his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and he brought all his offspring with him into Egypt. 8These are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. 9The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron. 14The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three. 16The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him. 21The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. 23The son of Dan: Hushim. 24The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob: all the souls were seven. 26All the souls who came with Jacob into Egypt, who were his direct offspring, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were sixty-six. 27The sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls. All the souls of the house of Jacob, who came into Egypt, were seventy. 28He sent Judah before him to Joseph, to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29Joseph prepared his chariot, and went up to meet Israel, his father, in Goshen. He presented himself to him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.” 31Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father’s house, “I will go up, and speak with Pharaoh, and will tell him, ‘My brothers, and my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’ 33It will happen, when Pharaoh summons you, and will say, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
World English Bible (public domain)
“I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.”
Genesis 46:3
Summary
In Genesis chapter 46, Jacob receives reassurance from God before relocating his family to Egypt. The chapter begins with Jacob's journey to Egypt, where God speaks to him in a vision at night, promising to be with him and to make him a great nation there. Jacob, known as Israel, takes his family and all they possess, numbering seventy members, to join his son Joseph, whom he thought was dead for many years. This significant move symbolizes the endurance and survival of Jacob's lineage within God's providential plan, despite the impending challenges they will face in Egypt. The chapter emphasizes themes of faith and obedience, as Jacob trusts God's guidance amidst uncertainty. It also highlights the unity of Jacob's family as they come together, signifying the importance of familial bonds and support in times of change. The relocation to Egypt sets the stage for Israel's future trials and eventual deliverance, opening the narrative for the later events of Exodus. God’s promise to Jacob reassures that even in foreign lands, He remains faithful to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, underscoring divine faithfulness through generations. In summary, Genesis 46 serves as a pivotal moment that blends personal faith with broader themes of divine sovereignty and familial fidelity, reminding readers of the importance of trusting in God’s plans, even when they lead into the unknown.
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Chapter outline
How Genesis 46 unfolds
Genesis 46:1–4 Jacob's Journey and God's Assurance
Israel travels to Beersheba, offering sacrifices before God speaks, reassuring him not to fear going to Egypt, promising to make him a great nation there.
Genesis 46:5–7 Gathering the Family
Jacob sets out for Egypt with his family, which includes his sons, daughters, and their children, totaling seventy members.
Genesis 46:8–25 Names of Jacob's Descendants
The chapter lists the names of Jacob’s children and their offspring, detailing the lineage that will grow in Egypt.
Genesis 46:26–27 Total Count of Jacob's Family
The total number of souls who went with Jacob into Egypt is confirmed as seventy, emphasizing the significance of family unity.
Genesis 46:28–34 Meeting and Preparing for Pharaoh
Judah is sent to Joseph, leading to their emotional reunion, and Joseph prepares his family for their introduction to Pharaoh.
Key verses
Genesis 46:3Genesis 46:3 encapsulates God's promise, serving as a pivotal reassurance for Jacob amidst uncertainty in his family's journey.
Main themes in Genesis 46
divine guidance
Divine guidance is evident when God speaks to Jacob in a vision, as seen in verses 2-4. This reassurance leads Jacob to trust in God's plan despite uncertainties, signifying God's continual involvement in his life. It underscores the larger narrative of God's faithfulness to establish a nation through Jacob's descendants.
faith and obedience
Jacob's decision to move to Egypt reflects his faith and obedience to God's command in verse 3. Despite the fear of leaving Canaan, Jacob trusts God's promise of a great nation, illustrating the necessity of faith in divine instructions. This theme resonates throughout the chapter as the family's journey unfolds under God's guidance.
family unity
The theme of family unity is highlighted as Jacob gathers all his descendants to travel together to Egypt in verses 5-7. This collective movement underscores the importance of familial bonds during significant life changes, illustrating their support for one another. The unity they demonstrate sets a foundation for future generations in a foreign land.
God's covenant promise
God's covenant promise is reiterated when He assures Jacob of becoming a great nation in Egypt (verse 3). This promise connects Jacob’s journey to the larger narrative of God’s faithfulness to Abraham and Isaac, emphasizing continuity in God's plan. This assurance also highlights the significance of Jacob's family in the unfolding of God's redemptive history.
Cross-references
Passages that echo Genesis 46
- Numbers 26This passage connects as it details the census of the Israelites, tracing back their origins to Jacob's family.
- Numbers 1This chapter echoes the genealogical emphasis found in Genesis 46, establishing the Israelite identity from Jacob's lineage.
- Genesis 45The reunion between Jacob and Joseph in this chapter develops the emotional context set by Joseph's earlier revelation of his identity.
- Genesis 49This passage connects as it contains Jacob's blessings on his sons, furthering the promise of nations stemming from his family.
- Genesis 35This earlier chapter develops the theme of God's covenant with Jacob, reinforcing the significance of his descendants.
- Genesis 29The mention of Jacob's children in this chapter connects back to the origins of his family in the previous narratives.
Study questions
Questions for studying Genesis 46
- What reassurance does God give Jacob about moving to Egypt?
- How many members of Jacob's family travel to Egypt?
- What roles do Jacob's sons play in this chapter?
- How does the reunion between Jacob and Joseph unfold?
- What occupations do Jacob's family claim when speaking to Pharaoh?
- How does this chapter illustrate the theme of family unity?
- What promise does God make to Jacob regarding his descendants?
Genesis 46: frequently asked questions
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