Jacob Leaves for Egypt

46 Israel set out with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba,(A) and he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. That night God spoke to Israel in a vision:(B) “Jacob, Jacob!” He said.

And Jacob replied, “Here I am.”

God said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.(C) I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back.(D) Joseph will put his hands on your eyes.”[a](E)

Jacob left Beer-sheba. The sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him,(F) along with their children and their wives. They also took their cattle and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan. Then Jacob and all his children went with him to Egypt.(G) His sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters, indeed all his offspring, he brought with him to Egypt.

Jacob’s Family

These are the names of the Israelites, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt:(H)

Jacob’s firstborn: Reuben.
Reuben’s sons:(I) Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
10 Simeon’s sons:(J) Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.
11 Levi’s sons:(K) Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
12 Judah’s sons: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Perez’s sons:(L) Hezron and Hamul.
13 Issachar’s sons:(M) Tola, Puvah,[b] Jashub,[c] and Shimron.
14 Zebulun’s sons: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
15 These were Leah’s sons born to Jacob in Paddan-aram, as well as his daughter Dinah. The total number of persons:[d] 33.
16 Gad’s sons: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.
17 Asher’s sons:(N) Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.
Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malchiel.
18 These were the sons of Zilpah—whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah—that she bore to Jacob: 16 persons.
19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
20 Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt. They were born to him by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, a priest at On.[e]
21 Benjamin’s sons:(O) Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
22 These were Rachel’s sons who were born to Jacob: 14 persons.
23 Dan’s son:[f] Hushim.
24 Naphtali’s sons:(P) Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel.(Q) She bore to Jacob: seven persons.
26 The total number of persons belonging to Jacob—his direct descendants,[g] not including the wives of Jacob’s sons—who came to Egypt: 66.
27 And Joseph’s sons who were born to him in Egypt: two persons.
All those of Jacob’s household who had come to Egypt: 70[h] persons.(R)

Jacob Arrives in Egypt

28 Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to prepare for his arrival[i] at Goshen.(S) When they came to the land of Goshen, 29 Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, threw his arms around him, and wept for a long time.(T)

30 Then Israel said to Joseph, “At last I can die, now that I have seen your face and know you are still alive!”

31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and inform Pharaoh, telling him: My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.(U) 32 The men are shepherds; they also raise livestock. They have brought their sheep and cattle and all that they have. 33 When Pharaoh addresses you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you are to say, ‘Your servants, both we and our fathers, have raised livestock[j] from our youth until now.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are abhorrent to Egyptians.”(V)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 46:4 = Joseph will close your eyes after you die
  2. Genesis 46:13 Sam, Syr read Puah; 1Ch 7:1
  3. Genesis 46:13 Sam, LXX; MT reads Iob
  4. Genesis 46:15 Lit All persons his sons and his daughters
  5. Genesis 46:20 Or Heliopolis
  6. Genesis 46:23 Alt Hb tradition reads sons
  7. Genesis 46:26 Lit Jacob who came out from his loins
  8. Genesis 46:27 LXX reads 75; Ac 7:14
  9. Genesis 46:28 Lit to give directions before him
  10. Genesis 46:34 Lit fathers, are men of livestock

Joseph's whole family in Egypt

46 So Jacob left Canaan. He took everything that belonged to him. When he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to God, the God of his father Isaac. During the night, God spoke to Israel in a dream. He said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’ Jacob replied, ‘Yes, I am here.’ God said, ‘I am God. I am the God that your father worshipped. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt. Your descendants will be very many so that you become a great nation there. I will go with you to Egypt. I will also bring you back again. Joseph will be with you when you die.’

Then Jacob left Beersheba and he continued to travel. Jacob's sons took their father as well as their wives and children. They rode in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to take them to Egypt. They also took all their animals and everything that they had got in Canaan. In that way, Jacob and all his family went to Egypt. He took his sons and his grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters. He took all his family with him to Egypt.

These are the names of the descendants of Israel[a] who went to Egypt, (that is, the sons of Jacob):

Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob.

The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.

14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel.

15 These were the sons that Leah gave birth to in Paddan Aram. Jacob was their father. Leah also gave birth to a daughter, Dinah. These sons and daughters of Jacob were 33 in all.

16 The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.

17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malkiel.

18 These were the children that Zilpah gave birth to. Jacob was their father. Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. There were 16 children in all.

19 The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

20 Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in Egypt. Their mother was Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.

22 These were the sons of Rachel, born to Jacob. There were 14 in all.

23 The son of Dan: Hushim.

24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem.

25 These were the sons that Bilhah gave birth to. She was Rachel's servant that Laban gave to her. Bilhah gave birth to these sons for Jacob. There were seven in all.

26 Jacob's descendants who went with him to Egypt were 66. That does not include his son's wives. 27 Joseph had two sons that were born in Egypt. So there were 70 people of Jacob's family who were there in Egypt.

28 Then Jacob sent Judah to go to Joseph before he got there himself. He learned how to get to Goshen and they arrived there. 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and he went to Goshen to meet Jacob, his father. When they met, Joseph hugged his father and he wept for a long time.

30 Jacob said to Joseph, ‘Now I am ready to die. I have seen for myself that you are still alive.’ 31 Then Joseph spoke to his brothers and to his father's people. He said, ‘I will go and say to Pharaoh, “My brothers and all my father's people have arrived here from Canaan. 32 The men are shepherds. They take care of their animals. They have brought with them their sheep, goats and cows, and everything that they have.” 33 Pharaoh will call you to meet him. He will ask you, “What is your job?” 34 Then you should answer, “We have always taken care of cows and sheep since we were young men. Our ancestors have always done this work.” Egyptians do not want to live near people who take care of sheep. So Pharaoh will let you stay in the region called Goshen.’[b]

Footnotes

  1. 46:8 Israel is the new name that God gave to Jacob. We call the descendants of Jacob ‘Israelites.’ Jacob's 12 sons became the ancestors of the 12 tribes of Israel.
  2. 46:34 Joseph wanted Pharaoh to know that his family would not cause any trouble to the Egyptians. They would take care of themselves.