28 Now Jacob sent Judah(A) ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen.(B) When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot(C) made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel.(D) As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father[a] and wept(E) for a long time.(F)

30 Israel(G) said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”(H)

31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan,(I) have come to me.(J) 32 The men are shepherds;(K) they tend livestock,(L) and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’(M) 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’(N) 34 you should answer, ‘Your servants(O) have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’(P) Then you will be allowed to settle(Q) in the region of Goshen,(R) for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 46:29 Hebrew around him

Jacob’s Family Arrives in Goshen

28 As they neared their destination, Jacob sent Judah ahead to meet Joseph and get directions to the region of Goshen. And when they finally arrived there, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father, Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time. 30 Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen your face again and know you are still alive.”

31 And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s entire family, “I will go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s entire family have come to me from the land of Canaan. 32 These men are shepherds, and they raise livestock. They have brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.’”

33 Then he said, “When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation, 34 you must tell him, ‘We, your servants, have raised livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the region of Goshen, for the Egyptians despise shepherds.”

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