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And Israel took his Journey with all that he had. Genesis 46:1-7 Israel's journey into Egypt H. T. Holmes. I. A JOURNEY WHICH THE PATRIARCH HAD NEVER EXPECTED TO TAKE, AND WHICH WAS FRAUGHT WITH CONSEQUENCES WHICH HE HAD NEVER HOPED TO SEE. II. THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IN WHICH THE PATRIARCH ENTERED UPON THIS JOURNEY. III. WHEN THE PATRIARCH SOUGHT THE LORD AT BEER-SHEBA, HE APPEARED TO HIM AND BLESSED HIM. 1. The Lord appeared to His servant, when he had offered up his sacrifices to Him. 2. The very gracious manner in which the Lord addressed His servant in this vision. 3. The Lord gave to His servant words of wise and kindly counsel, just what was suitable in the circumstances in which he was placed. IV. THE FULFILMENT OF THE PROMISE WHICH THE LORD GAVE TO ISRAEL IN THIS VISION CONCERNING HIS JOURNEY INTO EGYPT. ( H. T. Holmes. ) The migration of Jacob's house to Egypt T. H. Leale. I. IT WAS THE SECOND STAGE IN THE COVENANT HISTORY. II. IT WAS THE FULFILMENT OF THE DIVINE PLAN. III. IT WAS ENTERED UPON WITH DUE SOLEMNITY. IV. IT HAD THE APPROVAL OF GOD. God has always appeared in some special act or word in every great crisis of His people's history. As to Jacob — 1. He found God as he had sought Him. "I am God, the God of thy father." The Name used reveals the Omnipotent God, the Mighty One who is able to fulfil His covenant engagements, and who could bring Jacob safely through all his difficulties, present and future. Israel had found his God faithful in all His gracious dealings, and he believed that he should still see the same loving kindness and truth for the time to come. 2. The will of God is clearly made known. "Fear not to go down to Egypt." He was distinctly assured that it was God's will that he should go there. 3. The protection of God is promised. "Fear not — I will go down with thee into Egypt." 4. The purpose of God is declared. "I will there make of thee a great nation." "I will surely bring thee up again." ( T. H. Leale. ) The family migration W. S. Smith, B. D. I. THE DEPARTURE FROM CANAAN. 1. Jacob offers sacrifice. 2. God renews the promise. II. THE REUNION IN EGYPT. III. THE ABODE IN GOSHEN. Why was Joseph so anxious to establish his father's family in Goshen? Joseph felt that there were many dangers incident to the sojourn of the "Hebrews," his kinsfolk, in Egypt. 1. The danger of quarrels. The Egyptians might become jealous of the foreigners in their land. The Hebrews might, perhaps, presume too much on the favour shown by Pharaoh to Joseph and Jacob. 2. The danger from heathenism. There was much idolatry and animal worship in Egypt. The " magicians" and their arts might corrupt the minds of the children of Israel, and prevent them from the worship of the one true God. 3. The danger of his kin kinsmen forgetting Canaan as the land where their lot as a nation was fixed by God. He did not want them to be Egyptianized. They must, as far as possible, be kept a "separate" people. ( W. S. Smith, B. D. ) Emigrate, but not without God W. M. Taylor, D. D. History repeats itself, and this old story fits into multitudinous modern instances. But not always is sufficient heed given to the sacrificing at Beer-sheba; and the point I make now is, that in all such changes we should seek, above all things else, the companionship of God. Nothing will harm us anywhere if God is with us, and we cannot have the highest good if we go even into the fairest Goshen on the continent without Him. Horace Greely, long ago, set the fashion of saying, "Go West, young man, go West"; and there is wisdom in the advice, provided it be conjoined with the admonition, "But don't go without your God." Perhaps some here are meditating on the propriety of their pushing away into the places where the labour market is not overstocked, and the opportunities are far better than they are in a comparatively crowded city such as this. Nor do we say a word against the project. Go, by all means, if you are not afraid to work; but remember the sacrifice at Beer-sheba, and don't go without your God. Too many have done that, and have gone to ruin. But take Him with you, and He will be "your shield and your exceeding great reward." ( W. M. Taylor, D. D. ) And He said, I am God, the God of thy father, fear not to go down into Egypt. Genesis 46:3, 4 Divine assurance vouchsafed to Jacob A. M. Symington, D. D. Not the invitation of Pharaoh, not the urgent message of Joseph, not even the warmth of his own love alone, carried Jacob out of Canaan. These furnished the occasion and the impulse, but the head of the covenant people did not leave the Land of Promise without the warrant of his covenant God. There were four promises. 1. "I will make of thee a great nation," a promise which ran far into the future. A people great in numbers, greater in their influence on all the earth to the end of time, should be formed of his seed, and formed in Egypt. 2. "I will go down with thee." Over every circumstance of the future, nearer and more remote, the Living and Almighty. God would watch. 3. "I will also surely bring thee up again." The old promise of the land would not be changed. For the purpose of forming the nation which should possess the land, were they now being taken into Egypt; when the nation had been formed according to God's promise, He would bring them back. 4. "And Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes." Long before the nation was formed, Jacob's time to die should come; but when it came it would be accompanied with this tender consolation, the loving touch of Joseph's hand on the eyelids he could no longer move. That was to be his last sensation. And it would convey to him far more than the joy of his son's love; it would be the pledge that his soul was passing into the hands of the faithful Redeemer who had given this promise so long before. Thus it was by faith that Israel went into Egypt, consciously led by the hand of God. ( A. M. Symington, D. D. ) And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt. Genesis 46:8-27 The catalogue of the children of Israel T. H. Leale. I. IT MARKS THE COMMENCEMENT, AND GIVES THE OUTLINE OF, THE NATION'S HISTORY. II. IT MARKS THE TRIBE OF THE MESSIAH. III. THE NAMES ARE SIGNIFICANT. Thus the names of Reuben's sons signify: "teacher," "distinguished," "beautiful one," "noble one." These express a sanguine hope. Also the names of Levi's sons signify: "expulsion of the profane," "congregation of the consecrated," "practiser of discipline." These are the leading principles and proper characteristics of priestly rule. We hasten rapidly over Biblical names, but much instruction may be gathered from them. IV. THE FACTS CONNECTED WITH SOME OF THE NAMES ARE SUGGESTIVE. Thus Dinah, though condemned to a single life, is yet reckoned among the founders of the house of Israel in Egypt. This points to the elevation of woman, and to the idea of female inheritance. Again, Judah was the father's minister to Joseph. By his faithfulness, strength, and wisdom he rises in the opinion of his father. His distinguished place in the annals of the nation comes out, at length, in the grandeur of that prophetic word which declares God's loving purpose in this great history ( Genesis 49:10 ). V. THE NUMBER OF THE NAMES IS ALSO SUGGESTIVE. "It is remarkable that it is the product of seven, the number of holiness; and ten, the number of completeness. It is still more remarkable that it is the number of the names of those who were the heads of the primitive nations. The Church is the counterpart of the world, and it is to be the instrument by which the kingdom of the world is to become the kingdom of Christ. When the Most High bestowed the inheritance on the nations, "when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the people according to the number of the sons of Israel" ( Deuteronomy 32:8 ). This curious sentence may have an immediate reference to the providential distribution of the human family over the habitable parts of the earth, according to the number of His church and of His dispensation of grace: but, at all events, it conveys the great and obvious principle, that all things whatsoever, in the affairs of men, are antecedently adapted with the most perfect exactitude to the benign reign of grace already realized in the children of God, and yet to be extended to all the sons and daughters of Adam. ( T. H. Leale. ) They came into the land of Goshen. Genesis 46:28-34 The settlement of the children of Israel in Goshen T. H. Leale. I. THE WISE POLICY OF THIS STEP. II. THE BEHAVIOUR OF JOSEPH. 1. He determines to announce their arrival to Pharaoh (ver. 31). 2. He gives instructions to his brethren (vers. 32, 34). ( T. H. Leale. ) Jacob and Joseph J. G. Gray. I. A DIVINE PROMISE. 1. The occasion on which it was given. Jacob having heard that Joseph was alive, was anxious to see his son once more. Felt he could hardly leave the promised land except he had Divine permission. He went as far as he dared — to Beer-sheba, in the extreme south, and there offered sacrifice unto the God of his father. Then it was, in a vision, that the promise was spoken. Divine mercy and condescension, responding to the father's desire. "Like as a father pitieth his children," &c. 2. The nature of it.(1) Confirmation of old promise (ver. 3.) Jacob had not forgotten it. But might not going down to Egypt prevent its fulfilment?(2) Promise of Divine presence and protection. "I will go," &c. (ver. 4).(3) Promise that the father shall see his long-lost son. 3. Practical effect of it. In the strength of the encouragement it imparted, Jacob, 130 years old, sets out for Egypt. II. A FATHER'S MESSENGER. Judah. He had taken a chief part in the separating of father and son, and we now see him most active in bringing about the meeting. Those who have done wrong may not be able to undo the wrong they have done, but should, if possible, make reparation. Recall the activity of Judah all through the history. His intercession for Benjamin, &c. There seems to have been a radical change in him. III. A HAPPY MEETING. Jacob and Joseph. Some twenty-two years had passed since they had seen each other. It was no prodigal's return. Jacob would have been glad to see Joseph under any circumstances, but how great his pride at finding him thus exalted. Jacob, as a God-fearing man, had no need to be ashamed of the progress of his son. IV. AN HONEST COUNCILLOR. Joseph to his brethren. They were not to disguise their calling; although the Egyptians abandoned it. They were to begin in their new home on the right principles, were to be true and honest. How many resort to unmanly concealments of humble extraction and lowly avocations when away from home. Honesty always right, and therefore the best policy. In this case the effect is evident. The Israelites were located by themselves. Their exodus the more easy and practicable when the time came. Had they been spread through the country, their collection and departure had been most difficult. Learn: 1. To seek God's guidance in all our movements. 2. To look for the fulfilment of promise in an honest obedience. 3. Endeavour to repair results of past sins. Restitution and reparation. 4. Let conduct in absence of parents be such as to render the meeting happy. 5. Begin life on right principles. Honour, truth, honesty. ( J. G. Gray. ) Duty and filial piety combined J. Parker, D. D. A beautiful combination of official duty and filial piety! The whole land of Egypt is suffering from famine. Joseph is the controller and administrator of the resources of the land. He does not abandon his position and go away to Canaan; but he gets the chariot out and he must go part of the road. "I know I am father to Pharaoh and all his great people. I shall not be away long; I shall soon be back again to my duties. I must go a little way to meet the old man from home." Yes, I don't care what our duties are, we can add a little pathos to them if we like; whatever we be in life, we can add a little sentiment to our life. And what is life without sentiment? What are the flowers without an occasional sprinkling of dew? It may be a grand thing to sit on high stool and wait till the old man comes upstairs. But it is an infinitely grander thing, a "lordlier chivalry," to come off the stool and go away to meet him a mile or two on the road. Your home will be a better home — I don't care how poor the cot — if you will have a little sentiment in you, a little tenderness and nice feeling. These are things that sweeten life. I don't want a man to wait until there is an earthquake in order that he may call and say, "How do you do?" I don't want a man to do earthquakes for me. Sometimes I want a chair handed, and a door opened, and a kind pressure of the hand, and a gentle word. And as for the earthquakes, why — wait until they come. ( J. Parker, D. D. ) Kindness to parents One Thousand New Illustrations. The biographers of Abraham Lincoln, say: "He never, in all his prosperity lost sight of his parents. He continued to aid and befriend them in every way, even when he could ill-afford it, and when his benefactions were imprudently used." ( One Thousand New Illustrations. ) Not ashamed of parentage J. Trapp. Joseph, a prince, was no whir ashamed of the poor old shepherd, before so many of his compeers and other courtiers, that accompanied him, and abominated such kind of persons. Colonel Edwards is much commended for his ingenuous reply to a countryman of his, newly come to him, into the low countries, out of Scotland. This fellow, desiring entertainment of him, told him, my lord his father and such knights and gentlemen, his cousins and kinsmen, were in good health. "Gentlemen," quoth Colonel Edwards to his friends by, "believe not one word he says; my father is but a poor banker, whom this knave would make a lord, to curry favour with me, and make you believe I am a great man born." The truly virtuous and valorous are no whir ashamed of their mean parentage. ( J. Trapp. ).

Benson Commentary Genesis 46:1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. Genesis 46:1 . Israel came to Beer-sheba — Which place he chose in remembrance of the communion which his father and grandfather had had with God in that place. And offered sacrifices — That is, extraordinary sacrifices, besides those he was wont to offer at stated times; and this he did, as well to express his gratitude for the preservation of Joseph’s life, and the many other blessings which he had received, as by way of supplication to God for his direction in this important affair, whether he might leave the promised land of Canaan, and remove into the idolatrous country of Egypt; and if so, for the divine protection and blessing to be vouchsafed toward himself and family, both in his journey and in Egypt. Unto the God of his father Isaac — Whom Isaac had honoured and served, and who had constantly provided for and confirmed his covenant with him. He mentions Isaac rather than Abraham, to show that though Isaac was much inferior to Abraham in gifts and grace, yet God was no less Isaac’s than Abraham’s God, and therefore would be his God also, notwithstanding his unworthiness. Genesis 46:2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. Genesis 46:2 . God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night — Probably the next night after he had offered his sacrifices. Those who desire to keep up communion with God, shall find that it never fails on his side. If we speak to him as we ought, he will not fail to speak to us. Genesis 46:3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: Genesis 46:3 . I am God, the God of thy father — True to the covenant made with him. Fear not to go down into Egypt — It seems though Jacob, upon the first intelligence of Joseph’s life and glory in Egypt, resolved, without any hesitation, I will go and see him, yet, upon second thoughts, he saw difficulties in Genesis 2:1 st, He was one hundred and thirty years old; it was a long journey, and he was unfit to travel. 2d, He feared lest his sons should be tainted with the idolatry of Egypt, and forget the God of their fathers. 3d, Probably he thought of what God had said to Abraham concerning the bondage and affliction of his seed. 4th, He could not think of laying his bones in Egypt. But whatever his discouragements were, this was enough to answer them all, Fear not to go down into Egypt. Genesis 46:4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again : and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. Genesis 46:4 . I will go down with thee into Egypt — Those that go where God sends them shall certainly have God with them. And I will surely bring thee up again — Though Jacob died in Egypt, yet this promise was fulfilled. 1st, In the bringing up of his body to be buried in Canaan. 2d, In the bringing up of his seed to be settled in Canaan. Whatever low and darksome valley we are called into, we may be confident, if God go down with us, he will surely bring us up again. If he go with us down to death, he will surely bring us up again to glory. And Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes — This is a promise that Joseph should live as long as he lived, that he should be with him at his death, and close his eyes with all possible tenderness. Probably Jacob, in the multitude of his thoughts within him, had been wishing that Joseph might do this last office of love for him; and God thus answered him in the letter of his desire. Thus God sometimes gratifies the innocent wishes of his people, and makes not only their death happy, but the very circumstances of it agreeable. Genesis 46:5 And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. Genesis 46:6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: Genesis 46:7 His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. Genesis 46:7 . All his seed — It is probable they continued to live together in common with their father, and therefore when he went, they all went; which, perhaps, they were the more willing to do, because, though they had heard that the land of Canaan was promised them, yet, to this day, they had none of it in possession. We have here a particular account of the names of Jacob’s family; his sons’ sons, most of whom are afterward mentioned as heads of houses in the several tribes. See Numbers 26:5 , &c, The daughters mentioned seem to have been daughters-in-law. The whole number that went down into Egypt were sixty-six, to which add Joseph and his two sons, who were there before, and Jacob himself, the head of the family, and you have the number of seventy. It was now two hundred and fifteen years since God had promised Abraham to make of him a great nation, Genesis 41:2 ; and yet that branch of his seed, on which the promise was entailed, was as yet increased but to seventy, of which this particular account is kept, that the power of God in multiplying these seventy to so vast a multitude, even in Egypt, may be more illustrious. When he pleases, a little one shall become a thousand. Genesis 46:8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. Genesis 46:9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. Genesis 46:10 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. Genesis 46:11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Genesis 46:12 And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. Genesis 46:13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. Genesis 46:14 And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. Genesis 46:15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. Genesis 46:16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. Genesis 46:17 And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel. Genesis 46:18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls. Genesis 46:19 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin. Genesis 46:20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. Genesis 46:21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. Genesis 46:22 These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. Genesis 46:23 And the sons of Dan; Hushim. Genesis 46:24 And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem. Genesis 46:25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven. Genesis 46:26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; Genesis 46:27 And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. Genesis 46:28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. Genesis 46:28-30 . Direct his face unto Goshen — Which was near the entrance of Egypt. The meaning seems to be, to give Joseph notice of his approach, that he might come to Goshen to meet him. Now let me die — Not but that it was desirable to live with Joseph, and to see his honour and usefulness; but he had so much satisfaction in this first meeting, that he thought it too much to desire or expect any more in this world. Genesis 46:29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. Genesis 46:30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. Genesis 46:31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; Genesis 46:32 And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. Genesis 46:33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? Genesis 46:34 That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. Genesis 46:34 . That ye may dwell in the land of Goshen — In this choice, Joseph showed both his prudence and his piety. As he was not ashamed to own himself the brother of shepherds, although they were contemptible among the Egyptians; so he does not seek to advance them higher, which he certainly might have done, but continues them in their employment. And by placing them in Goshen, 1st, He kept them together, which was very much for their convenience in many respects. 2d, He secured them against envy, and, as far as was in his power, from the corruption of their religion and manners which probably would have taken place, had they mixed with the Egyptians. Every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians — Probably because they killed, eat, and offered in sacrifice, those animals which the Egyptians adored. Hence these animal sacrifices are said to be an abomination to the Egyptian. Another probable reason also has been assigned for this, namely, that some Phœnician shepherds had lately made an irruption into Egypt, and had committed great cruelties and depredations, burning divers cities and temples, and barbarously murdering a multitude of people. It is no wonder, therefore, that the employment of shepherds was out of credit with the Egyptians, and odious in their eyes. Benson Commentary on the Old and New Testaments Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com . Used by Permission.

Expositor's Bible Commentary Genesis 46:1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. The Expositor's Bible Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com . Used by Permission.