Bereshis 46:5

5 And Ya’akov rose up from Be’er-Sheva; and the Bnei Yisroel carried Ya’akov Avichem, and their little ones, and their nashim, in the agalot which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

Bereshis 46:5 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 46:5

And Jacob rose up from Beersheba
In high spirits, and proceeded on in his journey, being encouraged and animated by the promises of God now made unto him: 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;
it may be wondered at that Joseph did not send his chariot to fetch his father; it could not be for want of due respect and honour to him, but it may be such a carriage was not fit for so long a journey, and especially to travel in, in some parts of the road through which they went: no mention being made of Jacob's wives, it may be presumed they were all now dead; it is certain Rachel was, see ( Genesis 35:19 ) ; and it is more than probable that Leah died before this time, since Jacob says he buried her himself in Machpelah in Canaan, ( Genesis 49:31 ) ; and it is very likely also that his two concubine wives Bilhah and Zilpah were also dead, since no notice is taken of them.

Bereshis 46:5 In-Context

3 And He said, I am El Elohei Avicha; fear not to go down to Mitzrayim; for there I will make thee a Goy Gadol;

4 I will go down with thee to Mitzrayim; and I will also surely bring thee up again; and Yosef shall put his yad upon thine eyes.

5 And Ya’akov rose up from Be’er-Sheva; and the Bnei Yisroel carried Ya’akov Avichem, and their little ones, and their nashim, in the agalot which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

6 And they took their mikneh, and their possessions, which they had acquired in Eretz Kena’an, and came to Mitzrayim, Ya’akov, and all his zera with him;

7 His banim, and his bnei banim with him, his banot, and his banot banim, and all his zera brought he with him to Mitzrayim.