Bereshis 47:28

28 And Ya’akov lived in Eretz Mitzrayim seventeen shanah; so the whole age of Ya’akov was a hundred forty and seven shanah.

Bereshis 47:28 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 47:28

And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years
He lived just the same term of years with Joseph in Egypt as he had lived with him in Syria and Canaan, ( Genesis 37:2 ) ; about two hours' walk from Fium are now to be seen the ruins of an ancient town, which the Coptics say was inhabited by the patriarch Jacob, and for this cause they name it, yet, Modsellet Jacub, or the tabernacle of Jacob ^F14, which place is supposed to be in the land of Goshen, see ( Genesis 47:11 ) ;

so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years;
he was one hundred and thirty when he stood before Pharaoh, ( Genesis 47:9 ) ; and now had lived in Egypt seventeen years, as in the above clause, which together make up the sum; and this exact time of the years of his life is given by Polyhistor from Demetrius, an Heathen writer ^F15.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Vansleb's Relation of a Voyage to Egypt, p. 167.
F15 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 21. p. 425.

Bereshis 47:28 In-Context

26 And Yosef made it a chok over Eretz Mitzrayim unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the admat hakohanim only, which became not Pharaoh’s.

27 And Yisroel settled in Eretz Mitzrayim, in Eretz Goshen; and they acquired property therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

28 And Ya’akov lived in Eretz Mitzrayim seventeen shanah; so the whole age of Ya’akov was a hundred forty and seven shanah.

29 And the time drew near that Yisroel must die; and he called bno Yosef, and said unto him, If now I have found chen in thy sight, put, now, thy yad under my thigh, and do chesed and emes with me; bury me not, now, in Mitzrayim;

30 But I will lie with my avot, and thou shalt carry me out of Mitzrayim, and bury me in their kever. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.