Genesis 46:5

5 Jacob rose from the well of (the) oath (And then Jacob set out from Beersheba), and his sons took him, with their little children, and (their) wives, in the wains which Pharaoh had sent to bear the eld man,

Genesis 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.

Genesis 46:5 In-Context

3 God said to him, I am the full strong God of thy father; do not thou dread, go down into Egypt, for I shall make thee there into a great folk; (And God said to him, I am the very strong God of thy father; do not thou fear, but go down to Egypt, for there I shall make thee into a great nation;)

4 I shall go down thither with thee, and I shall bring thee turning again from thence (and I shall bring thee back again from there), and Joseph shall set his hand on thine eyes.

5 Jacob rose from the well of (the) oath (And then Jacob set out from Beersheba), and his sons took him, with their little children, and (their) wives, in the wains which Pharaoh had sent to bear the eld man,

6 and all things which he wielded in the land of Canaan; and he came into Egypt with [all] his seed,

7 his sons, and their sons, and (all the) daughters, and all the generation(s) together.