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
