Genesis 46:5

5 Ya`akov rose up from Be'er-Sheva, and the sons of Yisra'el carried Ya`akov, their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Par`oh had sent to carry him.

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 He said, "I am God, the God of your father. Don't be afraid to go down into Mitzrayim; for there I will make of you a great nation.

4 I will go down with you into Mitzrayim. I will also surely bring you up again. Yosef will close your eyes."

5 Ya`akov rose up from Be'er-Sheva, and the sons of Yisra'el carried Ya`akov, their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Par`oh had sent to carry him.

6 They took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Kana`an, and came into Mitzrayim - Ya`akov, and all his seed with him,

7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Mitzrayim.