Genèse 46:32

32 Ces hommes sont bergers, car ils élèvent des troupeaux; ils ont amené leurs brebis et leurs boeufs, et tout ce qui leur appartient.

Genèse 46:32 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 46:32

And the men [are] shepherds
That was their occupation and employment, by which they got their livelihood. Joseph was not ashamed of the business his father and brethren followed, even though mean; and besides, such men were an abomination to the Egyptians: this he thought proper to tell Pharaoh, lest he should think of putting them into some offices of the court or army, which would expose them to the envy of the Egyptians, and might endanger the corruption of their religion and manners, as well as be the means of separating them one from another, which he was careful to guard against, as Josephus ^F2 the historian suggests:

for their trade hath been to feed cattle;
this was what they were brought up to from their youth, and were always employed in, and for which only they were fit:

and they have brought their flocks and their herds, and all that they
have;
in order to carry on the same business, and lead the same course of life.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 2. c. 7. sect. 5.)

Genèse 46:32 In-Context

30 Israël dit à Joseph: Que je meure maintenant, puisque j'ai vu ton visage et que tu vis encore!

31 Joseph dit à ses frères et à la famille de son père: Je vais avertir Pharaon, et je lui dirai: Mes frères et la famille de mon père, qui étaient au pays de Canaan, sont arrivés auprès de moi.

32 Ces hommes sont bergers, car ils élèvent des troupeaux; ils ont amené leurs brebis et leurs boeufs, et tout ce qui leur appartient.

33 Et quand Pharaon vous appellera, et dira: Quelle est votre occupation?

34 vous répondrez: Tes serviteurs ont élevé des troupeaux, depuis notre jeunesse jusqu'à présent, nous et nos pères. De cette manière, vous habiterez dans le pays de Gosen, car tous les bergers sont en abomination aux Egyptiens.