Genesis 46:28-34

28 Now he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out the way before him to ¹Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

29 Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; as soon as he appeared before him, he fell on his neck and ²wept on his neck a long time.

30 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive."

31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "³I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me;

32 and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.'

33 "When Pharaoh calls you and says, '⁴What is your occupation?'

34 you shall say, 'Your servants have been ⁵keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,' that you may live in the land of ⁶Goshen; for every shepherd is ⁷loathsome to the Egyptians."

Genesis 46:28-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 46

In this chapter we are told, that Jacob with all his family and substance took a journey to Egypt to see his son Joseph, as he determined, in which he was encouraged to proceed by a vision from God, Ge 46:1-7; and an account is given of all his sons, his sons' sons and daughters that went thither with him, Ge 46:8-27; when he came near to Egypt he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to acquaint him of his coming, who met him at Goshen, where there was a most affectionate interview between them, Ge 46:28-30; and when he gave directions and instructions what answers to give to Pharaoh's questions, when they should appear before him, to whom he proposed to go and inform him of their being come into Egypt, Ge 46:31-34.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 45:10
• 2. Genesis 45:14, 15
• 3. Genesis 47:1
• 4. Genesis 47:2, 3
• 5. Genesis 13:7, 8; Genesis 26:20; Genesis 37:2
• 6. Genesis 45:10, 18; Genesis 47:6, 11
• 7. Genesis 43:32; Exodus 8:26

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "tied, harnessed"
• [b] Lit "to"
• [c] Lit "men"
• [d] Lit "men"
• [e] Lit "dwell"
• [f] Lit "an abomination"