Génesis 47:2

2 Además, José había elegido a cinco de sus hermanos para presentárselos al faraón.

Génesis 47:2 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 47:2

And he took some of his brethren
Along with him, when he left his father in Goshen; the word for "some" signifies the extremity of a thing: hence some have fancied that he took some of the meanest and most abject, so Jarchi, lest if they had appeared to Pharaoh strong and robust, he should have made soldiers of them; others on the contrary think he took those that excelled most in strength of body, and endowments of mind, to make the better figure; others, that he took of both sorts, or some at both ends, the first and last, elder and younger; but it may be, he made no choice at all, but took some that offered next:

[even] five men:
whom the Targum of Jonathan names as follow, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher; but Jarchi will have them to be Reuben, Simeon and Levi, Issachar and Benjamin; but on these accounts no dependence is to be had:

and presented them, unto Pharaoh;
introduced them into his presence, that he might converse with them, and ask them what questions he thought fit.

Génesis 47:2 In-Context

1 José fue a informarle al faraón, y le dijo:—Mi padre y mis hermanos han venido desde Canaán con sus ovejas y sus vacas y todas sus pertenencias. Ya se encuentran en la región de Gosén.

2 Además, José había elegido a cinco de sus hermanos para presentárselos al faraón.

3 Y este les preguntó:—¿En qué trabajan ustedes?—Nosotros, sus siervos, somos pastores, al igual que nuestros antepasados —respondieron ellos—.

4 Hemos venido a vivir en este país porque en Canaán ya no hay pastos para nuestros rebaños. ¡Es terrible el hambre que acosa a ese país! Por eso le rogamos a usted nos permita vivir en la región de Gosén.

5 Entonces el faraón le dijo a José:—Tu padre y tus hermanos han venido a estar contigo.