Genesis 46

1 profectusque Israhel cum omnibus quae habebat venit ad puteum Iuramenti et mactatis ibi victimis Deo patris sui Isaac
2 audivit eum per visionem nocte vocantem se et dicentem sibi Iacob Iacob cui respondit ecce adsum
3 ait illi Deus ego sum Fortissimus Deus patris tui noli timere et descende in Aegyptum quia in gentem magnam faciam te ibi
4 ego descendam tecum illuc et ego inde adducam te revertentem Ioseph quoque ponet manum suam super oculos tuos
5 surrexit Iacob a puteo Iuramenti tuleruntque eum filii cum parvulis et uxoribus suis in plaustris quae miserat Pharao ad portandum senem
6 et omnia quae possederat in terra Chanaan venitque in Aegyptum cum omni semine suo
7 filii eius et nepotes filiae et cuncta simul progenies
8 haec sunt autem nomina filiorum Israhel qui ingressi sunt in Aegyptum ipse cum liberis suis primogenitus Ruben
9 filii Ruben Enoch et Phallu et Esrom et Charmi
10 filii Symeon Iemuhel et Iamin et Ahod et Iachin et Saher et Saul filius Chananitidis
11 filii Levi Gerson Caath et Merari
12 filii Iuda Her et Onan et Sela et Phares et Zara mortui sunt autem Her et Onan in terra Chanaan natique sunt filii Phares Esrom et Amul
13 filii Isachar Thola et Phua et Iob et Semron
14 filii Zabulon Sared et Helon et Iahelel
15 hii filii Liae quos genuit in Mesopotamiam Syriae cum Dina filia sua omnes animae filiorum eius et filiarum triginta tres
16 filii Gad Sephion et Haggi Suni et Esebon Heri et Arodi et Areli
17 filii Aser Iamne et Iesua et Iesui et Beria Sara quoque soror eorum filii Beria Heber et Melchihel
18 hii filii Zelphae quam dedit Laban Liae filiae suae et hos genuit Iacob sedecim animas
19 filii Rahel uxoris Iacob Ioseph et Beniamin
20 natique sunt Ioseph filii in terra Aegypti quos genuit ei Aseneth filia Putiphare sacerdotis Heliopoleos Manasses et Ephraim
21 filii Beniamin Bela et Bechor et Asbel Gera et Naaman et Ehi et Ros Mophim et Opphim et Ared
22 hii filii Rahel quos genuit Iacob omnes animae quattuordecim
23 filii Dan Usim
24 filii Nepthalim Iasihel et Guni et Hieser et Sallem
25 hii filii Balae quam dedit Laban Raheli filiae suae et hos genuit Iacob omnes animae septem
26 cunctae animae quae ingressae sunt cum Iacob in Aegyptum et egressae de femore illius absque uxoribus filiorum sexaginta sex
27 filii autem Ioseph qui nati sunt ei in terra Aegypti animae duae omnis anima domus Iacob quae ingressa est Aegyptum fuere septuaginta
28 misit autem Iudam ante se ad Ioseph ut nuntiaret ei et ille occurreret in Gessen
29 quo cum pervenisset iuncto Ioseph curru suo ascendit obviam patri ad eundem locum vidensque eum inruit super collum eius et inter amplexus flevit
30 dixitque pater ad Ioseph iam laetus moriar quia vidi faciem tuam et superstitem te relinquo
31 et ille locutus est ad fratres et ad omnem domum patris sui ascendam et nuntiabo Pharaoni dicamque ei fratres mei et domus patris mei qui erant in terra Chanaan venerunt ad me
32 et sunt viri pastores ovium curamque habent alendorum gregum pecora sua et armenta et omnia quae habere potuerunt adduxerunt secum
33 cumque vocaverit vos et dixerit quod est opus vestrum
34 respondebitis viri pastores sumus servi tui ab infantia nostra usque in praesens et nos et patres nostri haec autem dicetis ut habitare possitis in terra Gessen quia detestantur Aegyptii omnes pastores ovium

Genesis 46 Commentary

Chapter 46

God's promises to Jacob. (1-4) Jacob and his family go to Egypt. (5-27) Joseph meets his father and his brethren. (28-34)

Verses 1-4 Even as to those events and undertakings which appear most joyful, we should seek counsel, assistance, and a blessing from the Lord. Attending on his ordinances, and receiving the pledges of his covenant love, we expect his presence, and that peace which it confers. In all removals we should be reminded of our removal out of this world. Nothing can encourage us to fear no evil when passing through the valley of the shadow of death, but the presence of Christ.

Verses 5-27 We have here a particular account of Jacob's family. Though the fulfilling of promises is always sure, yet it is often slow. It was now 215 years since God had promised Abraham to make of him a great nation, ch. 12:2 ; yet that branch of his seed, to which the promise was made sure, had only increased to seventy, of whom this particular account is kept, to show the power of God in making these seventy become a vast multitude.

Verses 28-34 It was justice to Pharaoh to let him know that such a family was come to settle in his dominions. If others put confidence in us, we must not be so base as to abuse it by imposing upon them. But how shall Joseph dispose of his brethren? Time was, when they were contriving to be rid of him; now he is contriving to settle them to their advantage; this is rendering good for evil. He would have them live by themselves, in the land of Goshen, which lay nearest to Canaan. Shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians. Yet Joseph would have them not ashamed to own this as their occupation before Pharaoh. He might have procured places for them at court or in the army. But such preferments would have exposed them to the envy of the Egyptians, and might have tempted them to forget Canaan and the promise made unto their fathers. An honest calling is no disgrace, nor ought we to account it so, but rather reckon it a shame to be idle, or to have nothing to do. It is generally best for people to abide in the callings they have been bred to and used to. Whatever employment and condition God in his providence has allotted for us, let us suit ourselves to it, satisfy ourselves with it, and not mind high things. It is better to be the credit of a mean post, than the shame of a high one. If we wish to destroy our souls, or the souls of our children, then let us seek for ourselves, and for them, great things; but if not, it becomes us, having food and raiment, therewith to be content.

Chapter Summary

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.

Genesis 46 Commentaries

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.