Genesis 46:2 Komentář

Jacob is here removing to Egypt in his old age, forced thither by a famine, and invited thither by a son. Here, I. God sends him thither (Gen 46:1-4). II. All his family goes with him (v. 5-27). III. Joseph bids him welcome (Gen 46:28-34).

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, Gen 46:1; and an account is given of all his sons, his sons' sons and daughters that went thither with him, Gen 46:8; 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, Gen 46:28; 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, Gen 46:31.

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night,.... He appeared to Jacob as he lay upon his bed in the night season, and with an articulate voice spoke to him as follows: and said, Jacob, Jacob: not "Israel", the more honourable name he had given him, but Jacob, putting him in mind of his former low estate; and doubling this name, either out of love and affection to him, as Jarchi intimates; or rather in order to awake him, at least to stir up his attention to what he was about to say to him: and he said, here am I; signifying his readiness to hearken to him in what he should say to him, and to obey him in whatsoever he should command him.

Jacob begins his journey to Egypt, comes to Beer-sheba, and offers sacrifices to God, Gen 46:1. God appears to him in a vision, gives him gracious promises, and assures him of his protection, Gen 46:2-4. He proceeds, with his family and their cattle, on his journey towards Egypt, Gen 46:5-7. A genealogical enumeration of the seventy persons who went down to Egypt, Gen 46:8, etc. The posterity of Jacob by Leah. Reuben and his sons, Gen 46:9. Simeon and his sons, Gen 46:10. Levi and his sons, Gen 46:11. Judah and his sons, Gen 46:12. Issachar and his sons, Gen 46:13. And Zebulun and his sons, Gen 46:14. All the posterity of Jacob by Leah, thirty and three, Gen 46:15. The posterity of Jacob by Zilpah. Gad and his sons, Gen 46:16. Asher and his sons, Gen 46:17. All the posterity of Jacob by Zilpah, sixteen, Gen 46:18. The posterity of Jacob by Rachel. Joseph and his sons, Gen 46:19, Gen 46:20. Benjamin and his sons, Gen 46:21. All the posterity of Jacob by Rachel, fourteen, Gen 46:22. The posterity of Jacob by Bilhah. Dan and his sons, Gen 46:23. Naphtali and his sons, Gen 46:24. All the posterity of Jacob by Bilhah, seven, Gen 46:25. All the immediate descendants of Jacob by his four wives, threescore and six, Gen 46:26; and all the descendants of the house of Jacob, seventy souls, Gen 46:27. Judah is sent before to inform Joseph of his father's coming, Gen 46:28. Joseph goes to Goshen to meet Jacob, Gen 46:29. Their affecting interview, Gen 46:30. Joseph proposes to return to Pharaoh, and inform him of the arrival of his family, Gen 46:31, and of their occupation, as keepers of cattle, Gen 46:32. Instructs them what to say when called before Pharaoh, and questioned by him, that they might be permitted to dwell unmolested in the land of Goshen, Gen 46:33, Gen 46:34.

SACRIFICE AT BEER-SHEBA. (Gen 46:1-4) Israel took his journey with all that he had--that is, his household; for in compliance with Pharaoh's recommendation, he left his heavy furniture behind. In contemplating a step so important as that of leaving Canaan, which at his time of life he might never revisit, so pious a patriarch would ask the guidance and counsel of God. With all his anxiety to see Joseph, he would rather have died in Canaan without that highest of earthly gratifications than leave it without the consciousness of carrying the divine blessing along with him. came to Beer-sheba--That place, which was in his direct route to Egypt, had been a favorite encampment of Abraham (Gen 21:33) and Isaac (Gen 26:25), and was memorable for their experience of the divine goodness; and Jacob seems to have deferred his public devotions till he had reached a spot so consecrated by covenant to his own God and the God of his fathers.

God spake unto Israel--Here is a virtual renewal of the covenant and an assurance of its blessings. Moreover, here is an answer on the chief subject of Jacob's prayer and a removal of any doubt as to the course he was meditating. At first the prospect of paying a personal visit to Joseph had been viewed with unmingled joy. But, on calmer consideration, many difficulties appeared to lie in the way. He may have remembered the prophecy to Abraham that his posterity was to be afflicted in Egypt and also that his father had been expressly told not to go [Gen 15:13; Gen 26:2]; he may have feared the contamination of idolatry to his family and their forgetfulness of the land of promise. These doubts were removed by the answer of the oracle, and an assurance given him of great and increasing prosperity.