Genesi 46:18 Commento

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 the sons of Benjamin,.... The second son of Jacob by his wife Rachel; whose sons were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard; in all one hundred and ten. It is a difficulty to account for it, that Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son, often called a lad at this time, and generally supposed to be about twenty three or four years of age, should have so many sons: some think he had more wives than one, which is not likely, since we never read of any of Jacob's sons that had more than one at a time; and others, that his sons were born twins, and so had them in a little time, which is a much better solution of the difficulty: but others are of opinion, that though the greater part of them might be born in Canaan, yet others might be born in Egypt; and being denominated from the greater part, and that being put for the whole, may be reckoned among the descendants into Egypt; and even those that were in Egypt, being born while Jacob was alive, might be said to descend there in his loins; which may be the best of the ways proposed for removing this difficulty: though I should rather think they were all born before the descent into Egypt, the whole narrative seems to require this of them all; for otherwise many more might be, said to descend in the loins of Jacob, or in the loins of his sons, which would greatly increase the number of those said to go down with him, after mentioned: to which it may be added, that Benjamin was at least thirty two years of age, and so may very well be thought to have had these children before he went to Egypt.

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.