Gen 46 | EE | STEP | So Israel (Jacob) left Canaan. He took everything that was his. When he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to God, the God of his father Isaac.

Genesis 46

Joseph’s whole family in Egypt

1 So Israel (Jacob) left Canaan. He took everything that was his. When he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to God, the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a dream at night. He said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’ And Jacob replied, ‘Yes.’ 3 God said, ‘I am God. I am the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt. I will make you have many descendants there. 4 I will go to Egypt with you. And I will bring you back again. And you will be with Joseph when you die.’

5 Then Jacob left Beersheba. And Israel‘s sons took their father Jacob and their wives and children. They all sat on the carts that Pharaoh sent to take them to Egypt. 6 They also took all their animals and everything that they had got in Canaan. And Jacob and all his family went to Egypt. 7 He took his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters. He took all his family to Egypt.

8 These are the names of the sons of Israel, (that is, the descendants of Jacob). Reuben was the first-born of Jacob. 9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah, (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel. 15 These were the sons that Leah gave birth to in Paddan Aram. Jacob was their father. Leah also gave birth to a daughter, Dinah. These sons and daughters of Jacob’s were 33 in all. 16 The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel. 18 These were the children that Zilpah gave birth to. Jacob was their father. Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. There were 16 children in all. 19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph. Their mother was Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 21 The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. 22 These were the sons of Rachel, born to Jacob. There were 14 in all. 23 The son of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem. 25 These were the sons born to Jacob. Their mother was Bilhah. Rachel gave her to Jacob as a wife. There were 7 in all. 26 Jacob’s descendants (not counting his son’s wives) were 66. All these people went with him to Egypt. 27 Jacob’s family came to 70 people. This included Joseph’s 2 sons. They were born in Egypt. All these were in Egypt with Jacob.

28 Now Jacob sent Judah in front of him. He sent him to Joseph, to learn how to get to Goshen. 29 Joseph had his chariot prepared. And he went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. Joseph saw Jacob. And Joseph hugged his father and wept for a long time. ^{▼▼46:29 Horses pull chariots. And important people ride in chariots.}

30 Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now I am ready to die. Because I have seen for myself that you are still alive.’ 31 Then Joseph spoke to his brother and to his father’s household. He said, ‘I will go and speak to Pharaoh. I will say to him, “My brothers and my father’s household have come to me. They were living in Canaan. 32 The men are shepherds. They keep animals safe. And they have brought their animals and everything that they have.” 33 Pharaoh will call you to him and ask, “What is your job?” 34 Then you should answer, “We are herdsmen. This is what we have always done. And our ancestors were herdsmen.” Then Pharaoh will let you stay in the place called Goshen. Say this because Egyptians hate shepherds and herdsmen. And the Egyptians do not want to live near them.’ ^{▼▼46:34 Goshen was a place where herdsmen lived. It had lots of grass for animals to eat. Joseph tells his brothers to say that they are herdsmen. Then the Egyptians would not want to live near them, and Pharaoh would send them to Goshen.}