11. Israel’s move to Egypt 45:16-46:30Joseph’s brothers returned to Jacob with news of Joseph’s survival and prosperity. Israel (Jacob) then moved to Egypt in response to Joseph’s invitation and God’s encouragement. The survival of Jacob’s family in Egypt through the famine recalls the survival of Noah’s family in the ark through the Flood. read more
The Descent of Jacob into Egypt. The Genealogical Table of the Israelites1-4. On reaching Beersheba, the southern boundary of the Promised Land, Jacob offers sacrifices to God. In return God assures him of His continued favour and of the fulfilment of the promises made to Abraham. 4. Put his hand upon thine eyes] i.e. close them in death. 5. Little ones] rather,’household servants and their families.’ 6-27. This passage is from the Priestly source, and shows its characteristic fondness for... read more
CHAPTER 46 Jacob Goes Down to Egypt 1. Israel’s departure and the vision (Genesis 46:1-4 ) 2. The journey and the arrival in Egypt (Genesis 46:5-7 ) 3. The offspring of the sons of Jacob (Genesis 46:8-27 ) 4. Israel meets Joseph (Genesis 46:28-30 ) 5. Joseph’s directions concerning Pharaoh (Genesis 46:31-34 The whole family of Jacob, consisting of seventy souls, exclusive of the wives and the servants, came to Egypt. Once more God appears to Israel, but addresses him as Jacob. He... read more
JACOB AND HIS FAMILY MOVE TO EGYPT (vs.1-27) Nothing is said of the great amount of preparation they must make for their journey, but Jacob is said to take the journey with all that he had, which of course included all his family. On his way he stopped at Beersheba (the well of the oath), which indicates his remembrance of the promise of God on which he was dependent. It is good to see him offering sacrifices there. That night God spoke to him in a vision, a reminder of the dream God gave... read more
JOSEPH ’S HISTORY DISPENSATIONAL ASPECT OF JACOB’S HISTORY Following F.W. Grant in the Numerical Bible, the life of Jacob gives as its lesson the story of that discipline by which the Spirit of God brings us from weakness to power, from nature’s strength to that wholesome weakness in which alone is strength. But for this, natural strength must be crippled, which is provided for in two ways: in allowing us to realize the power of another nature (Esau) and in the direct dealing of God with our... read more
See Numbers 26:5 I detain not the Reader through these verses, but only to observe upon the whole, that it was now more than 200 years since GOD promised to make of Abraham a great nation and yet that branch of Abraham's seed with whom the promise was deposited, was not increased but to 70 souls: that is, including the threescore and six persons which went down with Jacob into Egypt Jacob himself, Joseph, and Joseph's two sons, none of which were included in the threescore and six enumerated. read more
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. Genesis 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. read more
List of the Souls in Jacob's Family v. 8. And these are the names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt: Jacob and his sons, the names being here recorded as the forefathers of that great nation which grew up in Egypt: Reuben, Jacob's first-born. v. 9. And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. v. 10. And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel (or Nemuel), and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin (or Jarib), and Zohar (or Zerah), and Shaul, the son of a Canaanitish woman Cf... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 46:8-27
Israel’s household’s move to Egypt 46:8-27This section contains a list of the individuals in Jacob’s family about the time he moved to Egypt. As in chapter 31, when he left Paddan-aram, this move was also difficult for Jacob. Moses recorded a total of 70 persons (Genesis 46:27; cf. Exodus 1:5). The 66 referred to in Genesis 46:26 excluded Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh, or perhaps Er and Onan (Genesis 46:12) and Ephraim and Manasseh. Stephen said there were 75, but he must have added... read more