Genesis 47:5-6

"And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee: the land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and thy brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle."

Leupold paraphrased Pharaoh's first statement here, as "So I see your father and brothers have arrived."[6] This is also an acknowledgment of the fact that they were there upon Pharaoh's invitation, as confirmed by his stating again the permission granted along with the invitation for them to live in Egypt. In fact, he even enhanced his permission by saying, in effect: that Joseph's kindred might settle anywhere they liked. It is blind criticism indeed that would make this whole episode a SURPRISE to Pharaoh and the design for Israel's removal to Goshen a result of devious maneuvering by Joseph. Leupold called Pharaoh's words here, "a gracious royal acknowledgment."[7]

Pharaoh here not only granted formal royal permission for the settlement in Goshen, not merely through Joseph, but by direct word in the presence of five representatives of Israel, even throwing in the proposition that, if Joseph approved, it would be good to place his own cattle under their supervision! There could hardly be any doubt that such was done.

It is a gross error to read Pharaoh's opening statement as an indicator that the arrival of Israel was a SURPRISE, or that they had just arrived. "This in no way indicates the time of their arrival."[8]