Genesis 46:1 - Exposition

And Israel (as the head of the theocratic family) took his journey — literally, broke up, sc. his encampment (cf. Genesis 12:9 )— with all that he had, and came —from Hebron ( Genesis 37:14 )— to Beersheba, —where Abraham ( Genesis 21:33 ) and Isaac ( Genesis 26:25 ) had both sojourned for considerable periods, and erected altars to Jehovah— and offered sacrifices unto the God (the Elohim) of his father Isaac . Probably giving thanks to God for the tidings concerning Joseph (Ainsworth); consulting God' about his journey to Egypt (Rosenmüller); it may be, pouring out before God his fear as well as gratitude and joy, more especially if he thought about the stern prophecy ( Genesis 15:13 ) which had been given to Abraham (Kalisch); perhaps commending himself and family to the care of his covenant God (Keil), and certainly praying that God would confirm to him and his the covenant which had been made with his fathers (Calvin).