Wayfinding Bible - Flipbook - Page 77
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Genesis 47
OBSERVATION POINT
In ancient times putting a hand under another man’s
thigh was a gesture of swearing an oath to fulfill
what one promised. The intimacy of this gesture dem
onstrated the high level of trust required between
the parties to seal the agreement. The Bible only
mentions this unusual gesture twice: here, and when
Abraham’s servant promised to find a bride for Isaac
(Genesis 24:2-9).
given to Rachel by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Bilhah was
seven.
The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt, not counting his sons’ wives, was sixty-six. 27 In addition,
Joseph had two sons* who were born in Egypt.
So altogether, there were seventy* members of
Jacob’s family in the land of Egypt.
26
JACOB’S FAMILY ARRIVES IN GOSHEN
As they neared their destination, Jacob sent
Judah ahead to meet Joseph and get directions
to the region of Goshen. And when they finally
arrived there, 29 Joseph prepared his chari
ot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father,
Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he embraced his
father and wept, holding him for a long time.
30
Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am
ready to die, since I have seen your face again
and know you are still alive.”
31
And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s entire family, “I will go to Pharaoh and tell
him, ‘My brothers and my father’s entire fami
ly have come to me from the land of Canaan.
32
These men are shepherds, and they raise livestock. They have brought with them their flocks
and herds and everything they own.’”
33
Then he said, “When Pharaoh calls for you
and asks you about your occupation, 34 you
must tell him, ‘We, your servants, have raised
livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let
you live here in the region of Goshen, for the
Egyptians despise shepherds.”
28
JACOB BLESSES PHARAOH
47
Then Joseph went to see Pharaoh and
told him, “My father and my brothers
71
EXPLORATION POINT
Eager to see his son Joseph again before he died,
Jacob packed up his extended family and headed
south toward Egypt. At 130 years old, Jacob had a
new lease on life. His life had not always been easy,
and he suffered greatly because of Joseph’s disappearance. Renewed hope filled him. At Beersheba,
God spoke to Jacob once again to reassure him and
renew his covenant promises. Everything was being
made right again: The lost son was found, the family
was restored, and food was supplied. God’s covenant
remained intact even in a far-off country.
have arrived from the land of Canaan. They
have come with all their flocks and herds and
possessions, and they are now in the region of
Goshen.”
2
Joseph took five of his brothers with him
and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh
asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?”
They replied, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors. 4 We have come
to live here in Egypt for a while, for there is no
pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine
is very severe there. So please, we request permission to live in the region of Goshen.”
5
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that
your father and brothers have joined you here,
6
choose any place in the entire land of Egypt
for them to live. Give them the best land of
Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen.
And if any of them have special skills, put
them in charge of my livestock, too.”
7
Then Joseph brought in his father, Jacob,
and presented him to Pharaoh. And Jacob
blessed Pharaoh.
8
“How old are you?” Pharaoh asked him.
9
Jacob replied, “I have traveled this earth
for 130 hard years. But my life has been short
compared to the lives of my ancestors.” 10 Then
Jacob blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his
court.
11
So Joseph assigned the best land of Egypt—
the region of Rameses—to his father and his
brothers, and he settled them there, just as
Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided food for his father and his brothers in
amounts appropriate to the number of their
dependents, including the smallest children.
46:27a Greek version reads nine sons, probably including Joseph’s
grandsons through Ephraim and Manasseh (see 1 Chr 7:14-20).
46:27b Greek version reads seventy-five; see note on Exod 1:5.
