8 And these `are' the names of the sons of Israel who are coming into Egypt: Jacob and his sons, Jacob's first-born, Reuben.
And these `are' the names of the sons of Israel who are coming into Egypt with Jacob; a man and his household have they come; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. And all the persons coming out of the thigh of Jacob are seventy persons; as to Joseph, he was in Egypt.
These `are' sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah, three have been born to him of a daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, first-born of Judah, is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and He putteth him to death. And Tamar his daughter-in-law hath borne to him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah `are' five. Sons of Pharez: Hezron, and Hamul. And sons of Zerah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara; all of them five. And sons of Carmi: Achar, troubler of Israel, who trespassed in the devoted thing. And sons of Ethan: Azariah. And sons of Hezron who were born to him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. And Ram begat Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah; and Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat his first-born Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh, and their sisters Zeruiah and Abigail. And sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asah-El -- three. And Abigail hath borne Amasa, and the father of Amasa `is' Jether the Ishmeelite. And Caleb son of Hezron hath begotten Azubah, Isshah, and Jerioth; and these `are' her sons: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. And Azubah dieth, and Caleb taketh to him Ephrath, and she beareth to him Hur. And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel. And afterwards hath Hezron gone in unto a daughter of Machir father of Gilead, and he hath taken her, and he `is' a son of sixty years, and she beareth to him Segub. And Segub begat Jair, and he hath twenty and three cities in the land of Gilead, and he taketh Geshur and Aram, the small villages of Jair, from them, with Kenath and its small towns, sixty cities -- all these `belonged to' the sons of Machir father of Gilead. And after the death of Hezron in Caleb-Ephratah, then the wife of Hezron, Abijah, even beareth to him Asshur, father of Tekoa. And sons of Jerahmeel, first-born of Hezron, are: the first-born Ram, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, Ahijah. And Jerahmeel hath another wife, and her name `is' Atarah, she `is' mother of Onam. And sons of Ram, first-born of Jerahmeel, are Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. And sons of Onam are Shammai and Jada. And sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur. And the name of the wife of Abishur `is' Abihail, and she beareth to him Ahban and Molid. And sons of Nadab: Seled, and Appaim; and Seled dieth without sons. And sons of Appaim: Ishi. And sons of Ishi: Sheshan. And sons of Sheshan: Ahlai. And sons of Jada, brother of Shammai: Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether dieth without sons. And sons of Jonathan: Peleth, and Zaza. These were sons of Jerahmeel. And Sheshan had no sons, but daughters, and Sheshan hath a servant, an Egyptian, and his name `is' Jarha, and Sheshan giveth his daughter to Jarha his servant for a wife, and she beareth to him Attai; and Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad, and Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed, and Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah, and Eleasah begat Sismai, and Sismai begat Shallum, and Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama. And sons of Caleb brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha his first-born, he `is' father of Ziph; and sons of Mareshah: Abi-Hebron. And sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. And Shema begat Raham father of Jorkoam, and Rekem begat Shammai. And a son of Shammai `is' Maon, and Maon `is' father of Beth-Zur. And Ephah concubine of Caleb bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez; and Haran begat Gazez. And sons of Jahdai: Regem, and Jotham, and Geshem, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. The concubine of Caleb, Maachah, bare Sheber and Tirhanah; and she beareth Shaaph father of Madmannah, Sheva father of Machbenah, and father of Gibea; and a daughter of Caleb `is' Achsa. These were sons of Caleb son of Hur, first-born of Ephrathah: Shobal father of Kirjath-Jearim, Salma father of Beth-Lehem, Hareph father of Beth-Gader. And there are sons to Shobal father of Kirjath-Jearim: Haroeh, half of the Menuhothite; and the families of Kirjath-Jearim: the Ithrite, and the Puhite, and the Shumathite, and the Mishraite: from these went out the Zareathite, and the Eshtaulite. Sons of Salma: Beth-Lehem, and the Netophathite, Atroth, Beth-Joab, and half of the Menuhothite, the Zorite; and the families of the scribes the inhabitants of Jabez: Tirathites, Shimeathites, Suchathites. They `are' the Kenites, those coming of Hammath father of the house of Rechab.
And Jacob lifteth up his feet, and goeth towards the land of the sons of the east; and he looketh, and lo, a well in the field, and lo, there three droves of a flock crouching by it, for from that well they water the droves, and the great stone `is' on the mouth of the well. (When thither have all the droves been gathered, and they have rolled the stone from off the mouth of the well, and have watered the flock, then they have turned back the stone on the mouth of the well to its place.) And Jacob saith to them, `My brethren, from whence `are' ye?' and they say, `We `are' from Haran.' And he saith to them, `Have ye known Laban, son of Nahor?' and they say, `We have known.' And he saith to them, `Hath he peace?' and they say, `Peace; and lo, Rachel his daughter is coming with the flock.' And he saith, `Lo, the day `is' still great, `it is' not time for the cattle to be gathered; water ye the flock, and go, delight yourselves.' And they say, `We are not able, till that all the droves be gathered together, and they have rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, and we have watered the flock.' He is yet speaking with them, and Rachel hath come with the flock which her father hath, for she `is' shepherdess; and it cometh to pass when Jacob hath seen Rachel, daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the flock of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob cometh nigh and rolleth the stone from off the mouth of the well, and watereth the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kisseth Rachel, and lifteth up his voice, and weepeth, and Jacob declareth to Rachel that he `is' her father's brother, and that he `is' Rebekah's son, and she runneth and declareth to her father. And it cometh to pass, when Laban heareth the report of Jacob his sister's son, that he runneth to meet him, and embraceth him, and kisseth him, and bringeth him in unto his house; and he recounteth to Laban all these things, and Laban saith to him, `Only my bone and my flesh `art' thou;' and he dwelleth with him a month of days. And Laban saith to Jacob, `Is it because thou `art' my brother that thou hast served me for nought? declare to me what `is' thy hire.' And Laban hath two daughters, the name of the elder `is' Leah, and the name of the younger Rachel, and the eyes of Leah `are' tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. And Jacob loveth Rachel, and saith, `I serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter:' and Laban saith, `It is better for me to give her to thee than to give her to another man; dwell with me;' and Jacob serveth for Rachel seven years; and they are in his eyes as some days, because of his loving her. And Jacob saith unto Laban, `Give up my wife, for my days have been fulfilled, and I go in unto her;' and Laban gathereth all the men of the place, and maketh a banquet. And it cometh to pass in the evening, that he taketh Leah, his daughter, and bringeth her in unto him, and he goeth in unto her; and Laban giveth to her Zilpah, his maid-servant, to Leah his daughter, a maid-servant. And it cometh to pass in the morning, that lo, it `is' Leah; and he saith unto Laban, `What `is' this thou hast done to me? for Rachel have I not served with thee? and why hast thou deceived me?' And Laban saith, `It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the first-born; fulfil the week of this one, and we give to thee also this one, for the service which thou dost serve with me yet seven other years.' And Jacob doth so, and fulfilleth the week of this one, and he giveth to him Rachel his daughter, to him for a wife; and Laban giveth to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maid-servant, for a maid-servant to her. And he goeth in also unto Rachel, and he also loveth Rachel more than Leah; and he serveth with him yet seven other years.
and it cometh to pass in Israel's dwelling in that land, that Reuben goeth, and lieth with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heareth. And the sons of Jacob are twelve. Sons of Leah: Jacob's first-born Reuben, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun.
And Jacob calleth unto his sons and saith, `Be gathered together, and I declare to you that which doth happen with you in the latter end of the days. `Be assembled, and hear, sons of Jacob, And hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben! my first-born thou, My power, and beginning of my strength, The abundance of exaltation, And the abundance of strength; Unstable as water, thou art not abundant; For thou hast gone up thy father's bed; Then thou hast polluted: My couch he went up! Simeon and Levi `are' brethren! Instruments of violence -- their espousals! Into their secret, come not, O my soul! Unto their assembly be not united, O mine honour; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will eradicated a prince. Cursed `is' their anger, for `it is' fierce, And their wrath, for `it is' sharp; I divide them in Jacob, And I scatter them in Israel. Judah! thou -- thy brethren praise thee! Thy hand `is' on the neck of thine enemies, Sons of thy father bow themselves to thee. A lion's whelp `is' Judah, For prey, my son, thou hast gone up; He hath bent, he hath crouched as a lion, And as a lioness; who causeth him to arise? The sceptre turneth not aside from Judah, And a lawgiver from between his feet, Till his Seed come; And his `is' the obedience of peoples. Binding to the vine his ass, And to the choice vine the colt of his ass, He hath washed in wine his clothing, And in the blood of grapes his covering; Red `are' eyes with wine, And white `are' teeth with milk! Zebulun at a haven of the seas doth dwell, And he `is' for a haven of ships; And his side `is' unto Zidon. Issacher `is' a strong ass, Crouching between the two folds; And he seeth rest that `it is' good, And the land that `it is' pleasant, And he inclineth his shoulder to bear, And is to tribute a servant. Dan doth judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel; Dan is a serpent by the way, An adder by the path, Which is biting the horse's heels, And its rider falleth backward. For Thy salvation I have waited, Jehovah! Gad! a troop assaulteth him, But he assaulteth last. Out of Asher his bread `is' fat; And he giveth dainties of a king. Naphtali `is' a hind sent away, Who is giving beauteous young ones. Joseph `is' a fruitful son; A fruitful son by a fountain, Daughters step over the wall; And embitter him -- yea, they have striven, Yea, hate him do archers; And his bow abideth in strength, And strengthened are the arms of his hands By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, Whence is a shepherd, a son of Israel. By the God of thy father who helpeth thee, And the Mighty One who blesseth thee, Blessings of the heavens from above, Blessings of the deep lying under, Blessings of breasts and womb; -- Thy father's blessings have been mighty Above the blessings of my progenitors, Unto the limit of the heights age-during They are for the head of Joseph, And for the crown of the one Separate `from' his brethren. Benjamin! a wolf teareth; In the morning he eateth prey, And at evening he apportioneth spoil.' All these `are' the twelve tribes of Israel, and this `is' that which their father hath spoken unto them, and he blesseth them; each according to his blessing he hath blessed them. And he commandeth them, and saith unto them, `I am being gathered unto my people; bury me by my fathers, at the cave which `is' in the field of Ephron the Hittite; in the cave which `is' in the field of Machpelah, which `is' on the front of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying-place; (there they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah); the purchase of the field and of the cave which `is' in it, `is' from Sons of Heth.' And Jacob finisheth commanding his sons, and gathereth up his feet unto the bed, and expireth, and is gathered unto his people.
These `are' heads of the house of their fathers: Sons of Reuben first-born of Israel `are' Hanoch, and Phallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these `are' families of Reuben. And sons of Simeon `are' Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul, son of the Canaanitess: these `are' families of Simeon. And these `are' the names of the sons of Levi, as to their births: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi `are' a hundred and thirty and seven years. The sons of Gershon `are' Libni, and Shimi, as to their families. And the sons of Kohath `are' Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath `are' a hundred and thirty and three years.
And the sons of Reuben, Israel's first-born -- their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, by their polls, every male from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host -- their numbered ones, for the tribe of Reuben, are six and forty thousand and five hundred.
The standard of the camp of Reuben `is' southward, by their hosts; and the prince of the sons of Reuben `is' Elizur son of Shedeur; and his host, and its numbered ones, `are' six and forty thousand and five hundred. And those encamping by him `are of' the tribe of Simeon; and the prince of the sons of Simeon `is' Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; and his host, and their numbered ones, `are' nine and fifty thousand and three hundred.
`From a son of twenty years and upward,' as Jehovah hath commanded Moses and the sons of Israel who are coming out from the land of Egypt. Reuben, first-born of Israel -- sons of Reuben: `of' Hanoch `is' the family of the Hanochite; of Pallu the family of the Palluite; of Hezron the family of the Hezronite; of Carmi the family of the Carmite. These `are' families of the Reubenite, and their numbered ones are three and forty thousand and seven hundred and thirty. And the son of Pallu `is' Eliab; and the sons of Eliab `are' Nemuel and Dathan and Abiram; this `is that' Dathan and Abiram, called ones of the company, who have striven against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, in their striving against Jehovah, and the earth openeth her mouth, and swalloweth them and Korah, in the death of the company, in the fire consuming the two hundred and fifty men, and they become a sign; and the sons of Korah died not.
And Benjamin begat Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. And there are sons to Bela: Addar, and Gera, and Abihud, and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah, and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. And these `are' sons of Ehud: they are heads of fathers to the inhabitants of Geba, and they remove them unto Manahath; and Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza and Ahihud. And Shaharaim begat in the field of Moab, after his sending them away; Hushim and Baara `are' his wives. And he begetteth of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham, and Jeuz, and Shachiah, and Mirmah. These `are' his sons, heads of fathers. And of Hushim he begat Ahitub and Elpaal. And sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misheam, and Shamer, (he built Ono and Lod and its small towns), and Beriah and Shema, (they `are' the heads of fathers to the inhabitants of Aijalon -- they caused to flee the inhabitants of Gath), and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader, and Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, sons of Beriah, and Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber, and Ishmerai, and Jezliah, and Jobab, sons of Elpaal; And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi, and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel, and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, sons of Shimei; And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel, and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan, and Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah, and Iphedeiah, and Penuel, sons of Shashak; And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah, and Jaareshiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, sons of Jeroham. These `are' heads of fathers, by their generations, heads; these dwelt in Jerusalem. And in Gibeon hath the father of Gibeon dwelt, and the name of his wife `is' Maachah; and his son, the first-born, `is' Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab, and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher; and Mikloth begat Shimeah. And they also over-against their brethren dwelt in Jerusalem with their brethren. And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-Shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-Baal. And a son of Jonathan `is' Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begat Micah; and sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz: and Ahaz begat Jehoadah, and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza, and Moza begat Binea, Raphah `is' his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. And to Azel `are' six sons, and these `are' their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these `are' sons of Azel. And sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his first-born, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third. And the sons of Ulam are men mighty in valour, treading bow, and multiplying sons and son's sons, a hundred and fifty. All these `are' of the sons of Benjamin.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 46
Commentary on Genesis 46 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 46
Ge 46:1-4. Sacrifice at Beer-sheba.
1. Israel took his journey with all that he had—that is, his household; for in compliance with Pharaoh's recommendation, he left his heavy furniture behind. In contemplating a step so important as that of leaving Canaan, which at his time of life he might never revisit, so pious a patriarch would ask the guidance and counsel of God. With all his anxiety to see Joseph, he would rather have died in Canaan without that highest of earthly gratifications than leave it without the consciousness of carrying the divine blessing along with him.
came to Beer-sheba—That place, which was in his direct route to Egypt, had been a favorite encampment of Abraham (Ge 21:33) and Isaac (Ge 26:25), and was memorable for their experience of the divine goodness; and Jacob seems to have deferred his public devotions till he had reached a spot so consecrated by covenant to his own God and the God of his fathers.
2. God spake unto Israel—Here is a virtual renewal of the covenant and an assurance of its blessings. Moreover, here is an answer on the chief subject of Jacob's prayer and a removal of any doubt as to the course he was meditating. At first the prospect of paying a personal visit to Joseph had been viewed with unmingled joy. But, on calmer consideration, many difficulties appeared to lie in the way. He may have remembered the prophecy to Abraham that his posterity was to be afflicted in Egypt and also that his father had been expressly told not to go [Ge 15:13; 26:2]; he may have feared the contamination of idolatry to his family and their forgetfulness of the land of promise. These doubts were removed by the answer of the oracle, and an assurance given him of great and increasing prosperity.
3. I will there make of thee a great nation—How truly this promise was fulfilled, appears in the fact that the seventy souls who went down into Egypt increased [Ex 1:5-7], in the space of two hundred fifteen years, to one hundred eighty thousand.
4. I will also surely bring thee up again—As Jacob could not expect to live till the former promise was realized, he must have seen that the latter was to be accomplished only to his posterity. To himself it was literally verified in the removal of his remains to Canaan; but, in the large and liberal sense of the words, it was made good only on the establishment of Israel in the land of promise.
Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes—shall perform the last office of filial piety; and this implied that he should henceforth enjoy, without interruption, the society of that favorite son.
Ge 46:5-27. Immigration to Egypt.
5. And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba—to cross the border and settle in Egypt. However refreshed and invigorated in spirit by the religious services at Beer-sheba, he was now borne down by the infirmities of advanced age; and, therefore, his sons undertook all the trouble and toil of the arrangements, while the enfeebled old patriarch, with the wives and children, was conveyed by slow and leisurely stages in the Egyptian vehicles sent for their accommodation.
6. goods, which they had gotten in the land—not furniture, but substance—precious things.
7. daughters—As Dinah was his only daughter, this must mean daughters-in-law.
all his seed brought he with him—Though disabled by age from active superintendence, yet, as the venerable sheik of the tribe, he was looked upon as their common head and consulted in every step.
8-27. all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten—Strictly speaking, there were only sixty-six went to Egypt; but to these add Joseph and his two sons, and Jacob the head of the clan, and the whole number amounts to seventy. In the speech of Stephen (Ac 7:14) the number is stated to be seventy-five; but as that estimate includes five sons of Ephraim and Manasseh (1Ch 7:14-20), born in Egypt, the two accounts coincide.
Ge 46:28-34. Arrival in Egypt.
28. he sent Judah before him unto Joseph—This precautionary measure was obviously proper for apprising the king of the entrance of so large a company within his territories; moreover, it was necessary in order to receive instruction from Joseph as to the locale of their future settlement.
29, 30. Joseph made ready his chariot—The difference between chariot and wagon was not only in the lighter and more elegant construction of the former, but in the one being drawn by horses and the other by oxen. Being a public man in Egypt, Joseph was required to appear everywhere in an equipage suitable to his dignity; and, therefore, it was not owing either to pride or ostentatious parade that he drove his carriage, while his father's family were accommodated only in rude and humble wagons.
presented himself unto him—in an attitude of filial reverence (compare Ex 22:17). The interview was a most affecting one—the happiness of the delighted father was now at its height; and life having no higher charms, he could, in the very spirit of the aged Simeon, have departed in peace [Lu 2:25, 29].
31-34. Joseph said, … I will go up, and show Pharaoh—It was a tribute of respect due to the king to inform him of their arrival. And the instructions which he gave them were worthy of his character alike as an affectionate brother and a religious man.