Read the Passage: Genesis 46–47

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Genesis 46-47

Jacob’s Relocation (46:1–34)

Initially, Jacob did not believe the story about Joseph being in Egypt; yet, eventually he decided, “I will go and see Joseph before I die” (Gen. 45:28). While Jacob was 130 years old when he left Canaan, he’d live for another 17 years in Egypt. Gen. 46:1–4 records that God appeared to Jacob, encouraged him, and approved the plan to leave the land Canaan. Perhaps Jacob was apprehensive about leaving the Promised Land, as his earlier travels to Haran had not been without challenges, and he’d likely come to understand the significance of the Abrahamic Covenant and the land of Canaan. Next, Gen. 46:5–27 records that the Israelites traveled to Egypt with all of their livestock, goods, and family. The names of Jacob’s descendants who traveled to Egypt are listed, which entailed 70 people, including Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh (cf. Gen. 46:26; Acts 7:14).

When the Israelites entered Egypt, it was Judah, and not Jacob’s firstborn son Reuben, who was sent ahead to get directions from Joseph. Gen. 46:28–29 records the reunion of Jacob and Joseph, after over two decades apart. It is not surprising that when Joseph saw Jacob, he “fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while” (Gen. 46:29). Note Jacob’s statement at Gen. 46:30 (cf. Gen. 45:28) that he believed his death was approaching, which was not to be the case. Gen. 46:31–34 records Joseph’s preparation of his brothers to meet Pharaoh. It seems a main point of communication was to emphasize that the Israelites were mainly shepherds. Since shepherds were “an abomination to the Egyptians” (Gen. 46:34), this knowledge would ensure that they were set largely apart from the Egyptians in the land of Goshen. This would serve to protect the Israelites’ identity and give them good land.

Pharaoh’s Invitation (47:1–12)

Gen. 47:1–12 reports the meeting between Pharaoh, Jacob, and five of Joseph’s brothers. Note that even before Israel had arrived in Egypt, Joseph’s plan was to settle them in the land of Goshen (cf. Gen. 45:10), which for shepherds would have been “the best of the land” (Gen. 47:6, 11). Goshen was in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta and was a flat, well-watered land that would have been ideal for grazing. In presenting his family to Pharaoh, Joseph informed Pharaoh that his family was waiting in the land of Goshen (cf. Gen. 47:1), which was on the way from Canaan to Egypt. Joseph then had his brothers request to dwell in Goshen (cf. Gen. 47:4). When Jacob appeared before Pharaoh, Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Curiously, Jacob described his days as being “few and evil” (Gen. 47:9), which likely refers to the toils, troubles, crises, and sorrows of living in the sinful, fallen world.

Joseph’s Administration (47:13–31)

Gen. 47:13–26 covers roughly five years of time, as it narrates how Joseph worked as a competent administrator in Egypt during the remainder of the famine. During this time Joseph not only provided for his family, but also for the entire nation of Egypt. Indeed, Gen. 47:12 reported, “Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.” In the rest of Egypt, through Joseph’s skillful leadership, Pharaoh eventually came to own all of the money (cf. Gen. 47:14–15), all of the livestock (cf. Gen. 47:16–17), all of the land (cf. Gen. 47:20), and even all of the people (cf. Gen. 47:18–19, 21). Since Pharaoh now owned all of the material goods, Joseph instituted a feudal-like system in which Pharaoh took care of the people, the people worked the land, and Pharaoh was paid a 20% income tax.

While Jacob initially thought his life would end once he had traveled to Egypt (cf. Gen. 45:28; 46:30), it is reported that “Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen [more] years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one-hundred and forty-seven years” (Gen. 47:28). These extra seventeen years of life in Egypt allowed Jacob to see that while in Egypt his family “grew and multiplied exceedingly” (Gen. 47:27). While the population of Isreal at Jacob’s death is not given, the growth of his family must have reminded Jacob of the personal aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant. Next, when Jacob’s death was imminent, he called Joseph and asked, “Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place” (Gen. 47:29–30). This emphasized the land of Canaan, and was related to the national aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Application Questions:

1. Do you believe Jacob ever realized the role his favoritism played in the brothers’ treatment of Joseph?
2. Why was Judah, and not Jacob’s firstborn son Reuben, sent to meet with Joseph? Why did the Egyptians dislike shepherds?
3. How is Joseph’s wisdom displayed as he guided the interaction between Jacob, his brothers, and Pharaoh?
4. Was a twenty percent income tax a reasonable arrangement between the citizens of Egypt and Pharaoh?
5. Why did Jacob make Joseph promise to bury him in the family tomb back in the land of Canaan?