Genesis Chapter 46 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Genesis 46:1–4
Isra'el took everything he owned and traveled to Be'er-Sheva, where he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Yitz'chak. God spoke to Isra'el in a vision at night: "Ya'akov! Ya'akov!" "Here I am," he answered. He said, "I am God, the God of your father. Don't be afraid to go down to Egypt, because I will make you a great nation there. Not only will I go down with you to Egypt, but I will also bring you back up; and Yosef will close your eyes."
Ya'akov leaves for Egypt with everything that he owns, but first he stops at Be'er-Sheva to worship the God of his father. God reassures him that he should not fear going down to Egypt because God will make him into a great nation there. God also promises that He will go with Ya'akov and bring him back up, while Yosef will be with him at the end of his life.
Genesis 46:5–7
Then Ya'akov left Be'er-Sheva. The sons of Isra'el carried Ya'akov their father, their little ones and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They took their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Kena'an and entered Egypt, Ya'akov and all his descendants with him: his sons, his grandsons with him, his daughters and granddaughters - all his descendants he brought with him into Egypt.
After God speaks to him, Ya'akov continues the journey. The family takes the wagons Pharaoh sent, their livestock, and everything they had acquired in Kena'an. The chapter emphasizes that the whole household of Isra'el enters Egypt together.
Genesis 46:8–15
These are the names of the descendants of Isra'el who entered Egypt - Ya'akov and his sons. Re'uven was Ya'akov's firstborn. The sons of Re'uven were Hanoch, Pallu, Hetzron and Karmi. The sons of Shim'on were Y'mu'el, Yamin, Ohad, Yakhin, Tzohar and Sha'ul the son of a Kena'ani woman. The sons of Levi were Gershon, K'hat and M'rari. The sons of Y'hudah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Peretz and Zerach; but Er and Onan died in the land of Kena'an. The sons of Peretz were Hetzron and Hamul. The sons of Yissakhar were Tola, Puvah, Yov and Shimron. The sons of Z'vulun were Sered, Elon and Yahle'el. These were the sons of Le'ah, whom she bore to Ya'akov in Paddan-Aram, along with Dinah his daughter. Altogether there were thirty-three men and women in the family.
This section begins the listing of the family members who went down to Egypt. The descendants through Le'ah are listed first, including the sons who would become tribes of Isra'el. The record preserves the family line as God prepares to make this household into a nation.
Genesis 46:16–18
The sons of Gad were Tzifyon, Haggi, Shuni, Etzbon, Eri, Arodi and Ar'eli. The sons of Asher were Yimnah, Yishvah, Yishvi, B'ri'ah and Serach their sister; the sons of B'ri'ah were Hever and Malki'el. These were the children of Zilpah, whom Lavan gave to Le'ah his daughter; she bore these to Ya'akov - sixteen people.
The next family grouping is through Zilpah, Le'ah's servant. Gad and Asher's descendants are named, and the total of this portion of the household is given. Each name shows that the family entering Egypt was made up of real households and generations, not just an abstract promise.
Genesis 46:19–22
The sons of Rachel, Ya'akov's wife, were Yosef and Binyamin. To Yosef in the land of Egypt were born M'nasheh and Efrayim, whom Osnat the daughter of Poti-Fera priest of On bore to him. The sons of Binyamin were Bela, Bekher, Ashbel, Gera, Na'aman, Echi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. These were the children of Rachel born to Ya'akov - fourteen people.
Rachel's family is listed next. Yosef's two sons, M'nasheh and Efrayim, were born in Egypt before the famine, and Binyamin's descendants are also counted. Though Yosef had been separated from the family for many years, he and his sons are included as part of the house of Isra'el.
Genesis 46:23–25
The son of Dan was Hushim. The sons of Naftali were Yachtze'el, Guni, Yetzer and Shillem. These were the children of Bilhah, whom Lavan gave to Rachel his daughter; she bore these to Ya'akov - seven people.
The last group is through Bilhah, Rachel's servant. Dan and Naftali's descendants are named, bringing the record of the family groups toward its conclusion. The family is being counted as it becomes established in Egypt according to God's purpose.
Genesis 46:26 & 27
All the people belonging to Ya'akov who entered Egypt, his direct descendants, not including the wives of Ya'akov's sons, numbered sixty-six. Yosef's sons who were born to him in Egypt were two. Thus all the people in Ya'akov's family who entered Egypt were seventy.
The family entering Egypt is summarized as seventy people when Yosef and his sons are included. The number shows the small beginning of the family that God had promised would become a great nation. The covenant promise continues even as Isra'el leaves the land of Kena'an.
Genesis 46:28–30
He sent Y'hudah ahead of him to Yosef, to have him prepare for him in Goshen. So they arrived in the land of Goshen. Yosef prepared his chariot and went up to meet Isra'el his father in Goshen. On appearing before him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time. Isra'el said to Yosef, "Now I can die, since I have seen your face and seen that you are still alive."
Y'hudah is sent ahead to prepare for the family in Goshen. Yosef then goes to meet his father, and the long separation ends in a tearful embrace. Ya'akov says that he can now die in peace because he has seen Yosef alive.
Genesis 46:31–34
Yosef said to his brothers and his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh: 'My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Kena'an, have come to me. The men are shepherds, because they have always raised livestock; they have brought their flocks, herds and everything they own.' So when Pharaoh summons you and asks, 'What is your occupation?' you are to answer, 'Your servants have raised livestock from our youth until now, both we and our ancestors'; this will ensure that you will live in the land of Goshen - for any shepherd is abhorrent to the Egyptians."
Yosef prepares his brothers for their meeting with Pharaoh. He directs them to identify themselves as shepherds so they can live in Goshen, apart from the Egyptians. This separation gives the family space to grow according to God's promise while preserving their identity.