Bible Notes Online - Genesis 46 - ESV
Commentary

v1-4: God met Jacob at Beersheba, the last place in Canaan before the desert journey to Egypt. God told Jacob to go to Egypt, and that He would preserve his family and that they would grow into a large nation. There is a special promise to Jacob, that he would see Joseph again.

God's promises of deliverance are consistent with earlier promises to Abraham and Isaac, that the people would dwell in the land of Canaan. (see 12.2; 15.13-14; Ex 12.40

66 people went into Egypt (v26). In Num 2.32 there were 603,550 in the army, besides women and children. Israel did become a great nation.

v5-7: At God's command, Jacob took his whole family and possessions into Egypt.

v8-25: Jacob's family are divided thus:

  • Of Leah: 33 (v15)
  • Of Zilpah: 16 (v18)
  • Of Rachel: 14 (v22)
  • Of Bilhah: 7 (v25)
  • Total: 70

The wives of Jacob and his sons are not counted here.

v26-27: 66 persons went down to Egypt, with Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, that makes 70 in total. 12 sons, 55 grandsons, and 2 great-grandsons (v12).

v30: Like Simeon (Luke 2.29), Jacob was ready to die.

v32-34: Separation of Israelites and Egyptians (as in 43.32). Israel lived in Egypt, but were never really 'at home' there. This also pictures the necessary separation between the church and the world.

Joseph's instructions here are not to keep secret his brothers' occupation, but rather so that a suitable place would be provided, apart from the Egyptians, where his family would be able to live. By saying that their occupation was shepherds (in 47.3), the Egyptians would not have them amongst them.