46
Chapter 46
Joseph's whole family in Egypt
1So Jacob left Canaan. He took everything that belonged to him. When he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to God, the God of his father Isaac. 2During the night, God spoke to Israel in a dream. He said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’ Jacob replied, ‘Yes, I am here.’ 3God said, ‘I am God. I am the God that your father worshipped. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt. Your descendants will be very many so that you become a great nation there. 4I will go with you to Egypt. I will also bring you back again. Joseph will be with you when you die.’
5Then Jacob left Beersheba and he continued to travel. Jacob's sons took their father as well as their wives and children. They rode in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to take them to Egypt. 6They also took all their animals and everything that they had got in Canaan. In that way, Jacob and all his family went to Egypt. 7He took his sons and his grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters. He took all his family with him to Egypt.
8These are the names of the descendants of Israel #46:8 Israel is the new name that God gave to Jacob. We call the descendants of Jacob ‘Israelites.’ Jacob's 12 sons became the ancestors of the 12 tribes of Israel. who went to Egypt, (that is, the sons of Jacob):
Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob.
9The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.
10The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.
11The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
12The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
13The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.
14The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel.
15These were the sons that Leah gave birth to in Paddan Aram. Jacob was their father. Leah also gave birth to a daughter, Dinah. These sons and daughters of Jacob were 33 in all.
16The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.
17The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malkiel.
18These were the children that Zilpah gave birth to. Jacob was their father. Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. There were 16 children in all.
19The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
20Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in Egypt. Their mother was Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
21The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.
22These were the sons of Rachel, born to Jacob. There were 14 in all.
23The son of Dan: Hushim.
24The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem.
25These were the sons that Bilhah gave birth to. She was Rachel's servant that Laban gave to her. Bilhah gave birth to these sons for Jacob. There were seven in all.
26Jacob's descendants who went with him to Egypt were 66. That does not include his son's wives. 27Joseph had two sons that were born in Egypt. So there were 70 people of Jacob's family who were there in Egypt.
28Then Jacob sent Judah to go to Joseph before he got there himself. He learned how to get to Goshen and they arrived there. 29Joseph prepared his chariot and he went to Goshen to meet Jacob, his father. When they met, Joseph hugged his father and he wept for a long time.
30Jacob said to Joseph, ‘Now I am ready to die. I have seen for myself that you are still alive.’ 31Then Joseph spoke to his brothers and to his father's people. He said, ‘I will go and say to Pharaoh, “My brothers and all my father's people have arrived here from Canaan. 32The men are shepherds. They take care of their animals. They have brought with them their sheep, goats and cows, and everything that they have.” 33Pharaoh will call you to meet him. He will ask you, “What is your job?” 34Then you should answer, “We have always taken care of cows and sheep since we were young men. Our ancestors have always done this work.” Egyptians do not want to live near people who take care of sheep. So Pharaoh will let you stay in the region called Goshen.’ #46:34 Joseph wanted Pharaoh to know that his family would not cause any trouble to the Egyptians. They would take care of themselves.