Gen. 45:16 – 46:30

1. Locate the passage

The initial work of reconciliation between Joseph and his brother has occurred and now Joseph has instructed them to bring their father and their families to live in Egypt. Soon, word began to travel throughout Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s family had arrived. So, Pharaoh gave instructions and supplies to provide for Jacob and his family on their journey. This passage begins a new long journey for Israel in Egypt that begins with Pharaoh granting Israel permission to come and ends with Pharaoh demanding that they leave!

2. Genre

The passage is primarily narrative, but also includes a theophany as the Lord again spoke to Jacob in a dream at Beersheba. The passage also includes an extensive list of family members who made the journey to Egypt. The section includes conversations between Pharaoh and Joseph, Joseph and his brothers, the brothers and Jacob, and Jacob to Joseph.

3. Determine the structure of the passage

4. Exegete the passage

45:16 – The news was heard in Pharaoh’s house

• “The voice was heard”
  • This connects this part of the story with 45:2 where the same word (“shama”) is used when the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s house “heard” Joseph weeping as he embraced his brothers.
• The text says, “it was good in the eyes of Pharaoh”
  • 41:37 – This is the same expression used at Pharaoh’s response to Joseph’s proposal to prepare for the famine.
• Note that the text includes the name “Joseph” here instead of his Egyptian name. It’s not clear if this is a direct quote of the servants to Pharaoh or the narrator summarizing their conversation. Either way, it is a subtle reminder that though Joseph lives and rules in Egypt, he is still a Hebrew.

45:17-20 – Pharaoh gave instructions to Joseph

• Pharaoh’s instructions included a promise of the best of the land for Jacob so that he would not need to worry about bringing any of his possessions with them. All their needs would be supplied by the best of the land.
  • They are instructed to bring their wives and children suggesting a permanent residence
    1. One of the strategies of Pharaoh in Ex. 10:8-11 when he proposed to allow only the men to leave Egypt to offer sacrifices to God, but to leave their families in Egypt (which would guarantee that they would return.
  • “tov” (good) occurs in both 45:18 and 45:20 to describe what Pharaoh offers to Jacob.
    • This is the same word used in 45:16 – It was “good” in the eyes of Pharaoh for Jacob to come and he offered Jacob the “good” of the land.
  • The phrase, “fat of the land” occurs only here in Scripture and suggests the best of the land at their disposal.

45:21-23 – The sons of “Israel” did so

• Here, the narrator craftily inserts Jacob’s new name, “Israel” to emphasize the fact that the nation (represented in the family of Jacob) is moving to Egypt.
• Joseph gave supplies to all his brothers, but more to Benjamin
  • The “garments” given by Joseph to his brothers reminds the reader of the cloak given by Jacob to Joseph.
  • Here, Joseph favors “Benjamin” as Jacob had previously favored him.
• Their wagons were filled with the “good” of Egypt

45:24 – Do not quarrel along the way

• The exact meaning of the expression is unclear, but Joseph seems to be instructing his brothers not to argue among themselves (blame each other)
  • The phrase “on the way” suggests that his desire was to prevent anything that might impede or slow the journey of his father to Egypt.

45:25-28 – Joseph is alive

• Not only is Jacob informed that his son, Joseph is alive, but that he is the ruler over Egypt
  • This is the same word “mashal” that is used in 37:8 when Joseph’s brothers mocking questioned whether Joseph would ever “rule” over them.
• Jacob did not believe them
  • He had good reason not to believe his sons
  • Undoubtedly, their earlier lie to the father had been exposed!
• “It is enough” is rendered by one word in Hebrew – “rav” (much, many, enough) as Jacob (here referred to as Israel) expressed that it sufficient only to know that Joseph is still alive.
  • Jacob’s wish is merely to see his son, Joseph, before he dies.

46:1-4 – Israel set out

• Again, the term, “Israel” is used individually of Jacob and collectively for the nation
• “and all he had”
  • This phrase need not suggest that Jacob defied Pharaoh’s instructions not to bring all his possessions with him. Pharaoh’s instructions were a promise to provide anything that Jacob and his family would need
    1. They brought the livestock and possessions (46:6) indicating a complete commitment to the relocation to Egypt.
    2. Verses 8-27 present the most important part of all that belonged to Jacob who made the journey with him.
    3. Bringing everything and everyone that he had indicated Jacob’s complete commitment
  • Jacob came to Beersheba
    • Before leaving Canaan, Jacob stopped at Beersheba to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to God
      1. Jacob returned to the place where God extended the Covenant with Jacob (Gen. 28:10-22)
      2. Part of the Lord’s promise to Jacob (28:15) was a promise that “I will bring you back to this land.” So, Jacob may have been claiming this part of God’s promise, that while he and his family were leaving the land, he claimed God’s promise to bring them back.
    • “I am the God of your father” repeats the phrase with which the Lord introduced Himself in 28:13. Moreover, the Lord reiterated His promise to Jacob to make him a great nation. Thus, the Lord affirmed the move to Egypt as part of His plan.
      1. The Lord reiterated His promise to “go with” Jacob and bring him back to Canaan.

46:5-7 – These verses reiterate the complete commitment of Jacob and his family to move to Egypt with everyone and everything that they had.

46:8-27 – The genealogy list of Jacob’s descendants record all “Israel” that began the journey to Egypt

• The total number (70) is significant given the massive number of Israel who left Egypt in Ex. 12:37. Israel went to Egypt as a family of 70 people. They left Egypt as a nation of 600,000 men (not counting women and children).
• The descendants of Jacob are recorded in this order:
  • The sons of Leah (46:9-15)
  • The sons of Zilpah (46:16-18)
  • The sons of Rachel (46:19-22)
  • The sons of Bilhah (46:23-25)
• Only Rachel is described as Jacob’s “wife” (46:19)
• Both Zilpah (46:18) and Bilhah (46:25) are described as being “given” by Laban to Leah and Rachel

46:27 – All the persons of the house of Jacob … were seventy

• The number 70 includes the total number of persons listed among Jacob’s descendants: 33 from the descendants of Leah (15); 16 from the descendants of Zilpah (18); 14 from the descendants of Rachel (22); and 7 from the descendants of Bilhah (25).
  • That number does not include Jacob and apparently does not include Dinah (cf. 46:15).
  • That number does include Er and Onan who died in Canaan.
• The number 66 (46:26) is more complicated in the text
  • However, 46:27 seems to explain the difference between the two figures
    1. “and the sons of Joseph” – since Manasseh and Ephraim were born in Egypt
    2. “All the persons of the house of Jacob who came to Egypt”
       1. The addition of the phrase “of the house” of Jacob could imply the inclusion of Er and Onan, who even though they did not physically come to Egypt were part of Jacob’s “house.”

• Thus, the difference between the 66 and the 70 seem to have been the inclusion of Manasseh, Ephraim, Er, and Onan in the total number.
  1. Those would include two sons of both Judah and Joseph.

46:28 – Jacob sent Judah

• Even though all of the brothers could have led the way, Judah had proven himself trustworthy. It is, again, noteworthy, that Reuben is not allowed to lead.
  • The Hb. “yarah” suggests the idea of “to teach”

46:29-30 – Joseph is reunited with Jacob

• The verb, “ra’ah” here suggests that Joseph “was seen” by his father
  • This demonstrates the fulfillment of Jacob’s simple wish in 45:28 to “see” Joseph before he died.
  • The significance of this is further revealed in 46:30, as Jacob expressed that he was ready to die.
    1. This is not suggesting that Jacob felt like he was about to die, but that he had been allowed to “see” Joseph’s face and his life was complete. He could die a having the main wish of his life fulfilled.

5. Let the structure of the text drive the sermon

This passage shows Joseph and Jacob following God’s plan. It was not the plan that either of them thought would occur. But, it demonstrated the foreknowledge of God (Cf. 37:5-11), the provision of God (45:17-20), and the Divine presence of God with His people (46:3-4; Cf. 28:15).

God’s foreknowledge is also revealed in His promise that Jacob’s descendants will one day return to the land God promised to them.

• Following God’s direction in our lives requires trust in God’s Provision
  Exp. Where God leads, He will provide and protect
  Exp. Thus, God’s provision is presented as sufficient, complete, and abundant
• Following God’s direction in our lives requires faith in God’s Promise
  Exp. Cf. 37:11 – Jacob “kept these things in his mind”
  Exp. Even though Joseph may have been immature in how he presented his dreams to his brothers and his father, Jacob remembered them. Those   dreams must have comforted him and Joseph that God keeps His Word
  • He is God (46:3)
  • His plan is sufficient (46:3)
  • His presence is promised (46:4)
  • He will complete His plan (46:4)
• Following God’s direction in our lives requires submission to God’s Plan
  Exp. Jacob was completely obedient to the plan God had for his life
  Exp. Jacob’s response to God’s direction in his life is an example for all of us to follow
  • Jacob obeyed
  • Jacob completely submitted to God’s plan
    • He took everyone and everything
  • Jacob expressed his gratitude to God and commitment to His Promise by offering a sacrifice to God.

Application:

• We need to trust God’s provision, promise, and plan for our lives
• Our actions need to demonstrate what we say we believe about Him.