13 And the sons H1121 of Issachar; H3485 Tola, H8439 and Phuvah, H6312 and Job, H3102 and Shimron. H8110
And Reuben H7205 went in H3212 the days H3117 of wheat H2406 harvest, H7105 and found H4672 mandrakes H1736 in the field, H7704 and brought H935 them unto his mother H517 Leah. H3812 Then Rachel H7354 said H559 to Leah, H3812 Give me, H5414 I pray thee, of thy son's H1121 mandrakes. H1736 And she said H559 unto her, Is it a small matter H4592 that thou hast taken H3947 my husband? H376 and wouldest thou take away H3947 my son's H1121 mandrakes H1736 also? And Rachel H7354 said, H559 Therefore he shall lie H7901 with thee to night H3915 for H8478 thy son's H1121 mandrakes. H1736 And Jacob H3290 came H935 out of the field H7704 in the evening, H6153 and Leah H3812 went out H3318 to meet H7125 him, and said, H559 Thou must come in H935 unto me; for surely H7936 I have hired H7936 thee with my son's H1121 mandrakes. H1736 And he lay H7901 with her that night. H3915 And God H430 hearkened H8085 unto Leah, H3812 and she conceived, H2029 and bare H3205 Jacob H3290 the fifth H2549 son. H1121 And Leah H3812 said, H559 God H430 hath given H5414 me my hire, H7939 because H834 I have given H5414 my maiden H8198 to my husband: H376 and she called H7121 his name H8034 Issachar. H3485
Issachar H3485 is a strong H1634 ass H2543 couching down H7257 between two burdens: H4942 And he saw H7200 that rest H4496 was good, H2896 and the land H776 that it was pleasant; H5276 and bowed H5186 his shoulder H7926 to bear, H5445 and became a servant H5647 unto tribute. H4522
Of the children H1121 of Issachar, H3485 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635 Those that were numbered H6485 of them, even of the tribe H4294 of Issachar, H3485 were fifty H2572 and four H702 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967 Of the children H1121 of Zebulun, H2074 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
Of the sons H1121 of Issachar H3485 after their families: H4940 of Tola, H8439 the family H4940 of the Tolaites: H8440 of Pua, H6312 the family H4940 of the Punites: H6324 Of Jashub, H3437 the family H4940 of the Jashubites: H3432 of Shimron, H8110 the family H4940 of the Shimronites. H8117 These are the families H4940 of Issachar H3485 according to those that were numbered H6485 of them, threescore H8346 and four H702 thousand H505 and three H7969 hundred. H3967
Now the sons H1121 of Issachar H3485 were, Tola, H8439 and Puah, H6312 Jashub, H3437 and Shimron, H8110 four. H702 And the sons H1121 of Tola; H8439 Uzzi, H5813 and Rephaiah, H7509 and Jeriel, H3400 and Jahmai, H3181 and Jibsam, H3005 and Shemuel, H8050 heads H7218 of their father's H1 house, H1004 to wit, of Tola: H8439 they were valiant men H1368 of might H2428 in their generations; H8435 whose number H4557 was in the days H3117 of David H1732 two H8147 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967 And the sons H1121 of Uzzi; H5813 Izrahiah: H3156 and the sons H1121 of Izrahiah; H3156 Michael, H4317 and Obadiah, H5662 and Joel, H3100 Ishiah, H3449 five: H2568 all of them chief men. H7218 And with them, by their generations, H8435 after the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 were bands H1416 of soldiers H6635 for war, H4421 six H8337 and thirty H7970 thousand H505 men: for they had many H7235 wives H802 and sons. H1121 And their brethren H251 among all the families H4940 of Issachar H3485 were valiant H1368 men of might, H2428 reckoned in all by their genealogies H3187 fourscore H8084 and seven H7651 thousand. H505
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 46
Commentary on Genesis 46 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 46
Ge 46:1-4. Sacrifice at Beer-sheba.
1. Israel took his journey with all that he had—that is, his household; for in compliance with Pharaoh's recommendation, he left his heavy furniture behind. In contemplating a step so important as that of leaving Canaan, which at his time of life he might never revisit, so pious a patriarch would ask the guidance and counsel of God. With all his anxiety to see Joseph, he would rather have died in Canaan without that highest of earthly gratifications than leave it without the consciousness of carrying the divine blessing along with him.
came to Beer-sheba—That place, which was in his direct route to Egypt, had been a favorite encampment of Abraham (Ge 21:33) and Isaac (Ge 26:25), and was memorable for their experience of the divine goodness; and Jacob seems to have deferred his public devotions till he had reached a spot so consecrated by covenant to his own God and the God of his fathers.
2. God spake unto Israel—Here is a virtual renewal of the covenant and an assurance of its blessings. Moreover, here is an answer on the chief subject of Jacob's prayer and a removal of any doubt as to the course he was meditating. At first the prospect of paying a personal visit to Joseph had been viewed with unmingled joy. But, on calmer consideration, many difficulties appeared to lie in the way. He may have remembered the prophecy to Abraham that his posterity was to be afflicted in Egypt and also that his father had been expressly told not to go [Ge 15:13; 26:2]; he may have feared the contamination of idolatry to his family and their forgetfulness of the land of promise. These doubts were removed by the answer of the oracle, and an assurance given him of great and increasing prosperity.
3. I will there make of thee a great nation—How truly this promise was fulfilled, appears in the fact that the seventy souls who went down into Egypt increased [Ex 1:5-7], in the space of two hundred fifteen years, to one hundred eighty thousand.
4. I will also surely bring thee up again—As Jacob could not expect to live till the former promise was realized, he must have seen that the latter was to be accomplished only to his posterity. To himself it was literally verified in the removal of his remains to Canaan; but, in the large and liberal sense of the words, it was made good only on the establishment of Israel in the land of promise.
Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes—shall perform the last office of filial piety; and this implied that he should henceforth enjoy, without interruption, the society of that favorite son.
Ge 46:5-27. Immigration to Egypt.
5. And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba—to cross the border and settle in Egypt. However refreshed and invigorated in spirit by the religious services at Beer-sheba, he was now borne down by the infirmities of advanced age; and, therefore, his sons undertook all the trouble and toil of the arrangements, while the enfeebled old patriarch, with the wives and children, was conveyed by slow and leisurely stages in the Egyptian vehicles sent for their accommodation.
6. goods, which they had gotten in the land—not furniture, but substance—precious things.
7. daughters—As Dinah was his only daughter, this must mean daughters-in-law.
all his seed brought he with him—Though disabled by age from active superintendence, yet, as the venerable sheik of the tribe, he was looked upon as their common head and consulted in every step.
8-27. all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten—Strictly speaking, there were only sixty-six went to Egypt; but to these add Joseph and his two sons, and Jacob the head of the clan, and the whole number amounts to seventy. In the speech of Stephen (Ac 7:14) the number is stated to be seventy-five; but as that estimate includes five sons of Ephraim and Manasseh (1Ch 7:14-20), born in Egypt, the two accounts coincide.
Ge 46:28-34. Arrival in Egypt.
28. he sent Judah before him unto Joseph—This precautionary measure was obviously proper for apprising the king of the entrance of so large a company within his territories; moreover, it was necessary in order to receive instruction from Joseph as to the locale of their future settlement.
29, 30. Joseph made ready his chariot—The difference between chariot and wagon was not only in the lighter and more elegant construction of the former, but in the one being drawn by horses and the other by oxen. Being a public man in Egypt, Joseph was required to appear everywhere in an equipage suitable to his dignity; and, therefore, it was not owing either to pride or ostentatious parade that he drove his carriage, while his father's family were accommodated only in rude and humble wagons.
presented himself unto him—in an attitude of filial reverence (compare Ex 22:17). The interview was a most affecting one—the happiness of the delighted father was now at its height; and life having no higher charms, he could, in the very spirit of the aged Simeon, have departed in peace [Lu 2:25, 29].
31-34. Joseph said, … I will go up, and show Pharaoh—It was a tribute of respect due to the king to inform him of their arrival. And the instructions which he gave them were worthy of his character alike as an affectionate brother and a religious man.