1 And Israel H3478 took his journey H5265 with all that he had, and came H935 to Beersheba, H884 and offered H2076 sacrifices H2077 unto the God H430 of his father H1 Isaac. H3327
Except H3884 the God H430 of my father, H1 the God H430 of Abraham, H85 and the fear H6343 of Isaac, H3327 had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away H7971 now empty. H7387 God H430 hath seen H7200 mine affliction H6040 and the labour H3018 of my hands, H3709 and rebuked H3198 thee yesternight. H570
And Abraham planted H5193 a grove H815 in Beersheba, H884 and called H7121 there on the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 the everlasting H5769 God. H410
Wherefore he called H7121 that place H4725 Beersheba; H884 because there they sware H7650 both of them. H8147
And Abraham H85 rose up early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and took H3947 bread, H3899 and a bottle H2573 of water, H4325 and gave H5414 it unto Hagar, H1904 putting H7760 it on her shoulder, H7926 and the child, H3206 and sent her away: H7971 and she departed, H3212 and wandered H8582 in the wilderness H4057 of Beersheba. H884
And all Israel H3478 from Dan H1835 even to Beersheba H884 knew H3045 that Samuel H8050 was established H539 to be a prophet H5030 of the LORD. H3068
Therefore take H3947 unto you now seven H7651 bullocks H6499 and seven H7651 rams, H352 and go H3212 to my servant H5650 Job, H347 and offer up H5927 for yourselves a burnt offering; H5930 and my servant H5650 Job H347 shall pray H6419 for you: for him H6440 will I accept: H5375 lest I deal H6213 with you after your folly, H5039 in that ye have not spoken H1696 of me the thing which is right, H3559 like my servant H5650 Job. H347
And it was so, when the days H3117 of their feasting H4960 were gone about, H5362 that Job H347 sent H7971 and sanctified H6942 them, and rose up early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 according to the number H4557 of them all: for Job H347 said, H559 It may be H194 that my sons H1121 have sinned, H2398 and cursed H1288 God H430 in their hearts. H3824 Thus did H6213 Job H347 continually. H3117
And Abel, H1893 he H1931 also brought H935 of the firstlings H1062 of his flock H6629 and of the fat H2459 thereof. And the LORD H3068 had respect H8159 unto Abel H1893 and to his offering: H4503
And he erected H5324 there an altar, H4196 and called it H7121 Elelohe-Israel. H415
The God H430 of Abraham, H85 and the God H430 of Nahor, H5152 the God H430 of their father, H1 judge H8199 betwixt us. And Jacob H3290 sware H7650 by the fear H6343 of his father H1 Isaac. H3327
And he removed H6275 from thence, and digged H2658 another H312 well; H875 and for that they strove H7378 not: and he called H7121 the name of it H8034 Rehoboth; H7344 and he said, H559 For now H6258 the LORD H3068 hath made room H7337 for us, and we shall be fruitful H6509 in the land. H776 And he went up H5927 from thence to Beersheba. H884 And the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto him the same night, H3915 and said, H559 I am the God H430 of Abraham H85 thy father: H1 fear H3372 not, for I am with H854 thee, and will bless H1288 thee, and multiply H7235 thy seed H2233 for my servant H5650 Abraham's H85 sake. And he builded H1129 an altar H4196 there, and called H7121 upon the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 and pitched H5186 his tent H168 there: and there Isaac's H3327 servants H5650 digged H3738 a well. H875
And Abraham H85 lifted up H5375 his eyes, H5869 and looked, H7200 and behold behind H310 him a ram H352 caught H270 in a thicket H5442 by his horns: H7161 and Abraham H85 went H3212 and took H3947 the ram, H352 and offered him up H5927 for a burnt offering H5930 in the stead H8478 of his son. H1121
And he removed H6275 from thence unto a mountain H2022 on the east H6924 of Bethel, H1008 and pitched H5186 his tent, H168 having Bethel H1008 on the west, H3220 and Hai H5857 on the east: H6924 and there he builded H1129 an altar H4196 unto the LORD, H3068 and called H7121 upon the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068
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.