Chapter 46

Chapter 46

1 Israel set out with everything he owned and came to Beersheba, where he offered sacrifices to The All-Powerful One of his father Isaac.

2 The All-Powerful One spoke to Israel in a visual manifestation by night and called out, ‘Jacob, Jacob!’ And he answered, ‘Here I am’.

3 He said, ‘I am The Mighty One, The All-Powerful One of your father; do not fear going down to Egypt, for I will turn you into a massive nation there.

4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will also surely bring you back up again; and Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes’.

5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their dependents, and their women in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

6 They took their livestock and the wealth they had accumulated in the land of Canaan, and they arrived in Egypt—Jacob and all his offspring along with him.

7 He brought his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters—all his offspring he brought with him to Egypt.

8 These are the names of the sons of Israel—Jacob and his descendants—who arrived in Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul (the son of a Canaanite woman).

11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan had already died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.

14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15 These are the sons of Leah whom she gave birth to for Jacob in Paddan-aram, along with his daughter Dinah; the total number of his sons and daughters was 33.

16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah, along with their sister Serah. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.

18 These are the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; she gave birth to these for Jacob—16 individuals.

19 The sons of Jacob’s woman Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

20 To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, gave birth to for him.

21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

22 These are the descendants of Rachel who were born to Jacob—14 individuals in all.

23 The son of Dan: Hushim.

24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25 These are the descendants of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel; she gave birth to these for Jacob—seven individuals in all.

26 All the active life-souls belonging to Jacob who came to Egypt—his own direct physical offspring, not counting the women of Jacob’s sons—totaled 66 active life-souls.

27 And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two individuals. The total number of individuals of the house of Jacob who arrived in Egypt was 70.

28 Now Israel sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to guide him into Goshen; and they arrived in the region of Goshen.

29 Joseph harnessed his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. The moment Joseph saw him, he threw his arms around his neck and wept for a long time.

30 Israel declared to Joseph, “Now I can die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive!”

31 Then Joseph spoke directly to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and report to Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.

32 The men are shepherds, for they have always been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and everything they own.’

33 When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’

34 you must answer, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth until now, both we and our ancestors,’ so that you may reside in the region of Goshen; for every shepherd is detestable to the Egyptians.”