GENESIS CHAPTER FORTY-SIX OVERVIEW
Overall what is happening in this chapter is that Jacob moves to Egypt and is reunited with Joseph.
Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 46
God appears to Jacob at Beersheba. The descendants of Jacob are enumerated. He sends his son Judah before him into Goshen, and is met by Joseph.
Joseph Benson’s Commentary (1857) - Genesis 46
Jacob is here removing to Egypt in his old age.
(1) God sends him thither (Genesis 46:1-4).
(2) All his family goes with him (Genesis 46:5-27).
(3) Joseph bids him welcome (Genesis 46:28-34).
John Gill (1746) - Genesis 46
In this chapter we are told, that Jacob with all his family and substance took a journey to Egypt to see his son Joseph, as he determined, in which he was encouraged to proceed by a vision from God, (Genesis 46:1) and an account is given of all his sons, his sons' sons and daughters that went thither with him, (Genesis 46:8) when he came near to Egypt he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to acquaint him of his coming, who met him at Goshen, where there was a most affectionate interview between them, (Genesis 46:28) and when he gave directions and instructions what answers to give to Pharaoh's questions, when they should appear before him, to whom he proposed to go and inform him of their being come into Egypt, (Genesis 46:31).
Adam Clarke (1826) - Genesis 46
Jacob begins his journey to Egypt, comes to Beer-sheba, and offers sacrifices to God, (Genesis 46:1). God appears to him in a vision, gives him gracious promises, and assures him of his protection, (Genesis 46:2-4). He proceeds, with his family and their cattle, on his journey towards Egypt, (Genesis 46:5-7). A genealogical enumeration of the seventy persons who went down to Egypt, (Genesis 46:8). The posterity of Jacob by Leah. Reuben and his sons, (Genesis 46:9). Simeon and his sons, (Genesis 46:10). Levi and his sons, (Genesis 46:11). Judah and his sons, (Genesis 46:12). Issachar and his sons, (Genesis 46:13). And Zebulun and his sons, (Genesis 46:14). All the posterity of Jacob by Leah, thirty and three, (Genesis 46:15). The posterity of Jacob by Zilpah. Gad and his sons, (Genesis 46:16). Asher and his sons, (Genesis 46:17). All the posterity of Jacob by Zilpah, sixteen, (Genesis 46:18). The posterity of Jacob by Rachel. Joseph and his sons, (Genesis 46:19-20). Benjamin and his sons, (Genesis 46:21). All the posterity of Jacob by Rachel, fourteen, (Genesis 46:22). The posterity of Jacob by Bilhah. Dan and his sons, (Genesis 46:23). Naphtali and his sons, (Genesis 46:24). All the posterity of Jacob by Bilhah, seven, (Genesis 46:25). All the immediate descendants of Jacob by his four wives, threescore and six, (Genesis 46:26); and all the descendants of the house of Jacob, seventy souls, (Genesis 46:27). Judah is sent before to inform Joseph of his father’s coming, (Genesis 46:28). Joseph goes to Goshen to meet Jacob, (Genesis 46:29). Their affecting interview, (Genesis 46:30). Joseph proposes to return to Pharaoh, and inform him of the arrival of his family, (Genesis 46:31), and of their occupation, as keepers of cattle, (Genesis 46:32). Instructs them what to say when called before Pharaoh, and questioned by him, that they might be permitted to dwell unmolested in the land of Goshen, (Genesis 46:33-34).
Matthew Henry (1714) - Genesis 46
Jacob is here removing to Egypt in his old age, forced thither by a famine, and invited thither by a son. Here:
I. God sends him thither (Genesis 46:1-4).
II. All his family goes with him (Genseis46:5-27).
III. Joseph bids him welcome (Genesis 46:28-34).
KEY VERSE
Genesis 46:1 “So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.”
KEY EVENT
Jacob travels to Egypt.
KEY THOUGHT
The first move that Jacob (Israel) makes – is to go to Beersheba to get guidance from the Lord.
KEY CROSS-REFERENCE
Genesis 12:10 “Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.”
KEY QUOTE
“Those that go wither God sends them shall certainly have God with them wherever they are and to silence their fears; we may safely venture even into Egypt if God go down with us.” Matthew Henry
