What does Genesis 46:18 mean?
The moment Jacob's family leaves behind the Promised Land to enter Egypt warrants a listing of all his descendants up to this point (Genesis 46:1–4). This verse summarizes and counts those descendants through Jacob's servant-wife Zilpah, given to him by his wife Leah to extend her own offspring (Genesis 30:9).Zilpah's descendants at this point in Israel's history number 16 persons, including at least one daughter. This is about half the thirty-three offspring listed as having come directly from Zilpah's mistress, Leah (Genesis 46:15).