Genesis 46:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

NIV: So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

NASB: So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

CSB: Israel set out with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba, and he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

NLT: So Jacob set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.

KJV: And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

NKJV: So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

Earlier in his life, Jacob was renamed by God, using the word Israel (Genesis 35:10). This title is used here, as Jacob prepares to leave the Promised Land to escape starvation. Jacob and his large, extended family are moving from their home in Hebron in the land of Canaan to Egypt. He has just learned the son he thought was dead (Genesis 37:31–34) is alive. Joseph is thriving as the second-in-command of the entire nation of Egypt (Genesis 41:44; 45:26). In addition, Joseph has insisted Jacob's family move and settle in a fertile area of Egypt to survive the severe famine in the land (Genesis 45:16–20). This plan has been endorsed by the ruler of Egypt, known by the title Pharaoh.

Jacob has agreed to the plan (Genesis 45:27). First, he stops at Beersheba (Genesis 26:33) before leaving the Promised Land of Canaan for what he assumes will be the last time. He is 130 years old. Beersheba is a significant spot in the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants. Abraham had planted a tree there and called on God's name (Genesis 21:33) before settling down and living there (Genesis 22:19). God appeared to Isaac, Jacob's father, at Beersheba, as well, giving him promises of blessing and many offspring (Genesis 26:23–25). Isaac built an altar to the Lord and prayed to God there, as well. Jacob himself had been to Beersheba on his way out of the land of Canaan, when running for his life from his twin brother Esau (Genesis 28:10).

Now he returns many years later, again preparing to leave the land of Canaan. This time, he builds an altar and offers animal sacrifices to "the God of his father Isaac."

Genesis 46:1–7 begins with the journey of Jacob's large family from Canaan to Egypt. First is a stop in Beersheba (Genesis 26:33). Jacob offers sacrifices to God. God responds, telling Jacob not to be afraid to settle in Egypt. God assures Jacob that He will continue to be with him and will still make a great nation of his offspring. After this, Genesis tallies all the direct descendants of Israel, before returning to a narrative form.

Genesis 46 includes three basic sections. First, Jacob and his large family begin their journey with all their possessions towards their new home in Egypt. Jacob stops in Beersheba and offers sacrifices to God. God responds by assuring Jacob He will continue to be with him and multiply his people. The narrative pauses to count the current descendants of Jacob, then resumes with Jacob's arrival in the Goshen region of Egypt. Joseph meets him there for an emotional reunion. Then Joseph prepares the family to meet Pharaoh.

Joseph has just been dramatically reunited with his estranged brothers (Genesis 45). Following Joseph's revelation of his identity Genesis 46 describes the large family's move out of Canaan. Jacob stops in Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God and receive renewed promises from Him. Then the story pauses to provide a count of Joseph's descendants by each of his four wives. Jacob is reunited with Joseph, who prepares his family to meet with Pharaoh. Chapter 47 describes Jacob's meeting with Pharaoh and the family's settlement in Goshen.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.