Genesis 46:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.”

NIV: And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, 'Jacob! Jacob!' 'Here I am,' he replied.

NASB: And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, 'Jacob, Jacob.' And he said, 'Here I am.'

CSB: That night God spoke to Israel in a vision: "Jacob, Jacob! " he said.And Jacob replied, "Here I am."

NLT: During the night God spoke to him in a vision. 'Jacob! Jacob!' he called. 'Here I am,' Jacob replied.

KJV: And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

NKJV: Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Jacob has stopped at Beersheba, in the southern part of Canaan (Genesis 26:33), on the way to moving his large family to Egypt. His long-lost son Joseph (Genesis 37:31–34) was found to be alive. In fact, Joseph will provide for the family as a ruler of Egypt during a time of famine (Genesis 45:9–11). Before leaving behind the Promised Land for the last time in his life, however, Jacob builds an altar. He offers sacrifices to the Lord within the borders of the land.

God responds to this act of worship by appearing to Jacob in a night vision. This verse again refers to Jacob using the name Israel, as given to Jacob many years earlier (Genesis 35:10). God, however, calls out using Jacob's birth name. He responds just as he had done when God spoke to him previously (Genesis 31:11).

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.

Accessed 5/5/2024 1:39:41 PM