Genesis 47:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.”

NIV: Joseph went and told Pharaoh, 'My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.'

NASB: Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, 'My father and my brothers and their flocks and their herds and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.'

CSB: So Joseph went and informed Pharaoh: "My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in the land of Goshen."

NLT: Then Joseph went to see Pharaoh and told him, 'My father and my brothers have arrived from the land of Canaan. They have come with all their flocks and herds and possessions, and they are now in the region of Goshen.'

KJV: Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.

NKJV: Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen.”

The end of Genesis 46 described how Joseph prepared his father and brother for their meeting with the ruler of Egypt, who carries the title Pharaoh (Genesis 46:31–34). Jacob and his large family have arrived in Egypt at Pharaoh's invitation. Joseph seems eager to make sure they interact with him in an appropriate way. It was no small thing to stand before the ruler of all Egypt. He held enormous power. His decisions carried the weight of life and death. His willingness to allow Joseph's family to settle in Egypt meant life for them, amid the severe famine in the land (Genesis 41:28–31).

Now Joseph announces them to Pharaoh. Just as Pharaoh himself had suggested (Genesis 45:16–20), they have arrived with everything they own. Joseph mentions very specifically that they are camped in the land of Goshen. It's possible Joseph wanted Pharaoh to allow his family to settle in that exact region. Goshen is not named in secular Egyptian history. It was likely along the eastern part of the Nile Delta since it was close to the court where Joseph resided and well-watered enough to support Jacob's livestock. Later, the area will be described as the land of Rameses (Genesis 47:11).

Genesis 47:1–12 describes how Joseph's family officially arrived as landowners in Egypt. They are given the fertile region of Goshen. At court, Joseph's brothers formally request permission to settle there, and Jacob blesses Pharaoh twice. Pharaoh gives Joseph the authority to give his family enough land in Goshen to accommodate their herds and growing families. Joseph also begins to distribute a regular allotment of food to each member of his extended family.

Genesis 47 begins with Pharaoh interviewing Joseph's brothers and father before granting their request to settle in the region of Goshen in Egypt. Just as Joseph had hoped, his family is secure. The rest of the people of Egypt and Canaan are not. Most run out of money and can no longer buy food from Joseph. On Pharaoh's behalf, Joseph trades food for their livestock and then their land and even their freedom. Nearly all people will be required to pay to Pharaoh 20 percent of their harvest each year from this time forward. After several years, Jacob asks Joseph to swear that he will bury Jacob's body with his fathers in Canaan.

After describing the family's journey from Canaan and their arrival in Egypt in chapter 46, this passage opens on a formal conversation between Pharaoh and Joseph's family. He officially grants their request to settle in Egypt. As the famine continues, citizens of Egypt and Canaan turn over their money, land, and livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. The final three chapters of Genesis explain Jacob's dying blessings, and the passing of both Jacob and Joseph.

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.