Genesis 46
Jacob Leaves for Egypt
1Israel set out with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba, and he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.23That night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” he said. And Jacob replied, “Here I am.”45God said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.67I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back. Joseph will close your eyes when you die.”8
9Jacob left Beer-sheba. The sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their dependents and their wives.1011They also took their cattle and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan. Then Jacob and all his offspring with him came to Egypt.1213His sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters, indeed all his offspring, he brought with him to Egypt.14
Jacob’s Family
15These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt — Jacob and his sons: Jacob’s firstborn: Reuben.1617Reuben’s sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.18
19Simeon’s sons: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.20
21Levi’s sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.22
23Judah’s sons: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.24
25Issachar’s sons: Tola, Puvah, Jashub, and Shimron.26
27Zebulun’s sons: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.28
29These were Leah’s sons born to Jacob in Paddan-aram, as well as his daughter Dinah. The total number of persons: thirty-three.30
31Gad’s sons: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.32
33Asher’s sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malchiel.34
35These were the sons of Zilpah — whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah — that she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.36
37The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.38
39Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt. They were born to him by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, a priest at On.40
41Benjamin’s sons: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.42
43These were Rachel’s sons who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons.44
45Dan’s son: Hushim.46
47Naphtali’s sons: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.48
49These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel. She bore to Jacob: seven persons.50
51The total number of persons belonging to Jacob — his direct descendants, not including the wives of Jacob’s sons — who came to Egypt: sixty-six.52
53And Joseph’s sons who were born to him in Egypt: two persons. All those of Jacob’s household who came to Egypt: seventy persons.54
Jacob Arrives in Egypt
55Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to prepare for his arrival at Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen,5657Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, threw his arms around him, and wept for a long time.5859Then Israel said to Joseph, “I’m ready to die now because I have seen your face and you are still alive!”60
61Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s family, “I will go up and inform Pharaoh, telling him, ‘My brothers and my father’s family, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.6263The men are shepherds; they also raise livestock. They have brought their flocks and herds and all that they have.’6465When Pharaoh addresses you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’6667you are to say, ‘Your servants, both we and our ancestors, have raised livestock from our youth until now.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to Egyptians.”68