The Journey to Egypt

Reading the bible in a year

Jan. 16: (Gen. 46-47) The Orthodox Study Bible

(Chapter 46) Israel came to the well of Oath, journeying with all he had. (2)."Then God spoke to Israel in a vision of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" So he said, "Here I am." So God said to him, "I am the God of your fathers; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.

Jacob was carried by the sons of Israel, and all his seed he brought with him to Egypt.

He sent Judah ahead in order that Joseph meet them in Goshen in the land of Rameses. Joseph waited in his chariot and greeted Jacob, his father, falling on his neck and weeping. (30). Then Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die in peace, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive."

(Chapter 47) Joseph went to tell Pharaoh that his father had arrived with all they had even the flocks from the land of Canaan. Joseph made a presentation to Pharaoh from among five men.(3). "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph's brothers, "What is your occupation?" So they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers." They then explained that because of the famine they have no pasture and asked to dwell in the land of Goshen. (5)."Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Let them dwell in the land of Goshen, and if you know of capable men among them, make them overseers of my cattle." It was the best of the land. (7) "Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh." Pharaoh asked Jacob his age. (9). "Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my sojourn are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have they been; but they have not attained to the days and years of my father's sojourn in life."

(10). "So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before him." (11). "Thus Joseph settled his father and brothers, and gave them a possession in the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh commanded.

Then, Joseph gave his father and all who were in his father's household bread, all seventy-five of them.

Joseph had to deal with the famine, which depleted all of the money in Egypt and Canaan, bringing money into Pharaoh's house. So they used their cattle in exchange for food. After the cattle, was gone, they exchanged themselves as servants for food. (20). "So Joseph bought all the land of the Egyptians for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his land to Pharaoh, because the famine was severe upon them. Thus the land became Pharaoh's. (21). "Now as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other." (22). "Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land." A law was made from that day on, except for the priests, seed sown would be harvested and one-fifth would go to Pharaoh.

Joseph made a promise to Jacob that he would not be buried in Egypt. Jacob lived seventeen years in the land of Egypt and they acquired possessions and increased and multiplied exceedingly. Jacob was one hundred and forty-seven years. Joseph swore to him that he would be buried with his fathers, in their burial place.