Jacob’s [Israel’s] Seventh Encounter with God
2 God spoke to Israel in a vision that night and said, “Jacob, Jacob!”
“Here I am,” he answered.
3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to go to Egypt, because I will make you a great nation there. 4 I will go with you to Egypt, and I will make sure you come back again. Joseph will close your eyes ⌞when you die⌟.”
5 So Jacob left Beersheba. Israel’s sons put their father Jacob, their children, and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to bring him back. 6 They also took their livestock and the possessions they had accumulated in Canaan.
Jacob and all his family arrived in Egypt. 7 He had brought his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters—his entire family.
Jacob’s [Israel’s] Descendants
8 These are the names of Israel’s descendants (Jacob and his descendants) who arrived in Egypt.
9 The sons of Reuben were
Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.
Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Er and Onan had died in Canaan.)
The sons of Perez were
Hezron and Hamul.
Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.
Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.
Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah.
The sons of Beriah were
Heber and Malchiel.
Joseph and Benjamin.
20 In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On.
21 The sons of Benjamin were
Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
22 These were the descendants of Rachel who were born to Jacob. The total was 14.
Hushim.
Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.
Joseph and Jacob [Israel] Reunited
28 Israel sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When Israel’s family arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and went to meet his father Israel. As soon as he saw his father, he threw his arms around him and cried on his shoulder a long time.
30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now that I’ve seen for myself that you’re still alive, I’m ready to die.”
31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father’s family, “I’m going to Pharaoh to tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s family, who were in Canaan, have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds. They take care of livestock. They’ve brought their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ 33 Now, when Pharaoh calls for you and asks, ‘What kind of work do you do?’ 34 you must answer, ‘We have taken care of herds all our lives, as our ancestors have done.’ ⌞You must say this⌟ so that you may live in the region of Goshen, because all shepherds are disgusting to Egyptians.”