Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 46
CHAP. XLVI.
I, Iakob sacrificing at Beersheba, is comforted of God, concerning his journey. 5, Thence …e with his company, goeth into Egypt. 8, The number of his family that went into Egypt. 28, Iudah is sent to Ioseph, who commeth to meet Israel his father. 31; He instructeth his brethren how to answer to Pharaoh.
ANd Israel journied, and all that he had; and came to Beersheba: and sacrificed sacrifices, unto the God of his father Isaak. And God said to Israel, in visions of the night; and said, Iakob Iakob: and hee said, loe here I am. And hee said; I am God, the God of thy father: feare not, to goe downe into Egypt; for I will make of thee there, a great nation. I, will goe downe with thee, into Egypt; and I, will also bringing bring thee up: and Ioseph, shall put his hand upon thine eyes. And Iakob rose-up, from Beer-sheba: and the sonnes of Israel, caried Iakob their father, and their little-ones, and their wives; in the wagons, which Pharaoh had sent to cary him. And they took their catrell; and their substance, which they had gathered in the land of Canaan; and came into Egypt: Iakob, and all his seed with him. His sonnes, and his sonnes sonnes with him; his daughters, and his sonnes daughters, and all his seed; brought he with him, into Egypt. And these are the names, of the sonnes of Israel, which came into Egypt, Iakob and his sonnes: the first-borne of Iakob, Ruben. And the sonnes of Ruben: Enoch and Phallu, and Hezron and Carmi. And the sonnes of Simeon; Iemuel, and Iamin, and Ohad, and Iachin, and Zohar: and Saul, the sonne of a Canaanitesse. And the sonnes of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And the sonnes of Iudah; Er, and Onan, and Selah, and Pharez and Zarah: and Er and Onan dyed, in the land of Canaan; and the sonnes of Pharez, were Hezron and Hamul. And the sonnes of Issachar; Thola, and Phuvah, and Iob and Simron. And the sonnes of Zabulon; Sered, and Elon, and Iahleel. These, be the sonnes of Leah, which she bare unto Iakob, in Padan-Aram; and Dinah his daughter: all the soules, his sonnes and his daughters, were thirtie and three. And the sonnes of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Suni, and Ezbon; Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. And the sonnes of Aser; Iimnah and Iisvah, and Iisvi, and Beriah; and Serah their sister: and the sonnes of Beriah; Cheber, and Malchiel. These, are the sonnes of Zilpah; whom Laban gave, to Leah his daughter: and she bare these unto Iakob, sixteene souls. The sonnes of Rachel, Iakobs wife; Ioseph, and Benjamin. And there was borne to Ioseph, in the land of Egypt; whom Asenath daughter of Potipherah Priest of On, bare unto him: Manasseh, and Ephraim. And the sonnes of Benjamin; Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel; Gera, and Naaman, Aechi, and Rosh: Muppim and Huppim, and Ard. These are the sonnes of Rachel, which were borne to Iakob: and all the soules, fourteene. And the sonnes of Dan, Chushim. And the sonnes of Naphtali: Iachzeel, and Guni, and Iezer, and Sillem. These are the sonnes of Bilhah; whom Laban gave, to Rachel his daughter: and she bare these unto Iakob, all the soules were seven. All the soules that came with Iakob into Egypt, which came out of his thigh, besides the wives of Iakobs sonnes: all the soules, were sixtie and sixe. And the sonnes of Ioseph, which were borne to him in Egypt; were two soules: all the soules of the house of Iakob, that came into Egypt, were seventie. And he sent Iudah before him, unto Ioseph; to signifie before him, to Goshen: and they came into the land of Goshen. And Ioseph, bound his charret; and went-up, to meet Israel his father, to Goshen: and he presented himselfe unto him; and hee fell on his necke, and wept on his necke, still. And Israel said unto Ioseph, now let mee dye: since I have seene thy face, because thou art yet alive. And Ioseph said unto his brethren, and unto his fathers house; I will goe-up, and shew Pharaoh: and wil say unto him; my brethren, and my fathers house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me. And the men, are sheep-herds; for they are, men that feed cattell: and they have brought their flocks and their herds, and all that they have. And it shall be, when Pharaoh shall call you; and shall say, what are your workes? Then yee shall say; thy servants have beene men that fed cattell, from our youth even untill now, both we, and also our fathers: that, ye may dwell, in the land of Goshen, because every sheep-herd, is an abhomination to the Egyptians.
Annotations.
BEersheba] in Greeke, The well of the eath, see Gen. 21. 14. 31. and 26. 33. this was the way from Chebron in Canaan, towards Egypt: and a place where he and his fathers had received mercies from God. Gen. 21. 31. 33. and 26. 33. sacrificed] that is, killed beasts for sacrifice: so both giving thankes for the tidings of Ioseph, and consulting with God about his going into Egypt; whither in former time, Isaak his father was forbidden to goe, in time of famine, Gen. 26. 1. 2. 3. and whereof he now made some doubt, v. 3. For he knew the oracle, that his seed should bee afflicted in Egypt, Gen, 15. 13. 14. and now hee and his fathers had beene pilgrimes 215. yeeres, from the time that God had promised the inheritance of Canaan unto Abraham, Gen. 12. and hee saw little hope of the fulfilling of that promise, being now to goe but with 70. soules into an other barbarous country. OnelyOnly, as by faith they had sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, Heb. 11. 9. so now also by faith hee would goe to sojourne in Egypt, if God should so command him. Among the Gentiles they used also to offer sacrifice, when they tooke a journey in hand: Festus lib. 14.
Vers. 2. visions,] in Greeke, a vision, or Sight. See Gen. 15. 1.
Vers. 3. God] Hebr. Ael; that is, the mighty: see Gen. 14. 18. make of thee] Hebr. put thee there unto a great nation. So Gen. 21. 13. This God had promised him in times before, Gen. 28. 14. and 35. 11.
Vers. 4. bringing bring-up] that is, surely bring thee up: Gr. will bring thee up unto the end. This promise was like that which God gave him when he went to Mesopotamia, Gen. 28. 15. And Iakob himselfe was brought againe into Canaan, dead Gen. 50. 5. 13. his posterity were brought alive a mighty army, Ios. 3. &c. And from hence, the Hebrew Doctors gather a generall rule, that whersoever Israel are in captiuity (or affliction) the presence of God is with them. R, Menachem on Gen. 46. upon thine eyes] that is, shall close up thine eye when thou dyest: and so burie thee. An ancient and honourable custome, used of them, and all nations. The custome (afterwards) in Israel, about the dead, and their buriall, was this; they closed up the eyes of the dead; and if his mouth were open, they tyed up his jawes, and stopped the holes of his body, after that they had washed him: and anointed him with ointment made of divers sorts of spices: and shaved off his haire, and wrapped him in white linnen clothes, that were not of deare price: and they used to cover the face of the dead with a napkin of a zuz, (that is, a quarter of a shekel) price, that the poore might bee able also to buy it, &c. And it was unlawfull to bury them in shrowds of silke, or cloth of gold, or broiderie, though hee were a Prince in Israel; for this was grosse pride of spirit, and the corrupt worke of infidels. And they caried the dead upon their shoulders unto the grave. Maimony in Misn. tom. 4. treat. of Mourning, ch. 4. S. 1. 2.
Vers. 6. into Egypt] to sojourne there, in the land of Cham. Psal. 105. 23. This journey of his is sundry times mentioned, Ios. 24. 4. Esa. 52. 4. Act. 7. 15. Num. 20. 15. Deut. 10. 22. This was in the 130. yeere of Iakobs life, Gen. 47. 9. after the promise made to Abraham 215. yeeres, Gen. 12. 4. in the yeere of the world, 2298. seed] that is, children, or posterity. See Gen. 3. 15. and 13. 55. So the Chaldee translateth it sonnes.
Vers. 7. daughters] one daughter, Dinah, verse 15. so in vers. 23. sonne. for one sonne.
Vers. 9. Carmi] in Greeke Charmee. These foure, were heads of their fathers house, and of them are named the families of the tribe of Reuben: Exod. 6. 14 Num. 26. 5. 6. 1 Chron. 5. 3. So of the rest that follow.
Vers. 10. Iemuel] called also Nemuel, in Numb. 26. 12. 1 Chro. 4. 14 Ohad] in Greeke Aod. This man is not mentioned in the families of Simeon, Num. 26. 12. 1 Chro. 4. 24. it seemeth hee and his were then perished. Iachin] called also Iarib. 1 Chron. 4. 24. of him was a familie called Iachinites, Numb. 26. 12. Zohar] in Greeke Saar: by transposition of letters hee is also called Zerah, and his familie Zarhites, Num. 26. 13. 1 Chro. 4. 24. Canaanitesse] or Canaanitish woman; the cursed stocke, with which Israels sonnes ordinarily might not marry; Gen. 28. 1.
Vers. 11. Gershon] called also Gershom, 1 Chron. 6. 16. Kohath] or Kehath, in Greeke Kath. This man was grand-father to Aaron and Moses, and Marie: Exod. 6. 18 20. Of this familie came the Priests of Israel, 1 Chro. 6. 3. 4. &c. and the Kohathites had the principall place in the service of the sanctuarie, Num. 3. 31. and they are reckoned before the Gersonites, Num. 4. 34. &c.
Vers. 12. dyed] by untimely death, at Gods hand, for their sinne, Gen. 38. 7—10. Hezron] in Greeke Asron; but the Apostle writeth him in Greeke, Esrom, Mat. 1. 3. by interpretation, the middest of exultation.
V. 13. Issachar] why his familie is set before other his elder brethren, is shewed on Gen. 35. 23. Thola] he had a rare blessing, in multitude of children: for of this Tholah were 22600. valiant men of warre, in Davids dayes, 1 Chron. 7. 2. There was also a Iudge of this name and tribe, Iudg. 10. 1. Phuvah] called also Phuah, 1 Chron. 7. 1. and so the Greeke here writes him, Phoua. Iob] called also Iashub, Num. 26. 24. 1 Chron. 7. 1. and so the Greeke writeth him here, Iasoub. Simron] or Shimron; in Greeke, Zambran.
Vers. 14. Elon] in Greeke, Allon. Iahleel] in Greeke, Aiel.
Vers. 15. Padan] or Mesopotamia; see Gen. 25. …0. There Leahs sonnes were borne; but the families of her sonnes here reckoned, were borne after they came thence into Canaan. all the soules] that is, persons. Gen. 12. 5. Heb. soul, which the Greeke translateth, soules: so after. and three] counting Iakob himselfe for one, as verse 8. and excluding Er and Onan, which were dead; as Leah herselfe also was.
Vers. 16. Ziphion] called also Zephon, Num. 26. 15. and here in Greek Saphon. Suni] in Greek, Sannis. Ezbon] called also Ozni, Num. 26. 16. in Greeke here Thasoban. Eri] in Greeke, Aedeis. Arodi] called Arod, Numb. 26. 17. in Greeke, Aoredes.
Vers. 17. Iisvah] in Greeke, Iesova. This mans name and familie is wanting, in Num. 26. 44. Beriah] in Greeke Baria, and Sara their sister.
Vers. 19. wife] so called rather then the rest, because Iakob purposed to maried her onelyonly, and loved her best; see Gen. 29. 18. 30.
Vers. 20. priest] or prince: see Gen. 41. 45. The Greeke saith, Priest of Heliopolis. Ephraim] Here the Greeke translation addeth these words: And the sonnes of Manasses, whom his concubine Syrabare unto him, were Machir: And Machir begat Galaad. And the sonnes of Ephraim, Manasses brother, were Sutalaam and Taam, and the sonnes of Sutalaam; Edem. This is not in the Hebrew of Moses, but was translated by the Greeke interpreters; from 1 Chron. 7. 14. 20. unto this place, by reason of that speech in Gen. 50. 23. that Ioseph saw his children to the third generation. And having added these five sonnes and nephewes, they doe summe up all in verse 27. to be 75. soules, where the Hebrew hath but 70. and the new testament also alleageth that number, 75. in Act. 7. 14. following the Greeke, as it doth elsewhere for Cainan, in Luk. 3. as is observed on Gen. 11. 12.
Vers. 21. Belah] in Greeke, Bala; he was the eldest of his sonnes, 1 Chron. 8. 1. Becher] in Greeke, Chobor: he was not the second, but seemeth to be the fourth sonne, called Nohah, 1 Chron. 8. 2. neither is his name or family reckoned, in Numb. 26. 38. but in 1 Chro. 7. 8. there is mention of his children. Ashbel] in Greeke, Asphel. hee was the second sonne by birth, 1 Chro. 8. 1. called also Iediael. 1 Chron. 7. 6. and is named as second in Num. 26. 38. Gera] the Greek translation addeth, and the sons of Bala were Gera. &c. which seemeth to be taken from 1 Chron. 8. 3. where one Gera is made son of Belah. But how Benjamin being himselfe so yong, should now have a sons son, is hard to comprehend. Moreover in Numb. 26. 38. there is no mention of Gera: neither was he Benjamins third sonne, but Achra, 1 Chron 8. 1. called here Aechi. Naaman] in Greeke, Noeman: in 1 Chron. 8. 4. one of this name is sonne to Belah; as the Greeke translation maketh this here: see also Num. 26. 40. Aechi] in Greeke, Eigcheim: called also Achiram, Num. 26. 38. & Achrah, the third son of Benjamin, 1 Chro. 8. 1. Rosh] of this man, there is no mention in Num. 26. 38. but in 1 Chro. 8. 2. he seemeth to be named Rapha, the fift son: who was father to Palti, one of the spies sent to view the land of Canaan, Num. 13. 10. who for his slanderous report, dyed with the rest, of a plague before the Lord, Num. 14. 36. 37. and so it may be, none of his family was left, to be reckoned in Num. 26. Muppim] in Greeke, Mamphein: called also Shupham, Num. 26. 39. and Shuppim, 1 Cron. 7. 12. Huppim] called Hupham, Numb. 26. 39. in Greeke, Opheimeim. Ard] The Greeke saith, And Gera begat Arad. In Numb. 26. 40. Ard seemeth to be the sonne of Belah.
Vers. 22. were borne] Hebr. was borne: so in Gen. 35. 26. fourteene] the Greeke saith, eighteene: by reason of that addition forementioned in v. 20. yet here faileth one in the summe. The Chaldee agreeth with the Hebrew.
Vers. 23. sonnes] that is, one Sonne; which was all that Dan had. So in vers. 7. daughters, for one daughter. Change of number is often in the Hebrew. As tribes of Benjamin. 1 Sam. 9. 21. Sepulchres, 2 Chron. 16. 14. sonnes for sonne, Gen. 21. 7. Num. 26. 42. 2 Chro. 24. 25. theeves, for one of them, Matth. 27. 44. Luk. 23. 39. 43. asses, Zach. 9. 9. for an asse, Matth. 21. 5. & he sate upon them, Matth. 21. 7. for which in Mark. 11. 7. is written, he sate upon him. Chushim] called also Shuham, Num. 26. 42. In Greeke, Asom.
Vers. 24. Iachziel, &c.] in Greeke Asel, and Gouni, and Issachar. Sillem:] or Shillem: called also Sallum, 1 Chron. 7. 13. in Greeke, Sullem.
Vers. 26. his thigh] that is, his body; or loynes: of his seed: a modest manner of speech: so Exod. 1. 5. sixtie and sixe] so also the Greeke here is. This number, is beside Iakob himselfe, with whom they came.
Vers. 27. two soules] these words the Greek translation doth omit: having added more in verse 20. came] understand, with Ioseph and his sonnes who were there before. seventie] with Iakob and Ioseph in the summe. The Greeke translateth, seventie five; and so Stephen alledgeth the number, Acts 7. 14. the cause is before touched in verse 20. The like is in Exod. 1. 5. But in Deut. 10. 22. the Lxxij. Greeke interpreters, as well as the Hebrew, have but 70 soules. Which manifesteth the Hebrew text here to be exact; and the five to bee added by the translators. The Hebrew Doctors say, that things beneath doe mystically signifie things above: and these 70 soules signified the 70 Angels that are about (Gods) glorious throne, the Presidents over the (seventie) nations. R. Menachem on Gen. 46. See also the notes on Deut. 32. 8. In that Abrahams seed, in 215. yeeres, were but 70. soules: it sheweth the slow and small increase of the church at the beginning. But in 215. yeeres more, they were multiplied to sixe hundred thousand men, besides women and children, Exod. 12. 37. Num. 1. 46. Hereupon Moses said; Thy fathers went downe into Egypt, with 70. soules: and now, Iehovah thy God hath made thee, as the starres of heaven for multitude: Deut. 10. 22.
Vers. 28. to informe] or, to teach; that is, that hee might informe (or teach) him. And it may be understood, both that Iudas might informe Ioseph of his fathers comming; and especially that Ioseph might informe and teach where Iakob should abide at Goshen, when there hee came; and so as the Chaldee translateth it, to prepare before him. Likewise Thargum Ierusalemy expoundeth it, to prepare a place for him, wherein to dwell in Goshen. before him] that is, before himselfe came to Goshen: so the phrase sometime meaneth, as Gen. 30. 30. or, to his face, that is, to meet him; so the Greeke translateth, he sent Iudas before him unto Ioseph, to meet him at Heroopolis in the land of Ramesses.
Vers. 29. bound] that is, ordered and made ready, (as the Chaldee expounds it:) tying and coupling the horses in it. So Exod. 14. 6. 1 King. 18. 44. The Greeke translateth, joyned. presented himselfe] or? was seene, appeared; this was to honour his father. The same word is used in the law, for mens appearing (or presenting themselves) unto the Lord, Exod. 23. 17. still] or yet; that is, a good while; and as the Greeke translateth, with much weeping.
Vers. 30. let me dye] that is, I am willing to dye. The Chaldee translateth, now though I should dye; yet am I comforted; since I see thy face. So Simeon when he saw Christ, Luk. 2. 29. 30.
Vers. 32. sheep-herds] or feeders of sheepe: so verse 34. men that feed cattell] so the Greeke well explaineth the Hebrew phrase, men of cattell, that is, which feed or nourish them: grasiers. The Chaldee saith, Lords (or possessors) of flockes. So man of the ground, for an husbandman, Gen. 9. 20. Ioseph was not ashamed of his kindred, and their base trade, before King Pharaoh: though he knew their occupation was abhominable in Egypt: verse 33.
Vers. 33. workes] in Greeke, worke: that is, your occupation, or trade. So in Gen. 47. 3. an abhomination] therefore the Egyptians would not so much as eate with them: see Gen. 43. 32. This is the condition of Gods Church on earth; they are made as the filth of the world; the off-scouring of all things; 1 Cor. 4. 13. Even Christ himselfe (the sheepherd of our soules. 1 Pet. 2. 25) was the reproach of men, and despised of the people, Psal. 22. 7. Esa. 53. 3.