Genesis 46:1-7

Genesis 46:1-7

[1] And Israel  took his journey  with all that he had, and came  to Beersheba,  and offered  sacrifices  unto the God  of his father  Isaac.  [2] And God  spake  unto Israel  in the visions  of the night,  and said,  Jacob,  And he said,  [3] And he said,  I am God,  the God  of thy father:  fear  not to go down  into Egypt;  for I will there make  of thee a great  nation:  [4] I will go down  with thee into Egypt;  and I will also surely  again: and Joseph  shall put  his hand  upon thine eyes.  [5] And Jacob  rose up  from Beersheba:  and the sons  of Israel  carried  Jacob  their father,  and their little ones,  and their wives,  in the wagons  which Pharaoh  had sent  to carry  him. [6] And they took  their cattle,  and their goods,  which they had gotten  in the land  of Canaan,  and came  into Egypt,  Jacob,  and all his seed  [7] His sons,  with him, his daughters,  and his sons'  daughters,  and all his seed  brought he  with him into Egypt. 

What does Genesis 46:1-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The structure of chapters46,47 is also chiastic. [1]
AGod appears to Jacob ( Genesis 46:1-4)BJacob journeys to Egypt ( Genesis 46:5-27)CJoseph meets Jacob ( Genesis 46:28-34)DJoseph"s brothers meet Pharaoh ( Genesis 47:1-6)C"Jacob meets Pharaoh ( Genesis 47:7-10)B"Joseph cares for his family and Egypt ( Genesis 47:11-26)A"Jacob prepares to die ( Genesis 47:27-31)
Beersheba lay on the southern border of Canaan ( Genesis 46:1). Jacob and his caravan stopped there to offer sacrifices to Yahweh. Earlier Abraham had planted a tamarisk tree there and called on the name of the Lord ( Genesis 21:33). Isaac had also built an altar there and called on the Lord after God had appeared to him ( Genesis 26:24-25). It was perhaps at this altar that Jacob now presented his sacrifices. Jacob must have had mixed feelings as he looked forward to seeing Joseph again. At the same time he realized he was leaving the land promised to his family by God. This move was as momentous for Jacob as Abram"s journey from Ur ( Genesis 12:1-3), Jacob"s flight to Paddan-aram ( Genesis 28:1-22), or his return to Canaan ( Genesis 31:3-54), all of which God encouraged with visions.
"In addressing God as God of his father he was acknowledging the family calling, and implicitly seeking leave to move out of Canaan. His attitude was very different from that of Abram in Genesis 12:10 ff." [2]
Jacob was probably aware of the prophecy that Abraham"s descendants would experience slavery in a foreign land for400 years ( Genesis 15:13). Consequently he must have found it even more difficult to cross into Egypt ( Genesis 46:2-4). God revealed Himself to Jacob (the sixth time) here to assure Jacob that this move was in harmony with His will for Jacob and his family. This is one of four "do not be afraid" consolations that God gave in Genesis ( Genesis 46:3; cf. Genesis 15:1; Genesis 21:17; Genesis 26:24).
God promised to make Jacob"s family a great nation in Egypt (cf. Genesis 12:2; Genesis 15:13-14; Genesis 17:6; Genesis 17:20; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 21:13-18). Because of the Egyptians" disdain for Hebrew shepherds Jacob"s family was not in danger of suffering amalgamation into Egyptian life as they had been in danger of being absorbed into Canaanite life. The Israelites" removal to Egypt was also a divine discipline. Jacob"s sons had failed to stay separate from the Canaanites so God temporarily removed them from the land He had promised them. Note the parallels with Esau"s migration to Seir (cf. Genesis 36:2-8 and Genesis 46:8 to Genesis 47:27).
God promised to go with Jacob into Egypt ( Genesis 46:4). Egypt was the womb God used to form His nation. [3] Though Jacob was leaving God"s land he was not leaving God behind. God further promised to bring Jacob back into the land. He did this by bringing his descendants back400 years later and by bringing Jacob personally back for burial in the land ( Genesis 50:1-21). Moreover God promised that Jacob would not die until he had seen Joseph, implying that Joseph would be present when Jacob died ( Genesis 49:29-33). "Joseph will close your eyes" ( Genesis 46:4) refers to a custom that Jews still practice. The eldest son or closest relative would gently close the eyes of the deceased. [4]
"Jacob"s decidedly dysfunctional family is on the verge of coming together again in genuine community." [5]