1. So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 26:24, 25 2. Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.” 3. So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. Deut. 26:5 4. “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again: and Joseph will put his hands on your eyes” 50:1
Beer-sheba has much significance in the lives of the patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham made a covenant with king Abimelech. In this covenant Abraham gave king Abimelech seven ewe lambs as a witness that he dug the well (Which was the contention for the reason of making the covenant), and Abraham named the place Beer-sheba (H844), (which lies in the Negev desert). After this Abraham planted a tree there and called on the Lord. (Gen. 21:28-33) Later on when Abraham willingly obeyed God to offer up his only son Isaac (That of his and Sarah s), to the Lord, God blessed Abraham, that He would multiply his seed as much as the sands of the seashore, and of his seed the nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 22:16-18), After these blessing Abraham returned to his men, and together they went to Beer-sheba, and Abraham lived there. (Gen 22:19). After Abraham died the Philistines covered all the wells in the area that he had dug during his lifetime. Isaac had many contentions with king Abimelech because he had grown mighty so Isaac moved on to Gerar, where again he had contentions with the herdsmen of Gerar over the wells which Abraham first dug, and then Isaac reopened. After Isaac dug a well that he had no contentions with, he went to Beer-sheba, and on the first night there the Lord appeared to him and reaffirmed the covenant He made with his father Abraham: Blessing him saying He will multiply his seed for His servants Abraham’s sake (Gen. 24:25), So Isaac built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and he dug a well in Beer-sheba and Isaac named the well Shebah Meaning Oath and or seven (H7656) which is why the city is called Beer-sheba to this day. Both Abraham and Isaac named the city Beer-Sheba after their covenants with King Abimelech of Gerar. And now, before Jacob went into Egypt he went to Beer-sheba and offered sacrifices to the Lord, and the Lord appeared to him in a vision; just as He did years earlier to his father Isaac. assuring him not to fear going into Egypt because He would be with him, make of him a great nation (Just as the Lord promised Isaac), in which He would multiply his seed for Abraham’s sake. During the time of the patriarchs it appears to me that Beer-sheba was “THE” place of worship to the one true God. eventually though we know that Gods temple would be in Jerusalem (Beginning with the time of King David), where He would be, and will always be worshipped from now till forever and evermore. 5. Then Jacob arose from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6. So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants went with him. 15:13 7. His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt. Ex. 1:1-5
After awakening from his visions Jacob his family, and his extended family begin their journey to Egypt. Being assured by God about his fate and that of his descendants, he journeys to Egypt to once again embrace his long lost son Joseph whom he thought was dead. two generations of Jacob’s descendants goes down to Egypt with him to make a great nation; as God promised him. by the time his descendants leave Egypt we see that this small group of people had grown tremendously to 600,000 men apart from the little ones,not including the women (Exo. 12:37). The promise of making a great nation goes all the way back to the patriarch Abraham, who never saw this promise fulfilled, and neither will Jacob, but by faith they believed and journeyed on seeing the promise afar off (Heb. 11:13). We who are of the faith, and joint heirs in the promise, too must confess that we are also strangers in a strange land, and a strange world, knowing that the land of milk and honey may not come in our lifetime, but at God’s appointed time. So we keep faith and hope alive just as the patriarchs, and through our Lord Jesus Christ who says “follow me” you will have treasures in heaven (Mark. 10:21, Luke. 9:23).
8. Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob’s first born. 29:32 9.The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
(H7205)
ראוּבן
re’ûbên
BDB Definition:
Reuben = “behold a son”
1) the eldest son of Jacob by Leah
2) the tribe descended from Reuben
3) the territory inhabited by the tribe of Reuben
(H2585)
חנוך
chănôk
BDB Definition:
Hanoch = “dedicated”
5) the eldest son of Reuben (noun proper masculine)
(H6396)
פּלּוּא
pallû’
BDB Definition:
Pallu or Phallu = “distinguished”
1) the 2nd son of Reuben, father of Eliab, and progenitor of a family of Israel
(H2696)
חצרון
chetsrôn
BDB Definition:
Hezron = “surrounded by a wall”
1) a son of Reuben (noun proper masculine)
(H3756)
כּרמי
karmı̂y
BDB Definition:
Carmi = “my vineyard”
1) the 4th son of Reuben and progenitor of the Carmites
Verses eight thru twenty seven list the sons of Jacob and their sons. Interestingly in verse eight it say, ” Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons,” The only commentary I found referring to this is “Gill’s Exposition Of the Entire Bible: which reads as such:
Not meaning precisely Jacob’s seed and offspring, but the body of the people of Israel, as they were when they went into Egypt, including Jacob himself.
I would add to his commentary that when we see Israel mentioned instead of Jacob; the scriptures are usually referring to the nation of Israel but not always, and not the man Jacob. The sons of Jacob in verse eight refer to only his sons. Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob through his first wife Leah (the oldest of the two daughters of Laban the Syrian (Gen. 29: 16,32; 35:23), Reuben had a total of four sons who went into Egypt as part of the nation of Israel: God told Jacob He would make a great nation while they are in Egypt in verse three of this chapter. Hanoch is the eldest of the four sons and Carmi is the youngest. Reuben lost his birthright of the firstborn male in whom the seed which all nations would be blessed through our Lord Jesus Christ, because he laid with his father Jacob s concubine Bilhah and defiled his father’s bed. (Gen. 35:22; 49:4).
10. The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.
(H8095)
שׁמעון
shim‛ôn
BDB Definition:
Simeon or Shimeon = “heard”
1) the 2nd son of Jacob by his wife Leah and progenitor of the tribe of Simeon
(H3223)
ימוּאל
yemû’êl
BDB Definition:
Jemuel = “day of God”
1) the eldest son of Simeon
(H3226)
ימין
yâmı̂yn
BDB Definition:
Jamin = “right hand”
1) the 2nd son of Simeon; founder of the family of Jaminites
(H161)
אהד
‘ôhad
BDB Definition:
Ohad = “united”
1) son of Simeon and grandson of Jacob
(H3199)
יכין
yâkı̂yn
BDB Definition:
Jachin = “He will establish”
1) the 4th son of Simeon and founder of the family of Jachinites (noun proper masculine)
(H6714)
צחר
tsôchar
BDB Definition:
Zohar = “tawny”
3) one of the sons of Simeon; also ‘Zerah’
(H7586)
שׁאוּל
shâ’ûl
BDB Definition:
Saul or Shaul = “desired”
3) a son of Simeon
Simeon was the second son of Jacob, born by his wife Leah. Simeon had five sons that came with him and Jacob into the land of Egypt from his wife whose name is not mentioned. However Simeon had a sixth son (Shual), who also went into Egypt as the nation of Israel, but Shual is mentioned as
“The son of a Canaanite woman” which tells me he did not come from the same mother as the rest of his step-brothers did. Simeon, being the second born son of Leah should have had the birthright blessing handed down to him because of Reuben s sin, but he to was not found worthy because he had blood on his hands by the sword. Simeon and his younger brother Levi deceived King Hamor, his son Shechem, and all the men of the kingdom and slew all the males by the sword to avenge their sister Dinah (Gen. 35: 14-16, 25, 26), In my opinion it is because of this act why he to could not carry on the birthright blessings of the promised seed. Jacob even speaks of this bloody act when he calls all his sons together to bless them and tell them of their individual fates in the last days (Gen. 49: 5-7).
Adam Clarke s commentary: It was diabolical in Jacob’s sons to slay a whole tribe for the offense of one man, and especially as that one had offered to make all the restitution in his power. They required that Hamor, Shechem, and all their subjects should be circumcised before they could conscientiously consent to give their sister to Shechem in marriage. This required conformity was made the cloak of the most base and infamous designs. The simple unsuspecting Shechemites agreed to the proposal; and when rendered by this religious rite incapable of defending themselves, they were basely murdered by Simeon and Levi, and their city destroyed. Jacob, to his great honor, remonstrated against this barbarous and bloody act, committed apparently under the sanction of religion; and God showed his abhorrence of it by directing the patriarch, in his dying moments, to proscribe them from the blessings of the covenant, so that they barely retained a name among the tribes of Israel, being in general small, and ever disreputable, except merely in the service of the sanctuary, in which Levi was employed.
It is mentioned that Shaul is the son of a Canaanite woman. there are many theories as to why this is mentioned in verse ten. but they are just theories. It is never explained in the Scriptures why this is mentioned. One theory is that shaul is Jacob’s grandson; the son of Dinah who was defiled by Shechem. The Jewish Midrash (which is basically Jewish myth), says that when Simeon came to take Dinah back, she made him marry her because she was pregnant with Shechems son. Because Dinah was already married to Shechem is why she is considered a Canaanite woman. In my opinion, by definition this would not be incest as long as they do not ever lay with one another and nowhere in scriptures do we see this mentioned either. the scriptures say that Simeon and Levi killed Hamor (Shechem s father), and they and took Dinah out of Shechems house. The Midrash says that it was Simeon who killed Shechem, since the Midrash is myth I cannot agree with their theory here, I must go by the scriptures (which I believed to be God breathed), and the only true source of information. Nowhere in the scriptures does it ever say that Simeon is the one who killed Shechem. So, in my humble opinion, It does make sense that Simeon (Being the oldest of the two brothers), would be responsible for Dinah, and the bringing up of her son if indeed she was with child at the time her husband Shechem was killed. There is now law as to the brothers responsibility in this instance, The only law is about two brothers dwelling together and one dies leaving his wife without child and what the responsibility is of the brother who is alive (Deut. 25:6), Which is detailed in the book of Ruth. I want to emphasize again that all this is theory and myth, the scriptures do not explain what is meant, “Shaul the son of a canaanite woman” Simeon is the Second born son of Jacob by his wife Leah. Because of his murderous act, he to is passed over to have the birthright blessing of the seed in which all nations of the earth would be blessed.
11. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 29:34
(H3878)
לוי
lêvı̂y
BDB Definition:
Levi = “joined to”
1) the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites
(H1648)
גּרשׁום / גּרשׁון
gêreshôn / gêreshôm
BDB Definition:
Gershon or Gershom = “exile”
1) firstborn son of Levi born before Jacob’s family went to Egypt
(H6955)
קהת
qehâth
BDB Definition:
Kohath = “assembly”
1) the 2nd of the 3 sons of Levi and progenitor of a family in the tribe of Levi
(H4847)
מררי
merârı̂y
BDB Definition:
Merari = “bitter”
1) the 3rd son of Levi and head of a Levitical family
Levi was the third born son of Jacob by his wife Leah. Levi had three sons that came with him and Jacob into the land of Egypt. It is thru him where the levitical priesthood is formed starting with Aaron, brother of Moses. once again he to is passed over to have the birthright blessing of the promised seed thru which all nations of the earth would be blessed, because of his participation with his brother Simeon in the killing of Shechem and his father king Hamor. Levi had three sons of the nation of Israel who went into Egypt with Jacob.
12. The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (But Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 29:35; 38:3-10
(H3063)
יהוּדה
yehûdâh
BDB Definition:
Judah = “praised”
1) the son of Jacob by Leah
2) the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob
3) the territory occupied by the tribe of Judah
(H6147)
ער
‛êr
BDB Definition:
Er = “awake”
1) the eldest son of Judah
2) son of Shelah and grandson of Judah
(H209)
אונן
‘ônân
BDB Definition:
Onan = “strong”
1) second son of Judah, slain by God for not fulfilling the levitical requirement to beget a child with the wife of a dead, childless brother
(H7956)
שׁלה
shêlâh
BDB Definition:
Shelah = “a petition”
1) the youngest son of Judah
(H6557)
פּרץ
perets
BDB Definition:
Perez or Pharez = “breach”
1) twin son with Zarah of Judah by Tamar and ancestor of two families of Judah, the Hezronites and Hamulites; from the Hezronites came the royal line of David and Christ.
(H2696)
חצרון
chetsrôn
BDB Definition:
Hezron = “surrounded by a wall”
1) a son of Reuben (noun proper masculine)
2) a son of Pharez and grandson of Judah (noun proper masculine)
3) a place in the extreme south of Judah (noun proper locative)
Judah is the fourth son of Jacob born of Leah his first wife, oldest daughter of Laban the Syrian. Judah had three sons that came with him and Jacob into Egypt. It is thru Judah s seed in which all the nations of the earth will be blessed (Gen. 49:10). Perez is the fourth son of Judah, and It is thru his seed that all nations of the earth will be blessed. Just as Judah was the fourth born of Jacob, Perez is also the fourth son of Judah. Er who was the first born son of Judah, was wicked in the sight of the Lord and God killed him (Gen. 38:7), And so the seed should have been passed onto Judah’s second born Onan, Onan was to marry Er’s wife Tamar but he refused to plant his seed in her and the Lord killed him as well (Gen. 38: 8,9), Judah promised Tamar that when his youngest son Shelah would be of age that he would give him to her in order to pass on the seed of his brother Er, but when that time came Judah forgot that promise, and Tamar grew weary so she plotted against Judah to have him plant his seed into her unbeknownst to Judah. Tamar had twin sons Perez and Zerah (Gen. 38: 11-30), Perez came out first so the promised seed in which all nations of the earth would be blessed was passed onto him. Perez’s Son Hezron is the one whom the promised seed would be handed down to. Scriptures do not say if Hezron was Perez’s first born or second.
13. The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron. 30:18
(H3485)
ישּׂשׂכר
yiśśâśkâr
BDB Definition:
Issachar = “there is recompense”
1) the 9th son of Jacob and the 5th by Leah his first wife and the progenitor of a tribe by his name (noun proper masculine) 2) a Korahite Levite and the 7th son of Obed-edom and doorkeeper to the temple n pr coll 3) the tribe descended from Issachar the son of Jacob (noun proper collective)
(H8439)
תּולע
tôlâ‛
BDB Definition:
Tola = “worm”
1) the 1st born of Issachar and progenitor of the family of Tolaites
(H6312)
פּוּה / פּוּאה
pû’âh / pûvvâh
BDB Definition:
Puah or Pua or Phuvah = “splendid”
1) son of Issachar
1a) also ‘Pua’ and ‘Phuvah’
(H3102)
יוב
yôb
BDB Definition:
Job = “persecuted”
1) the 3rd son of Issachar also called ‘Jashub’
(H8110)
שׁמרון
shimrôn
BDB Definition:
Shimron = “watch-height”
1) 4th son of Issachar and the progenitor of the family of Shimronites (noun proper masculine)
Issachar is the ninth son of Jacob born of Leah his first wife. Issachar had four sons that came with him and Jacob into Egypt. Issachar son Job is not the same Job as in the book of Job. We are told in the book of Job that he was a perfect and upright man who lived in the land of Uz, which is located in southern Iraq (Job. 1:1). Also the Strongs and BDB # for Job is different from the Son of Issachar: (H347)
איּוב
‘ı̂yôb
BDB Definition:
Job = “hated”
1) a patriarch, the subject of the book of Job
14. The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 30:20 1
(H2074)
זבוּלן / זבלוּן / זבוּלוּן
zebûlûn / zebûlûn
BDB Definition:
Zebulun = “exalted”
1) the 10th of the sons of Jacob, 6th and last of Leah; progenitor of Zebulun (noun proper masculine)
2) the tribe descended from Zebulun (noun proper masculine)
3) the land allocated to the tribe of Zebulun (noun proper locative)
(H5624)
סרד
sered
BDB Definition:
Sered = “fear”
1) the 1st son of Zebulun
(H356)
אילן / אלון / אילון
‘êlôn / ‘êylôn
BDB Definition:
Elon = “terebinth, mighty”
2) second son of Zebulun
(H3177)
יחלאל
yachle’êl
BDB Definition:
Jahleel = “God waits”
1) the 3rd of the 3 sons of Zebulun; founder of the family of the Jahleelites
Zebulun is the tenth son of Jacob s and the sixth and last son born from his wife Leah. He had three sons that went with him and Jacob into the land of Egypt.
15. These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram,with his daughter Dinah. All the persons, his sons and his daughters were thirty three. 35:23
(H3812)
לאה
lê’âh
BDB Definition:
Leah = “weary”
1) daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah
If you count all the sons of leah, and their sons, along with Dinah you only come to thirty two people. The last and final person who is not listed here is the daughter of Levi, Jochebed. she was conceived in Canaan but born in Egypt (Num. 26:59), in Rabbi Rashi’s commentary on this verse he describes Jochebed as being born “Between the Walls,” Meaning that Jochebed was conceived in Canaan but was born in Egypt.
Rabbi Rashi: thirty-three: But if you count them individually, you find only thirty-two. This [missing one] is Jochebed, who was born between the walls when they entered the city, as it is said: “whom she bore to Levi in Egypt” (Num. 26:59). Her birth was in Egypt, but her conception was not in Egypt.
This has great significance to me, as it should to all in this modern day. You see, since God counts Jochebed as one who entered into Egypt with Jacob and his family, then it is more proof that life begins before birth. Although Jochebed was still in the womb God sees her as a living, breathing being, worthy of being counted with the living ( Isaiah. 49:1, Jer. 1:5). One more note here; is this the Jochebed who is the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam? We don’t know the age of Jochebed was when she gave birth to Moses, so it is hard to determine. If so this would make it hard for this man to determine and prove that the Hebrews were afflicted for the 400 years God told Abraham that his descendants would be in that strange land and be afflicted. (Gen 15:13)
(H3115)
יוכבד
yôkebed
BDB Definition:
Jochebed = “Jehovah is glory”
1) the daughter of Levi, wife and at the same time aunt of Amram, and the mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam
16. The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 30:11
(H1410)
גּד
gâd
BDB Definition:
Gad = “troop”
1) seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and full brother of Asher.
2) the tribe descended from Gad
(H6837)
צפיון
tsiphyôn
BDB Definition:
Ziphion = “lookout”
1) a son of Gad and progenitor of the family of Zephonites
1a) also ‘Zephon’
(H2291)
חגּי
chaggı̂y
BDB Definition:
Haggi = “festive”
1) second son of Gad (noun proper masculine)
2) descendants of Haggi, a Gadite (adjective)
(H7764)
שׁוּני
shûnı̂y
BDB Definition:
Shuni = “fortunate”
1) son of Gad and progenitor of the family of Shunites
(H675)
אצבּן / אצבּון
‘etsbôn
BDB Definition:
Ezbon = “hasting to discern: I will be enlargement”
1) a son of Gad
(H6179)
ערי
‛êrı̂y
BDB Definition:
Eri = “watchful”
1) son of Gad and progenitor of the family of Erites
(H722)
ארודי
‘ărôdı̂y
BDB Definition:
Arodi or Arodites = “I shall subdue: I shall roam”
1) descendants of Arod
(H692)
אראלי
‘ar’êlı̂y
BDB Definition:
Areli = “lion of God”
1) a son of Gad
2) those of the family of Areli (paternal adjective – Arelites)
Gad is the seventh son of Jacob, The firstborn son of Zilpah (Leah’s handmaid), Gad had seven sons that went into Egypt with him and Jacob.
17. The sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, their sister, and the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel. 30:13
(H836)
אשׁר
‘âshêr
BDB Definition:
Asher = “happy”
1) son of Jacob and Zilpah
2) the tribe descended from Asher
(H3232)
ימנה
yimnâh
BDB Definition:
Imna or Imnah or Jimnah = “right hand”
1) the 1st born son of Asher (noun proper masculine)
(H3438)
ישׁוה
yishvâh
BDB Definition:
Ishuai or Isuah = “he will resemble”
1) the 2nd son of Asher
(H3440)
ישׁוי
yishvı̂y
BDB Definition:
Ishui or Ishuai or Isui or Jesui = “he resembles me”
2) the 3rd son of Asher and founder of the family of Ishuaites
(H1283)
בּריעה
berı̂y‛âh
BDB Definition:
Beriah = “with a friend”
1) a son of Asher
(H8294)
שׂרח
śerach
BDB Definition:
Serah = “the prince breathed”
1) daughter of Asher
1a) also ‘Sarah’
(H2268)
חבר
cheber
BDB Definition:
Heber = “comrade”
2) grandson of Asher from whom came the Heberites
(H4439)
מלכּיאל
malkı̂y’êl
BDB Definition:
Malchiel = “my king is God”
1) the son of Beriah and grandson of Asher
Asher is Jacob’s eighth son and the second son of Zilpah (Leah s handmaid), Asher had a total of four sons, one daughter, and two grandsons that came with him and Jacob into Egypt.
18. These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons
Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob as his wife, to bare him more sons when she could no longer concieve children to him. Zilpah was giving to Jacob as his wife after Rachel (the wife who Jacob loved the most), gave her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob to be his wife and she bore Jacob two sons. Leah also Gave Zilpah to Jacob as his wife in the hopes that Jacob would finally love her the way he loved Rachel (Leah s sister), and hopefully even more so.
19. The sons of Rachel, Jacobs wife, were Joseph and Benjamin. 35:24 20. And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of on, bore to him. 41: 50-52
(H7354)
רחל
râchêl
BDB Definition:
Rachel = “ewe”
1) daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin The same as (H7353); Rachel, a wife of Jacob: – Rachel.
(H3130)
יוסף
yôsêph
BDB Definition:
Joseph = “Jehovah has added”
1) the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel Future of (H3254); let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding)
(H621)
אסנת
‘âsnath
BDB Definition:
Asenath = “belonging to the goddess Neith”
1) the wife of Joseph
(H4519)
מנשּׁה
menashsheh
BDB Definition:
Manasseh = “causing to forget”
1) the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh
1a) the tribe descended from Manasseh
1b) the territory occupied by the tribe of Manasseh
(H669)
אפרים
‘ephrayim
BDB Definition:
Ephraim = “double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful”
1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh
2) the tribe, Ephraim
3) the mountain country of Ephraim
4) sometimes used name for the northern kingdom (Hosea or Isaiah)
5) a city near Baal-hazor
6) a chief gate of Jerusalem
Scriptures say Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children because “he was the son of his old age” (Gen. 37:3), in my opinion I would like to add that because Joseph was the firstborn son of Rachel (whom he loved more than all his wives), was another reason why he loved Joseph more than the other children. When Jacob was nearing his death he honored his son Joseph with great blessing upon his sons Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob said, “Let my name be on them”(Gen 48:16). I will go more into greater detail what this means in my commentary on Genesis chapter 48:16.
21. The sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard,
(H1144)
בּנימין
binyâmı̂yn
BDB Definition:
Benjamin = “son of the right hand”
1) Jacob’s and Rachel’s youngest son, Joseph’s full brother
(H1106)
בּלע
bela‛
BDB Definition:
Bela = “destruction”
2) first son of Benjamin (noun proper masculine)
(H1071)
בּכר
beker
BDB Definition:
Becher = “young camel”
2) a son of Benjamin
(H788)
אשׁבּל
‘ashbêl
BDB Definition:
Ashbel = “a man in God: a man of Baal: fire of Bel: I will make a path”
1) second son of Benjamin
(H1617)
גּרא
gêrâ’
BDB Definition:
Gera = “a grain”
1) a son of Benjamin
2) a son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin
3) any member of the Gera family of the Benjamite tribe
(H5283)
נעמן
na‛ămân
BDB Definition:
Naaman = “pleasantness”
1) son of Bela of the family of Benjamin; he was among the family of Jacob that went down to Egypt
(H278)
אחי
‘êchı̂y
BDB Definition:
Ehi = “my brother”
1) son of Benjamin
(H7220)
ראשׁ
rô’sh
BDB Definition:
Rosh = “head”
1) a son of Benjamin
(H4649)
מפּים
mûppı̂ym
BDB Definition:
Muppim = “serpent”
1) a Benjamite and one of the 14 descendants of Rachel who belonged to the original colony of the sons of Jacob in Egypt
1a) also ‘Shupham’
(H2650)
חפּים
chûppı̂ym
BDB Definition:
Huppim = “protected”
1) the head of a Benjamite family
(H714)
ארדּ
‘ard
BDB Definition:
Ard = “I shall subdue”
1) son of Benjamin
2) grandson of Benjamin
Benjamin was the second born of Rachel, and last son of hers and Jacobs. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. she originally name him Benoni, meaning son of my sorrow:
(H1126)
בּן־אוני
beṅ’ônı̂y
BDB Definition:
Ben-oni = “son of my sorrow”
1) the name given to Benjamin by Rachel
But that only reminded Jacob of the tragedy that happened at the birth of Benjamin, so Jacob renamed him Benjamin (Son of my right hand). He had ten sons that went into Egypt with him and Jacob. However it must be explained that not all the ten sons were Benjamins direct descendant only three were. if we notice the BDB definitions of these sons some were his grandsons. In first chronicles 7:6 we see that only Bela, Becher, and Jediael, are listed as his sons (1 chr 7:6), Jediael could also be the name of Ashbel:
(H3043)
ידיעאל
yedı̂y‛ă’̂ êl
BDB Definition:
Jediael = “God makes known”
1) a chief patriarch of the tribe of Benjamin; maybe the same as ‘Ashbel’
When we look at the BDB definition of Ard we see that he is defined as 1) son of Benjamin, 2) grandson of Benjamin. And in Numbers 26:6 he is described as a son of Bela and family group of the Ardites. Huppim is only defined as the head of a Benjamite family, and Muppim is defined as also being known as Shupham and as one of the 14 descendants of Rachel who belonged to the original colony of the sons of Jacob in Egypt. neither of these two men are defined as direct descendants of Benjamin. Rosh is defined as “a son of Benjamin,” yet he is not listed in numbers 26:38-41 or in 1 Chronicles 7:6-12 as a son, grandson or descendants of Benjamin ( 1 chr 7:6-12). Ehi is defined as “Son of Benjamin.” and like Rosh he is not listed in numbers 26:38-41, or 1 chronicles 7:6-12. Naaman is defined as “son of Bela of the family of Benjamin; he was among the family of Jacob that went down to Egypt” and in numbers 26:6 he is described as a family group of the Naamanites. however Naaman is not described in 1 chronicles 7:6-12 as a son of Bela. Gera is defined as 1) a son of Benjamin, 2) a son of Bela and grandson of Benjamin. In both numbers 26:38-41, and 1 Chronicles 7:6-12 Gera is not listed as either a son of Bela or of any family group of Bela. Ashbel is defined as the second son of Benjamin. He is also listed in Numbers 26: 38 as the family group from the tribe of Benjamin, of the Ashbelites. in 1 Chronicles 7:6 we see a man by the name of Jediael who is defined as maybe being the same as Ashbel (H3043). Becher is defined as a son of Benjamin. In Numbers 26:38-41 Becher is not counted in the census of men, yet in 1 chronicles 7:6 he is listed as a son of Benjamin by the name of Becker. And finally Bela is defined as the firstborn son of Benjamin who is counted in the census in Numbers 26:38, and as a son of Benjamin in 1 Chronicles 7:6. This makes no sense at all for the most part as to who were the direct sons of Benjamin, and who were his grandsons. Adam Clarke’s commentary I think sums it up the best:
The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher and Jediael – In Gen_46:21, ten sons of Benjamin are reckoned; viz., Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Eri, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. In Num.26:38, etc., five sons only of Benjamin are mentioned, Bela, Ashbel, Ahiram, Shupham, and Hupham: and Ard and Naaman are there said to be the sons of Bela; consequently grandsons of Benjamin. In the beginning of the following chapter, five sons of Benjamin are mentioned, viz., Bela, Ashbel, Aharah, Nohah, and Rapha; where also Addar, Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, a second Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram, are all represented as grandsons, not sons, of Benjamin: hence we see that in many cases grandsons are called sons, and both are often confounded in the genealogical tables. To attempt to reconcile such discrepancies would be a task as endless as it would be useless. The Rabbins say that Ezra, who wrote this book, did not know whether some of these were sons or grandsons; and they intimate also that the tables from which he copied were often defective, and here we must leave all such matters.
I would like to insert my opinion here in regards to the three sons Rosh, Ehi, and Gera, and why they might not be listed in either Numbers or one Chronicles. Maybe while they were in Egypt they started to worship the gods of Egypt so bad, that they were too far gone in their walk with God that He removed their names and all their descendants from the nation of Israel, so that there were no descendants left to be counted or even mentioned as sons of Benjamin. This would not be the only time where we have seen God do this ( 1 Sam 2:31, 34, Ezek 13:9).
22. These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all.
As explained in Adam Clarke’s commentary above, grandsons are counted as sons we see this in the account with Rachel’s own father Laban the Syrian who considered the sons of Rachel and Jacobs as his own sons (Gen. 31:26-28).
23. The son of Dan was Hushim. 24. The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25. These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: seven persons in all.
(H1835)
דּן
dân
BDB Definition:
Dan = “a judge”
1) the 5th son of Jacob, the 1st of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid (noun proper masculine)
2) the tribe descended from Dan, the son of Jacob (noun proper masculine)
3) a city in Dan, the most northern landmark of Palestine (noun proper locative)
H2366
חשׁם / חשׁים / חוּשׁים
chûshı̂ym / chûshim
BDB Definition:
Hushim = “who makes haste”
3) descendants of Dan (noun proper masculine)
(H5321)
נפתּלי
naphtâlı̂y
BDB Definition:
Naphtali = “wrestling”
1) the 5th son of Jacob and the 2nd by Bilhah the handmaid of Rachel (noun proper masculine)
2) the tribe descended from Naphtali the son of Jacob (noun proper masculine)
3) the territory assigned to the tribe of Naphtali (noun proper locative)
(H3183)
יחצאל
yachtse’êl
BDB Definition:
Jahzeel = “God divides”
1) the 1st of the 4 sons of Naphtali and founder of the family of Jahzeelites
(H1476)
גּוּני
gûnı̂y
BDB Definition:
Guni = “my defender (?)”
1) a son of Naphtali and founder of the family of Gunites
(H3337)
יצר
yêtser
BDB Definition:
Jezer = “forming”
1) the 3rd son of Naphtali and the founder of the family of Jezerites
(H8006)
שׁלּם
shillêm
BDB Definition:
Shillem = “repaid”
1) son of Naphtali
Bilhah was Rachel’s handmaid whom her father Laban the Syrian gave to her. Rachel Gave Bilhah to Jacob as his wife so she could bear him children that Rachel had not been able to do up to that time. Rachel said, “she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.” she was jealous that her sister Leah had already bore Jacob four sons of her own (Gen. 30: 1-3), Bilhah had a second son and Rachel named him Naphtali. Rachel’s Handmaid Bilhah had two sons, and five grandsons in all that came into Egypt with Jacob.
26. All the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his body, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27. And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy. Ex. 1:1-5
If you count all the sons of Leah, and their sons, along with Dinah you only come to thirty two people, then Jochebed who was conceived in Canaan but was born between the walls (Ref. vs. 15 commentary) makes thirty three. these were the literal bloodline children of Leah. Leah’s Handmaid Zilpah had a total of sixteen persons from her bloodline that came into Egypt. Then we have Rachel who brought fourteen persons of her bloodline that came with her into Egypt. And finally Rachel’s handmaid Bilhah brought a total of seven persons of her bloodline that came down into Egypt with her. this comes to a total of seventy. According to Rabbi Rashi Jochebed, Joseph, his sons Manasseh and Ephraim are excluded in this verse.
Rabbi Rashi: All the souls coming…with Jacob: Who left the land of Canaan to come to Egypt. Now this [word] הַבָּאָה (To come) is not the past tense but the present tense, similar to “In the evening she would come (בָאָה)” (Esther 2:14), and like “and behold, his daughter Rachel is coming (בָּאָה) with the sheep” (Gen. 29:6). Therefore, its accent is below (i.e., at the end of the word), on the “aleph,” because when they left to come from the land of Canaan, they were only 66 [excluding Jochebed, Joseph, and his two sons]. The second [instance of הַבָּאָה, however,]“all the souls of the house of Jacob who came (הַבָּאָה) to Egypt were seventy,” is in the past tense; therefore, its accent is above (i.e., on an earlier syllable), on the “Beth,” because when they came there they were seventy, for there they found Joseph and his two sons, and Jochebed was added to them between the walls.
28. Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen. 47:1
Judah, the one from whom the promised seed in which all nations would be blessed goes ahead of Israel to prepare the way to Goshen (the land of plenty), during this time. The Pharaoh himself tells Joseph to take his family to Goshen “the best of the land” in all of Egypt (Gen 47:6). In my opinion we have the symbolic figures of The Pharaoh, who was God like in his time, Judah; the one in whom the promised seed will come from, and Joseph the Type of Jesus are foreshadowing things to come. Sidebar here (I am in no way trying to put The Pharaoh on Equal footing as the Great Creator God of the universe, the sun, moon and stars, and of all living kind), I am trying to look at this verse in a spiritual aspect, and a foreshadow of things to come. Another sidebar here I have to make mention: When I do my studies I always have what to me is spiritual music playing on low volume, and the song that just started is ” A Home On The Meadow“, from the movie “How The West Was Won” if you know the song or listen to the lyrics you will see how profound it is to hear this at this moment. To me It is living proof that God exist and He is speaking to me, leading me in this study. It’s another one of those moments in my studies that I feel God’s presence and it is an awesome! feeling. I had to stop and just listen and take it in….. So Joseph has become like a son to Pharaoh. We can go back to Genesis chapter forty one to see the Pedestal that the Pharaoh set Joseph on (Gen. 41:39-44), Pharaoh being god like Sets Joseph on his second chariot, might I suggest he rides on the right hand of the Pharaoh (Just as Jesus Sits on the right hand of God to this day), Joseph rides through Egypt with the people crying “Bow The Knee”….. “Hosanna the most highest” (Matt 21:9.15, Mark 11:9,10; John 12:13). Judah, foreshadowing things to come; “the lion’s whelp,”(Gen. 49:9), goes ahead of Israel, and unto him to gather the people together “until Shiloh comes” (Gen. 49:10), to meet his Brother Joseph, symbolic of the Messiah, Who has gone before Israel to prepare a place for them; “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.” (John. 14:2,3), Pharaoh being a father figure to Joseph is symbolic of Jesus saying “In my Father’s house” Who told Joseph to settle his people in the best of the land.
29. So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30. And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”
It has been twenty one years since Joseph has seen his father. He is now thirty nine years old and Jacob is one hundred and thirty years of age (Gen 47:9), The name Israel is used here and not Jacob. Israel (H3478) BDB’s definition means “God prevails”, or the Strongs the definition is, “he will rule as God” Jacob’s first and real name is used in some verses and then at times he is introduced as Israel. As I have previously stated; the name Israel is used sometimes to distinguish between the nation of Israel, and the person Israel. In my opinion There has to be a spiritual aspect to the reason the name Israel is mentioned here: Joseph told his brothers once not to be grieved or angry with themselves for selling him into slavery because God sent him into Egypt to preserve their lives (Gen. 45: 5-8), And later on Joseph tells his brothers, ” you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50: 20), And God “has prevailed,” as He always will. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel meaning prevailer with God. Joseph came to Egypt first, as a type of first fruit of the Israeli nation, to preserve life for not only the nation of Israel, but the Egyptians, and the Canaanites (Gen. 47: 13,25). Jesus Christ came as our first fruit, to preserve life for all the nations of the world, the only begotten Son of God the Father, in whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed, He sits at the right hand of God to this day and forevermore. When Joseph saw Israel his father he wept and now he is glorified with his father never to be separated again. Would it be a reach to compare Joseph with that of our Lord Jesus Christ (who was in the earth for three days separated from the Father), When he rose and was accepted by the Father, that he to embraced him and wept on his neck? When in the last hour of His life He cried out, ” Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is, My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? And he was elated to be with the Father once again. Joseph, being a type of the Lord had these same feelings, maybe there was a time when Joseph felt forsaken, if not by his father but by the nation of Israel (the sons of Israel), and they lived the remainder of their lives together on this earth, and will be together forevermore in the kingdom.
31. Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 47:1 32. And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’ 47:3
Back in The previous chapter Joseph tells his brothers to bring his father, That they, there sons, and their sons, sons, their herds, and flocks, will dwell in the land of Goshen so that they will be near to him (Gen. 45: 9,10), Joseph has now lived in Egypt for over twenty years and he has become very familiar with their customs, and the ways of the Pharaoh. Joseph tells them that he will go speak with the Pharaoh and tell him that they are shepherds and their occupation is to tend to the all the livestock, which is what they truly are, but Joseph wants to emphasize to the Pharaoh so as let him know that his family has no other experience in other occupations for fear that if they had other experience in other fields the Pharaoh would take those with other experience away from the family to go and serve the Pharaoh elsewhere. this would in turn graft those Israelites into the ways of the Egyptians with all their forms of idol worship, and turn them away from the God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As well will see in the next chapter the Pharaoh does say to Joseph that if there are any in his family who are of ability to make them administrators of his (Pharaoh s), livestock and all that is his (Gen. 47:6). Notice in verse thirty two Joseph says he will tell the Pharaoh that all they know is to tend to the livestock, feed them and nothing else. In my opinion the brothers of Joseph are just as educated as him in many things besides just tending to livestock. Remember when Joseph tells them of his dreams that they to had the gift from God of interpreting dreams (Gen. 37: 6-10), which is exactly how Joseph came to prominence in Egypt. If the Pharaoh new this undoubtedly he would take the brothers, place them in the priesthood of the Egyptians, and be taught all forms of Idol worship and everything else that is an abomination to God. As long as the house of Israel were close to Joseph, he could make sure that they would not be tempted by the pagan practices of the Egyptians; after all, he is second to Pharaoh, they have no choice but to bow to his authority, as well as making sure the Egyptians in his household would not tempt them either.
33. “So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 47:2, 3 34. “That you shall say, “Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” 43:32; 47:3
The Egyptians worshipped many gods, and animals such as sheep and oxen were sacred to the Egyptians. From previous experiences with the shepherds of Phoenicia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Syria, who had come into the land some couple hundred years earlier, knew that they sacrificed and ate certain animals the Egyptians held sacred. This is why shepherds were considered an abomination to the Egyptians (Exo. 8:25, 26).