Delight
(1-minute read)
In a dramatic and heart-wrenching journey, Jacob embarks on a fateful voyage from Canaan to Egypt, following a divine vision to reunite with his long-lost son, Joseph. As famine ravages the land, God reassures Jacob that Egypt will be his family’s haven and the birthplace of a great nation. Amid a triumphant yet tearful reunion, Joseph, dressed in royal splendor, embraces his father, fulfilling dreams and restoring family bonds. Pharaoh welcomes Jacob’s family, bestowing upon them the fertile land of Goshen, where they settle, united and prosperous under Joseph’s protection as they navigate their place in a foreign land.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
GENESIS
43%
JASHER
25%
JUBILEES
32%
Exposition
J: 46 | Y: 2243 | M: 3 | D: 1 | Jacob goes to Beersheba (Well of the Oath)
Genesis 46:1a, Jubilees 44:1a
D: 7 | Jacob offers a sacrifice to YHWH
Genesis 46:1b, Jasher 55:1, Jubilees 44:1b
Jacob celebrates the Feast of First Fruits
Jubilees 44:2-4
Rising Action
D: 16 | YHWH tells Jacob to go to Egypt
Genesis 46:2-4, Jasher 55:2-4, Jubilees 44:5-6
Jacob takes his family to Egypt
Genesis 46:5-7, Jasher 55:5, Jubilees 44:7-8
Reuben’s family
Genesis 46:8-9, Jubilees 44:11-12
Simeon’s family
Genesis 46:10, Jubilees 44:13
Levi’s family
Genesis 46:11, Jubilees 44:14
Judah’s family
Genesis 46:12, Jubilees 44:15
Issachar’s family
Genesis 46:13, Jubilees 44:16
Zebulan’s family
Genesis 46:14, Jubilees 44:17
These are the sons of Leah
Genesis 46:15, Jubilees 44:18
These are the sons of Zilpah
Jubilees 44:19
Gad’s family
Genesis 46:16, Jubilees 44:20
Asher’s family
Genesis 46:17-18, Jubilees 44:21-22
These are the sons of Rachel
Genesis 46:19, Jubilees 44:23
Joseph’s family
Genesis 46:20, Jubilees 44:24
Benjamin’s family
Genesis 46:21-22, Jubilees 44:25-26
These are the sons of Bilhah
Jubilees 44:27
Dan’s family
Genesis 46:23, Jubilees 44:28-29
Naphtali’s family
Genesis 46:24-25, Jubilees 44:30-32
There were 66 souls that came with Jacob to Egypt
Genesis 46:26
The total comes to 70 with Joseph’s family
Genesis 46:27, Jubilees 44:33
Dan’s sons who died are buried
Jubilees 44:34
Climax
Jacob sends Judah to convince Joseph to have them dwell in Goshen
Genesis 46:28, Jasher 55:6, Jubilees 44:9
M: 4 | D: 1 | They arrived in Goshen
Jubilees 44:10, 45:1
Jacob is reunited with Joseph
Genesis 46:29-30, Jasher 55:7-17, Jubilees 45:2-4
They celebrate with a feast
Jubilees 45:5
Falling Action
Joseph gives them the land of Goshen
Jasher 55:18, Jubilees 45:6
Joseph instructs Jacob on how to talk with Pharaoh
Genesis 46:31-34, Jasher 55:19
Joseph tells Pharaoh that his family has arrived
Genesis 47:1, Jasher 55:21
Pharaoh speaks with Joseph’s family and allows them to stay in Goshen
Genesis 47:2-6, Jasher 55:20, 22-24
Jacob blesses Pharaoh
Genesis 47:7-10, Jasher 55:25
Joseph takes care of his family in Goshen
Genesis 47:11-12, Jasher 55:26-29, Jubilees 45:7
The Egyptians sell their property to Joseph to buy bread during the famine
Genesis 47:13-20, Jasher 55:30, Jubilees 45:8
Only the priests didn’t sell their land
Genesis 47:21-22
Resolution
Y: 2248 | Joseph divides the previous metals and stones into 6 places when the famine ends
Jasher 55:31-33
Y: 2249 | Joseph distributes seed and food to the people and asks for 20% of the profits
Genesis 47:23-26, Jubilees 45:9-12
Jacob’s family continue to dwell in Goshen
Genesis 47:27, Jasher 55:34-36
Jubilee: 46
Year: 2243
Month: 3
Day: 1
Jacob goes to Beersheba (Well of the Oath)
Genesis 46:1a
1a And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba,
Jubilees 44:1a
1a And Israel took his journey from Haran from his house on the new moon of the third month, and he went on the way of the Well of the Oath,
Day: 7
Jacob offers a sacrifice to YHWH
Genesis 46:1b
1b and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
Jubilees 44:1b
1b and he offered a sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac on the seventh of this month.
Jasher 55:1
1 And it came to pass after this that Jacob said, I will go and see my son in Egypt and will then come back to the land of Canaan of which God had spoken unto Abraham, for I cannot leave the land of my birth-place.
Jacob celebrates the Feast of First Fruits
Jubilees 44:2-4
2 And Jacob remembered the dream that he had seen at Bethel, and he feared to go down into Egypt.
3 And while he was thinking of sending word to Joseph to come to him, and that he would not go down, he remained there seven days, if perchance he could see a vision as to whether he should remain or go down.
4 And he celebrated the harvest festival of the first-fruits with old grain, for in all the land of Canaan there was not a handful of seed [in the land], for the famine was over all the beasts and cattle and birds, and also over man.
Day: 16
YHWH tells Jacob to go to Egypt
Genesis 46:2-4
2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
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 bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
Jasher 55:2
2 Behold the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Go down to Egypt with all thy household and remain there, fear not to go down to Egypt for I will there make thee a great nation.
Jubilees 44:5
5 And on the sixteenth the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, ‘Jacob, Jacob’; and he said, ‘Here am I.’ And He said unto him: ‘I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac; fear not to go down into Egypt, for I will there make of thee a great nation I will go down with thee, and I will bring thee up (again), and in this land shalt thou be buried, and Joseph shall put his hands upon thy eyes.
Jasher 55:3
3 And Jacob said within himself, I will go and see my son whether the fear of his God is yet in his heart amidst all the inhabitants of Egypt.
Jasher 55:4
4 And the Lord said unto Jacob, Fear not about Joseph, for he still retaineth his integrity to serve me, as will seem good in thy sight, and Jacob rejoiced exceedingly concerning his son.
Jubilees 44:6
6 Fear not; go down into Egypt.’
Jacob takes his family to Egypt
Genesis 46:5-7
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 with him:
7 His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
Jasher 55:5
5 At that time Jacob commanded his sons and household to go to Egypt according to the word of the Lord unto him, and Jacob rose up with his sons and all his household, and he went out from the land of Canaan from Beersheba, with joy and gladness of heart, and they went to the land of Egypt.
Jubilees 44:7-8
7 And his sons rose up, and his sons’ sons, and they placed their father and their possessions upon wagons.
8 And Israel rose up from the Well of the Oath on the sixteenth of this third month, and he went to the land of Egypt.
Reuben’s family
Genesis 46:8-9
8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.
Jubilees 44:11-12
11 And these are the names of the sons of Jacob who went into Egypt with Jacob their father.
12 Reuben, the First-born of Israel; and these are the names of his sons Enoch, and Pallu, and Hezron and Carmi-five.
Simeon’s family
Genesis 46:10
10 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.
Jubilees 44:13
13 Simeon and his sons; and these are the names of his sons: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul, the son of the Zephathite woman-seven.
Levi’s family
Genesis 46:11
11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Jubilees 44:14
14 Levi and his sons; and these are the names of his sons: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari-four.
Judah’s family
Genesis 46:12
12 And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.
Jubilees 44:15
15 Judah and his sons; and these are the names of his sons: Shela, and Perez, and Zerah-four.
Issachar’s family
Genesis 46:13
13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.
Jubilees 44:16
16 Issachar and his sons; and these are the names of his sons: Tola, and Phua, and Jasub, and Shimron-five.
Zebulan’s family
Genesis 46:14
14 And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.
Jubilees 44:17
17 Zebulon and his sons; and these are the names of his sons: Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel-four.
These are the sons of Leah
Genesis 46:15
15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.
Jubilees 44:18
18 And these are the sons of Jacob and their sons whom Leah bore to Jacob in Mesopotamia, six, and their one sister, Dinah and all the souls of the sons of Leah, and their sons, who went with Jacob their father into Egypt, were twenty-nine, and Jacob their father being with them, they were thirty.
These are the sons of Zilpah
Jubilees 44:19
19 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, the wife of Jacob, who bore unto Jacob Gad and Ashur.
Gad’s family
Genesis 46:16
16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.
Jubilees 44:20
20 And these are the names of their sons who went with him into Egypt. The sons of Gad: Ziphion, and Haggi, and Shuni, and Ezbon,< and Eri>, and Areli, and Arodi-eight.
Asher’s family
Genesis 46:17-18
17 And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.
18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.
Jubilees 44:21-22
21 And the sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, <and Ishvi>, and Beriah, and Serah, their one sister-six.
22 All the souls were fourteen, and all those of Leah were forty-four.
These are the sons of Rachel
Genesis 46:19
19 The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.
Jubilees 44:23
23 And the sons of Rachel, the wife of Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin.
Joseph’s family
Genesis 46:20
20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
Jubilees 44:24
24 And there were born to Joseph in Egypt before his father came into Egypt, those whom Asenath, daughter of Potiphar priest of Heliopolis bare unto him, Manasseh, and Ephraim-three.
Benjamin’s family
Genesis 46:21-22
21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.
22 These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.
Jubilees 44:25-26
25 And the sons of Benjamin: Bela and Becher and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, and Ehi, and Rosh, and Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard-eleven.
26 And all the souls of Rachel were fourteen.
These are the sons of Bilhah
Jubilees 44:27
27 And the sons of Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, the wife of Jacob, whom she bare to Jacob, were Dan and Naphtali.
Dan’s family
Genesis 46:23
23 And the sons of Dan; Hushim.
Jubilees 44:28-29
28 And these are the names of their sons who went with them into Egypt. And the sons of Dan were Hushim, and Samon, and Asudi. and ‘Ijaka, and Salomon-six.
29 And they died the year in which they entered into Egypt, and there was left to Dan Hushim alone.
Naphtali’s family
Genesis 46:24-25
24 And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.
25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.
Jubilees 44:30-32
30 And these are the names of the sons of Naphtali Jahziel, and Guni and Jezer, and Shallum, and ‘Iv.
31 And ‘Iv, who was born after the years of famine, died in Egypt.
32 And all the souls of Rachel were twenty-six.
There were 66 souls that came with Jacob to Egypt
Genesis 46:26
26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were threescore and six;
The total comes to 70 with Joseph’s family
Genesis 46:27
27 And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.
Jubilees 44:33
33 And all the souls of Jacob which went into Egypt were seventy souls. These are his children and his children’s children, in all seventy, but five died in Egypt before Joseph, and had no children.
Dan’s sons who died are buried
Jubilees 44:34
34 And in the land of Canaan two sons of Judah died, Er and Onan, and they had no children, and the children of Israel buried those who perished, and they were reckoned among the seventy Gentile nations.
Jacob sends Judah to convince Joseph to have them dwell in Goshen
Genesis 46:28
28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.
Jasher 55:6
6 And it came to pass when they came near Egypt, Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph that he might show him a situation in Egypt, and Judah did according to the word of his father, and he hastened and ran and came to Joseph, and they assigned for them a place in the land of Goshen for all his household, and Judah returned and came along the road to his father.
Jubilees 44:9
9 And Israel sent Judah before him to his son Joseph to examine the Land of Goshen, for Joseph had told his brothers that they should come and dwell there that they might be near him.
Month: 4
Day: 1
They arrived in Gosheni
Jubilees 44:10
10 And this was the goodliest (land) in the land of Egypt, and near to him, for all (of them) and also for the cattle.
Jubilees 45:1
1 And Israel went into the country of Egypt, into the land of Goshen, on the new moon of the fourth [2172 A.M]. month, in the second year of the third week of the forty-fifth jubilee.
Jacob is reunited with Joseph
Genesis 46:29a
29a And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen,
Jasher 55:7a
7a And Joseph harnessed the chariot, and he assembled all his mighty men and his servants and all the officers of Egypt in order to go and meet his father Jacob,
Jubilees 45:2a
2a And Joseph went to meet his father Jacob, to the land of Goshen,
Jasher 55:7b-14
7b and Joseph’s mandate was proclaimed in Egypt, saying, All that do not go to meet Jacob shall die.
8 And on the next day Joseph went forth with all Egypt a great and mighty host, all dressed in garments of fine linen and purple and with instruments of silver and gold and with their instruments of war with them.
9 And they all went to meet Jacob with all sorts of musical instruments, with drums and timbrels, strewing myrrh and aloes all along the road, and they all went after this fashion, and the earth shook at their shouting.
10 And all the women of Egypt went upon the roofs of Egypt and upon the walls to meet Jacob, and upon the head of Joseph was Pharaoh’s regal crown, for Pharaoh had sent it unto him to put on at the time of his going to meet his father.
11 And when Joseph came within fifty cubits of his father, he alighted from the chariot and he walked toward his father, and when all the officers of Egypt and her nobles saw that Joseph had gone on foot toward his father, they also alighted and walked on foot toward Jacob.
12 And when Jacob approached the camp of Joseph, Jacob observed the camp that was coming toward him with Joseph, and it gratified him and Jacob was astonished at it.
13 And Jacob said unto Judah, Who is that man whom I see in the camp of Egypt dressed in kingly robes with a very red garment upon him and a royal crown upon his head, who has alighted from his chariot and is coming toward us? and Judah answered his father, saying, He is thy son Joseph the king; and Jacob rejoiced in seeing the glory of his son.
14 And Joseph came nigh unto his father and he bowed to his father, and all the men of the camp bowed to the ground with him before Jacob.
Genesis 46:29b-30
29b and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.
Jasher 55:15-16
15 And behold Jacob ran and hastened to his son Joseph and fell upon his neck and kissed him, and they wept, and Joseph also embraced his father and kissed him, and they wept and all the people of Egypt wept with them.
16 And Jacob said unto Joseph, Now I will die cheerfully after I have seen thy face, that thou art still living and with glory.
Jubilees 45:2b-3
2b and he fell on his father’s neck and wept.
3 And Israel said unto Joseph: ‘Now let me die since I have seen thee, and now may the Lord God of Israel be blessed the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac who hath not withheld His mercy and His grace from His servant Jacob.
Jubilees 45:4
4 It is enough for me that I have seen thy face whilst I am yet alive; yea, true is the vision which I saw at Bethel. Blessed be the Lord my God for ever and ever, and blessed be His name.’
Jasher 55:17
17 And the sons of Jacob and their wives and their children and their servants, and all the household of Jacob wept exceedingly with Joseph, and they kissed him and wept greatly with him.
They celebrate with a feast
Jubilees 45:5
5 And Joseph and his brothers eat bread before their father and drank wine, and Jacob rejoiced with exceeding great joy because he saw Joseph eating with his brothers and drinking before him, and he blessed the Creator of all things who had preserved him, and had preserved for him his twelve sons.
Joseph gives them the land of Gosheni
Jasher 55:18
18 And Joseph and all his people returned afterward home to Egypt, and Jacob and his sons and all the children of his household came with Joseph to Egypt, and Joseph placed them in the best part of Egypt, in the land of Goshen.
Jubilees 45:6
6 And Joseph had given to his father and to his brothers as a gift the right of dwelling in the land of Goshen and in Rameses and all the region round about, which he ruled over before Pharaoh. And Israel and his sons dwelt in the land of Goshen, the best part of the land of Egypt and Israel was one hundred and thirty years old when he came into Egypt.
Joseph instructs Jacob on how to talk with Pharaoh
Genesis 46:31
31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father’s house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father’s house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;
Jasher 55:19
19 And Joseph said unto his father and unto his brethren, I will go up and tell Pharaoh, saying, My brethren and my father’s household and all belonging to them have come unto me, and behold they are in the land of Goshen.
Genesis 46:32-34
32 And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.
33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?
34 That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
Joseph tells Pharaoh that his family has arrived
Genesis 47:1
1 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.
Jasher 55:21
21 And Joseph spoke unto Pharaoh, saying, My brethren and my father’s household and all belonging to them, together with their flocks and cattle have come unto me from the land of Canaan, to sojourn in Egypt; for the famine was sore upon them.
Pharaoh speaks with Joseph’s family and allows them to stay in Goshen
Genesis 47:2
2 And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.
Jasher 55:20
20 And Joseph did so and took from his brethren Reuben, Issachar Zebulun and his brother Benjamin and he placed them before Pharaoh.
Genesis 47:3-5
3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.
4 They said morever unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.
5 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:
Genesis 47:6
6 The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.
Jasher 55:22
22 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Place thy father and brethren in the best part of the land, withhold not from them all that is good, and cause them to eat of the fat of the land.
Jasher 55:23-24
23 And Joseph answered, saying, Behold I have stationed them in the land of Goshen, for they are shepherds, therefore let them remain in Goshen to feed their flocks apart from the Egyptians.
24 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Do with thy brethren all that they shall say unto thee; and the sons of Jacob bowed down to Pharaoh, and they went forth from him in peace, and Joseph afterward brought his father before Pharaoh.
Jacob blesses Pharaohi
Genesis 47:7-9
7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?
9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
Genesis 47:10
10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.
Jasher 55:25
25 And Jacob came and bowed down to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and he then went out; and Jacob and all his sons, and all his household dwelt in the land of Goshen.
Joseph takes care of his family in Gosheni
Genesis 47:11
11 And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
Genesis 47:12
12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.
Jasher 55:26
26 In the second year, that is in the hundred and thirtieth year of the life of Jacob, Joseph maintained his father and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread according to their little ones, all the days of the famine; they lacked nothing.
Jubilees 45:7
7 And Joseph nourished his father and his brethren and also their possessions with bread as much as sufficed them for the seven years of the famine.
Jasher 55:27-29
27 And Joseph gave unto them the best part of the whole land; the best of Egypt had they all the days of Joseph; and Joseph also gave unto them and unto the whole of his father’s household, clothes and garments year by year; and the sons of Jacob remained securely in Egypt all the days of their brother.
28 And Jacob always ate at Joseph’s table, Jacob and his sons did not leave Joseph’s table day or night, besides what Jacob’s children consumed in their houses.
29 And all Egypt ate bread during the days of the famine from the house of Joseph, for all the Egyptians sold all belonging to them on account of the famine.
The Egyptians sell their property to Joseph to buy bread during the famine
Genesis 47:13-19
13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.
15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.
16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.
17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:
19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.
Genesis 47:20
20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s.
Jasher 55:30
30 And Joseph purchased all the lands and fields of Egypt for bread on the account of Pharaoh, and Joseph supplied all Egypt with bread all the days of the famine, and Joseph collected all the silver and gold that came unto him for the corn which they bought throughout the land, and he accumulated much gold and silver, besides an immense quantity of onyx stones, bdellium and valuable garments which they brought unto Joseph from every part of the land when their money was spent.
Jubilees 45:8
8 And the land of Egypt suffered by reason of the famine, and Joseph acquired all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh in return for food, and he got possession of the people and their cattle and everything for Pharaoh.
Only the priests didn’t sell their land
Genesis 47:21-22
21 And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.
22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.
Year: 2248
Joseph divides the previous metals and stones into 6 places when the famine ends
Jasher 55:31-33
31 And Joseph took all the silver and gold that came into his hand, about seventy two talents of gold and silver, and also onyx stones and bdellium in great abundance, and Joseph went and concealed them in four parts, and he concealed one part in the wilderness near the Red sea, and one part by the river Perath, and the third and fourth part he concealed in the desert opposite to the wilderness of Persia and Media.
32 And he took part of the gold and silver that was left, and gave it unto all his brothers and unto all his father’s household, and unto all the women of his father’s household, and the rest he brought to the house of Pharaoh, about twenty talents of gold and silver.
33 And Joseph gave all the gold and silver that was left unto Pharaoh, and Pharaoh placed it in the treasury, and the days of the famine ceased after that in the land, and they sowed and reaped in the whole land, and they obtained their usual quantity year by year; they lacked nothing.
Year: 2249
Joseph distributes seed and food to the people and asks for 20% of the profits
Jubilees 45:9-11
9 And the years of the famine were accomplished, and Joseph gave to the people in the land seed and food that they might sow (the land) in the eighth year, for the river had overflowed all the land of Egypt.
10 For in the seven years of the famine it had (not) overflowed and had irrigated only a few places on the banks of the river, but now it overflowed and the Egyptians sowed the land, and it bore much corn that year.
11 And this was the first year of [2178 A.M.] the fourth week of the forty-fifth jubilee.
Genesis 47:23-25
23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.
24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.
25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.
Jubilees 45:12
12 And Joseph took of the corn of the harvest the fifth part for the king and left four parts for them for food and for seed, and Joseph made it an ordinance for the land of Egypt until this day.
Genesis 47:26
20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s.
Jacob’s family continue to dwell in Goshen
Jasher 55:34-35
34 And Joseph dwelt securely in Egypt, and the whole land was under his advice, and his father and all his brethren dwelt in the land of Goshen and took possession of it.
35 And Joseph was very aged, advanced in days, and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, remained constantly in the house of Jacob, together with the children of the sons of Jacob their brethren, to learn the ways of the Lord and his law.
Genesis 47:27
27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
Jasher 55:36
36 And Jacob and his sons dwelt in the land of Egypt in the land of Goshen, and they took possession in it, and they were fruitful and multiplied in it.
i. Jubilees 45:1 states that Jacob’s family arrived in Egypt in the year 2172 which is 2 years into the 7 years of family. Genesis 47:9, Jasher 55:26, and Jubilees 45:6 state that Jacob was 130 years old, but this was probably an estimate since he was 134 at this time.
(30-minute read)
Exposition
J: 46 | Y: 2243 | M: 3 | D: 1 | Jacob goes to Beersheba (Well of the Oath)
Genesis 46:1a, Jubilees 44:1a
Israel left Haran and his house on the new moon of the 3rd month and traveled toward the Well of the Oath in Beersheba.
D: 7 | Jacob offers a sacrifice to YHWH
Genesis 46:1b, Jasher 55:1, Jubilees 44:1b
On the 7th of that month, he offered a sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac.
Afterward, Jacob said, “I will go and see my son in Egypt and will then come back to the land of Canaan, the land God spoke of to Abraham, for I cannot leave the land of my birth.”
Jacob celebrates the Feast of First Fruits
Jubilees 44:2-4
Jacob remembered the dream he had seen at Bethel and was afraid to go down to Egypt. While he was considering sending a message to Joseph to come to him instead, deciding he wouldn’t go down, he stayed there for 7 days in hopes of receiving a vision to guide him on whether to stay or go.
He celebrated the harvest festival of first fruits using old grain, because there wasn’t even a handful of seed in all of Canaan. The famine affected the animals, the birds, and the people alike.
Rising Action
D: 16 | YHWH tells Jacob to go to Egypt
Genesis 46:2-4, Jasher 55:2-4, Jubilees 44:5-6
On the 16th, the Lord appeared to him in a vision during the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.”
He replied, “Here am I.”
Then He said, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac. Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I will go down with you, and I will bring you back again. You will be buried in this land, and Joseph will close your eyes.”
Jacob thought to himself, “I will go and see my son to find out whether the fear of his God still lives in his heart among the people of Egypt.”
And the Lord said to Jacob, “Don’t worry about Joseph, for he still serves me faithfully, just as you hope,” and Jacob was overjoyed about his son.
Jacob takes his family to Egypt
Genesis 46:5-7, Jasher 55:5, Jubilees 44:7-8
On the 16th of the 3rd month, Jacob left Canaan, from Beersheba, filled with joy and gladness. The sons of Israel brought Jacob their father, along with their children and wives, in the wagons Pharaoh had sent for him. They brought their livestock and the possessions they had gained in Canaan and came into Egypt—Jacob and all his descendants with him. His sons, grandsons, daughters, and granddaughters—everyone in his family—he brought with him into Egypt.
Reuben’s family
Genesis 46:8-9, Jubilees 44:11-12
These are the names of the children of Israel who came into Egypt—Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. Reuben’s sons were Hanoch (Enoch), Phallu (Pallu), Hezron, and Carmi; 5 in total.
Simeon’s family
Genesis 46:10, Jubilees 44:13
Simeon’s sons were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman, a Zephathite; 7 in total.
Levi’s family
Genesis 46:11, Jubilees 44:14
Levi’s sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; 4 in total.
Judah’s family
Genesis 46:12, Jubilees 44:15
Judah’s sons were Er, Onan, Shelah (Shela), Pharez (Perez), and Zarah (Zerah); 4 in total. But Er and Onan died in Canaan. The sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.
Issachar’s family
Genesis 46:13, Jubilees 44:16
Issachar’s sons were Tola, Phuvah (Puah), Job (Jasub), and Shimron; 5 in total.
Zebulan’s family
Genesis 46:14, Jubilees 44:17
Zebulun’s sons were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel; 4 in total.
These are the sons of Leah
Genesis 46:15, Jubilees 44:18
These are the sons of Jacob and their sons, born to him by Leah in Mesopotamia (Padanaram), along with their one sister Dinah. All the descendants of Leah who went with Jacob to Egypt were 29 people. Including Jacob himself, they were 30 (or 33).
These are the sons of Zilpah
Jubilees 44:19
Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid and Jacob’s wife, bore him Gad and Asher.
Gad’s family
Genesis 46:16, Jubilees 44:20
Gad’s sons were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli; 8 in total.
Asher’s family
Genesis 46:17-18, Jubilees 44:21-22
Asher’s sons were Jimnah (Imnah), Ishuah (Ishvah), Isui (Ishvi), Beriah, and their sister Serah; 6 in total.
Beriah’s sons were Heber and Malchiel; 2 in total. These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah. She bore these to Jacob—16 people in total. Altogether, the descendants of Leah numbered 44.
These are the sons of Rachel
Genesis 46:19, Jubilees 44:23
Rachel, Jacob’s wife, bore him Joseph and Benjamin.
Joseph’s family
Genesis 46:20, Jubilees 44:24
Joseph’s sons, born in Egypt before Jacob arrived, were Manasseh and Ephraim. Their mother was Asenath, daughter of Potipherah (Potiphar), priest of On (Heliopolis); 3 in total.
Benjamin’s family
Genesis 46:21-22, Jubilees 44:25-26
Benjamin’s sons were Belah (Bela), Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. These 11 sons were born to Rachel and Jacob.
These are the sons of Bilhah
Jubilees 44:27
Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid and Jacob’s wife, bore him Dan and Naphtali.
Dan’s family
Genesis 46:23, Jubilees 44:28-29
These are the names of Dan’s sons who came into Egypt with him: Hushim, Samon, Asudi, ‘Ijaka, and Salomon; 6 in total. All of them died the same year they entered Egypt, leaving only Hushim.
Naphtali’s family
Genesis 46:24-25, Jubilees 44:30-32
Naphtali’s sons were Jahzeel (Jahziel), Guni, Jezer, Shillem (Shallum), and ‘Iv. ‘Iv, born after the famine years, died in Egypt. These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel. She bore these 7 sons to Jacob.
There were 66 souls that came with Jacob to Egypt
Genesis 46:26
The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who came with him into Egypt, not counting the wives of his sons, was 66.
The total comes to 70 with Joseph’s family
Genesis 46:27, Jubilees 44:33
Joseph had 2 sons born in Egypt. Altogether, the total number of Jacob’s household who entered Egypt was 70. However, 5 of them died in Egypt before Joseph and had no children.
Dan’s sons who died are buried
Jubilees 44:34
In the land of Canaan, Judah’s sons Er and Onan died and had no children. The Israelites buried all those who died, and they were counted among the 70 Gentile nations.
Climax
Jacob sends Judah to convince Joseph to have them dwell in Goshen
Genesis 46:28, Jasher 55:6, Jubilees 44:9
When they got close to Egypt, Jacob sent Judah ahead to Joseph to help arrange a place for them in Egypt. Judah followed his father’s instructions, ran ahead, and came to Joseph. They were given a place to settle in the land of Goshen for Jacob’s entire household. Judah then returned and met his father along the road.
M: 4 | D: 1 | They arrived in Goshen
Jubilees 44:10, 45:1
This was the best land in all of Egypt and was located near Joseph. It was good for both the people and their livestock.
Israel entered Egypt and settled in the land of Goshen on the new moon of the 4th month, during the 2nd year of the 3rd week of the 45th jubilee.
Jacob is reunited with Joseph
Genesis 46:29-30, Jasher 55:7-17, Jubilees 45:2-4
Joseph hitched up his chariot and gathered all his mighty men, servants, and Egyptian officials to go meet his father Jacob. Joseph issued a command throughout Egypt: “Anyone who doesn’t go to meet Jacob will be put to death.” The next day, Joseph set out with a massive Egyptian procession, all dressed in fine linen and purple garments, carrying silver and gold items and weapons. They brought all kinds of musical instruments—drums and timbrels—and scattered myrrh and aloes along the road. Their celebration was so loud that the earth shook. All the women of Egypt stood on rooftops and walls to see Jacob arrive. Joseph wore Pharaoh’s royal crown, which Pharaoh had sent for him to wear on this occasion.
When Joseph was about 50 cubits away from his father, he got down from his chariot and walked toward him. Seeing this, all the Egyptian officials and nobles also got down and walked on foot to greet Jacob. As Jacob approached Joseph’s camp, he saw the large procession and was both pleased and amazed.
Jacob said to Judah, “Who is that man in royal clothing, with a bright red robe and a crown on his head, coming toward us on foot after stepping down from his chariot?”
Judah replied, “That is your son Joseph, the king.”
Jacob was overjoyed at the sight of his son’s glory. Joseph came up to his father and bowed before him, and all the men in the procession bowed down to the ground as well.
Jacob ran to Joseph, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. They both wept. Joseph held his father and kissed him, and they continued crying together. Everyone in Egypt wept with them. Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I can die in peace, having seen your face and knowing you’re alive and honored. May the Lord God of Israel be blessed—the God of Abraham and Isaac—who has not withheld His mercy and grace from His servant Jacob. It’s enough that I’ve seen your face while I’m still alive. The vision I had at Bethel was true. Blessed be the Lord my God forever and ever, and blessed be His name.”
Jacob’s sons, their wives, children, servants—his entire household—cried deeply with Joseph, embracing and kissing him with great emotion.
They celebrate with a feast
Jubilees 45:5
Joseph and his brothers shared a meal with their father, eating bread and drinking wine. Jacob was overwhelmed with joy to see Joseph eating and drinking with his brothers. He blessed the Creator of all things who had preserved him and kept all 12 of his sons alive.
Falling Action
Joseph gives them the land of Goshen
Jasher 55:18, Jubilees 45:6
Joseph gave his father and brothers the right to live in Goshen and Rameses, along with the surrounding region that he ruled under Pharaoh. Israel and his sons settled in Goshen, the best part of Egypt, and Jacob was 130 years old when he arrived.
Joseph instructs Jacob on how to talk with Pharaoh
Genesis 46:31-34, Jasher 55:19
Joseph told his father and brothers, “I’ll go and inform Pharaoh that you’ve arrived with everything you own, and that you’re now in the land of Goshen. I’ll tell him that you’re shepherds, as your trade has always been to raise livestock, and that you’ve brought your flocks, herds, and all your belongings. When Pharaoh calls for you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ you should say, ‘Your servants have tended cattle from our youth until now, just like our fathers did.’ This will help you stay in the land of Goshen, because every shepherd is detestable to the Egyptians.”
Joseph tells Pharaoh that his family has arrived
Genesis 47:1, Jasher 55:21
Joseph went to Pharaoh and said, “My brothers and my father’s household, along with all their livestock, have come to me from Canaan to stay in Egypt because the famine is severe.”
Pharaoh speaks with Joseph’s family and allows them to stay in Goshen
Genesis 47:2-6, Jasher 55:20, 22-24
Joseph brought Reuben, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin before Pharaoh.
Pharaoh asked them, “What is your occupation?”
They replied, “Your servants are shepherds, just as our ancestors were.”
They added, “We’ve come to stay temporarily in your land because there’s no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is severe there. Please let your servants live in Goshen.”
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is open to you—settle your family in the best part, in the land of Goshen. Let them enjoy the best of the land. And if any among them are capable men, put them in charge of my livestock.”
Joseph replied, “I have already placed them in Goshen, since they are shepherds. Let them stay there to keep their flocks, separate from the Egyptians.”
Pharaoh then said, “Do whatever your brothers ask of you.”
Jacob’s sons bowed before Pharaoh and then left peacefully. Later, Joseph brought his father to meet Pharaoh.
Jacob blesses Pharaoh
Genesis 47:7-10, Jasher 55:25
Joseph brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed him. Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How old are you?”
Jacob answered, “The years of my pilgrimage are 130. My years have been few and difficult, and I haven’t lived as long as my ancestors did during their lifetimes.”
Then Jacob bowed before Pharaoh, blessed him again, and left. Jacob and all his family settled in the land of Goshen.
Joseph takes care of his family in Goshen
Genesis 47:11-12, Jasher 55:26-29, Jubilees 45:7
Joseph gave his father and brothers a possession in the best part of Egypt, in the land of Rameses, just as Pharaoh commanded.
In the 2nd year, the 130th year of Jacob’s life, Joseph supported his father, brothers, and the entire household with bread according to what each child needed. They lacked nothing.
Joseph gave them the best of Egypt for as long as he lived. He also gave clothes and garments to his family each year. Jacob’s sons remained safe in Egypt for all the days of their brother Joseph.
Jacob always ate at Joseph’s table. He and his sons never left Joseph’s side, day or night, except for what his children consumed at home. During the famine, all of Egypt ate bread from Joseph’s storehouse, because the people had sold everything they owned to survive.
The Egyptians sell their property to Joseph to buy bread during the famine
Genesis 47:13-20, Jasher 55:30, Jubilees 45:8
There was no bread anywhere, and the famine was so severe that people in Egypt and Canaan were fainting from hunger. Joseph collected all the money in both lands in exchange for grain and brought it into Pharaoh’s treasury.
When the money ran out, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread. Why should we die in front of you? We have no money.”
Joseph said, “Then bring your livestock. If you’re out of money, I’ll trade you bread for animals.”
So they brought their horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys, and Joseph gave them bread in return. This sustained them for that year. When that year ended, they returned in the 2nd year and said, “We can’t hide the truth—our money is gone and our animals belong to you. All we have left are our bodies and land. Why should we die before your eyes? Buy us and our land for food, and we’ll serve Pharaoh. Give us seed to plant, so we may live and the land won’t become desolate.”
Joseph then bought all the fields in Egypt for Pharaoh and fed the people throughout the famine. He collected silver, gold, onyx, bdellium, and fine garments, which people brought to him from all over when they had no money left.
Only the priests didn’t sell their land
Genesis 47:21-22
Joseph moved the people into cities from one end of Egypt to the other. However, he didn’t buy the priests’ land because they had a portion allotted to them by Pharaoh and were sustained by it, so they didn’t need to sell their land.
Resolution
Y: 2248 | Joseph divides the previous metals and stones into 6 places when the famine ends
Jasher 55:31-33
Joseph collected about 72 talents of silver and gold, along with a huge amount of onyx and bdellium. He hid these treasures in 4 locations: 1 near the Red Sea wilderness, 1 by the Perath River, and the remaining 2 in the desert opposite Persia and Media.
He also gave some of the remaining treasure to his brothers, his father’s household, and the women of the family. The rest—about 20 talents—he brought to Pharaoh’s house. Pharaoh stored it in the treasury.
After that, the famine ended. People began sowing and harvesting across the land, and they received their normal yield year after year. They lacked nothing.
Y: 2249 | Joseph distributes seed and food to the people and asks for 20% of the profits
Genesis 47:23-26, Jubilees 45:9-12
When the famine was over, Joseph gave the people seed and food to plant crops in the 8th year, because the river had finally overflowed across Egypt. During the 7 years of famine, it had only irrigated small areas near its banks. Now that it overflowed, they planted their fields, and the harvest was plentiful. This marked the 1st year of the 4th week of the 45th jubilee.
Joseph told the people, “Today I have purchased you and your land for Pharaoh. Here is seed—plant the fields. When the harvest comes, give 1 part out of 5 to Pharaoh. The other 4 parts will be yours for food, seed, and for your households and children.”
They replied, “You have saved our lives. Let us find favor with you, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”
So Joseph took 20% of the harvest for Pharaoh and left the rest for the people to use as seed and food. This became a lasting law in Egypt.
Jacob’s family continue to dwell in Goshen
Genesis 47:27, Jasher 55:34-36
Joseph continued to live securely in Egypt, with authority over the entire land. His father and brothers remained in Goshen and took possession of it.
Joseph grew very old, and his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, spent their days in Jacob’s household alongside the children of Jacob’s sons. They all studied the ways of the Lord and His law together.
Israel lived in Goshen, acquired property, and his family grew and multiplied greatly.
This chart shows who was alive in the years 2243-2258.