25 Feb. Genesis 47:1-7,11-12,27-31

25 Feb. Jacob and his family settle in Goshen

“Joseph went in to the king and said, ‘My father and my brothers have arrived from Canaan with their flocks and herds and everything they own. They are now in the land of Goshen.’”

“Joseph chose five of his brothers to introduce to the king. The king said to the brothers, ‘What work do you do?’ And they said to him, ‘We, your servants, are shepherds, just as our ancestors were.’ They said to the king, ‘We have come to live in this land, because there is no grass in the land of Canaan for our animals to eat, and the hunger is terrible there. So please allow us to live in the land of Goshen.’”

“Then the king said to Joseph, ‘Your father and your brothers have come to you, and you may choose any place in Egypt for them to live. Give your father and your brothers the best land; Let them live in the land of Goshen. And if any of them are skilled shepherds, put them in charge of my sheep and cattle.’”

“Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and introduced him to the king, and Jacob blessed the king…”

“Joseph obeyed the king and gave his father and brothers the best land in Egypt, near the city of Rameses [Avaris]. And Joseph gave his father, his brothers and everyone who lived with them the food they needed…”

“The Israelites continued to live in the land of Goshen in Egypt. There they gained possessions and had many children and grew in number.”

“Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, so he lived to be 147 years old. When Israel [Jacob] knew he soon would die, he called his son Joseph to him and said to him, ‘If you love me, put your hand under my leg. Promise you will not bury me in Egypt. When I die, carry me out of Egypt, and bury me where my ancestors are buried.’”

“Joseph answered, ‘I will do as you say.’ Then Jacob said, ‘Promise me.’ And Joseph promised him that he would do this. Then Israel [Jacob] worshipped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.”

          (Genesis 47:1-7, 11-12, 27-31)

 


 

When Jacob and his family arrived in Egypt, the pharaoh gave them fertile pasture land and property near Joseph’s residence at Avaris (later called Rameses) in the north eastern Nile Delta region of Goshen.

The Israelites (the descendants of Jacob or Israel) prospered in their new homeland, became rich, and grew in number. They were provided with all the food they needed to live on during the seven years of famine.

As the famine continued, Joseph bought all the livestock and land in Egypt in exchange for grain. He ensured the Pharaoh’s future prosperity by introducing a payment in kind for any new seeds he supplied (see Genesis 47:13-31).

Jacob fell ill in c.1642BC. Knowing that he would soon die, Jacob told Joseph of his dream at Luz (Bethel) (see Genesis 28:13) and how God had made a covenant with him, promising to bless his descendants - the children of Israel (see Genesis 48:1-22).

Jacob then blessed his twelve sons and, before he died, asked to be buried at the family tomb back in Canaan (see Genesis 49:1-33).

The photo shows crops growing on fertile irrigated land beside the River Nile.

You can read more about Jacob’s family in Egypt @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/biblejourney2/24-the-journeys-of-isaac-jacob-joseph/jacobs-family-join-joseph-in-egypt/

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