“Genesis 47:1-6”

Friday, April 24, 2020

“Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, ‘My father and my brothers and their flocks and their herds and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.’ He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, ‘What is your occupation?’ So they said to Pharaoh, ‘Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.’ They said to Pharaoh, ‘We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, therefore, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen.’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is at your disposal; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land, let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know any capable men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.”

---End of Scripture verses---

“Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh…” (verse 1) It had been Pharaoh’s desire and his command to Joseph to fetch his family and bring them to live in Egypt and give them “the best of the land.” (Genesis 45:17-19). Now that they had safely arrived “out of the Land of Canaan”, Joseph reported to his superior of their whereabouts—that they had, at least temporarily, settled “in the land of Goshen.” “He makes mention of their flocks and herds, and other substance, partly to show that they were not a mean beggarly family that came to live upon him, and partly that a proper place of pasturage for their cattle might be appointed to them.” (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible)

“He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.” (verse 2) The text does not explain what method of selection that Joseph used or even the specific brothers that he chose to present to Pharaoh. The number “five” does seem to have at least some symbolic significance taken in consideration of its repeated use in the story of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers. “As the number ‘five’ appears again and again in this narrative (Genesis 43:34; Genesis 45:22), it may have had some special importance among the Egyptians, like the number seven among the Jews.” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers)

“They said to Pharaoh, ‘We have come to sojourn in the land…” (verse 34) It was the original intention of Jacob and his family to only abide in the land of Egypt temporarily, as “sojourners”. It was not their ambition to unduly infringe upon Pharaoh’s kindness and generosity, and besides, they no doubt desired to return to the land of Canaan that the Lord had pledged to them as their promised possession. But it was also God’s promised prophecy to Abraham: “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.” (Genesis 15:13-14)

“The land of Egypt is at your disposal; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land, let them live in the land of Goshen…” (verse 6) Pharaoh granted his permission and official sanction for Israel and his entire family to dwell in the land of his dominion, in the locality of their choosing, even up to the most choice and desirable location. “And if you know any capable men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.” “Literally ‘officers of cattle,’ that is, superintendents of the royal cattle. This office is mentioned frequently in Egyptian inscriptions since the king possessed vast herds of cattle. Ramses III is said to have employed 3,264 men, mostly foreigners, to take care of his herds. The appointment of some of Joseph’s brothers to supervise the king’s cattle means that they are to be officers of the crown and thus will enjoy legal protection not usually accorded aliens.” (Nahum Sarna)

The Lord takes great care of and makes provision for his beloved people!

Please read Genesis 47:7-12 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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