Genesis 46:1-7

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.

Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.”

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.

I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

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.

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 with him.

His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.

God spake to him in the visions of the night as “Israel,” but addressed him as “Jacob, Jacob.” He repeats the name; and [perhaps] to kindle affection and confidence He uses the personal name and not the official title.

God forbade Abraham and Isaac to go down into Egypt, He now encourages Jacob to go, saying: “I will go down with thee.” When God promises His company there need be neither hesitation nor fear.” — Williams, page 40.

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Each time [Jacob] had made an important move, God had spoken to him directly. When he left his parents to go to Haran, God had appeared to him at Bethel (Genesis 28:13-15); when he had been with Laban long enough, God instructed him to return to Canaan (Genesis 31:3); even when he left Shechem, God had appeared to him (Genesis 35:1, 9-12).

On his way out of Canaan Israel had in mind to stop by the old altar at Beersheba, where he had lived with his father Isaac (Genesis 28:10). Beersheba was near the southern boundary of the land, and would, so to speak, be the “point of no return.” There, at Beersheba, he offered sacrifices …

That night, once again, God appeared to him in a vision, for the eighth and last time, so far as the record goes. … God set Jacob’s mind at ease about going down to Egypt. Identifying Himself as indeed the God of his father Isaac, He also assured Jacob that He (El, the strong Creator and Sovereign of all men) would protect him and bless him in Egypt, even as He had in Canaan.

Furthermore, God promised that He would bring him back up out of Egypt, when it was time to do so. This promise, as applied to Jacob personally, was only fulfilled after his death (Genesis 49:29; 50:4-8), but it found its more complete fulfillment in the lives of his descendants, in the days of Moses and Joshua. …

Last of all, God assured him that he would see Joseph again. Furthermore, when Jacob’s time to die would come, it would be his beloved son, Joseph himself, who would perform the sacred duty of “laying his hand upon thine eyes,” that is, of closing his eyes in death for his burial. — Morris, pages 628-629.

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[Jacob] evidently had daughters (v.7) and granddaughters, even though Dinah is the only daughter whose name or birth is specifically mentioned (Genesis 30:21), and Serah, daughter of Asher, the only granddaughter (v.17). … The word “daughters” (v.7) cannot refer to his sons’ wives, as those who are enumerated are said to be his seed. Evidently neither the daughters-in-law nor any of the servants are included in the various numerical totals given in this chapter. — Morris, page 630.

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Jacob—reflecting his consistent progress of spiritual growth ever since the event of Genesis 32:24-32 [when he wrestled with God]—goes first to Beersheba and offers sacrifices t0 (i.e., implores the guidance of) God, proceeding no further until the Lord assures him he can do so. — Wechsler, page 260.

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