Genesis 46:5
Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives.
Then Jacob departed from Beersheba,

Jacob left from a place closely associated with Abraham and Isaac’s worship, covenant history, and God’s faithful provision. Before continuing south, he had offered sacrifices there, and God reassured him that the descent into Egypt belonged within His purpose for the covenant family. The journey did not abandon God’s promise concerning Canaan; it began the period in Egypt through which Israel would grow into a great nation.

Gen 28:10 Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.
Gen 26:23-25 From there Isaac went up to Beersheba,…
Gen 21:31-33 So that place was called Beersheba, because…

and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob

Jacob’s sons acted together to carry their aged father and preserve the household entrusted to them. The name Israel identifies the family not merely as Jacob’s descendants but as the people through whom God would fulfill His covenant promises. The twelve sons, despite their earlier sin against Joseph, now participated in God’s restoration of their father and family.

Gen 45:19 ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children……
Gen 50:13 They carried him to the land of Canaan…

in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him,

Pharaoh’s provision displayed Joseph’s authority in Egypt and God’s care for Jacob in his weakness. The wagons enabled the elderly patriarch to make the demanding journey with dignity and safety. Egypt’s ruler unknowingly served the purposes of the God who had promised Abraham that his descendants would sojourn in a foreign land before returning to inherit Canaan.

Gen 45:21 So the sons of Israel did as they were told.…
Gen 45:27 However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them,…
Num 7:3 They brought as their offering before the LORD…

along with their children and wives.

The migration included the whole covenant household, ensuring the preservation and growth of Jacob’s descendants. Seventy members of Israel’s family entered Egypt, where God would multiply them into a nation. Their arrival began the long sojourn that would culminate in the exodus, the giving of the law, and Israel’s return to the land God had promised.

2Ch 20:13 Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives…
Act 21:5 But when our time there had ended, we set out…
1Sa 30:3 When David and his men came to the city, they found it…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jacob
Also known as Israel, he is the patriarch of the Israelites. In this verse, he is leaving Beersheba to go to Egypt.

2. Beersheba
A significant location in the southern part of Israel, often associated with the patriarchs. It is where Jacob offers sacrifices to God before his journey.

3. Sons of Israel
Refers to Jacob's sons, who are the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. They are responsible for transporting their father to Egypt.

4. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who has shown favor to Joseph, Jacob's son, and has provided wagons for Jacob's journey.

5. Wagons
These are the means of transportation provided by Pharaoh, symbolizing the provision and favor of God through the Egyptian ruler.
Teaching Points
Trust in God's Provision
Just as Jacob trusted in the provision of Pharaoh's wagons, we are called to trust in God's provision in our lives, even when it comes from unexpected sources.

Obedience in Transition
Jacob's journey to Egypt was a significant transition. We should be obedient to God's leading, even when it requires leaving our comfort zones.

Family Leadership
Jacob's sons took responsibility for their father, demonstrating the importance of family leadership and care. We are called to honor and care for our family members.

God's Sovereignty in Circumstances
The provision of wagons by Pharaoh shows God's sovereignty in using even secular authorities to fulfill His purposes. We should recognize God's hand in all circumstances.

Faith in God's Promises
Jacob's journey was a step of faith in God's promises to make his descendants a great nation. We are encouraged to have faith in God's promises for our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jacob's departure from Beersheba reflect his faith in God's promises, and how can we apply this faith in our own life transitions?

2. In what ways does the provision of Pharaoh's wagons demonstrate God's sovereignty, and how can we recognize God's provision in unexpected ways today?

3. How can the responsibility shown by Jacob's sons in caring for their father inspire us to fulfill our family obligations?

4. What parallels can we draw between Jacob's journey to Egypt and Abraham's call to leave his homeland, and how do these accounts encourage us in our own journeys of faith?

5. How does the account of Jacob's move to Egypt connect with the broader account of God's plan for Israel, and what does this teach us about God's long-term plans for our lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 12:1-3
God's call to Abraham to leave his homeland, which parallels Jacob's journey as part of God's unfolding plan for His people.

Exodus 1:1-5
The listing of Jacob's descendants who went to Egypt, showing the fulfillment of God's promise to make Abraham's descendants a great nation.

Hebrews 11:21
Jacob's faith is highlighted, showing his trust in God's promises even as he moves to a foreign land.
Emigrate, But not Without GodW. M. Taylor, D. D.Genesis 46:1-7
God Speaking in the Visions of the NightR.A. Redford Genesis 46:1-7
Israel's Journey into EgyptH. T. Holmes.Genesis 46:1-7
The Family MigrationW. S. Smith, B. D.Genesis 46:1-7
The Migration of Jacob's House to EgyptT. H. Leale.Genesis 46:1-7
The Three MeetingsW. Roberts Genesis 46:1-4; 46:28-30; 47:7-10
People
Aram, Ard, Areli, Arodi, Asenath, Ashbel, Asher, Becher, Bela, Belah, Benjamin, Beriah, Bilhah, Canaanitish, Carmi, Dan, Dinah, Egyptians, Ehi, Elon, Enoch, Er, Eri, Ezbon, Gad, Gera, Gershon, Guni, Haggai, Haggi, Hamul, Hanoch, Heber, Hezron, Huppim, Hushim, Imnah, Isaac, Ishuah, Issachar, Isui, Jachin, Jacob, Jahleel, Jahzeel, Jahziel, Jamin, Jashub, Jemuel, Jezer, Jimnah, Job, Joseph, Kohath, Laban, Leah, Levi, Malchiel, Manasseh, Merari, Muppim, Naaman, Naphtali, Ohad, Onan, Pallu, Perez, Phallu, Pharaoh, Pharez, Phuvah, Potipherah, Puah, Rachel, Reuben, Rosh, Sarah, Saul, Serah, Sered, Shaul, Shelah, Shillem, Shimron, Shuni, Simeon, Tola, Zarah, Zebulun, Zephon, Zerah, Zilpah, Ziphion, Zohar
Places
Beersheba, Canaan, Egypt, Goshen, On, Paddan-aram
Topics
Bear, Beersheba, Beer-sheba, Carried, Carry, Carts, Infants, Israel's, Jacob, Ones, Pharaoh, Riseth, Rose, Sons, Transport, Waggons, Wagons, Wives
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 46:5

     5248   cart

Genesis 46:1-7

     8131   guidance, results

Genesis 46:4-6

     7212   exile

Genesis 46:5-12

     7266   tribes of Israel

Library
Estimate of the Scope and Value of Jerome's Writings.
General. The writings of Jerome must be estimated not merely by their intrinsic merits, but by his historical position and influence. It has already been pointed out that he stands at the close of the old Græco-Roman civilisation: the last Roman poet of any repute, Claudian, and the last Roman historian, Ammianus Marcellinus, died before him. Augustin survived him, but the other great Fathers, both in the East and in the West, had passed away before him. The sack of Rome by Alaric (410) and
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Four Shaping Centuries
'Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt: every man and his household came with Jacob. 2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4. Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6. And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7, And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Faith of Moses.
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. By faith he forsook
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines,
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

But in Order that we Fall not Away from Continence...
10. But in order that we fall not away from Continence, we ought to watch specially against those snares of the suggestions of the devil, that we presume not of our own strength. For, "Cursed is every one that setteth his hope in man." [1838] And who is he, but man? We cannot therefore truly say that he setteth not his hope in man, who setteth it in himself. For this also, to "live after man," what is it but to "live after the flesh?" Whoso therefore is tempted by such a suggestion, let him hear,
St. Augustine—On Continence

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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