A Study of Torah from Gen. - Rev.

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MarcR

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The whole point of the thread will be to "prove" that the law is still binding on new covenant believers...
Wolves in sheep's clothing.
I suspected the same thing when i started following the look at Paul thread. Now I'm ready to give him the benefit of the doubt. He opened this thread with a statement that he wasn't going there and he seems to be holding up his end.
 

Rainrider

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I suspected the same thing when i started following the look at Paul thread. Now I'm ready to give him the benefit of the doubt. He opened this thread with a statement that he wasn't going there and he seems to be holding up his end.
Sadly, just showing that the Torah is not only supported in the NT, it is also the bed rock of all scripture, is often seen as promoting the letter of, and not the spirit of the law.
 

MarcR

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As we move into chapter 5, it opens with the birth of Seth. In it we find that this is the first time a child is said to be in the likeness of Adam. There are many teachings on this. One is that Cain and Abel's blood line didn't make it through the flood, so they are given little mention. Another speaks to them looking the same. The last one is that Seth, was a holy men, like his dad. They hold this claim as Seth fathered both Enoch, and Noah.
Enoch as we know lived 365 years, then HaShem took him. It seems here that one should slow down and really look at why Enoch was taken, and never tasted death. All we are told is that he walked with HaShem. There are some that say he had a perfect heart. Some say he stay with in the Laws of HaShem always, Yet one other teaching is that He simply found faith, and salvation was given to him in this manner. My self I have a real hard with the first one, as Abraham was given salvation by his faith as well, yet he did die. What ever one follows, it is made clear that their was something different about Seth. Something that no other man had until Elisha.

Other than that, their really not much to this chapter. I am looking forward to it. As I know it should bring up a topic, that so little is know about, yet some wish to say much about that can't be backed by scripture. I will however do my best to cover what the Word tells us, and weed out some things that are never said in the Word. Until then.

Rom 3:23, and 5:12 tell us unequivocally that all have sinned. This then must include Enoch and Elijah, both of whom were taken live into heaven.

God does not and is not obliged to tell us why these two were treated differently; and speculation is a fruitless game.
 
K

Karraster

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Sadly, just showing that the Torah is not only supported in the NT, it is also the bed rock of all scripture, is often seen as promoting the letter of, and not the spirit of the law.
I do believe this is the crux of the matter, as to why there is so limited free discussion. So much of the Word is taboo, which is a crying shame.

I have a question, oops wait it's about the other thread. Oh well, they will eventually dovetail. When Paul speaks of the "weak in the faith", I'm always reading from CC posts that he refers to those who observes/guards the law as being weak in the faith. This does not make sense to me after looking closer. I think the weak in the faith are those new to the faith who do not know much about what the Word says. Sir, what say you?
 

MarcR

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Does 'refusing to keep the law mean you are 'lawless ? or are you saying 'whatever you do is ok with God ? seems to me to be one of Paul's conundrums...hard to understand.
Glad GOD is much clearer in His Commands....you either do or you don't.
Jesus has said "Apart from me you can do nothing" To me this means all our best efforts on our own are part of that nothing. Only the good things the Lord chooses to do through us are of any value. We are indeed given good works to do (Eph 2:10) but the Lord, not we, decides what they are , when they are to be done and how they are to be done ; and then empowers us to do them.

Our society teaches us to value and strive for independence. Jesus teaches to value and strive for total dependence.
 

MarcR

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So tell us, since it is written,

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:3

Which account of the resurrection is accurate?

Matthew 28
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Mark 16
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

Luke 24
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

John 20
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Matt 3:16


Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:6
All are correct. All are impressions based on equally valid but different partial revelations.

If there are 5 eye witnesses to an auto accident there will be at least 3 different versions of what happened even all 5 are answering honestly from their prospective.
 

Rainrider

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Rom 3:23, and 5:12 tell us unequivocally that all have sinned. This then must include Enoch and Elijah, both of whom were taken live into heaven.

God does not and is not obliged to tell us why these two were treated differently; and speculation is a fruitless game.
This is true, HOweverfor a person to be true them self, in doing their best to give all sides of of teachings, we are some times forced to place things out there that we would not say of our selves.
 

MarcR

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As I know this is were things will start to expand into may different topics, I feel it would be wise to take chapter 6 in parts, rather than the whole chapter at once.
Gen 6:2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

The Sons Of God. There are 2 main teachings on this that I will address.
1 The Sons Of God was mistranslated. AS it would seem that the translates seen the word El, and and knowing that it was a Hebrew word for HaShem, thought it was speaking of HaShem, so the translation was made with that in mind.
As we have vary little to go on about Angels, from the word, this is a debate were the truth will never really be known until HaShem Himself gives us the answer. Yet we do have a bit of light from the Word on this, however it seems to not be enough to end this debate.
Lets look at it and see what we can find.
Luk 20:34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
Luk 20:35 “But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
Luk 20:36 “nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

From this passage, one can't not assume much of anything. However as the Angels as seen here, don't have marriage, it would be safe to say that they don't have kids. Why is that? Did HaShem create Angels with out the ability to have kids, or is it that they simply have no wish to?
With all the books out there about Angels, one must wounder, were all those teaching come from. Some claim out side sources, like the Book of Enoch. Others claim divine revelation. Yet not one side will claim their info comes from the Word, why is that? Can it be that this a debate that is more a wast of time, and holds nothing that leads to Salvation. Or may it just be that we were not truly meant to know?
I will place some questions for you all to answer if you think you have the answer to this debate. They are not meant to be seen as hostile or argumentative. Simply some question that come from a vary logical mind, and would need to be answered to convince the one that asked them. No it was not me.

Next we have the side that looks at this from a Hebrew prospective. They say," The word El can be HaShem or a ruling class of peoples. In this case the word El is denoting the rulers of the land at that time. They took what they wanted, and if anyone got in the way, they killed them.
Given that Angels don't have kids, and we really don't why, this would seem the "safe road" to take. Yet their is that bit of the unknown that man likes to fill. I will not enter this debate for amny reasons.
1 I see no point in debating a thing that has no answer.
2 I am not here to push my thoughts, belief's, or understanding on any one.
3 My thoughts on this I know and fully understand are based only on what I find as truth, therefore are subject to error.
4 2Ti 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.



The question asked in one study on this are as follows.
1 If Satan can disrupt mans walk with HaShem by infesting the world with his off spring, why has he not done so?
2 Angles always show up in the word as men, so that being as it is, why do HaShem's Angles not bring kids into the world to disrupt the evil?
3 Are Angels really of the male sex, or can it be that they are sexless, and only show as men due to the women being powerless in that time?

I hope you enjoy your debate on this. As it seems to be one that has no real answer's, it does seem pointless. Yet I have seen that a pointless debate on here is the one most preferred. Enjoy
Ge 6:2: B'nay haheloheeym sons of (the) God is used here and 3 other places in the Tenach:

Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7. In all three references in Job B'nay haheloheeym refers to Angels.

Unless we are willing to twist our translation to avoid the discomfort of having fallen angels procreating with women; a straightforward reading says exactly that.
 

MarcR

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Gen 6:9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

Perfect in his generation. Now I have heard some really odd things about this one phrase. I won't list them all, as that would take to long. Rather lets take them all down to just 2 things.
1 It was Noah that perfect, only in that he didn't follow the ways of other men, and though he was a drunk, he was only perfect when compared to others around him.
I find this kind of an absurd statement for 2 reasons. the first is that HaShem doesn't look at the actions of ma kind, only at what is in their hearts. So for us to place the kind of reasoning we use on HaShem, shows a lack of understanding of Who He really is. If one truly turns their life over to Him, they would want to know Him. To know Him, we must study His Word, and seek out everything we can find of Who, He is, what He is like, and what He wants from us, and most of all, what He looks for in us, as true followers.
The second reason I find this absurd, is that it tells us in this same verse, That Noah walked with HaShem.
The other side of this, is one I can live with, as I am sure most of you will find it as well. Noah was not a perfect man, though He lived by Faith in HaShem, this faith, as with all true faith, would be seen in his actions. This we will see is a recurring theme though out the Word. I will say that if you can show me just one person in any parts of the Word, that gained salvation by works, I will show a misunderstanding in your interpretation of the Word.


and though he was a drunk, he was only perfect when compared to others around him.

I agree this is absurd! There is nothing in any previous Scripture to suggest that Noah knew that grape juice would ferment in storage.; or that he ever allowed himself to be intoxicated again. So calling him a drunk is ridiculous.
 

MarcR

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Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.

That is why we now find He had to divide the light from the dark. As we see here. Where light goes it gets better.

.
divided yahb dayl would be better translated as distinguished.
 

MarcR

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This is true. Yet as we will see HaShem does tell Abraham that they will spend 400 years in Egypt. Not in them words, yet it is clear that is where they went. The 2000 years in Diasporas, I can't think off hand any place that is foretold, can you? Be nice to know is all.
try looking at Dt 28:64.
 

MarcR

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Please don't take this the wrong way. I am asking so that we may find something out.
Are you going from what you read in your Bible, or have you taken the time to look through the Hebrew and Greek it came from? The reason I ask is, that unless we know for sure what the original text says, can we do more than assume?
Take the word Easter. It only shows once and only in one translation. A person can take that one showing of the word, and build a case for the keeping of pagan holidays. Yet if one was to look at the history of that word, and what word was used in the oldest available text, they would soon find that it was not Easter, rather Passover.
Am I making any kind sense at all?

Isa 29:13-14
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
KJV

The sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees indeed perished in the diaspora

The (mostly unused) JerusalemTalmud is a vestigial reminder of them; while the Babylonian Talmud is very much in use. Its name seems to be a misnomer because contributors to it included Hillel and others of his time.
 

Rainrider

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I do believe this is the crux of the matter, as to why there is so limited free discussion. So much of the Word is taboo, which is a crying shame.

I have a question, oops wait it's about the other thread. Oh well, they will eventually dovetail. When Paul speaks of the "weak in the faith", I'm always reading from CC posts that he refers to those who observes/guards the law as being weak in the faith. This does not make sense to me after looking closer. I think the weak in the faith are those new to the faith who do not know much about what the Word says. Sir, what say you?
You are right the 2 studies do overlap. In many aspects. Your question here would fit both studies, though I do thank you for trying to keep it in context with the topic.

Your answer would be contingent upon the use of the phrase. As we can see in the following 2 passages.
In Romens 4:16-22, Paul is speaking of Abraham. Although if one reads it in context, it clearly is using Abraham to show why strong faith is.
Now if one looks to Rom. chapter 14, there we find that this phrase is being use to show how a person that we may see as being week in faith, may in fact be just as strong as we are. No mater how one see this, the idea is clear that for us to think that it is right to try and push onto others the ideas, and teachings of one onto another, is wrong. This will be seen in both this study, as well the study on Paul when both get to that point. In this study, it has been hinted at already. Though not placed out there in a clear and defined manner.
You have no clue how hard has been for me to remain true the order of this thread. Or the one on Paul. I so want to jump ahead on this one, and bring up to where it and the the other are speaking of the same topic, at the same time. Well no big. We will get there, and in the Book of Ex. I will feel a bit of release, as I can then more more into the NT along side the OT. True it will slow things down a bit. That can be good, as it will also show a bit more clear, just how closely the 2 are in there teachings.
 

Rainrider

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Gen 43:1 Now the famine was severe in the land.

Gen 43:2


And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”



Gen 43:3 But Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’


Gen 43:4 “If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.


Gen 43:5 “But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ ”

We all need a reminder now and then. Some more than others. Here Judah may be thinking more saving his own hide, than what Jacob may be. Yet we must also note that they didn't wait until they had eaten the last of the food they had. more than likely this would have taken place when their was enough to last until they could make the round trip. One may also note Judah repeated the words of Joseph twice in this short passage. This was done to drive home the fact that to go without Benjamin was a wast of time.
Gen 43:6 And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?”




Gen 43:7 But they said, “The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?”

Here we find the use of the name Israel. It seems that when we see this name, we also find Jacob in his spiritual role as patriarch of his people. Here he is giving them a teaching that we should all heed. Never give any more info than the question demands. Though they defended themselves, against the charge of having loss lips. Though it is thought by some that they were exaggerating some on how Joseph and acted, others say we can't really know. I follow the latter, as it is somewhat dangerous to and sinful to add to or take away from what the Word tells us.


Gen 43:8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.


Gen 43:9 “I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.

Judah was placing the full responsibility for Benjamin on his own head. As the sages tell us, this was due to his understanding that if all the brothers took this responsibility, they could just shift the blame. After all Live was also there, and took this on himself as well. R'Meir Zlotowitz suggest that Judah having been the only one of the brothers to have lost 2 kids, 38:7-10, was why he hoped Jacob would give in.


Gen 43:11 And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.


Gen 43:12 “Take double money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.


Gen 43:13 “Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man.
Gen 43:14 “And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”



The sages say Jacob, giving them the idea He had used when he returned to the land. Send the gifts out before you. Then from how he reacted to the gifts, you will get an idea of how he will treat you. The gifts were not just take something we can afford to give. As Sfomo tells us, they were chosen with care, and sophistication. You won't give a new car to a man as a gift, if he already had 5 of them. The art of giving, is to give something they may not have, yet would enjoy. If one looks back at the list of things the Ishmaelites had with them, then you would find that this list to hold many of the same things. If they are being shipped in, then Egypt, may not have a ready supply.
Gen 43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.”




Gen 43:17 Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.
Gen 43:18 Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”





Although this is not from the sages, it dose right true. As was pointed out, Yeshua can be seen much what we find about Joseph. Here we see that the brothers are sacred, and wit good reason. Although they don't know as of yet who Joseph is, they know their own hearts. Just as we should come before HaShem in fear and trembling, so to we find this being plaid out right in front of us. However, rather being worried about being taken as a slave by our master, we are in hopes that He will take us. At lest we should be. I know I was ever so thankful for the chance to Serve Him, and gave my life over to Him.
Gen 43:19


When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house,


Gen 43:20 and said, “O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food;


Gen 43:21 “but it happened, when we came to the encampment, that we opened our sacks, and there, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; so we have brought it back in our hand.


Gen 43:23 But he said, “Peace be with you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Joseph having understood the blessing that was being sold into Egypt, returned that blessing to his brothers by returning their money. Rather than seeing only the bad in our lives, we all should learn to see the blessings that come out of the things other may see as bad. It is then that we can boast of the blessings HaShem places on us.
Gen 43:26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.




Gen 43:27 Then he asked them about their well-being, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”

This seems a strage to ask about the well being of another. R'Hirsch tells us this was due to Joseph first asking after his father, as one would expect to find. Then he had frightening thought. So He adds Is he still alive? One other commentator suggest this may have meant is he still vigorous, can he travel?


Gen 43:29 Then he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your younger brother of whom you spoke to me?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”


Gen 43:30 Now his heart yearned for his brother; so Joseph made haste and sought somewhere to weep. And he went into his chamber and wept there.


Gen 43:31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”
Gen 43:32 So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Do we not see the irony of this? In the time of the second Temple, it was the Jews that forbid themselves from eating with Gentiles.




Gen 43:33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked in astonishment at one another.


Gen 43:34 Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

Being seated in the order of birth would have no big feat had they known who Joseph was. For someone that didn't know them it was amazing. The oldest the ten oldest had been born with in 7ears of another, and their looks would not have been a give away. According to Tanchuma Joseph assigned the seating by tapping his goblet, and then calling a name. One tap, one name.
In this manner he set the stage for the arrest of Benjamin later.
Also as we see that Benjamin is being treated better then the rest, the sages tell us this was to see if they would become jealous of him. To what end we are not told. Though one may assume it was to test how they would react to Benjamin being arrested later. After all it is not good to play games with others, if you are not sure of the reaction you may get. No need to start a war over a little payback, as one Rabbi worded it.
 

Rainrider

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Gen 44:1


And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack.


Gen 44:2 “Also put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his grain money.” So he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

The Sages tell us that the brothers know about the money being given back this time. As it was done to show that Joseph was sorry for his harsh treatment of them earlier. The official that filed the sacks would close and seal them, this would insure that no one would open the sacks, until they had left Egypt. One claim is Pharaohs seal was used, in this manner, no Egyptian guard would inspect the sacks finding Joseph's cup.


Gen 44:3
As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.


Gen 44:4 When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?


Gen 44:5Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ ”

Before ever charging them with theft, they were accused of ingratitude. As the sages tell us this can at times be worse than theft. The stressing of the importance of the cup, made it clear that the crime was unpardonable. Also the taking of the cup, would have destroyed the reputation they had of being good. One hat was gained by returning the money that was not taken.


Gen 44:7 And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing.


Gen 44:8 “Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?


Gen 44:9 “With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”

If as was stated above the sacks had been sealed, in the presents of the brothers, They had good reason to be indignant. After all, the odds of the seals being broke, was around a million to one. They know the money had been put in there, so the gold and silver was not stolen. They offered to except death, was a bit harsh for theft, and one they would never have offered, had they any idea something may have been placed in the sacks.


Gen 44:10 And he said, “Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless.”


Gen 44:11 Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack.


Gen 44:12 So he searched. He began with the oldest and left off with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.


Gen 44:13 Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.

Some teach that it was Menasseh that was sent to overtake them. As to oldest son of Joseph, he would have the right to speak for Joseph as he does here. It was understanding that justice tempered with mercy, would guide Joseph's ruling in this matter, that He said only the one with the cup would become a slave. However, it seems that on one sen the prophetic nature of the brothers words.
The search of the sacks was bone from oldest to youngest, to hide the fact that he know where the cup was. Yet there is one teaching that tells us, only Simon's and Benjamin's sacks were searched. As the argument of returning the money was sound, yet didn't apply to Simon, as he was held in Egypt, also it would not apply to Benjamin, as he was not their the first time.
Gen 44:14
So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground


Gen 44:15 And Joseph said to them, “What deed is this you have done? Did you not know that such a man as I can certainly practice divination?”

Although the brothers had already shown sorrow, by the ripping of their closes, and most likely had already plaid it out their minds how this may affect Jacob, fear of what may come most than likely plaid a part in how they acted, and spoke.
It may well be that Menasseh took them to Joseph's house to spare them the humiliation of being appearing before other Egyptians.
It was when all 11 had bowed down before, that his dream of the 11 stars was fulfilled. This may well have been an emotional time for Joseph, one that may well have lead to his telling his brothers who he really was.
Gen 44:16 Then Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found.”

Could it be that Judah seen this as their past sin of selling Joseph coming back to hound them? That HaShem was bring this down on them in order to deal with that long hidden sin? If Judah seen it in that manner, this would explain his willingness, to be punished.
Gen 44:17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father.”






Gen 44:18
Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh.


Gen 44:19 “My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’


Gen 44:20 “And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’


Gen 44:21 “Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’


Gen 44:22 “And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’


Gen 44:23 “But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’
Gen 44:24


“So it was, when we went up to your servant my father, that we told him the words of my lord.


Gen 44:25 “And our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’


Gen 44:26 “But we said, ‘We cannot go down; if our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we may not see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’


Gen 44:27 “Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons;


Gen 44:28 ‘and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn to pieces”; and I have not seen him since.


Gen 44:29 ‘But if you take this one also from me, and calamity befalls him, you shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.’


Gen 44:30 “Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life,



This may seem like nothing more than a recap. However in the retelling of this, Judah is hinting at the idea that all this may have been a well laid plan. To what end Judah does not allude to. Although it may be that this is being seen by him, as divine judgment for their treatment of Joseph.
It is a bit odd that the sages would see this in what has transpired. Yet not bring out that Judah may also be seeing in this, Jacob receiving the brunt of the sorrow. As this had clearly crossed his mind, can it be that Judah was blinded so badly by his sin, that he failed to see the injustice of the action?
Gen 44:31 “it will happen, when he sees that the lad is not with us, that he will die. So your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to the grave.


Gen 44:32 “For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father forever.’


Gen 44:33 “Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad as a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers.


Gen 44:34 “For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?”

It Seems that Judah is doing all he can to have the judgment placed on himself. This can be that Judah also placed the wrong done to Joseph on himself as well. Also as I had asked, Why would the Sages not bring out the injustice of Jacob being hit with the brunt of this sorrow. Having looked at a great deal of their commentary, seeking to find an answer to this, I have found none. Yet Judah brings it out clear as day. "Lest I see the evil that would come upon my father?" It would seem that with these words, Judah is letting it be known, that he see's on true justice in what Joseph is doing. It would also seem that at some point, Judah also seen that this was not judgment from HaShem. Yet as to that one should not speak, as the Word doesn't say this. Though it does seem alluded to.
Please if anyone finds fault in that thinking, let me know. I can't say it came from anyone other than my-self. As we know, I am human, and that makes me fallible.
 

Rainrider

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Gen 45:1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.


Gen 45:2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

Although there are many thoughts on this, the 2 that seem to fit best in my mind are as follows.
1 Joseph didn't wish to embarrass his brothers in the sight of so many
Egyptians. As we have seen it does at times seem that Joseph does protect his brothers.
2 Joseph was concerned for his own image. It would not be a sightly thing for he to seen in tears by outsiders, and many of teh Egyptians wouldn't be as likely to follow his orders, as he may be seen as weak. The fact that his weeping was heard and talk of it reached Pharaoh's house, would have raised concern. As Joseph's rank and high esteem may become compromised.
Gen 45:3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.





Joseph as we see is once more asking about Jacob. This may show he didn't know if he could trust what they had said in the past. As they may well have using the talk of an ageing father to win his sympathy, in hopes of escaping with out further torment.


Gen 45:4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5 “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.




Gen 45:6 “For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.


Gen 45:7 “And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.


Gen 45:8
“So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Joseph many well have sen the shame his brother felt for they actions. This may well be why he pulled them close, and explained that it was HaShem and not them that sent him to Egypt. Though it is clear that Joseph did blame them at first, and used his rank, to punish them, he now understands that they were just tools used by HaShem for a higher purpose.
Also one may follow that this is the start of HaShem's decree that they would be aliens in a foreign land. One where they would have all been brought in, in chains. Forced into hostile conditions as slaves. Jacob may well have lost his life in seeing that, so it may well be that HaShem in his mercy, wished for Jacob to live his life in comfort in Egypt.
Gen 45:9 “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.








Gen 45:10 “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.


Gen 45:11 “There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’

As we can see many parallels between Joseph and Yeshua, this is one. To make it a bit shorter, let me just high light the points. Yeshua calls us to come to Him. Yeshua is Lord of Lords, Yeshua does provide for the needs of all His family.
So why Goshen? First it would keep Israel away from the sinful influence of the Egyptians. It was a good land, that would be able to sustain the herds, and flocks. Also, to the Egyptian people being a herdsmen was a hatted activity.
Gen 45:12
“And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you


Gen 45:13 “So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”

His mouth. One teaching is that Joseph was pointing the fact that he was speaking to them in Hebrew, a language that was unknown in Egypt. This teaching as we have seen has a set back that can't be over looked. That being that before now we know that a translator had been used. This shows us the Hebrew was not unknown, though it may not have been used much. This leads us to the other teaching. One that seems to be the most likely.
Joseph meant that he was speaking to them as viceroy, and had the power to make this happen. Though it is also said in this teaching that Joseph may have quoted some in Hebrew that an Egyptian would not be able to say. Indoing so, He would show that he was truly Hebrew, and their brother.
Gen 45:14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.


Gen 45:15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
Gen 45:16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” So it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.




Gen 45:17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of Canaan.


Gen 45:18 ‘Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.


Gen 45:19 ‘Now you are commanded—do this: Take carts out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father and come.


Gen 45:20 ‘Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

Pharaoh was happy to know that that Egypt would longer be seen as a nation run by an ex-slave, and ex-convict of unknown origin. Everyone would see that Joseph was the member of a prominent and respected family. Also with his family he would stop thinking of himself as an alien.
Pharaoh gave the order to send carts, as he know that Joseph not abuse his rank, and send them. It was prohibited to ex-port wagons from Egypt, and so Joseph may not have sent anything for his father. So he gave the order to send them, with enough provisions and cargo space to bring back all their necessary belongings.


Gen 45:21 Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey.


Gen 45:22
He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of garments.




Gen 45:23 And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey.




Gen 45:24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.”

The close was given so that they would be dressed more like the brothers of the viceroy. Also to replace the ones they had torn. One would think that giving more to Benjamin would be strange. After all Joseph had been the the victim of the brothers jealousy, so to protect his only full brother, he would not have done this. Yet as Magilllah said, this may allude to Mordechai, the off spring of Benjamin, that would emerge from King Ahasuerus's presence attired in in five royal garments.
No mater how we see this, it is just one of mant other instances that allude to future Jewish history.


Gen 45:25 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.


Gen 45:26 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them.
Gen 45:27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
Gen 45:28 Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

At first Jacob must have thought they were lying to him. After all he believed them when they showed him the blood stained tunic. However, as they showed him the carts, his spirit was lifted. 2 things that may have take place that we are not told. First the Hebrew word for cart, and also mean calves. Rashi makes he the point that Joseph may have the brother tell JaCob about eh last topic they had studied together. That of eglah arufah, the calf whose neck was broken in expiation of an unsolved murder.
Also, the divine Spirit had left him, as it rest only in joy. the sorrow of Joseph's absence was the reason for the Spirit departing him. The joy of knowing he would see Joseph before he died, revived that spirit in him once more.
 

Rainrider

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Jun 17, 2017
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Gen 46:1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.


Gen 46:2 Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.”


Gen 46:3 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.

Some may find it odd that Israel would stop and give thanks and express his gratitude to HaShem, when he had yet to see Joseph. However, it is when show gratitude before a prayer is answered that we show by our action, our faith in HaShem, and our willingness to express that faith, shows no apprehension on our part that He will do what is our best interest. Yet in this case, it is showing that Israel understood HaShem's willingness to reword him for his faithfulness.


Gen 46:4 “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.”

The sages tell us that Joseph putting his hands on Jacob's eyes is an idiomatic expression referring to closing the eyes of one that has died.


Gen 46:5 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.
Gen 46:6 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.




Gen 46:7 His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.


Gen 46:8 Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn.


Gen 46:9 The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.


Gen 46:10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.



This Canaanite women is thought to be Dinah. The sages teach that she wouldn't go into Egypt until Simeon agreed to marry her. Although the Patriarch's live by the Torah, they did permit themselves, under exceptional circumstances to observe the prevailing Halachah.
Though i looked for the English translation of this word I found none. Halachah is however the entire body of Jewish law, comprising Biblical laws, oral laws transcribed in the Talmud, and subsequent codes altering traditional teachings. In this case, that would be, as I was told, to protect the life and integrity of Dinah and her son.
Gen 46:11 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Gen 46:12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
Gen 46:13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron.






Gen 46:14
The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel
Gen 46:15
These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the persons, his sons and his daughters, were thirty-three.


Gen 46:16 The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.


Gen 46:17 The sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, their sister. And the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel.


Gen 46:18 These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.


Gen 46:19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, were Joseph and Benjamin.


Gen 46:20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.


Gen 46:21 The sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
Gen 46:22 These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all.
Gen 46:23 The son of Dan was Hushim.






Gen 46:24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.


Gen 46:25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: seven persons in all.
Gen 46:26 All the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his body, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all.

When we look at this,doing the math we end up with 70 in all. As we know there were 3 already in Egypt, bring us to a total of only 69. The sages tell us that Yocheved was born in rout bring the total to 70. One other teaching is that Jacob was he 70th, and the last one I know of tells us that the 70th was the Shechinah, as HaShem joined them in fulfillment of His word to JaCob that he would go with them.
This number doesn't count the son's wives, servants, or the children of the servants. So it safe to say the number was a lot higher.
Gen 46:27 And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy.






Gen 46:28 Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen.


Gen 46:29 So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.


Gen 46:30 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”

The sages note that te Torah doe say Jacob wept. They teach that this was due to Jacob resighting the Shema. Though the Torah doesn't back this, and we may be wise to set tht a side.
Jacob was not at this point wishing for death to over take him. Rather he was just happy to se Joseph live and well. It seemed to some how give him peace of mind that the promuse of HaShem was intaked, and would be fulfilled.


Gen 46:31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.


Gen 46:32 ‘And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’


Gen 46:33 “So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’


Gen 46:34 “that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Joseph, may have wished to guarantee, that his family live Goshen, where they would free of the corrupting influence of Egyptian society, told them to say they shepherds their whole life. As we know, this worked up until, they became enslaved.
 

Rainrider

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Jun 17, 2017
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Gen 47:1 Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen.”


Gen 47:2 And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.


Gen 47:3 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers.”


Gen 47:4 And they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”



Joseph when talking with Pharaoh wishing to place the idea into Paharaohs mind, stated that they were in the land of Goshen. The 5 brothers he took were as the sages tell us the 5 lest impressive physically. Had Pharaoh seen the strongest of them, he might have enlisted them into the military. Placing them in direct contact with the pagan worship, and traditions Joseph wished to keep them away from. As noted before, the idea of them being sheepherders would ensure they could stay in Goshen, as the Egyptians, hated sheepherders.
In their answer the brothers wish to show both respect, and impress that they were would only be in Egypt until HaShem called them back to their home land. Also they wished to humble people, not as privileged. In this way they wouuld show they didn't want or expect special treatment due to their brother being viceroy.
Gen 47:5 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you.


Gen 47:6 “The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.”

The offer of making any of them chief herdsmen, was not an act of kindness, as some may think. Having seen how everything Joseph was put in charge of prospered, Pharaoh most likely was in hopes of his herds growing in a manner that would enrich his family.
Gen 47:7 Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.




Gen 47:8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?”
Gen 47:9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”
Gen 47:10 So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.



Pharaoh must have been stunned by the look of a man that must have been older than any he had ever seen. This would be the reason for asking his age. It is clear that this didn't bother Jacob, as his answer was one of great detail. Showing both his humbleness, and giving praise to his fathers. Though we don't know the intent of the blessing give to Paraoh, the sages say that it was due to this blessing that the ended after only 2 years.
Gen 47:11 And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, 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.






Gen 47:12 Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.
Gen 47:13 Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.




Gen 47:14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.

Why one may ask, would a true ma of HaShem force the farmers to pay for grain that they had given to Pharaoh. The odds are that when the price was low, due to the over flow of grain, Joseph paid for the grain. Though it may also be that Pharaoh forced them to give up the grain, and now claimed that he had every right to charge them for it.
Gen 47:15 So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.”




Gen 47:16 Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.”


Gen 47:17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.

As we know man can't live on meat alone. We must have other nutrients to go along with it. So the price of some livestock, for the much needed food was not a bad deal really. If you think of what it would be like to dye of malnutrition.
Gen 47:18 When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands.


Gen 47:19 “Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.”


Gen 47:20 Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s.


Gen 47:22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands.
Gen 47:23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.

As we see Joseph had gained almost all of the wealth in Egypt. This made Pharaoh the wealthiest man on earth at that time. Or close to it anyway. As the people of Egypt acquired poverty. Indeed they had became slaves to Pharaoh, paid crops, with nothing to show for their work. Other than a full belly, and roof over their heads. Both however could be taken at the whim of Pharaoh.


Gen 47:24 “And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.”


Gen 47:26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.

The idea that the words,"to this day" should imply that it this way today, is not right. This is only to show that at the time of the witting it was still like that.


Gen 47:27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.


Gen 47:28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years.


Gen 47:29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt,


Gen 47:30 “but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.”


Gen 47:31 Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.



It may do well to point out the what the sages asy of the last verses in this chapter. Though may will not agree, as I myself don't. Still their thoughts have filled this study, so to set them aside now seems wrong somehow.
They say that Jacob had had 3 reasons to want his body to be in Hebron.
1 He know that one day the land would be covered in lice, and it would sworm beneath his body.
2 Those that are buried out side of Israel, will not come to life at the resurrection until they roll through the earth and reach Israel.
3 Jacob didn't want the Egyotians to make his tomb a shrine of idol worship.
 

MarcR

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Gen 46:1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.


Gen 46:2 Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.”


Gen 46:3 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.

Some may find it odd that Israel would stop and give thanks and express his gratitude to HaShem, when he had yet to see Joseph. However, it is when show gratitude before a prayer is answered that we show by our action, our faith in HaShem, and our willingness to express that faith, shows no apprehension on our part that He will do what is our best interest. Yet in this case, it is showing that Israel understood HaShem's willingness to reword him for his faithfulness.


Gen 46:4 “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.”

The sages tell us that Joseph putting his hands on Jacob's eyes is an idiomatic expression referring to closing the eyes of one that has died.


Gen 46:5 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.
Gen 46:6 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.




Gen 46:7 His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.


Gen 46:8 Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn.


Gen 46:9 The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.


Gen 46:10 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.



This Canaanite women is thought to be Dinah. The sages teach that she wouldn't go into Egypt until Simeon agreed to marry her. Although the Patriarch's live by the Torah, they did permit themselves, under exceptional circumstances to observe the prevailing Halachah.
Though i looked for the English translation of this word I found none. Halachah is however the entire body of Jewish law, comprising Biblical laws, oral laws transcribed in the Talmud, and subsequent codes altering traditional teachings. In this case, that would be, as I was told, to protect the life and integrity of Dinah and her son.
Gen 46:11 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Gen 46:12 The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
Gen 46:13 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron.






Gen 46:14
The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel
Gen 46:15
These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the persons, his sons and his daughters, were thirty-three.


Gen 46:16 The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.


Gen 46:17 The sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, their sister. And the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel.


Gen 46:18 These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.


Gen 46:19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, were Joseph and Benjamin.


Gen 46:20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.


Gen 46:21 The sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
Gen 46:22 These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all.
Gen 46:23 The son of Dan was Hushim.






Gen 46:24 The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.


Gen 46:25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: seven persons in all.
Gen 46:26 All the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his body, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all.

When we look at this,doing the math we end up with 70 in all. As we know there were 3 already in Egypt, bring us to a total of only 69. The sages tell us that Yocheved was born in rout bring the total to 70. One other teaching is that Jacob was he 70th, and the last one I know of tells us that the 70th was the Shechinah, as HaShem joined them in fulfillment of His word to JaCob that he would go with them.
This number doesn't count the son's wives, servants, or the children of the servants. So it safe to say the number was a lot higher.
Gen 46:27 And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy.






Gen 46:28 Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen.


Gen 46:29 So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.


Gen 46:30 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”

The sages note that te Torah doe say Jacob wept. They teach that this was due to Jacob resighting the Shema. Though the Torah doesn't back this, and we may be wise to set tht a side.
Jacob was not at this point wishing for death to over take him. Rather he was just happy to se Joseph live and well. It seemed to some how give him peace of mind that the promuse of HaShem was intaked, and would be fulfilled.


Gen 46:31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.


Gen 46:32 ‘And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’


Gen 46:33 “So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’


Gen 46:34 “that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Joseph, may have wished to guarantee, that his family live Goshen, where they would free of the corrupting influence of Egyptian society, told them to say they shepherds their whole life. As we know, this worked up until, they became enslaved.


Gen 46:30 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”

“Now let me die is an accurate literal translation; but the true sense of it is 'now I can die happy (or at peace).