My Reflections

Summary of week 9 Bible study.

This week's study begins with a list of family names; these are all the people within the lineage of Israel (Jacob) when he moved to Egypt to be with Joseph. This also gives us insight as to Joseph's extended family.

Observing the meaning of all the names, I created this list.
"Meaning of names in Genesis 46:5-26"  (This is what I spent the most time on studying. I didn't want to miss anything.)

These are the families of Joseph and his brothers. I find etymology and the meaning of their names an interesting study as well as the Bible story itself.

When Israel was almost to Joseph, Joseph went out to meet him. When they met, they wept on each other's shoulders for a good while. Once they finished weeping, Israel felt like he could die happy knowing Joseph was still alive. I can only imagine how it must have felt to see his son alive after presuming him dead all those years.

Joseph instructed them how to speak to pharaoh saying they were in the business of cattle. Shepherds were considered an abomination to the Egyptians.
https://www.thetorah.com/article/shepherds-and-eating-with-hebrews-an-abominatio...
https://www.bing.com/search?q=why%20were%20shepherds%20an%20abomination%20to%20t...
https://messianic-revolution.com/43-1-why-was-it-abhorrent-for-egyptians-to-eat-...

From what I can get out of my web search, it was a matter of social status as the reason Shepherds couldn't associate with the Egyptians. Also, the pastureland was mainly in Goshen. However, if the said their business was cattle in general, it wasn't considered as bad as just dealing merely with sheep and goats. You can see more information on this by using the link above.

Joseph took 5 men from among his brethren and presented them to the pharaoh along with his father. Pharaoh granted Joseph permission to give them of the best of the land of Egypt and to hire some of them to care for his cattle also. Israel blessed Pharoah when he met him and was 130 years old when he had moved to Egypt.

One observation I make here by Israel's statement to the Pharoah is that he wasn't happy with the path his life had taken. And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” I know I have even been disappointed in the way my own life played out. However, just like Israel, we can take comfort in the sovereignty of God, knowing he is in control, and everything will work out for our good. (Romans 8:28)

Joseph gave them land and set his family up in Goshen. They grew in wealth and prospered there. Israel lived another 17 years in Egypt and died at the age of 147.

During the famine, Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharoah except for the Priest's land. He bought the cattle from the people too. People also sold themselves to Pharoah into slavery so they could have food to eat. So, the people had to pay a fifth part of their crops back to Pharoah.

When it came close for the time that Israel should die, Joseph was told his father was sick. He brought his 2 sons to him for a blessing. Israel claimed them as his own and gave them a portion of the inheritance. Israel made Joseph promise to carry his remains out of Egypt and to not leave him there.