Genesis 46

God assures Jacob (vs. 1-4)—Jacob, of course, had already determined to move down to Egypt and be with Joseph. God came to him in a nighttime vision, however, just to reassure him: “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" (v. 4). The “bring you up again” was after his death.  God also repeats to Jacob that He will make him a great nation (v. 3).

Jacob’s family in Egypt (vs. 5-27)—This section is largely given to listing his sons and their families. Moses says there were 66 who went, 70 total in Egypt—that would include Joseph, his wife, and two sons. Stephen in Acts 7:14 says there were 75 who went. Of the ones leaving Canaan, Moses only mentions those directly from Jacob’s loins—sons and grandchildren. Stephen obviously includes the wives—there would have been 9 of them. Judah’s wife was dead (Genesis 38:12), and apparently Simeon’s was as well, since his last son was by a Canaanite woman (46:10). Add the 9 to the 66 and you get the 75 that Stephen mentions.

The reunion of Jacob and Joseph (vs. 28-34)—Not knowing where the land of Goshen was, Jacob sent Judah on ahead to Joseph to show them where to go (v. 28). They arrived safely, and father and son (Joseph) meet: “he [Joseph] presented himself to him [Jacob], and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while” (v. 29). That must have been some reunion. After a while, Joseph prepared to leave and tell Pharaoh that his family had arrived. He advised his brothers that “when Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your occupation?' that you shall say, 'Your servants' occupation has been with livestock (cattle, KJV, ASV) from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers’” (vs. 33-34). This wasn’t true, they were shepherds, but Joseph didn’t want them to inform Pharaoh of that “for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians" (v. 34). So, he advised them to lie. As we’ve seen, these great men of the Bible weren’t perfect.