God’s covenantal faithfulness is displayed in the inclusion of every person in Jacob’s family line.
In the midst of Jacob’s journey to Egypt, Scripture provides the lineage of Asher when it says, “The sons of Asher: Imnah and Ishvah and Ishvi and Beriah, and their sister Serah. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel” (v.17). It is noteworthy that Asher’s children are named in a passage primarily dedicated to listing Jacob’s descendants who descend into Egypt. This genealogical record highlights the continuity of God’s covenant plan through Jacob’s family. By carefully noting the members of Asher’s household, the text emphasizes that the entire family line moves under God’s direction, assuring readers that His purpose involves each of these individuals.
Asher, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, fits into the historical timeline around the 19th century BC, likely born sometime after 1910 BC. He was the eighth son of the patriarch Jacob (also called Israel), who received the divine promise that his descendants would become a great nation. This reference in Genesis 46 occurs as Jacob relocates his family from the region of Canaan to Egypt, specifically to settle in the land of Goshen (Genesis 47:6). The inclusion of Serah, Asher’s daughter, is also significant because it offers evidence that female members of the family were sometimes explicitly named in these genealogies.
Through “the sons of Asher: Imnah and Ishvah and Ishvi and Beriah, and their sister Serah” (v.17), the account underscores God’s multi-generational plan for the nation of Israel. Each person’s name carries forward the legacy and blessings originally promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). Even though these individuals appear briefly in Scripture, their presence in Genesis 46 underscores their role in the unfolding story leading to the eventual birth of the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-16).
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Genesis 46:17 meaning
In the midst of Jacob’s journey to Egypt, Scripture provides the lineage of Asher when it says, “The sons of Asher: Imnah and Ishvah and Ishvi and Beriah, and their sister Serah. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel” (v.17). It is noteworthy that Asher’s children are named in a passage primarily dedicated to listing Jacob’s descendants who descend into Egypt. This genealogical record highlights the continuity of God’s covenant plan through Jacob’s family. By carefully noting the members of Asher’s household, the text emphasizes that the entire family line moves under God’s direction, assuring readers that His purpose involves each of these individuals.
Asher, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, fits into the historical timeline around the 19th century BC, likely born sometime after 1910 BC. He was the eighth son of the patriarch Jacob (also called Israel), who received the divine promise that his descendants would become a great nation. This reference in Genesis 46 occurs as Jacob relocates his family from the region of Canaan to Egypt, specifically to settle in the land of Goshen (Genesis 47:6). The inclusion of Serah, Asher’s daughter, is also significant because it offers evidence that female members of the family were sometimes explicitly named in these genealogies.
Through “the sons of Asher: Imnah and Ishvah and Ishvi and Beriah, and their sister Serah” (v.17), the account underscores God’s multi-generational plan for the nation of Israel. Each person’s name carries forward the legacy and blessings originally promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). Even though these individuals appear briefly in Scripture, their presence in Genesis 46 underscores their role in the unfolding story leading to the eventual birth of the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-16).