Joseph acts to secure the best place for his family to thrive.
“Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, ‘My father and my brothers and their flocks and their herds and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.’” (v.1) Joseph, who lived approximately between 1914 and 1804 BC, steps forward to inform Pharaoh of his family’s arrival from Canaan. In this verse, Joseph takes the formal step of communicating directly with the Egyptian ruler, maintaining the trust and respect he has cultivated. By announcing his father and brothers’ presence alongside their livestock and possessions, Joseph emphasizes they have traveled from Canaan, a region that stretches northward along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, traditionally recognized as the Promised Land. Their decision to settle in Goshen reflects a need for pasture due to their extensive flocks, which underscores how carefully Joseph manages the welfare of his family in this new setting.
“…and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” (v.1) highlights the significance of Goshen, located in the northeastern part of Egypt. This area was fertile for grazing, benefiting shepherds with ample water from the Nile Delta. Goshen’s location also provided a degree of separation from the main Egyptian population, an important consideration for a family steeped in Hebrew customs. Joseph deftly navigates Egyptian court politics by requesting permission for his family to stay in this ideal region, thus preserving their livelihood and continuing the lineage that would later become the nation of Israel (Exodus 1:7).
Joseph himself fits into the biblical timeline as the favored eleventh son of the patriarch Jacob (later renamed Israel), who was born around 2006 BC, and grandfather to the future tribes of Israel (Genesis 49). By Genesis 47, Joseph has already ascended to power as Egypt’s second-in-command, during a period of great famine that God allowed him to foresee and prepare for (Genesis 41). His intercession on behalf of his family foreshadows another deliverance centuries later, pointed to ultimately by Jesus as the Deliverer for all mankind (Romans 11:26).
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Genesis 47:1 meaning
“Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, ‘My father and my brothers and their flocks and their herds and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.’” (v.1) Joseph, who lived approximately between 1914 and 1804 BC, steps forward to inform Pharaoh of his family’s arrival from Canaan. In this verse, Joseph takes the formal step of communicating directly with the Egyptian ruler, maintaining the trust and respect he has cultivated. By announcing his father and brothers’ presence alongside their livestock and possessions, Joseph emphasizes they have traveled from Canaan, a region that stretches northward along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, traditionally recognized as the Promised Land. Their decision to settle in Goshen reflects a need for pasture due to their extensive flocks, which underscores how carefully Joseph manages the welfare of his family in this new setting.
“…and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” (v.1) highlights the significance of Goshen, located in the northeastern part of Egypt. This area was fertile for grazing, benefiting shepherds with ample water from the Nile Delta. Goshen’s location also provided a degree of separation from the main Egyptian population, an important consideration for a family steeped in Hebrew customs. Joseph deftly navigates Egyptian court politics by requesting permission for his family to stay in this ideal region, thus preserving their livelihood and continuing the lineage that would later become the nation of Israel (Exodus 1:7).
Joseph himself fits into the biblical timeline as the favored eleventh son of the patriarch Jacob (later renamed Israel), who was born around 2006 BC, and grandfather to the future tribes of Israel (Genesis 49). By Genesis 47, Joseph has already ascended to power as Egypt’s second-in-command, during a period of great famine that God allowed him to foresee and prepare for (Genesis 41). His intercession on behalf of his family foreshadows another deliverance centuries later, pointed to ultimately by Jesus as the Deliverer for all mankind (Romans 11:26).