Génesis

Génesis 46:1

Ver. 1. The well of the oath. Bersabee.

Génesis 46:3

Ver. 3. Fear not. He might be apprehensive, lest his children should be depraved, living among idolaters, or prefer Egypt before the promised land. He was also afraid to undertake this journey without consulting God. M.

Génesis 46:4

Ver. 4. Thence; in thy posterity. Sept. add at last, or after a long time. Jacob's bones were brought back and buried in Chanaan. C. --- Eyes, as he is the most dear to thee. Parents closed the eyes of their children in death. The Romans opened them again when the corpse was upon the funeral pire; thinking it a mark of disrespect for the eyes to be shut to heaven; "ut neque ab homine supremum eos spectari fas sit, & cœlo non ostendi, nefas." Plin. xi. 37.

Génesis 46:7

Ver. 7. Daughters. Dina, and grand-daughter Sara, (v. 17,) and his sons' wives, &c. C. --- We may observe, that all here mentioned were not born at the time when Jacob went down into Egypt, but they were before he or Joseph died; that is, during the space of 17 or 71 years. See S. Aug. q. 151. 173.

M. --- The names of the Heb. and Sept. vary some little from the Vulgate, which may be attributed to the difference of pronunciation, or to the same person having many names. The number is also different in the Sept. as the authors of that version have, perhaps, inserted some names taken from other parts of Scripture, to remove any apparent contradiction. The genealogies of Juda, Joseph, and Benjamin, are carried farther than the rest, as those families were of greater consequence.

Génesis 46:9

Ver. 9. Hesron and Charmi were probably born in Egypt, as Ruben had only two sons. C. xlii. 37. Philo.

Génesis 46:10

Ver. 10. Jamuel. Num. xxvi. 12, he is called Namuel. --- Jachin is Jarid. 1 Par. iv. 24. C.

Génesis 46:12

Ver. 12. Were born, afterwards. M.

Génesis 46:15

Ver. 15. Syria. This must be restrained to her seven children.

--- Thirty-three, comprising Lia, or Jacob; but without Her and Onan, who were dead. C.

Génesis 46:20

Ver. 20. Ephraim. The Sept. take in here the children of both.

Num. xxvi. 29. 35.

Génesis 46:21

Ver. 21. Benjamin. Ten in number; though the Sept. have only nine, and suppose that some of them were his grandchildren.

He was 33 (or 24, M.) years old. C. --- Grotius thinks three names have been made out of two; Echi, Ros, and mophim, out of Ahiram and Supham, as we read, Num. xxvi. 38.

Génesis 46:23

Ver. 23. Sons. The Arab. has son. Husim is Suham, (Num.

xxvi. 42,) by change and transposition of letters. Ken.

Génesis 46:26

Ver. 26. Sixty-six; not including Jacob, Joseph, and his two children, who make up 70, v. 27. Deut. x. 22. The Sept. taking in Joseph's grandchildren, read 75; in which they are followed by S. Stephen. Acts. vii. 14. See S. Jer. q. Heb. C. --- S.

Augustine cannot account for these grand-children and great grand-children of Joseph being mentioned as coming with Jacob into Egypt, since some of them were not born during his life-time. He suspects some hidden mystery. W. See v. 7. ---

Some think S. Stephen excludes Jacob, Joseph, and his sons; and included the 64 men, with 11 wives. D.

Génesis 46:34

Ver. 34. Abomination. See C. xliii. 32. The source of this hatred against foreign shepherds, was probably because, about 100

years before Abraham, the shepherd-kings, Hycussos, had got possession of a great part of Egypt, and were at last expel ed by the kings of Thebais. See Manetho ap. Eus. præp. x. 13.

Another reason why they hated foreigners was, because they slew and eat sheep, &c. which they themselves adored. The Egyptians kept sheep for this purpose, and for the benefits to be derived from their wool, &c. C. xlvii. 17. C. --- Joseph took advantage of this disposition of the inhabitants, to keep his brethren at a distance from them, that they might not be perverted. He does not introduce them at court, that no jealousy might be excited. He shews that he is not ashamed of his extraction. M.