-
†. Gen 47:27-28 . . Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of
Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and
increased greatly in number. Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years,
and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.
Jacob immigrated to Egypt when he was 130 (Gen 47:9) so he spent as
many years with Joseph at the last as he had at the first-- seventeen (cf.
Gen 37:2). At this point, the famine had been done and over for 12 years,
since it was during the second year of the seven-year famine that the people
of Israel arrived (Gen 45:11).
During those 12 years, and no doubt the other five too, Jacob's clan did very
well for themselves; so that they eventually became a political element to be
reckoned with (Ex 1:6-10). By the time of the Exodus, the Israelites
numbered over 600,000 adults, not counting children. Israelites were
accounted "children" until the age of 20 (Num 26:2). Here in America, we let
children of 18 vote for Presidents. Now that's scary.
It's interesting that another Pharaoh, in the future-- who would enslave
them in the book of Exodus --wasn't worried about the Israelites increasing
to the point of taking over his country, no, he was concerned they might up
and leave it. What's that saying? It's saying, that as a people, Jacob's clan
were excellent, productive citizens who accounted for a significant portion of
Egypt's gross national product.
The palace itself benefited from their ranching skills (Gen 47:5). No doubt
Hebrew beef from the Nile delta became a highly sought commodity
everywhere in Egypt. Jacob's people not only maintained a fishing industry,
but they farmed too (Num 11:5). And among them were experts in the
construction trades (Ex 1:11) and in every manner of skill and artifice (Ex
31:1-6, Ex 35:20-36:7).
That all tells me that the Israelites weren't freeloaders by any means. They
were hard workers who put their noses to the grindstone and contributed
their fair share to Egypt's prosperity just like today's Hispanic immigrants
contribute their own fair share to America's prosperity. In point of fact, if
today's Hispanic work force should all up and return to their native lands,
America's economy would really feel it. So is it really any wonder then why
the US Government does all it can to accommodate Hispanic immigrants;
even the illegal ones?
†. Gen 47:29a . . And when the time approached for Israel to die, he
summoned his son Joseph
Normally, the patriarchs would convene with a natural firstborn son for
serious family business, but that position was transferred to Joseph because
of Reuben's tryst with his father's concubine. (1Chrn 5:1)
NOTE: The reason genealogies aren't reckoned by birthright is because the
status is conferrable upon a younger sibling; which of course would produce
an inaccurate family chronology.
†. Gen 47:29b . . and said unto him: If now I have found grace in thy
sight,
The phrase "found grace in they sight" seems to be a Genesis colloquialism
for someone disposed to do you a favor; e.g. Gen 6:8 where God singled out
Noah to survive the Flood.
†. Gen 47:29c . . put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and
truly with me.
This is the second, and last, place in Genesis where a hand was placed under
a patriarch's thigh during the making of a promise. The first was Gen 24:2-
3, with Abraham.
†. Gen 47:29d-30a . . Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with
my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are
buried.
Jacob's statement underscores the fact that when people are gathered to
their ancestors, it doesn't necessarily indicate burial because Jacob's remains
would be stored in Egypt until such a time as he could be transported back
to Canaan. So he would already be at rest with his ancestors prior to
actually being buried with them later. (cf. Gen 49:33, Gen 50:3, and Gen
50:12-13)
When you think about it, choosing the location of one's burial site has no
practical advantages to speak of. Some people want to buried overlooking
the sea or an orchard. But do they themselves really get much of a view?
No, they're gone on to the netherworld; and their remains, being
underground and quite without life or eyesight, have only the inky blackness
of a subterranean pit to view, if that.
So then, is there really any significance to Jacob's request? Yes, it means
that Jacob believed the land of Canaan was on his own property; rather than
just the land of his nativity. He wanted to be buried at home, rather than on
foreign soil. God had promised Jacob deed and title to that land back in
chapter 35; and although he never really possessed it in his own days, Jacob
was confident that God was a man of integrity who would eventually make
good on His promises. The patriarchs were amazingly patient. (Heb 11:13
16)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†. Gen 47:27-28 . . Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of
Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and
increased greatly in number. Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years,
and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.
Jacob immigrated to Egypt when he was 130 (Gen 47:9) so he spent as
many years with Joseph at the last as he had at the first-- seventeen (cf.
Gen 37:2). At this point, the famine had been done and over for 12 years,
since it was during the second year of the seven-year famine that the people
of Israel arrived (Gen 45:11).
During those 12 years, and no doubt the other five too, Jacob's clan did very
well for themselves; so that they eventually became a political element to be
reckoned with (Ex 1:6-10). By the time of the Exodus, the Israelites
numbered over 600,000 adults, not counting children. Israelites were
accounted "children" until the age of 20 (Num 26:2). Here in America, we let
children of 18 vote for Presidents. Now that's scary.
It's interesting that another Pharaoh, in the future-- who would enslave
them in the book of Exodus --wasn't worried about the Israelites increasing
to the point of taking over his country, no, he was concerned they might up
and leave it. What's that saying? It's saying, that as a people, Jacob's clan
were excellent, productive citizens who accounted for a significant portion of
Egypt's gross national product.
The palace itself benefited from their ranching skills (Gen 47:5). No doubt
Hebrew beef from the Nile delta became a highly sought commodity
everywhere in Egypt. Jacob's people not only maintained a fishing industry,
but they farmed too (Num 11:5). And among them were experts in the
construction trades (Ex 1:11) and in every manner of skill and artifice (Ex
31:1-6, Ex 35:20-36:7).
That all tells me that the Israelites weren't freeloaders by any means. They
were hard workers who put their noses to the grindstone and contributed
their fair share to Egypt's prosperity just like today's Hispanic immigrants
contribute their own fair share to America's prosperity. In point of fact, if
today's Hispanic work force should all up and return to their native lands,
America's economy would really feel it. So is it really any wonder then why
the US Government does all it can to accommodate Hispanic immigrants;
even the illegal ones?
†. Gen 47:29a . . And when the time approached for Israel to die, he
summoned his son Joseph
Normally, the patriarchs would convene with a natural firstborn son for
serious family business, but that position was transferred to Joseph because
of Reuben's tryst with his father's concubine. (1Chrn 5:1)
NOTE: The reason genealogies aren't reckoned by birthright is because the
status is conferrable upon a younger sibling; which of course would produce
an inaccurate family chronology.
†. Gen 47:29b . . and said unto him: If now I have found grace in thy
sight,
The phrase "found grace in they sight" seems to be a Genesis colloquialism
for someone disposed to do you a favor; e.g. Gen 6:8 where God singled out
Noah to survive the Flood.
†. Gen 47:29c . . put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and
truly with me.
This is the second, and last, place in Genesis where a hand was placed under
a patriarch's thigh during the making of a promise. The first was Gen 24:2-
3, with Abraham.
†. Gen 47:29d-30a . . Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with
my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are
buried.
Jacob's statement underscores the fact that when people are gathered to
their ancestors, it doesn't necessarily indicate burial because Jacob's remains
would be stored in Egypt until such a time as he could be transported back
to Canaan. So he would already be at rest with his ancestors prior to
actually being buried with them later. (cf. Gen 49:33, Gen 50:3, and Gen
50:12-13)
When you think about it, choosing the location of one's burial site has no
practical advantages to speak of. Some people want to buried overlooking
the sea or an orchard. But do they themselves really get much of a view?
No, they're gone on to the netherworld; and their remains, being
underground and quite without life or eyesight, have only the inky blackness
of a subterranean pit to view, if that.
So then, is there really any significance to Jacob's request? Yes, it means
that Jacob believed the land of Canaan was on his own property; rather than
just the land of his nativity. He wanted to be buried at home, rather than on
foreign soil. God had promised Jacob deed and title to that land back in
chapter 35; and although he never really possessed it in his own days, Jacob
was confident that God was a man of integrity who would eventually make
good on His promises. The patriarchs were amazingly patient. (Heb 11:13
16)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=