The Story Through the Bible Gen 47

The plan

Genesis 46:31–34 ESV

Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

We get into chapter 47 and things unfold just as Joseph planned Pharaoh lets them have Goshen as they asked and even adds that he will employ some of their men to take care of the Pharaoh’s livestock. Jacob (Israel) is then introduced to Pharaoh.

Genesis 47:7–10 ESV

Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.

Some interesting things happen here. In contrast to other times we see introductions there is no “your servant” statement from either Pharaoh or Jacob. This seems to leave them on a bit of equal footing but then Jacob blesses Pharaoh which in the ancient Hebrew culture indicates the superior who blesses the one inferior. Hebrews 7:7 “It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.” I don’t know if Egyptian culture had a view on this or not and whether the Pharaoh knew about the Hebrew view but it’s doubtful they put much wieght into their views if they knew them given the earlier statement about Egyptians not being willing to sit at the same table as a Hebrew. In both cultures though age is very respected so when Pharaoh asks about age immediately after being blessed there’s a good reason to think it wasn’t an out of the blue question but one that indeed elevated Jacob to a high status as a very old man.

Everyone else gets settled…

Genesis 47:11–12 ESV

Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

Genesis 47:27–28 ESV

Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.

These two verses start very similarly re-enforcing an importance about Jacob/Israel as the head of a burgeoning nation. In 27 it switches if you notice to plural but we’ve only mentioned Israel the person, singular. This grammar gives us a clue the Bible is making about about the nation through the Man God chose.

So Jacob lives until 147 years old in Egypt with his sons before he dies, but that’s just a note Jacob hasn’t died in the story yet. He makes Joseph swear that he won’t be buried in Egypt but with his fathers in their land. How long did Jacob live in Egypt? 17 Anyone recognize the number 17 has that been relevant recently in our story? - Joseph was in Egypt 17 years. Coincidence isn’t a kosher word.

Genesis 48:1–5 ESV

After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.

How many sons did Israel have? 12 How many does he have now? 14 He essentially elevated the sons of Joseph to a full inheritant level. Yes I made that word up. Can he do that? Sure he can he’s the father! Are we born as sons and heirs of God? no but God has certainly raised us to be sons and heirs.

Romans 8:16–17 ESV

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Galatians 4:6–7 ESV

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

We get another final “trick” from the trickster himself in the blessing he gives out to his two new heirs. Joseph brings them close to be seen.

Genesis 48:8–14 ESV

When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).

Uh oh we are swapping the birth order blessing again. It seems the second child takes precedent over the first every time in this family so far…

Genesis 48:15–20 ESV

And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’ ” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

Anyone have a thought on the second and any themes we might have seen or see coming up potentially?

Cain & Abel (Gen 4:1–8) – Abel’s offering is accepted, Cain’s rejected; God shows favor to the younger.

Shem over Japheth (Gen 9:24–27) – The blessing flows through Shem rather than Japheth, though Japheth is older.

Isaac over Ishmael (Gen 17:18–21; 21:9–12) – The covenant continues through Isaac, not the firstborn Ishmael.

Jacob over Esau (Gen 25:21–23; 27:27–29) – God declares “the older shall serve the younger.”

Joseph over his brothers (Gen 37; 45:4–8) – Though not firstborn, he is raised to rule and preserve life.

Ephraim over Manasseh (Gen 48:12–20) – Jacob crosses his hands, blessing the younger above the elder.

Moses over Aaron (Exod 7:1–2) – Though Aaron is older, Moses is chosen as leader and prophet.

David over his brothers (1 Sam 16:6–13) – God rejects the elder sons of Jesse and anoints the youngest, David.

Solomon over Adonijah (1 Kgs 1:17–30) – The throne goes to Solomon, not the older Adonijah.

We even have the first Adam and second Adam analogies that come up.

Let’s look a little at this theme it ties back to our blessings at the choice of the father.

Romans 9:4–13 ESV

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

And then in

Galatians 4:21–31 ESV

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

This is a pattern continued on in the new testament that started back here in Genesis. Recognizing these patterns and triggering the memories of the stories through the Bible is why we’re doing this study. To start identifying patterns so that these things come to mind, edify - that is build us up to be stronger Christians, encourage, and exhort us (that just means encourage us to action in this context actions of righteousness).