Genesis 46

So Israel set out with everything he had, and when he came to Beersheba he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night. “Jacob. Jacob.” “Here I am,” he said.

And He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Don't be afraid to go down to Egypt, because I'll make you into a great nation there.

I'll go down to Egypt with you, and I'll surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes.”

Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons put their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

They took their livestock and the possessions they'd built up in Canaan, and Jacob went down to Egypt with all his descendants.

He took his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters — all his descendants — with him to Egypt.

These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt — Jacob and his descendants. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.

Reuben's sons: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.

Simeon's sons: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

Levi's sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

Judah's sons: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah — but Er and Onan died in Canaan. Perez's sons: Hezron and Hamul.

Issachar's sons: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.

Zebulun's sons: Sered, Elon and Jahleel.

These were the sons Leah had for Jacob in Paddan Aram, as well as his daughter Dinah. In all, his sons and daughters came to thirty-three.

Gad's sons: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.

Asher's sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah, and their sister Serah. Beriah's sons: Heber and Malkiel.

These were the children Zilpah had for Jacob — the servant Laban gave to his daughter Leah — sixteen in all.

The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera priest of On.

Benjamin's sons: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.

These were the sons Rachel had for Jacob — fourteen in all.

Dan's son: Hushim.

Naphtali's sons: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem.

These were the sons Bilhah had for Jacob — the servant Laban gave to his daughter Rachel — seven in all.

Everyone who went to Egypt with Jacob, his own descendants, not counting his sons' wives, came to sixty-six.

And with Joseph's two sons who were born to him in Egypt, the members of Jacob's household who went to Egypt came to seventy.

Now Jacob sent Judah on ahead of him to Joseph, to get directions to Goshen. And they came to the region of Goshen.

And Joseph had his chariot got ready and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. And as soon as he appeared in front of him, he threw his arms around his father's neck and wept for a long time.

And Israel said to Joseph, “Now I can die. I've seen your face for myself, and you're still alive.”

And Joseph said to his brothers and his father's household, “I'll go up and speak to Pharaoh. I'll tell him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were living in Canaan, have come to me.

The men are shepherds. They look after livestock, and they've brought their flocks and herds and everything they own.’

When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What's your occupation?’

you should say, ‘Your servants have looked after livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you'll be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, because all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”