Land O’Goshen! It is a common Southern idiom meant to exclaim surprise. Goshen is first used in the Bible as an Egyptian province. It will be used later in the series.
“And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.” (Genesis 46:1)
God spoke to Israel by visions that it was safe to go down to Egypt because God would be with him. God also promised to use Egypt to make Israel a great nation and bring him up again.
“And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.” (Gen 46:5)
For a Pharaoh to do anything for Hebrews was a great honor. It is obvious from how Pharaoh made Joseph the second in command of Egypt, that Pharaoh greatly respected him.
Israel brought everyone and everything he had to Egypt. It can sound like a lot, but to include Joseph’s children it was a group of 66 persons.
Joseph told everyone that he was going to explain to Pharaoh what the Children of Israel did for a living. They are shepherds, and the Egyptians considered a shepherd to be the lowest order in society.
Joseph takes his men, 5 at a time to meet the Pharaoh. They tell Pharaoh that they are shepherds and need pastures for their cattle.
And the Pharaoh said, “The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.” (Gen 47:6)
“And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, 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.” (Gen 47:11)
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