Israel set out with all that belonged to him. When he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. That night, God appeared to him in a vision and called, "Jacob! Jacob!" and he replied, "Here I am."
The Lord reassured him, saying, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I will go with you, and surely I will bring you back again. Joseph himself will close your eyes when your time comes."
With this promise, Jacob departed from Beersheba. His sons placed him, their children, and their wives in the carts Pharaoh had provided. They carried their livestock, their possessions, and all their household. Thus, Jacob and all his descendants—sons, grandsons, daughters, and granddaughters—journeyed to Egypt.
The record carefully lists those who went with him:
From Leah came Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah, with their sons and grandsons—thirty-three in all.
From Zilpah, Leah's maid, came Gad and Asher with their children—sixteen in all.
From Rachel came Joseph and Benjamin. In Egypt, Joseph's sons Manasseh and Ephraim were born to him by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera the priest of On. Benjamin had ten sons. Altogether, Rachel's line numbered fourteen.
From Bilhah, Rachel's maid, came Dan and Naphtali with their children—seven in all.
Altogether, sixty-six direct descendants of Jacob made the journey, not counting the wives of his sons. With Joseph and his two sons already in Egypt, the household of Israel totaled seventy.
Jacob sent Judah ahead to lead the way to Goshen. There Joseph came in his chariot to meet his father. When at last father and son met, Joseph threw his arms around Jacob and wept for a long time. Overcome with peace, Israel said, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen with my own eyes that you are alive."
Joseph then told his brothers and household, "I will go and tell Pharaoh that you have come from Canaan. I will say that you are shepherds, keepers of livestock, and that you have brought your flocks, herds, and all you own. When Pharaoh asks your occupation, answer, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth, as our fathers were.' Then you will be allowed to dwell in the land of Goshen, for shepherds are detestable to Egyptians."