From Genesis To Exodus

The primary theme of Genesis - "election" - developed with each revelation, climaxing with YHVH's revelation to Jacob upon his departure to Egypt.

When Jacob heard that Joseph was still alive, he immediately decided to visit him.

"And Israel said, My son Joseph is still alive, I must go and see him before I die."   (Gen 45:28) 

Was Jacob just planning on a "short visit"?   What were Joseph's plans for his family?

"Quickly go up to my father and tell him, thus says your son Joseph: YHVH has made me master over all of Egypt.  Come down to me, do not stay in Canaan; for you should dwell in the land of Goshen to be near me, you and your children... And I will provide for you there, for another five years of famine still remain, lest you perish, you and your entire household..."   (Gen 45:9-11)

Clearly, Joseph intended for his family to stay for more than just a 'long weekend.'  On the other hand, he was not inviting them to make Egypt their permanent home, either.  He wanted the family to come to Egypt specifically "because five years of famine still remain."  What will happen once the famine is over and economic conditions in Canaan improve?  Most likely, Jacob and his family plan to (and should) return to their homeland.

YHVH, however, had a different plan, which He revealed to Jacob before his departure from Canaan.  To better appreciate YHVH's plan, let us trace Jacob's trip from Hebron to Egypt.

"And Israel travelled with all that was his, and came to Beer Sheba, and he offered sacrifices, (peace offerings) to the Elohim of his father Isaac."   (Gen 46:1) 

When reading this verse, several questions arise.

Why did Jacob stop at Beer Sheba? 
Why did he pray specifically to the "Elohim of his father Isaac?"  Was He not the Elohim of Abraham as well?  (in Gen 32:10 Jacob prayed to the Elohim of both Abraham and Isaac)
Why did he offer specifically Peace Offering?
Why was Jacob's new name, Israel, used in this verse?

From YHVH's response to Jacob in the verses that followed - "Don't worry..." (Gen 46:1-3) - we can infer that something troubled Jacob.

Most probably, he was worried because he was leaving Canaan.  Recall that his father Isaac, even in times of famine, was not permitted to leave the land.

"And there was a famine in the Land... and YHVH appeared to Isaac and said to him: Do not go down to Egypt, stay in the Land that I show you..."  (Gen 26:1-3) 

Understandably, Jacob had reason for concern prior to his settlement in Egypt.  Although he had once received permission to leave Canaan (Gen 28:10-20) his situation then being quite different, as he faced immediate, life-threatening danger.  (Gen 27:41-43)  Even then, Jacob still needed divine reassurance that although he was leaving Canaan, YHVH would continue to look after him and bring him back.

"And behold I will be with you and take care of you on your journey, and I will bring you back to this land..."   (Gen 28:15) 

Now his situation was different.  Survival in Canaan, though difficult, was still possible, as food could be imported from Egypt. Besides, if Joseph wanted to see his father, he could have come to Canaan!  Was it really necessary for Jacob to resettle his entire family in Egypt at that time?

No doubt, Jacob had something to worry about...

Jacob feared that his departure to Egypt may be against YHVH's will or even a threat to his "election".  Therefore, he first stoped at Beer Sheba to pray - to 'ask permission' to leave Canaan.

Beer Sheba was the site of Isaac's place of prayer (Gen 26:24-25) where he built an altar.

Jacob chose Beer Sheba to parallel his first trip outside Canaan, from Beer Sheba to Haran.  (Gen 28:10) 

Beer Sheba was the 'official' southern border of Canaan and therefore, the appropriate site for Jacob to prepare for the trip. 

Jacob prayed specifically to the Elohim of Isaac because when Isaac faced a similar situation, YHVH did not allow him to leave Canaan.  It was Jacob's hope that despite this precedent, YHVH will permit him to leave. He may have also forseen that his departure to Egypt would be the beginning of the long Egyptian bondage.  Realizing that this process may entail terrible suffering, Jacob prayed specifically in hope that his children will suffer as little as possible.

Why did Jacob offer specifically "Peace Offerings"?

Significantly, this is the first mention in Torah of a Peace Offering to YHVH.  Until this time, the children of Noah (Abraham as well) offered Burnt Offerings only.

The difference between "burnt" and "peace" offering is that the "burnt offering"  was a sin offering, and was entirely consumed by the flame of the altar while the "peace offering" was a thanksgiving offering and the meat was eaten by the owner, while only a small portion was burnt on the altar.  (Lev 3:1, 7:11)

"Peace Offerings" were offered at:

The Passover Sacrifice 
The Mount Sinai Covenant  
The Dedication of the Tabernacle

These three events marked the completion of an important process with Thanksgiving Ceremony to YHVH.

The Passover Sacrifice marked the completion of the process of Egyptian Slavery.  (Ex 11:1 - 12:14) 

At Mount Sinai Israel offered special "peace offerings" as part of the ceremony where they accepted the commandments.

"Moses wrote down YHVH's commandments, and then, early in the morning, he set up an altar... and they offered burnt oferings and peace offerings to YHVH..."  (Ex 24:4-5) 

On the Eighth Day, upon the completion of the dedication ceremony of the Tabernacle, Israel offered a special peace offering. 

"And behold on the 8th day, Moses called Aaron to offer special sacrifices ... an ox and a ram for a peace offering..."  (Lev 9:1-4)  

Jacob was very thankful that Joseph was alive and that he had the opportunity to visit him.  These "peace offerings" were his thanksgiving offering.  (Lev 7:11-12)   Before leaving for Egypt Jacob thanked YHVH with peace offering, for re-uniting his family and completing the "election process", since the purpose of his descent to Egypt was not only to visit Joseph, but to re-unite his twelve sons.  Without Joseph, the "election" process was not yet complete, for a very important tribe was still missing. 

Why did the Torah use Jacob's special name of Israel?

The name Israel reflected YHVH's choice of Jacob as the final stage of the "election" process.  Unlike the previous generations, where only one son was chosen, all of Jacob's children were chosen to become YHVH's special nation, and it was only appropriate that the Torah use the name Israel.

Even after the "peace offering" Jacob was still worried about the implications of his departure from Canaan.

"Then YHVH spoke to Israel ... Fear not to go down to Egypt, for I will make you there a great nation.  I Myself will go down with you... and I Myself will also bring you back..."  (Gen 46:2-4)

YHVH's response added an entirely new dimension to his departure. 

Jacob may have been planning only a 'short visit' to reunite the family. Joseph was planning for the family to stay for several years to survive the famine.  YHVH, however, had an entirly different plan.  Jacob and family would not return to their promised land until they first became a great nation in the land of Egypt.  YHVH Himself brought them down and YHVH Himself will bring them back.

With Jacob (Israel) in Egypt, not only Joseph's dreams were fulfilled, but also YHVH's promise to Abraham. (Gen 15:13-18) 

YHVH told Jacob that although his descent to Egypt involved leaving Canaan, it did not constitute a breach of the Divine Covenant with his family.  Rather, it served as a means of transforming Jacob's family of 'seventy souls' into YHVH's special Nation.

Immediately after YHVH's final "revelation" to Jacob, the Torah describes the actual journey of the entire family to Egypt, devoting a special section to the names of the seventy members of Jacob's family.

"These are the names of the children of Israel who were coming to Egypt..."  (Gen 46:8) 

The process of "election" in the book of Genesis was now complete.  From these seventy souls the Jewish nation would develop and the chosen family will be presented as "Israel". 

The book of Exodus unfolds YHVH's fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham, begining right where the primary theme of the book of Genesis left off.  "These are the names..."   (Gen 46:8 and Ex 1:1)