Read Genesis 46 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs for this chapter:
44:18-46:7 {s} Joseph revealed to his brothers and father
46:8-27 {s} Seventy persons of Israel went down to Egypt
46:28-47:31 {p} …
Outlining the weak paragraph from Gen 44:18-46:7, which began with Judah’s speech and ends in today’s chapter, we find three distinct events where human editors would have divided the text.
- Gen 44:18-34: Judah pleads to take Benjamin’s place. Judah prophesied of Messiah’s first coming: Messiah offered Himself in our place, and died a substitutionary death on the cross out of love for His Father.
- Gen 45:1-15: Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. They do not recognize him until he makes himself known. They were separated by many years, and Joseph looked like an Egyptian nobleman, after all. Isn’t this what Yeshua has been doing for the past 2000 years, revealing Himself to us? We do not find Him, but He finds us and makes Himself known to us.
- Gen 45:16-46:7: Jacob goes down to Egypt to live under the provision and blessing of Joseph. This too points prophetically ahead. In Yeshua’s second coming, He returns not as a Servant but as the Ruler of all. Jacob—us too!—will live under His reign, and life will be good with nothing to hurt under His authority.
Why This Matters: From the beginning of Genesis, we’ve tracked Hebrew paragraph divisions as natural story breaks. However, in the Gen 44:18-46:7 paragraph, they aren’t where we expect them. Their absence forces us to ask, “Why?” And the full Messianic arc then becomes visible.
Back in Genesis 41 Joseph emerged as a Prophetic Type for Messiah: first as a servant, then hidden away, then exalted as ruler over all. Today’s chapter gives us a second witness:
- Judah’s plea foreshadows Yeshua’s first coming;
- Joseph’s self-revelation mirrors the hidden years: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you …” (Joh 15:16);
- Jacob’s relocation to Goshen under Joseph’s provision foreshadows Yeshua’s second coming.
Two witnesses to one truth, Torah itself proclaiming that Messiah’s ministry is twofold, coming first to redeem, second to reign. The King from David’s house is the Servant who was pierced for us.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Torah Portions Analyzed with the Teaching Tools – Restoration of Torah
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