John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 46:1-34
The Descent of Jacob into Egypt. The Genealogical Table of the Israelites1-4. On reaching Beersheba, the southern boundary of the Promised Land, Jacob offers sacrifices to God. In return God assures him of His continued favour and of the fulfilment of the promises made to Abraham. 4. Put his hand upon thine eyes] i.e. close them in death. 5. Little ones] rather,’household servants and their families.’ 6-27. This passage is from the Priestly source, and shows its characteristic fondness for... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 46:31-34
Egyptians loathed shepherds because agriculture was the basis of Egyptian society and the Nile River sustained it (Genesis 46:34). The Egyptians organized their fields carefully and controlled them relatively easily. The comparative difficulty of controlling sheep, goats, and cows led the Egyptians to think of those who cared for these animals as crude and barbaric. [Note: See Keil and Delitzsch, 1:374-75, and my note on 43:32.] Probably too the more civilized Egyptians distrusted any nomadic... read more