Antiquities of the Jews — Book 2, Chapter 7

1. As soon as Jacob came to know, by his sons returning home, in what
state Joseph was, that he had not only escaped death, for which yet he
lived all along in mourning, but that he lived in splendor and
happiness, and ruled over Egypt, jointly with the king, and had
intrusted to his care almost all his affairs, he did not think any thing
he was told to be incredible, considering the greatness of the works of
God, and his kindness to him, although that kindness had, for some late
times, been intermitted; so he immediately and zealously set out upon
his journey to him.

2. When he came to the Well of the Oath, [Beersheba,] he offered
sacrifice to God; and being afraid that the happiness there was in Egypt
might tempt his posterity to fall in love with it, and settle in it, and
no more think of removing into the land of Canaan, and possessing it, as
God had promised them; as also being afraid, lest, if this descent into
Egypt were made without the will of God, his family might be destroyed
there; out of fear, withal, lest he should depart this life before he
came to the sight of Joseph; he fell asleep, revolving these doubts in
his mind.

3. But God stood by him, and called him twice by his name; and when he
asked who he was, God said, "No, sure; it is not just that thou, Jacob,
shouldst be unacquainted with that God who has been ever a protector and
a helper to thy forefathers, and after them to thyself: for when thy
father would have deprived thee of the dominion, I gave it thee; and by
my kindness it was that, when thou wast sent into Mesopotamia all alone,
thou obtainedst good wives, and returnedst with many children, and much
wealth. Thy whole family also has been preserved by my providence; and
it was I who conducted Joseph, thy son, whom thou gavest up for lost, to
the enjoyment of great prosperity. I also made him lord of Egypt, so
that he differs but little from a king. Accordingly, I come now as a
guide to thee in this journey; and foretell to thee, that thou shalt die
in the arms of Joseph: and I inform thee, that thy posterity shall be
many ages in authority and glory, and that I will settle them in the
land which I have promised them."

4. Jacob, encouraged by this dream, went on more cheerfully for Egypt
with his sons, and all belonging to them. Now they were in all seventy.
I once, indeed, thought it best not to set down the names of this
family, especially because of their difficult pronunciation [by the
Greeks]; but, upon the whole, I think it necessary to mention those
names, that I may disprove such as believe that we came not originally
from Mesopotamia, but are Egyptians. Now Jacob had twelve sons; of these
Joseph was come thither before. We will therefore set down the names of
Jacob's children and grandchildren. Reuben had four sons--Anoch, Phallu,
Assaron, Charmi. Simeon had six--Jamuel, Jamin, Avod, Jachin, Soar,
Saul. Levi had three sons--Gersom, Caath, Merari. Judas had three sons--
Sala, Phares, Zerah; and by Phares two grandchildren, Esrom and Amar.
Issachar had four sons--Thola, Phua, Jasob, Samaron. Zabulon had with
him three sons--Sarad, Helon, Jalel. So far is the posterity of Lea;
with whom went her daughter Dinah. These are thirty-three. Rachel had
two sons, the one of whom, Joseph, had two sons also, Manasses and
Ephraim. The other, Benjamin, had ten sons—Bolau, Bacchar, Asabel,
Geras, Naaman, Jes, Ros, Momphis, Opphis, Arad. These fourteen added to
the thirty-three before enumerated, amount to the number forty-seven.
And this was the legitimate posterity of Jacob. He had besides by
Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, Dan and Nephtliali; which last had four
sons that followed him— Jesel, Guni, Issari, and Sellim. Dan had an only
begotten son, Usi. If these be added to those before mentioned, they
complete the number fifty-four. Gad and Aser were the sons of Zilpha,
who was the handmaid of Lea. These had with them, Gad seven— Saphoniah,
Augis, Sunis, Azabon, Aerin, Erocd, Ariel. Aser had a daughter, Sarah,
and six male children, whose names were Jomne, Isus, Isoui, Baris, Abar
and Melchiel. If we add these, which are sixteen, to the fifty-four, the
forementioned number 70 is completed 11 Jacob not being himself included
in that number.

5. When Joseph understood that his father was coming, for Judas his
brother was come before him, and informed him of his approach, he went
out to meet him; and they met together at Heroopolis. But Jacob almost
fainted away at this unexpected and great joy; however, Joseph revived
him, being yet not himself able to contain from being affected in the
same manner, at the pleasure he now had; yet was he not wholly overcome
with his passion, as his father was. After this, he desired Jacob to
travel on slowly; but he himself took five of his brethren with him, and
made haste to the king, to tell him that Jacob and his family were come;
which was a joyful hearing to him. He also bid Joseph tell him what sort
of life his brethren loved to lead, that he might give them leave to
follow the same, who told him they were good shepherds, and had been
used to follow no other employment but this alone. Whereby he provided
for them, that they should not be separated, but live in the same place,
and take care of their father; as also hereby he provided, that they
might be acceptable to the Egyptians, by doing nothing that would be
common to them with the Egyptians; for the Egyptians are prohibited to
meddle with feeding of sheep. 12

6. When Jacob was come to the king, and saluted him, and wished all
prosperity to his government, Pharaoh asked him how old he now was; upon
whose answer, that he was a hundred and thirty years old, he admired
Jacob on account of the length of his life. And when he had added, that
still he had not lived so long as his forefathers, he gave him leave to
live with his children in Heliopolis; for in that city the king's
shepherds had their pasturage.

7. However, the famine increased among the Egyptians, and this heavy
judgment grew more oppressive to them, because neither did the river
overflow the ground, for it did not rise to its former height, nor did
God send rain upon it; 13 nor did they indeed make the least provision
for themselves, so ignorant were they what was to be done; but Joseph
sold them corn for their money. But when their money failed them, they
bought corn with their cattle and their slaves; and if any of them had a
small piece of land, they gave up that to purchase them food, by which
means the king became the owner of all their substance; and they were
removed, some to one place, and some to another, that so the possession
of their country might be firmly assured to the king, excepting the
lands of the priests, for their country continued still in their own
possession. And indeed this sore famine made their minds, as well as
their bodies, slaves; and at length compelled them to procure a
sufficiency of food by such dishonorable means. But when this misery
ceased, and the river overflowed the ground, and the ground brought
forth its fruits plentifully, Joseph came to every city, and gathered
the people thereto belonging together, and gave them back entirely the
land which, by their own consent, the king might have possessed alone,
and alone enjoyed the fruits of it. He also exhorted them to look on it
as every one's own possession, and to fall to their husbandry with
cheerfulness, and to pay as a tribute to the king, the fifth part 14 of
the fruits for the land which the king, when it was his own, restored to
them. These men rejoiced upon their becoming unexpectedly owners of
their lands, and diligently observed what was enjoined them; and by this
means Joseph procured to himself a greater authority among the
Egyptians, and greater love to the king from them. Now this law, that
they should pay the fifth part of their fruits as tribute, continued
until their later kings.