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Venerdi, 29 marzo 2024 - Santi Simplicio e Costantino ( Letture di oggi)

Genesis 46


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1So Israel set out with al his possessions. Arriving at Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of hisfather Isaac.2God spoke to Israel in a vision at night, 'Jacob, Jacob,' he said. 'Here I am,' he replied.3'I am El, God of your father,' he said. 'Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for I will make you intoa great nation there.4I shal go down to Egypt with you and I myself shall bring you back again, and Joseph's hand wilclose your eyes.'5So Jacob left Beersheba. Israel's sons conveyed their father Jacob, their little children and their wivesin the waggons Pharaoh had sent to fetch him.6Taking their livestock and all that they had acquired in Canaan, they arrived in Egypt -- Jacob and alhis offspring.7With him to Egypt, he brought his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters -- al hisoffspring.8These were the names of the Israelites, Jacob and his descendants, who arrived in Egypt: Reuben,Jacob's first-born,9and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pal u, Hezron and Carmi.10The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of the Canaanitewoman.11The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.12The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (Er and Onan had died in Canaan), andHezron and Hamul sons of Perez.13The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Jashub and Shimron.14The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel.15These were the sons that Leah had borne to Jacob in Paddan-Aram, besides his daughter Dinah; inal , his sons and daughters numbered thirty-three.16The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.17The sons of Asher: Jimnah, Jishvah, Jishvi, Beriah, with their sister Serah; the sons of Beriah: Heberand Malchiel.18These were the sons of Zilpah whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; she bore these to Jacob --sixteen persons.19The sons of Rachel wife of Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin.20Born to Joseph in Egypt were: Manasseh and Ephraim sons of Asenath, daughter of Potiphera priestof On.21The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.22These were the sons that Rachel bore to Jacob -- fourteen persons in al .23The sons of Dan: Hushim.24The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer and Shil em.25These were the sons of Bilhah whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel; she bore these to Jacob --seven persons in all.26Altogether, the members of Jacob's family who arrived with him in Egypt -- his own issue, notcounting the wives of Jacob's sons -- numbered sixty-six all told.27With Joseph's sons born to him in Egypt -- two persons -- the members of Jacob's family who wentto Egypt totalled seventy.28Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph, so that Judah might present himself to Joseph in Goshen. Whenthey arrived in Goshen,29Joseph had his chariot made ready and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as heappeared he threw his arms round his neck and for a long time wept on his shoulder.30Israel said to Joseph, 'Now I can die, now that I have seen you in person and seen you stil alive.'31Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father's family, 'I shall go back and break the news toPharaoh. I shall tel him, "My brothers and my father's family who were in Canaan have come to me.32The men are shepherds and look after livestock, and they have brought their flocks and cattle and altheir possessions."33Thus, when Pharaoh summons you and asks, "What is your occupation?",34you are to say, "Ever since our boyhood your servants have looked after livestock, we and ourfathers before us," so that you can stay in the Goshen region -- for the Egyptians have a horror of al shepherds.'