Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.
Genesis 47:5-9
We were reading about Joseph and five of his brothers going before Pharaoh last week. He had instructed them on what to say and how to act, warning them that being a shepherds is an abomination in the eyes of the Egyptians. This week, we see that that last week's meeting was a success. Pharaoh told them to settle in Goshen and even asks if they know anyone who would be good at keeping his own livestock.
I assume Joseph felt at ease after that and was now willing to present his father to Pharaoh, since the other meeting went well. Pharaoh's first question to Jacob was "How old are you?"
Jacob (Israel) went on about how few his years seemed and that they were evil (ra'eem - which is the word for bad still today). He also stated that his 130 years were few compared to his father's and grandfather's years. We will hear Pharaoh's response to y'acov next week.
Today's reading
English
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock."
Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many are the days of the years of your life?" And Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning."
Hebrew
The story continues next week as they settle in Goshen...
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