Change of Biblical Venue

 

Chapter 46 of Genesis, which describes the descent to Egypt of Jacob and his family, presents a quantum change in the Torah. The venue for the Biblical events moves from the Holy Land to other lands. From this point until the end of the Torah, only four verses describe events which take place within the Land (the description of the mission of Moses' spies, Numbers 13:21-24).

It is significant that after the arrival in Egypt of Jacob's family, his sons mention the land of Canaan three times in conversation with Pharaoh.

Joseph told his brothers that he will inform his king that "My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me." [46:31] In the initial verse of Chapter 47, Joseph indeed conveys this information to his sovereign. The information that Joseph's family has come from Canaan is superfluous, as Pharaoh was aware of that fact [45:17]. Joseph's mention of Canaan hints at the fact that he and his family feel totally connected to their land and that he himself longs for his homeland.  

The brothers whom Joseph chose to present before Pharaoh, tell the ruler of Egypt "We have come to live in the land for a while because there is no grazing land for your servants' sheep, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe." [47:4] Joseph's brothers tell Pharaoh that they have left their own land only out of duress and that they intend to return as soon as practical.

Even as the stage for the events of the Torah shifts away from the Holy Land, the verses stress the primacy of the Land for Jacob and his family, conveying a significant message for their descendants throughout the ages.