TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
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Chapter 46

Translation and Transliteration of 

1So Yisrael set out with all that was his, and he came to Be'er Sheva, where he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Yitzchak.

vai-YI-sa yis-ra-AYL v'-kol a-SHER-lo va-YA-vo b'-ay-RAH sha-VA va-yiz-BACH z'-va-KHEEM lay-lo-HAY a-vee-V yitz-KHAK

אוַיִּסַּ֤ע יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֖א בְּאֵ֣רָה שָּׁ֑בַע וַיִּזְבַּ֣ח זְבָחִ֔ים לֵאלֹהֵ֖י אָבִ֥יו יִצְחָֽק׃

2Hashem called to Yisrael in a vision by night: “Yaakov! Yaakov!” He answered, “Here.”

vai-YO-mer e-lo-HEEM l'-yis-ra-AYL b'-mar-OT ha-la-YE-lah, vai-YO-mer ya-a-KOV, ya-a-KOV, vai-YO-mer hi-NE-ni

בוַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּמַרְאֹ֣ת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֣ב ׀ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃

3And He said, “I am Hashem, the God of your father. Fear not to go down to Egypt, for I will make you there into a great nation.

vai-YO-mer a-NO-khee ha-EL e-lo-HAY a-vee-KHA al ti-RA me-re-DA mitz-ra-YE-ma, kee l'-GOY ga-DOL a-sim-KHA sham

גוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָנֹכִ֥י הָאֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אַל־תִּירָא֙ מֵרְדָ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יְמָה כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֥ שָֽׁם׃

4I Myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I Myself will also bring you back; and Yosef's hand shall close your eyes.”

a-no-KHEE ay-RAYD i-m'-KHA mitz-RAI-ma v'-a-no-KHEE a-al-KHA gam a-LO v'-yo-SAYF ya-SHEET ya-DO al ay-NE-kha

דאָנֹכִ֗י אֵרֵ֤ד עִמְּךָ֙ מִצְרַ֔יְמָה וְאָנֹכִ֖י אַֽעַלְךָ֣ גַם־עָלֹ֑ה וְיוֹסֵ֕ף יָשִׁ֥ית יָד֖וֹ עַל־עֵינֶֽיךָ׃

 46:4   I Myself will go down with you to Egypt

Statue of the Maharal in Prague

Yaakov’s family descends to Egypt to escape the famine in Eretz Yisrael. In this verse, Hashem assures Yaakov that when the Children of Israel are in exile, Hashem’s presence will accompany them. Rabbi Yehuda Lowe, a sixteenth century Talmudic scholar known as the Maharal, points out that the word ‘descend’ in this verse was carefully chosen. It conveys the idea that spiritually speaking, Eretz Yisrael is the highest of all places, and hence one who leaves that land is descending. Of course, the opposite is also true. Travel to Israel is repeatedly referred to in the Bible as an ‘ascension.’ Whenever one enters the land Israel, he or she experiences an elevated spiritual state.

5So Yaakov set out from Be'er Sheva. The sons of Yisrael put their father Yaakov and their children and their wives in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to transport him;

vai-YA-kom ya-a-KOV mi-b'-AYR sha-VA va-yi-SU v'-nay yis-ra-AYL et ya-a-KOV a-vee-HEM v'-et ta-PAM v'-et n'-she-HEM ba-a-ga-LOT a-SHER sha-LAKH par-OH la-SE-et o-TO

הוַיָּ֥קׇם יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיִּשְׂא֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־יַעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֗ם וְאֶת־טַפָּם֙ וְאֶת־נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם בָּעֲגָל֕וֹת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַ֥ח פַּרְעֹ֖ה לָשֵׂ֥את אֹתֽוֹ׃

6and they took along their livestock and the wealth that they had amassed in the land of Canaan. Thus Yaakov and all his offspring with him came to Egypt:

vai-yik-KHU et mik-NE-hem v'-et-re-KHU-sham a-SHER ra-KHE-shu b'-E-rets k'-NA-an va-ya-VO-u mitz-ra-YE-ma ya-a-KOV v'-kol zar-O it-TO

ווַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶת־מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם וְאֶת־רְכוּשָׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר רָֽכְשׁוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ מִצְרָ֑יְמָה יַעֲקֹ֖ב וְכׇל־זַרְע֥וֹ אִתּֽוֹ׃

7he brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.

ba-NAV u-v'-NAY va-NAV i-TO b'-no-TAV u-v'-NOHT ba-NAV v'-KOL zar-O, he-VEE i-TO mitz-RA-y'-MAH.

זבָּנָ֞יו וּבְנֵ֤י בָנָיו֙ אִתּ֔וֹ בְּנֹתָ֛יו וּבְנ֥וֹת בָּנָ֖יו וְכׇל־זַרְע֑וֹ הֵבִ֥יא אִתּ֖וֹ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃

8These are the names of the Israelites, Yaakov and his descendants, who came to Egypt. Yaakov's first-born Reuven;

v'-AY-leh sh'-MOT b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ha-ba-EEM mitz-RA-y'-MAH ya-a-KOV u-va-NAV b'-KOR ya-a-KOV r'-u-VAYN

חוְאֵ֨לֶּה שְׁמ֧וֹת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל הַבָּאִ֥ים מִצְרַ֖יְמָה יַעֲקֹ֣ב וּבָנָ֑יו בְּכֹ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב רְאוּבֵֽן׃

9Reuven's sons: Chanoch, Pallu, Chetzron, and Carmi.

u-v'-nay r'-u-VAYN, kha-NOCH u-fa-LOO v'-khe-tz'-RON v'-khar-MEE.

טוּבְנֵ֖י רְאוּבֵ֑ן חֲנ֥וֹךְ וּפַלּ֖וּא וְחֶצְרֹ֥ן וְכַרְמִֽי׃

10Shimon's sons: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

u-v'-nay shi-MO-on y'-mu-A-EL v'-ya-MEEN v'-o-HAD v'-ya-KHEEN v'-tzo-KHAR v'-sha-UL ben ha-k'-na-a-NEET

יוּבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֗וֹן יְמוּאֵ֧ל וְיָמִ֛ין וְאֹ֖הַד וְיָכִ֣ין וְצֹ֑חַר וְשָׁא֖וּל בֶּן־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִֽית׃

11Levi's sons: Gershon, Kehat, and Merari.

u-v'-nay le-VI ge-RE-shon ke-HAT u-m'-ra-REE

יאוּבְנֵ֖י לֵוִ֑י גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן קְהָ֖ת וּמְרָרִֽי׃

12Yehuda's sons: Er, Onan, Sheila, Peretz, and Zerach—but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan; and Peretz's sons were Chetzron and Hamul.

u-v'-nay y'-hu-DAH ayR v'-o-NAN v'-she-LAH va-PAY-retz va-za-RAKH va-YAMOT ayR v'-o-NAN b'-E-retz k'-na-AN va-y'-HI-u v'-nay pe-RETZ khetz-RON v'-kha-MUL

יבוּבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה עֵ֧ר וְאוֹנָ֛ן וְשֵׁלָ֖ה וָפֶ֣רֶץ וָזָ֑רַח וַיָּ֨מׇת עֵ֤ר וְאוֹנָן֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־פֶ֖רֶץ חֶצְרֹ֥ן וְחָמֽוּל׃

13Yissachar's sons: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.

u-v'-nay yis-sa-SHA-khar to-LA, u-fu-VA, v'-YOv, v'-shim-RON

יגוּבְנֵ֖י יִשָּׂשכָ֑ר תּוֹלָ֥ע וּפֻוָ֖ה וְי֥וֹב וְשִׁמְרֹֽן׃

14Zevulun's sons: Sered, Eilon, and Jahleel.

u-v'-nay z'-vu-LOON SE-red v'-e-LON v'-yakh-l'-EL

ידוּבְנֵ֖י זְבֻל֑וּן סֶ֥רֶד וְאֵל֖וֹן וְיַחְלְאֵֽל׃

15Those were the sons whom Leah bore to Yaakov in Paddan-aram, in addition to his daughter Dina. Persons in all, male and female: 33.

AY-leh b'-NAY le-AH a-SHER ya-l'-DAH l'-ya-a-KOV b'-pa-DAN a-RAM v'-AYT dee-NAH bi-TO, kol NE-fesh ba-NAV u-ve-NO-tav sh'-LO-sheem v'-sha-LOSH

טואֵ֣לֶּה ׀ בְּנֵ֣י לֵאָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָֽלְדָ֤ה לְיַעֲקֹב֙ בְּפַדַּ֣ן אֲרָ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת דִּינָ֣ה בִתּ֑וֹ כׇּל־נֶ֧פֶשׁ בָּנָ֛יו וּבְנוֹתָ֖יו שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וְשָׁלֹֽשׁ׃

16Gad's sons: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

u-v'-nay gad tzi-FYON v'-cha-GEE shu-NEE v'-etz-BON e-REE va-a-RO-dee v'-ar-e-LEE

טזוּבְנֵ֣י גָ֔ד צִפְי֥וֹן וְחַגִּ֖י שׁוּנִ֣י וְאֶצְבֹּ֑ן עֵרִ֥י וַֽאֲרוֹדִ֖י וְאַרְאֵלִֽי׃

17Asher's sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah, and their sister Serah. Beriah's sons: Chever and Malchiel.

u-v'-NAY a-SHER yim-NAH v'-yish-VAH v'-yish-VEE u-v'-ree-AH v'-SE-rakh a-KHO-tam u-v'-NAY v'-ree-AH KHE-ver u-mal-ki-A-EL

יזוּבְנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֗ר יִמְנָ֧ה וְיִשְׁוָ֛ה וְיִשְׁוִ֥י וּבְרִיעָ֖ה וְשֶׂ֣רַח אֲחֹתָ֑ם וּבְנֵ֣י בְרִיעָ֔ה חֶ֖בֶר וּמַלְכִּיאֵֽל׃

18These were the descendants of Zilpa, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah. These she bore to Yaakov—16 persons.

AY-leh b'-NAY zil-PAH a-SHER na-TAN la-VAN l'-LE-a bi-TO, va-TE-led et AY-leh l'-ya-a-KOV, SHAYSH es-reh NA-fesh.

יחאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י זִלְפָּ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָבָ֖ן לְלֵאָ֣ה בִתּ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֤לֶד אֶת־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב שֵׁ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה נָֽפֶשׁ׃

19The sons of Yaakov's wife Rachel were Yosef and Binyamin.

b'-NAY ra-KHAYL, ay-SHET ya-a-KOV, yo-SEF u-vi-NYA-min

יטבְּנֵ֤י רָחֵל֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב יוֹסֵ֖ף וּבִנְיָמִֽן׃

20To Yosef were born in the land of Egypt Menashe and Efraim, whom Asenath daughter of Poti-phera priest of On bore to him.

vai-yi-va-LED l'-yo-SAYF b'-E-rets mitz-RA-yim, a-SHER ya-LO-da-LO a-SNAT bat po-TI p'-RA, k'-HO-en ON, et m'-na-SHE v'-et e-fra-YIM

כוַיִּוָּלֵ֣ד לְיוֹסֵף֮ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֒יִם֒ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָֽלְדָה־לּוֹ֙ אָֽסְנַ֔ת בַּת־פּ֥וֹטִי פֶ֖רַע*(בספרי תימן פּֽוֹטִיפֶ֖רַע בתיבה אחת) כֹּהֵ֣ן אֹ֑ן אֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־אֶפְרָֽיִם׃

21Binyamin's sons: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

u-v'-nay b'-ni-YA-min BEL-a va-VE-kher v'-ash-BEL GE-ra v'-na-a-MAN ay-KHEE va-ROSH mu-PEEM v'-KHU-PEEM va-OR-d

כאוּבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֗ן בֶּ֤לַע וָבֶ֙כֶר֙ וְאַשְׁבֵּ֔ל גֵּרָ֥א וְנַעֲמָ֖ן אֵחִ֣י וָרֹ֑אשׁ מֻפִּ֥ים וְחֻפִּ֖ים וָאָֽרְדְּ׃

22These were the descendants of Rachel who were born to Yaakov—14 persons in all.

AY-leh b'-NAY ra-KHAYL a-SHER yu-LAD l'-ya-a-KOV, kol NE-fesh ar-BA-a ASH-ar.

כבאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י רָחֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻלַּ֖ד לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב כׇּל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

23Dan's son: Hushim.

u-v'-nay dan khu-SHEEM

כגוּבְנֵי־דָ֖ן חֻשִֽׁים׃

24Naftali's sons: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

u-v'-nay naf-ta-LEE yakh-t'-AYL v'-gu-NEE v'-yay-TSER v'-sh'-LEM

כדוּבְנֵ֖י נַפְתָּלִ֑י יַחְצְאֵ֥ל וְגוּנִ֖י וְיֵ֥צֶר וְשִׁלֵּֽם׃

25These were the descendants of Bilha, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel. These she bore to Yaakov—7 persons in all.

AY-leh b'-NAY bil-HAH a-SHER na-TAN la-VAN l'-ra-KHAYL bi-TO va-TAY-led et-AY-leh l'-ya-a-KOV kol-NE-fesh shi-VAH

כהאֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י בִלְהָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן לָבָ֖ן לְרָחֵ֣ל בִּתּ֑וֹ וַתֵּ֧לֶד אֶת־אֵ֛לֶּה לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב כׇּל־נֶ֥פֶשׁ שִׁבְעָֽה׃

26All the persons belonging to Yaakov who came to Egypt—his own issue, aside from the wives of Yaakov's sons—all these persons numbered 66.

kol-ha-ne-FESH ha-ba-AH le-ya-a-KOV mitz-RA-yi-MAH yotz-EI ye-RE-kho mi-le-VAD ne-SHEI ve-NEI-ya-a-KOV kol-ne-FESH shi-SHEEM va-SHESH

כוכׇּל־הַ֠נֶּ֠פֶשׁ הַבָּאָ֨ה לְיַעֲקֹ֤ב מִצְרַ֙יְמָה֙ יֹצְאֵ֣י יְרֵכ֔וֹ מִלְּבַ֖ד נְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵי־יַעֲקֹ֑ב כׇּל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵֽׁשׁ׃

27And Yosef's sons who were born to him in Egypt were two in number. Thus the total of Yaakov's household who came to Egypt was seventy persons.

u-v'-nay yo-SEF a-SHER yu-LAD-lo b'-mitz-RA-yim NE-fesh sh'-NA-yim, kol ha-NE-fesh l'-veit ya-a-KOV ha-ba-AH mitz-RA-y'-MAH shiv-EEM. (s)

כזוּבְנֵ֥י יוֹסֵ֛ף אֲשֶׁר־יֻלַּד־ל֥וֹ בְמִצְרַ֖יִם נֶ֣פֶשׁ שְׁנָ֑יִם כׇּל־הַנֶּ֧פֶשׁ לְבֵֽית־יַעֲקֹ֛ב הַבָּ֥אָה מִצְרַ֖יְמָה שִׁבְעִֽים׃

28He had sent Yehuda ahead of him to Yosef, to point the way before him to Goshen. So when they came to the region of Goshen,

v'-ET y'-hu-DA sha-LAKH l'-fa-NAV el yo-SEF l'-ho-ROT l'-fa-NAV go-SHE-na va-ya-VO-u ar-TZA go-SHEN

כחוְאֶת־יְהוּדָ֞ה שָׁלַ֤ח לְפָנָיו֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף לְהוֹרֹ֥ת לְפָנָ֖יו גֹּ֑שְׁנָה וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה גֹּֽשֶׁן׃

29Yosef ordered his chariot and went to Goshen to meet his father Yisrael; he presented himself to him and, embracing him around the neck, he wept on his neck a good while.

vai-YE-a-SOR yo-SEF mer-ka-V'-TO va-YA-al lik-RA-at yis-ra-AYL a-VEEV go-SHE-na va-YE-ra e-LAV va-YI-pol al tza-va-a-RAV va-YE-k'-kh'-AL al tza-va-a-RAV OD

כטוַיֶּאְסֹ֤ר יוֹסֵף֙ מֶרְכַּבְתּ֔וֹ וַיַּ֛עַל לִקְרַֽאת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אָבִ֖יו גֹּ֑שְׁנָה וַיֵּרָ֣א אֵלָ֗יו וַיִּפֹּל֙ עַל־צַוָּארָ֔יו וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ עַל־צַוָּארָ֖יו עֽוֹד׃

30Then Yisrael said to Yosef, “Now I can die, having seen for myself that you are still alive.”

vai-YO-mer yis-ra-AYL el yo-SEF a-MU-tah ha-PA-am a-kha-RAY re-o-TEE et pa-NE-kha kee o-DE-kha kha-YI

לוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף אָמ֣וּתָה הַפָּ֑עַם אַחֲרֵי֙ רְאוֹתִ֣י אֶת־פָּנֶ֔יךָ כִּ֥י עוֹדְךָ֖ חָֽי׃

31Then Yosef said to his brothers and to his father's household, “I will go up and tell the news to Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.

vai-YO-mer yo-SEF el e-KHA-yav v'-el bayt a-VEEV e-a-LEH v'-a-GI-da l'-fa-RO va-o-M'-RAH ay-LAV a-KHAI u-bayt a-VEEV a-SHER b'-E-rets k'-NA-an BA-u ay-LAI

לאוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹסֵ֤ף אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ וְאֶל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִ֔יו אֶעֱלֶ֖ה וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לְפַרְעֹ֑ה וְאֹֽמְרָ֣ה אֵלָ֔יו אַחַ֧י וּבֵית־אָבִ֛י אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־כְּנַ֖עַן בָּ֥אוּ אֵלָֽי׃

32The men are shepherds; they have always been breeders of livestock, and they have brought with them their flocks and herds and all that is theirs.'

v'-ha-a-na-SHEEM ro-EI tson, ki-an-SHEI mik-NEH ha-YU, v'-tso-NAM u-ve-ka-RAM u-kol a-SHER la-HEM he-vee-U

לבוְהָאֲנָשִׁים֙ רֹ֣עֵי צֹ֔אן כִּֽי־אַנְשֵׁ֥י מִקְנֶ֖ה הָי֑וּ וְצֹאנָ֧ם וּבְקָרָ֛ם וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָהֶ֖ם הֵבִֽיאוּ׃

33So when Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?'

v'-ha-YA ki-yik-RA la-KHEM par-O v'-a-MAR mah ma-a-SE-khem

לגוְהָיָ֕ה כִּֽי־יִקְרָ֥א לָכֶ֖ם פַּרְעֹ֑ה וְאָמַ֖ר מַה־מַּעֲשֵׂיכֶֽם׃

34you shall answer, ‘Your servants have been breeders of livestock from the start until now, both we and our fathers'—so that you may stay in the region of Goshen. For all shepherds are abhorrent to Egyptians.”

va-a-mar-TEM, an-SHEI mik-NEH ha-YU a-va-DE-kha mi-ne-u-RE-nu v'-ad-a-TAH, gam a-na-KH-nu gam a-vo-TAY-nu ba-a-VUR tay-sh'-VU b'-E-retz go-SHEN, kee-to-a-VAT mitz-RA-yim kol-ro-EH tso-AN

לדוַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם אַנְשֵׁ֨י מִקְנֶ֜ה הָי֤וּ עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ מִנְּעוּרֵ֣ינוּ וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה גַּם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ גַּם־אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ בַּעֲב֗וּר תֵּשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גֹּ֔שֶׁן כִּֽי־תוֹעֲבַ֥ת מִצְרַ֖יִם כׇּל־רֹ֥עֵה צֹֽאן׃