Genesis 46:32

32 The men are shepherds. They take care of livestock. They've brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.'

Genesis 46:32 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 46:32

And the men [are] shepherds
That was their occupation and employment, by which they got their livelihood. Joseph was not ashamed of the business his father and brethren followed, even though mean; and besides, such men were an abomination to the Egyptians: this he thought proper to tell Pharaoh, lest he should think of putting them into some offices of the court or army, which would expose them to the envy of the Egyptians, and might endanger the corruption of their religion and manners, as well as be the means of separating them one from another, which he was careful to guard against, as Josephus ^F2 the historian suggests:

for their trade hath been to feed cattle;
this was what they were brought up to from their youth, and were always employed in, and for which only they were fit:

and they have brought their flocks and their herds, and all that they
have;
in order to carry on the same business, and lead the same course of life.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 2. c. 7. sect. 5.)

Genesis 46:32 In-Context

30 Israel said to Joseph, "I have seen for myself that you are still alive. Now I'm ready to die."

31 Then Joseph spoke to his brothers and to the rest of his father's family. He said, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh. I'll say to him, 'My brothers and the rest of my father's family have come to me. They were living in the land of Canaan.

32 The men are shepherds. They take care of livestock. They've brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.'

33 "Pharaoh will send for you. He'll ask, 'What do you do for a living?'

34 You should answer, 'We've taken care of livestock from the time we were boys. We've done just as our fathers did.' It's the practice of the people of Egypt not to mix with shepherds. "So Pharaoh will let you settle in the area of Goshen."