4. Jacob, encouraged by this dream, went on more cheerfully for Egypt
with his sons, and all belonging to them. Now they were in all seventy.
I once, indeed, thought it best not to set down the names of this
family, especially because of their difficult pronunciation [by the
Greeks]; but, upon the whole, I think it necessary to mention those
names, that I may disprove such as believe that we came not originally
from Mesopotamia, but are Egyptians. Now Jacob had twelve sons; of these
Joseph was come thither before. We will therefore set down the names of
Jacob's children and grandchildren. Reuben had four sons--Anoch, Phallu,
Assaron, Charmi. Simeon had six--Jamuel, Jamin, Avod, Jachin, Soar,
Saul. Levi had three sons--Gersom, Caath, Merari. Judas had three sons--
Sala, Phares, Zerah; and by Phares two grandchildren, Esrom and Amar.
Issachar had four sons--Thola, Phua, Jasob, Samaron. Zabulon had with
him three sons--Sarad, Helon, Jalel. So far is the posterity of Lea;
with whom went her daughter Dinah. These are thirty-three. Rachel had
two sons, the one of whom, Joseph, had two sons also, Manasses and
Ephraim. The other, Benjamin, had ten sons—Bolau, Bacchar, Asabel,
Geras, Naaman, Jes, Ros, Momphis, Opphis, Arad. These fourteen added to
the thirty-three before enumerated, amount to the number forty-seven.
And this was the legitimate posterity of Jacob. He had besides by
Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, Dan and Nephtliali; which last had four
sons that followed him— Jesel, Guni, Issari, and Sellim. Dan had an only
begotten son, Usi. If these be added to those before mentioned, they
complete the number fifty-four. Gad and Aser were the sons of Zilpha,
who was the handmaid of Lea. These had with them, Gad seven— Saphoniah,
Augis, Sunis, Azabon, Aerin, Erocd, Ariel. Aser had a daughter, Sarah,
and six male children, whose names were Jomne, Isus, Isoui, Baris, Abar
and Melchiel. If we add these, which are sixteen, to the fifty-four, the
forementioned number 70 is completed 11 Jacob not being himself included
in that number.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account