[
176]
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
1
Jacob not being himself included in that number.