Israel Increases Greatly in Egypt (Exodus 1:1-7)

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah [Leah’s first four sons], 3 Issachar, Zebulun [Leah’s last two sons], and Benjamin [Rachel’s second son], 4 Dan and Naphtali [Bilhah’s sons], Gad and Asher [Zilpah’s sons]. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 Then Joseph died [where Genesis ends with Joseph at 110 years, meaning perhaps that he was the last brother to die], and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land [of Goshen] was filled with them.

[The people of God went to Egypt under divine command and protection. There they grew in number actively fulfilling what God had promised Abraham. The group that left Egypt was not some pure group of Israelites but a mixed ethnic group who probably did not know their ancestry well, so Moses begins this book reminding them of their history and lineage—“these are the names.” “These are the names” also ties the book back to Genesis and continues the story of Israel.]