Genesis 46:1

Israel took his journey with all that he had--that is, his household; for in compliance with Pharaoh's recommendation, he left his heavy furniture behind.

NOTICE in this passage the two names which are mentioned. "Israel took his journey and God spoke unto Israel in the visions of the night and said, Jacob, Jacob." "Jacob" was the name of his weakness—"Israel" was the title of his strength. "Jacob" was the name of his birth-nature—"Israel" was the name of his new and spiritual nature. When Israel set out to go down into Egypt and see his son Joseph, he started in great vigor and strength for an old man—faith made him full of force. Therefore we read, "Israel took his journey." I see the old man revived and stirred up to a high degree of hopeful energy. He traveled some few miles on the first day and reached the well of Beersheba. It was the border town, where stood the well of the oak—after passing Beersheba he would be out of the land of promise and on his way to Egypt. And at the remembrance of this fact, the old trembling came over him and he became Jacob, as at some prior time. When he was to take the decisive step to leave Canaan and make his journey into Egypt, then he suddenly felt himself a Jacob and began to halt upon his thigh. And the Lord in the visions of the night addressed him by the name which was most suitable to his condition, saying to him, "Jacob, Jacob." He did not call him "Israel." He came to him in his infirmity and trial and suited His speech to his condition. The Lord met the weakness of His servant's faith, and sent him consolations fitted rather for Jacob than for Israel. Dear Friends, I am afraid that the lives of many of the Lord's chosen people alternate between "Israel" and "Jacob." Sometimes we are "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might," and at another time we cry, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Like princes we prevail with God and are true Israels. But perhaps before the sun has gone down we limp with Jacob and though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak.

And came to Beer-sheba - This place appears to be mentioned, not only because it was the way from Hebron, where Jacob resided, to Egypt, whither he was going, but because it was a consecrated place, a place where God had appeared to Abraham, Gen 21:33, and to Isaac, Gen 26:23, and where Jacob is encouraged to expect a manifestation of the same goodness: he chooses therefore to begin his journey with a visit to God’s house; and as he was going into a strange land, he feels it right to renew his covenant with God by sacrifice. There is an old proverb which applies strongly to this case: “Prayers and provender never hinder any man’s journey. He who would travel safely must take God with him.

- Jacob Goes Down to Egypt 9. פלוּא pallû', Pallu, “distinguished.” חצרן chetsrôn, Chetsron, of the “court,” or “village.” כרמי karmı̂y, Karmi, “vine-dresser.” 10. ימוּאל yemû'êl, Jemuel, “day of El.” ימין yâmı̂yn, Jamin, “right hand.” אהד 'ôhad, Ohad, “joining together.” יכין yâkı̂yn, Jakin, “he shall establish.” צחר tsôchar, Tsochar, “whiteness.” 11. גרשׁון gêreshôn, Gereshon, “expelling.” קהת qehâth, Qehath, “assembly.” מררי merârı̂y, Merari, “flowing, bitter.” 12. חמוּל châmûl, Chamul, “pitied, treated with mercy.” 13. תולע tôlâ‛, Tola‘, “worm, scarlet.” פוּה pû'âh, Puvvah, “mouth?” יוב yôb, Job, “enemy?” שׂמרן śı̂mrôn, Shimron, “watch.” 14. סרד sered, Sered, “fear.” אלון 'êlôn, Elon, “oak.” יחלאל yachle'êl, Jachleel, “El shall sicken or inspire with hope.” 16. צפיון tsı̂phyôn, Tsiphjon, “watcher.” חגי chaggı̂y, Chaggi, “festive.” שׁוּני shûnı̂y, Shuni, “quiet.” אצבון 'etsbôn, Etsbon, “toiling?” ערי ‛êrı̂y, ‘Eri, “watcher.” ארודי 'ǎrôdı̂y, Arodi, rover? אראלי 'ar'êlı̂y, Areli, “lion of El?” 17. ימנה yı̂mnâh, Jimnah, “prosperity.” ישׁוה yı̂shvâh, Jishvah, ישׁוי yı̂shvı̂y, Jishvi, “even, level.” בריעה berı̂y‛âh, Beri‘ah, “in evil.” שׂרח śerach, Serach, “overflow.” חבר cheber, Cheber, “fellowship.” מלכיאל malkı̂y'êl Malkiel, “king of EL” 21. בלע bela‛, Bela‘, “devouring.” בכר beker, Beker, “a young camel.” אשׁבל 'ashbêl Ashbel, “short?” גרא gêrâ', Gerah, “a grain.” <נעמן na‛ămân, Na‘aman, “pleasant.” אחי 'êchı̂y Echi, “brotherly?” ראשׁ rô'sh, Rosh, “head.” מפים mûppı̂ym, Muppim, חפים chûppı̂ym, Chuppim, “covering.” ארד 'ard, Ard, “fugitive, rover.” 23. צשׁים chûshı̂ym, Chushim, “haste.” 24. יחצאל yachtse'êl, Jachtseel, “El will divide.” גוּני gûnı̂y, Guni, “dyed.” יצר yêtser, Jetser, “form.” שׂלם śı̂llêm, Shillem, “retribution.” The second dream of Joseph is now to receive its fulfillment. […]