Justin Houtz

Genesis 47-48; Psalm 10; Luke 19

DateVersionReading Plan
January 19, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

Genesis 47-48

Observation & Interpretation

Gen. 47:6 – Pharaoh told the five brothers who met with them to settle in the land of Goshen and if they knew of any able men among them, these men were to be put in charge of Pharaoh’s livestock.

  • Pharaoh decreed to Joseph that the clan of Jacob was to settle in the land of Goshen, the best part of the land. Seeking to use the immigrants’ talents for Egypt’s benefit, Pharaoh requested that the most capable men among them care for Pharaoh’s own livestock. (CSB Notes)

Gen. 47:8-9 – When Pharaoh asked Jacob the number of days of his life, Jacob responded by telling him that the number of days of his sojourning were 130 days. Jacob also spoke of how the days of his life had been evil and few, not attaining the years of life of his fathers’ sojourning. Years of life and sojourning and closely associated in these verses.

Gen. 47:16-17 – The money among the people had run out, so Joseph told them to give of their livestock in exchange for food. Although the livestock itself would be a source of food, it seems that trading livestock for the food in Joseph’s possession would be a worthwhile trade.

Gen. 47:26 – The only land that did not come to own was that of the priests.

Gen. 48:5 – Jacob told Joseph that his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were to be come Jacob’s.

  • By doing this he arranged that the tribe of Joseph would receive a double portion of the land of Canaan when it would be divided among the tribes years later. Joseph thus received the birthright as far as territory was concerned. (BBC)

Gen. 48:13-14 – Joseph brought his two sons to Jacob for blessing so that Jacob’s right hand would be on Manasseh (the older son) and his left hand on Ephraim. However, Jacob crossed his hands so that his right hand was on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh. This is one of many instances in the Bible in which the firstborn did not receive the greater favor.

  • Years earlier his own father had unknowingly blessed him, the younger. But now he was blessing the younger, not through ignorance, but because he was in touch with God who holds the future. Israel had faith that his descendants would one day return to the Promised land. (BBC)

Luke 19

Observation & Interpretation

Luke 19:11 – The people drew near to Jesus because He was near to Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

  • As the Savior neared Jerusalem from Jericho, many of His followers though the kingdom of God would appear immediately. In the parable of the ten minas, He disabused them of such hopes. He showed that there would be an interval between His First and Second Advents during which His disciple were to b busy for Him. (BBC)

Luke 19:41-42 – As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, He uttered a lamentation over the city that had missed its golden opportunity. If the people had only received Him as Messiah, it would have meant peace for them. But they didn’t recognize that He was the source of peace. Now it was too late. They had already determined what they would do with the Son of God. Because of their rejection of Him, their eyes were blinded. Because the would not see Him, they could no longer see Him. Pause here to reflect on the wonder of the Savior’s tears. As W. H Griffith Thomas has said, “Let us sit at Christ’s feet until we learn the secret of His tears, and beholding the sins and sorrows of city and countryside, weep over them too.” (BBC)

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