Goshen

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Joshua 10:41 Joshua 11:16

2. The “land of Goshen” may have been named after the city of Goshen located in the district of Debir ( Joshua 15:51 ). Goshen may have been the chief city of the region at one time. The ancient city was either located at Tell el Dhahiriyeh, twelve miles southwest of Hebron or at a location further east.

3. Goshen is primarily recognized as an area in the northeast sector of the Nile Delta. It was occupied by the Hebrews from the time of Joseph until the Exodus.

The original meaning of the term is still debated. Some Egyptomologists suggest an association with the Egyptian word kspgr508/arposem, meaning “inundated land.” The “land of Goshen” first appears in papyrus of the Twelfth Dynasty. See  Genesis 47:6 ,Genesis 47:6, 47:11 ) Goshen is described as the “best of the land.” In the latter passage it is equated with the “land of Rameses,” which was probably identical with or near to the “field of Zoan.” See Avaris; Rameses; Tanis; Zoan . Zoan was apparently the Egyptian capital during the Hyksos period.

Goshen has been recognized by various names. (1) Goshen ( Genesis 45:10;  Genesis 46:34 ) is translated in the Septuagint “Arabian Gesem.” The change probably resulted from the translators identifying Gesem with Geshem ( Nehemiah 2:19;  Nehemiah 6:1-2 ,Nehemiah 6:1-2, 6:6 ), the Arabian king who was Nehemiah's foe (see  Genesis 46:28 ) in the Septuagint. Joseph met his father there. Some scholars equate Heroonpolis with the Egyptian storage city, Pithom ( Exodus 1:11 ). See  Exodus 8:22;  Exodus 9:26 ), but began their Exodus from Rameses ( Exodus 12:37;  Numbers 33:3 ), which was a city they helped to build ( Exodus 1:11 ). Unfortunately little is known of the region prior to Rameses II. Possibly, the Hebrews settled here with the Hyksos during Joseph's time. Undoubtedly, Goshen, “land of Rameses,” refers to the land around the city of Rameses and in the vicinity of Pithom. (4) It is generally agreed that Goshen is to be located in wadi Tumilat which stretches from the eastern arm of the Nile to the Great Bitter Lakes. Texts from the about 1250 B.C. describe how nomadic tribes moved from Edom past the Merneptah fortress in Teku to the wells of Pithom. See Merneptah . Teku is wadi Tumilat. It is approximately 35 miles long and covers 900 square miles.

Goshen is significant for biblical studies for four reasons. (1) The pharaoh assigned Goshen to Joseph's family when they entered Egypt ( Genesis 47:6 ,Genesis 47:6, 47:11 ). The “Hebrew Sojourn” occurred there. (2) The territory lay on a route from Palestine to Egypt. (3) It may be possible to date Joseph's entrance to Egypt with the Hyksos control of the Delta. (4) Both the two cities which the Hebrews built, Rameses and Pithom, and the Hyksos capital at Zoan are key issues for settling on a date for the Exodus.

Gary D. Baldwin

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. Three Egyptian homes in the Delta, and extending over part of Goshen, bore a name beginning with ka or ga, "a bull," namely, Mnevis, worshipped at On, representing Turn the unknown source of all existence. N.E. of Lower Egypt, having the Mediterranean on N., the desert on E., the Delta and the Tanitic branch of the Nile on W. (hence called the field of Zoan or Tanis,  Psalms 78:12;  Psalms 78:43), extending S. to the head of the Red Sea and nearly to Memphis. Also called the land of Rameses, in which Israel built (i.e. fortified anew) for Pharaoh Raamses and Pithom as treasure cities ( Genesis 47:11;  Exodus 1:11). Joseph naturally placed his family on the border land between Egypt and Palestine, the promised land, and at the same time near himself at Tunis or else Memphis the capital of Egypt. Goshen corresponded to Wady-'t-Tumeylat.

The fresh water canal runs through it from the Nile to Ismailia. From El Wady to the head of the gulf of Suez is three days' journey, the distance assigned in Exodus. The answer of Joseph's brethren to Pharaoh ( Genesis 46:28;  Genesis 46:34), "thy servants have been herdsmen from our youth," (Joseph so instructing them "that ye may dwell in ... Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians,") proves that Goshen was regarded by Egyptians as scarcely Egypt proper, though having many Egyptians in it, as is recorded during the ten plagues; also foreigners. (See BERIAH.) The names of sonic places in Goshen are Semitic, as Migdol and Baal-zephon. Joseph lived under the 12th or 13th dynasty, a native not a shepherd dynasty (as  Genesis 46:34 proves).

Pharaoh calls Goshen "the best of the land" ( Genesis 47:5-11), namely, for a pastoral people as Israel; for in tillage the parts of Egypt next the Nile are more fertile than Goshen. In Goshen Pharaoh implies he kept some of his cattle, over which he proposes to set Israelites as rulers of herdsmen. The separation of Israel from the plagues marks the distinctness of the land. Israel setting out from Rameses in Goshen in two days reached the edge of the Wilderness, and in one day more the Red Sea, i.e. from Rameses (on the old canal from the Tanitic arm of the Nile to lake Timsah) 30 miles direct to the ancient western shore. The Septuagint call Goshen "Gesen of Arabia;" and Pliny "the Arabic nome" from its bordering on Arabia. Now Esh-Shurkiyeh, well intersected by canals; Egypt's best province, yielding the largest revenue.

2. A district in S. Palestine, between Gaza and Gibeon ( Joshua 10:41;  Joshua 11:16), and a city ( Joshua 15:51); between the S. country (the Negeb) and the shephelah (the low hills between the mountain and plain, not as KJV "the valley ") of Judah. Doubtless named in remembrance of Israel's original place of sojourn in Egypt.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The name of the tract of country in Egypt which was inhabited by the Israelites from the time of Jacob to that of Moses. It was probably the tract lying east of the Pelusian arm of the Nile, towards Arabia. See  Exodus 1:22   2:3 , since the Jews ate fish in abundance,  Numbers 11:5 , and "practiced artificial irrigation",  Deuteronomy 11:10 . It was near Heliopolis and Rameses, and not far from the capital of Egypt,  Genesis 45:10   47:11   Exodus 8:1-12:51 . It was a part of "the best of the land," at least for the pastoral Hebrews,  Genesis 46:34 , and was evidently better watered and more fertile than at present. Here they greatly multiplied and prospered,  Genesis 47:27 , and here they were sorely afflicted, and yet not forgotten of God,  Exodus 8:22   9:26 . Many Egyptians dwelt among and around them.

2. A city and the adjacent territory in the mountains of Judah,  Joshua 10:41   11:16   15:51 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

GOSHEN. 1. An unknown city in Judah (  Joshua 15:51 ) 2. An unknown territory in S. Palestine, probably the environs of No. 1 (  Joshua 10:41 ). 3. A division of Egypt in which the children of Israel were settled between Jacob’s entry and the Exodus. It was a place of good pasture, on or near the frontier of Palestine, and plentiful in vegetables and fish (  Numbers 11:5 ). It cannot with exactness be defined. Jdt 1:9-10 is probably wrong in including the nomes of Tanis and Memphis in Goshen. The LXX [Note: Septuagint.] reads ‘Gesem of Arabia’ in   Genesis 45:10;   Genesis 46:34 , elsewhere ‘Gesem.’ Now Arabia is defined by Ptolemy, the geographer, as an Egyptian nome on the East border of the Delta of the Nile, and this seems to be the locality most probably contemplated by the narrator. It runs eastwards from opposite the modern Zagazig (Bubastis) to the Bitter Lakes. There seems to be no Egyptian origin for the name, unless it represented Kesem , the Egyptian equivalent of Phacussa (the chief town of the nome of Arabia according to Ptolemy). It may be of Semitic origin, as is suggested by the occurrence of the name, as noticed above, outside Egyptian territory.

R. A. S. Macalister.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Goshen (gô'shen). 1. The portion of Egypt assigned to Israel.  Genesis 45:5;  Genesis 45:10;  Genesis 46:28;  Genesis 47:27;  Genesis 50:8. It probably bordered on the Tanitic branch of the Nile, hence called Zoan or Tanis,  Psalms 78:12, and reached from the Mediterranean to the Red sea. It was suited to shepherds, and abounded in vegetables. It contained the treasure-cities Rameses and Pithom. Goshen was near the royal capital,  Genesis 47:27 compared with 48:1, 2;  Exodus 5:20; appears to have been the starting-place of the Israelites in their journey to the land of promise.  Exodus 12:37;  Exodus 38:2. A district in Palestine, perhaps between Gibeon and Gaza.  Joshua 10:41;  Joshua 11:16. 3. A city in the hill-country of Judah,  Joshua 15:51.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. The part of Egypt in which the Israelites were located. It is often called 'the land of Goshen,' and is also termed 'the land of Rameses.' Pharaoh bade Joseph place his father and his brethren in the best of the land. It is generally supposed that Goshen was situated on the east of the ancient Delta of the Nile.  Genesis 45:10;  Genesis 46:28,29,34;  Genesis 47:1,4,6,11,27;  Genesis 50:8;  Exodus 8:22;  Exodus 9:26 .

2. Land or district in the southern part of Palestine.   Joshua 10:41;  Joshua 11:16 . Not identified.

3. Town in the highlands of Judah.   Joshua 15:51 . Not identified.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

This was the most fertile pasture ground in the whole of Lower Egypt; thence called Goshen, from gush, in Arabic, signifying "a heart," or whatsoever is choice or precious. There was also a Goshen in the territory of the tribe of Judah, so called for the same reason,   Joshua 10:41 .

Hence Joseph recommended it to his family as "the best of the land,"

 Genesis 47:11 , and "the fat of the land."  Genesis 45:18 . The land of Goshen lay along the most easterly branch of the Nile, and on the east side of it; for it is evident that, at the time of the exode, the Israelites did not cross the Nile. In ancient times, the fertile land was considerably more extensive, both in length and breadth, than at present, in consequence of the general failure of the eastern branches of the Nile; the main body of the river verging more and more to the west continually, and deepening the channels on that side.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Goshen was the territory where the family of Jacob settled in Egypt. It was in the East Nile Delta and was suitable for raising flocks and herds ( Genesis 47:1-6). The descendants of Jacob lived there for about four hundred years, and during that time they multiplied enormously. The royal city of Rameses, which the Egyptians forced the Israelites to build by slave labour, was in Goshen ( Genesis 47:6;  Genesis 47:11;  Genesis 47:27;  Exodus 1:11;  Exodus 12:37). Goshen was largely protected from the plagues that fell on other parts of Egypt during the time of Moses’ conflict with Pharaoh ( Exodus 8:22;  Exodus 9:26). (See also EGYPT.)

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

Perhaps so called from Goshen, rain, or the dew of heaven in blessings. For this place being nearer to the Mediterranean sea than Upper Egypt, had plentiful showers to make it fertile. Here it was Jacob and his children dwelt, when brought down into Egypt. ( Genesis 47:1-6) Perhaps there might have been even in those days, a remote idea to the times of the gospel in the name of Goshen; for even now in the present hour, that is truly a land of Goshen where Christ is truly known, and where heaven hath shed and is shedding its blessed influences, in the showers of his Holy Spirit; while all the earth is as Egypt in the dryness, where no rains are known, and where the gospel of Christ is not.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A town in the mountains of Judah ( Joshua 15:51 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Goshen'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/goshen.html. 1897.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Go´shen, a province or district of Egypt in which Jacob and his family settled through the instrumentality of his son Joseph, and in which they and their descendants remained for a period of 430 years (;;;;; ). The Bible does not present any definite information as to the precise locality of Goshen, and of course later authorities possess only an inferior value. There are, however, incidental expressions, allusions, and implications in the Scriptures, which afford aid in determining the spot. That Goshen lay on the eastern side of the Nile may be justifiably inferred from the fact that Jacob is not reported to have crossed that river; nor does it appear that the Israelites did so in their flight out of Egypt. With this inference all the language employed (see the passages as given above), to say the least, agrees, if it does not afford an indirect evidence in its favor. By comparing and the Septuagint translation of (which calls Goshen, Goshen near Arabia), it appears that Goshen bordered on Arabia as well as Palestine, and the passage of the Israelites out of Egypt shows that the land was not far removed from the Red Sea. It appears probable that we may fix the locality of Goshen in Lower Egypt, on the east side of the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, in the district around Hierapolis.

This district was suitable for a nomadic people, who would have been misplaced in the narrow limits of the valley of the Nile. Children of the desert, or at least used as they were to wander freely from one fertile plain to another with their flocks and herds, the sons of Jacob required a spot where the advantages of an advanced civilization could be united with unrestricted freedom, and abundance be secured without the forfeiture of early and cherished habits. The several opinions entertained on this point substantially agree in referring Goshen to the country intervening between the desert of Arabia and Palestine on the one side, and the Pelusiac arm of the Nile on the other, with the Mediterranean at the base. The district assigned to Jacob and his family was chosen for its superiority , 'In the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell, in the land of Goshen let them dwell;' and the subsequent increase of the Israelites themselves, as well as the multiplication of their cattle, shows that the territory was one of extraordinary fertility. Time and circumstances have doubtless had their effect on the fertility of country in which the desert is ever ready to make encroachments as soon as the repelling hand of man is relaxed or withdrawn. But Laborde represents the vicinity of Heliopolis as still covered with palm-trees, and as having an enclosure, comprehending a considerable space of ground, which is covered every year by the inundation of the Nile to the height of five feet. We are not, however, to expect evidences of luxuriant fertility. The country was chosen for its pre-eminent fitness for shepherds. If a nomadic tribe had wide space and good pasture-grounds, they would have 'the best (for themselves) of the land,' and these advantages the district in which we have placed Goshen abundantly supplied in ancient times, when the waters of the Nile were more liberally dispensed than at present to the eastern side of the country. Nothing is needed but water to make the desert fertile. 'The water of the Nile soaks through the earth for some distance under the sandy tract (the neighborhood of Heliopolis), and is everywhere found on digging wells eighteen or twenty feet deep. Such wells are very frequent in parts which the inundation does not reach. The water is raised from them by wheels turned by oxen and applied to the irrigation of the fields. Whenever this takes place the desert is turned into a fruitful field. In passing to Heliopolis we saw several such fields in the different stages of being reclaimed from the desert; some just laid out, others already fertile. In returning by another way more eastward, we passed a succession of beautiful plantations wholly dependent on this mode of irrigation' (Robinson's Palestine, vol. 1, p. 36).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Goshen'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/g/goshen.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

A fertile district along a branch of the Nile, in the eastern part of the delta of Lower Egypt; assigned by Pharaoh to the children of Israel when they came to sojourn in the land.