Bible Meaning: Drawing near
Strong's Concordance #H1657
The land of Goshen is located in the northeast section of Egypt's rich and fertile Nile River delta.
Jacob's (Israel's) entire family migrated from the land of Canaan to Egypt in order to avoid a severe famine. They settled in Goshen, a location personally approved of by the Pharaoh, due to its excellent well-watered pastures that were ideal for raising animals (Genesis 46 - 47). While living in a foreign land, the people thrived and grew immensely in the region until the time of the Exodus in 1445 B.C.
Goshen is also the name of a city and area given as an inheritance, in the land of Canaan, to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 10:41, 15:51).
Important Verses
Genesis 45:10
Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me Lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:
And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:
Genesis 46:27, 29, 34
And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten . . .
And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him: and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while . . .
That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen: for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
Genesis 47:1, 27
Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan: and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.
And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen: and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
Exodus 8:20 - 22
And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee . . .
And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there: to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.
Joshua 10:41
And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.