“⁵All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). ⁶And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation.”

– Exodus 1:5-6 (NKJV)

“All those who were descendants * of Jacob (a) [i.e. descendants of Israel; the burgeoning Nation of Israel] were seventy ** (b) [the number 7 indicating Divine Completion or Wholeness, i.e. the first generation of Israel is established in accordance with The Sovereign Will of The Most High God, The God of  Israel, El Shaddai, precisely as He had intended since before the foundation of the world] persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already) (c) [It is of critical importance Dear Reader, that we take a moment to re-reflect upon the life of Joseph – the harbinging Christ-Type – in this hour of the unfolding of The Story of God’s People; in particular here, as indicated by the phrase “was in Egypt already ” in His capacity as “The One who goes ahead of us” (Deut 31:8), The Firstfruits of The Children (1 Cor 15:20-23),”The Firstborn among many” (Rom 8:29), The Eldest Brother (Mark 3:33-35), The Pioneer, The Trailblazer.
As is continually revealed throughout The New Covenant, Our Lord paves the way in His Incontestible Perfection and through That Greatest Expression of Love, That Greatest Sacrifice: The Cross, for The Children of God to enter into all Purity, Perfection and Holiness (Eph 5:27). For truly, truly we follow in Christ’s triumphal procession: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession . . . (2 Cor 2:14 NIV) – what A Glorious, Glorious King in Whose Footsteps we do follow!]. And Joseph died [welcome the invitation to ponder upon the scarce revealed mystery surrounding the death of Our Dear Joseph; Beloveds, does it too resemble The Cross of Christ, A Martyr’s Death or did he die as A King, preserved in glory by the ancient Egyptians? Let us eagerly anticipate, if indeed it be The Father’s Will, the archaeological excavation of Joseph’s tomb in modern day Egypt, yet in this age 😃!], all his brothers, and all that generation (d) [And so The First Generation Of The Official Nation Of Israel, God’s Treasured Precious Possession, A Holy People is concluded].”

* Literally “who came from the loins of [Jacob]” bringing to remembrance themes of “the seed of God” as Our Heavenly Father again equates Himself with Jacob anthropomorphically to carry home the profound harbinging symbol of The New Covenantal “Being Born Of God” (1 John 5).

** Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint read seventy-five; also see: Acts 7:14