Land of Goshen
The
Land of Goshen is a place in
Egypt, as referenced in the
Biblical story of Joseph. According to
Genesis 46:31-34:
- Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father's household, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. The men are Shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.' When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, 'What is your occupation?' you should answer, 'Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."
Traditionally, the
Israelites lived in peace in Goshen for 400 years, before they were taken by the Egyptians as slaves. Goshen is said to be located in northeastern Egypt, in the delta region of the
Nile River, where it empties into the
Mediterranean Sea.