Gen 46:28 came to see him in G .. to the land of G
Gen 47:4 let your servants dwell in the land of G
Exo 9:26 in the land of G.. there was no hail
Gosén (Heb. Gôshen, meaning unknown). 1. Fertile, grazing land in Egypt given to Jacob’s family when they migrated to the Nile Valley (Gen 45:10; 46:28, 29; 47:1, 4, 6, 27; 50:8; Exo 8:22; 9:26). As the name has not yet been found in ancient Egyptian texts, the exact location of the region is not known. Some scholars think it to be the coastal region of the eastern delta, but most commentators identify it with the fertile Wâd§ Tumilât, which lies between the easternmost arm of the Nile and Lake Timsa, in the Suez Canal region. Map V, B-3. 2. Region in southern Palestine (Jos 10:41; 11:16), location unknown. Map VI, F-2. 3. City in the mountainous region of Judah, near Anim (Jos 15:51): not identified. It has been suggested that she gave her name to the region of Goshen 2, but this interpretation is rejected by many scholars, as the city appears to have been in the mountainous region, while Goshen 2 is from southern Judah. Martin Noth has suggested that the locality of Gosén may correspond to Tell Beit Mirsim, identified by WF Albright with Debir. Bib.: M. Noth, Das Buch Josua (Tübingen, 1938), pp 69, 70.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
mound of earth Place name. 1. Eastern region of the Nile delta, in ancient Egypt. Here, due to the famine in the land of Canaan, Jacob and the Israelites who arrived in Egypt, at the call of Joseph, arrived and settled, Gn 45, 10; until G. Joseph went up to see his father Jacob, Gn 46, 29-30. Joseph asked Pharaoh for authorization for his family and the Israelites to live in G. and the sovereign allowed them to settle there as ranchers, a fertile region where they prospered until the exodus, Gn 46, 31-34; 47, 1-6 and 27-28; G. did not suffer Yahweh’s punishments to Egypt, when Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave, Ex 8-18-19; 9, 26. 2. Region in the south of Palestine conquered by the Israelites, Jos 10, 41; 11, 16. 3. City in the south of Palestine, on the mountain, which corresponded to the tribe of Judah, Jos 15, 41.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
(Heb. goshen, probably earthen mound).
1. The northeastern section of the Nile delta region, where Israel settled in the time of Joseph (Genesis 46). Due to irrigation it is some of the best agricultural and grazing land in Egypt. The district had two main cities, both built for the pharaohs by the Hebrews. Three types of bricks were found in a building at Python (Exo 5:7-13). Straw was used in the foundation. After the pharaoh refused to supply any more straw, the Hebrews desperately collected all the straw and stubble they could find and such bricks were found further up the building. It was completed with bricks totally devoid of straw, as indicated by the upper bricks.
2. A district of southern Palestine, located between Gaza and Gibeon (Jos 10:41).
3. A town mentioned along with Debir, Soco, and others in the southwestern part of the mountains of Judah (Jos 15:51).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
The territory in Egypt designated for Jacob and his family is known as the land of Goshen. It was situated in the eastern area of the Delta, including the Wadi Tumilat, a fertile region that connected the Nile with the Bitter Lakes. It is located in “the land of Rameses” (Gen. 47:11) and was near the royal palace where *Joseph served as vizier.
Source: Archaeological Biblical Dictionary
(pile of earth). Name of places in the OT.
1. Region to the NE of the †¢Nile delta, very fertile, where Pharaoh allowed Jacob and his family to settle (Gen 47:1-6). In the time of the plagues of Egypt, God protected the land of G. (Exo 8:22; Exo 9:26).
. Region in Canaan. The kings of that land “Joshua smote from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the land of G. to Gibeon” (Jos 10:41).
. City awarded to the tribe of Judah in the distribution of the land. He was “in the mountains” (Jos 15:48, Jos 15:51).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
type, CITY REGI
sit, a4, 73, 292
vet, (a) The area of Egypt in which the Israelites settled. It frequently receives the name of “land of Goshen” and also that of “the land of Rameses”. The king of Egypt ordered Joseph to settle his father and his brothers in the best of the land. It was in the delta of the Nile, a few km northwest of On (Gen. 45:10; 46:28, 29, 34; 47:1, 4, 6, 11, 27; 50:8; Ex. 8 :22; 9:26). (b) District in southern Palestine (Josh. 10:41; 11:16). (c) Unidentified city in the highlands of Judah (Josh. 15:51).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
1. Region of Egypt where the Israelites resided for two hundred and fifteen years: from 1728 to 1513 a. CE (Ge 45:10; 47:27) Its exact location is uncertain, but it seems to have been in the eastern part of the Nile delta, on the very border of Egypt, for when Joseph set out to meet his father (who going to Egypt from Canaan), met him in Goshen. (Ge 46:28, 29) On the other hand, the Greek Septuagint indicates that Goshen was in the vicinity of Wadi Tumilat.
In that region Pharaoh raised cattle, and the Hebrews grazed their flocks and herds. (Ge 47:1, 4-6; 50:8) It is said to have been †˜the best of the land of Egypt†™, probably in the sense of being the most fertile pasture land, the one best suited to the particular needs of Jacob’s family. Goshen may have been another appellation for “the land of Ramesses.” (Ge 47: 6, 11) Starting with the fourth plague, Jehovah distinguished the land from † œGoshen †, sparing it from the effects of the successive plagues that he sent on Egypt. (Ex 8:22; 9:26.)
2. City in the hill country of Judah. (Jos 15:20, 48, 51) Some scholars tentatively identify it with Edh Dhahiriya, located about 18 km SW. from Hebron. Thus, “the land of Goshen” referred to at Joshua 10:41 and 11:16 could be the district that included it. This district would also encompass the mountainous region located between Hebron and the Negeb.
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
1. Territory assigned to Israel and their descendants during their stay in Egypt. Its exact location and extent are not well determined, but there is no doubt that it was found in Egypt (Gen. 47.6, 27) and in the eastern delta of the Nile: Gen. 47.6 and 11 clearly equate Goshen with “the land of Ramesses,” named for the residential city Pi-Ramesses, Biblical *Ramesses, in the NE delta region. The authenticity of the topographical interpretations of the LXX is doubtful. The eastern delta was “close enough” to the court (Gen. 45:10) for Joseph to serve his (probably Hyksos) pharaoh at *Memphis (near Cairo) or Avaris (NE delta), cf. too Gen. 46.28–29; also for Moses to meet his pharaoh at Pi-Ramesses (Ex. 7–12). Gosén was a highly favored region, suitable for herds and flocks (Gn. 46.34; 47.1, 4, 6, 27; 50.8). It served as a home for the Hebrews until the exodus, so it was generally protected from the plagues (Ex. 8.22; 9.26); however, there was close contact with the Egyptians who lived in the same general region (eg cf. Ex. 11.2–3; 12.35–36). Name Gsmt appears in certain Egp. texts, and was once equated with Heb. Goshen through the Gesem of the LXXbut must be read ssmtand therefore has no relationship.
2. District in S Palestine (Josh. 10.41; 11.16), probably named after 3, city in the mountains of S Palestine (Josh. 15.51), possibly near Zahiriyeh, about 19 km SW of Hebron (according to Abel); according to other sources somewhat further to the E (°GTT, 1959, §§ 285–287, 497) (* Geder )
K.A.K.
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary