Location
Overview
Goshen was a fertile district in the eastern Nile delta, "the best of the land" of Egypt (Genesis 47:6), given to Jacob's family when they came down during the famine.
A home for Jacob's family
Joseph settled his father and brothers in Goshen, near to himself, where there was pasture for their flocks (Genesis 46:28–34). "And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly" (Genesis 47:27).
Set apart from Egypt
Because shepherds were "an abomination unto the Egyptians," dwelling apart in Goshen preserved the family's distinct identity as they grew into a great people (Genesis 46:34).
Spared in the plagues
Later, in the time of Moses, Goshen was singled out for protection: the plagues that struck Egypt — flies, hail, darkness — did not fall on the land of Goshen where the Israelites lived (Exodus 8:22; 9:26).
Events Here
Jacob’s family settles in Goshen, the best of the land
Scripture References
11 versesGenesis9 verses
Genesis 45:10
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 46:28
And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.
Genesis 46:29
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.
Genesis 46:34
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
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.
Genesis 47:4
They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.
Genesis 47:6
The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.
Genesis 47:27
And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
Genesis 50:8
And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
Exodus2 verses
Exodus 8:22
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.
Exodus 9:26
Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.
Archaeology & History
Goshen is located in the eastern Nile delta, the region of Wadi Tumilat and the area around the later store-cities. Egyptian records attest to Semitic herders settling in the delta during periods of famine in Canaan, the broad historical backdrop to the Joseph narrative.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Goshen
Where is Goshen today?
Today, Goshen corresponds to Eastern Nile Delta, Egypt.
What happened at Goshen in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Goshen include jacob’s family settles in goshen, the best of the land.
Where is Goshen first mentioned in the Bible?
Goshen is first mentioned in Genesis 45:10.
How often is Goshen mentioned in the Bible?
Goshen is mentioned in 11 verses across 2 books: Genesis, Exodus.
Where was the land of Goshen?
In the eastern Nile delta of Egypt — a fertile pasture region where Joseph settled his father Jacob and the family of Israel.
Why did Israel settle in Goshen?
It was good grazing land, and being set apart there (since Egyptians despised shepherds) let the growing family keep its distinct identity. It was also spared several of the later plagues.