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GOSHEN

(Heb. gōšen)

1. The territory within Egypt where the Hebrews settled to be near Joseph (Gen. 45:18) and where they sojourned until the time of the Exodus (Gen. 47:1-6; Exod. 9:26). It was called the “best of the land” (Gen. 45:18; 47:6, 11) and was considered good for grazing (46:32-34; 47:4). Goshen apparently lay toward Canaan from the Egyptian capital of the later patriarchal period, as Joseph went out to meet his father there (Gen. 46:29).

The land of Goshen is generally identified with the area around Wadi Öumilât, a 56 km. (35 mi.) fertile strip of land connecting the eastern part of the Nile River Delta with Lake Timsah. It provides one of only two passages for traffic between Egypt and Sinai or Palestine to the east. During the Hyksos period (1750-1550 b.c.e.) the region was inhabited by large numbers of Northwest Semites, apparently immigrants from Palestine. The Joseph account fits best in such a setting.

Following the expulsion of the Hyksos the area remained unimportant until the pharaohs of the 19th Dynasty commenced building in the Nile Delta region. The name of the area then probably changed. “Raamses” probably refers to the city of Pi-ramesse built by Rameses II (Exod. 1:11), and the area probably became known as the “Land of Rameses” (Gen. 47:11; 46:28 [LXX]).

The region constituted the 20th Egyptian nome (administrative district), called “Arabia” by classical writers. In the intertestamental period the territory of the Arabian king Geshem (ca. 450-420), a foe of Nehemiah (Neh. 2:19; 6:1-2, 6), apparently included this area; silver bowls inscribed with his name were found at Tell el-Maskhûtah there (cf. LXX Gesem and Gesem Arabia for Goshen).

2. A region in southern Canaan conquered by Joshua (Josh. 10:41; 11:16; LXX Gosom).

3. A town in the hill country assigned to the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:51; LXX Gosom).

Daniel C. Browning, Jr.

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

GOSHEN

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)