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Isaac’s sons, Jacob and Esau grew up in Beersheba and the Bible tells us that
‘...Jacob went out from Beersheba and went towards Haran ’
[Genesis 28.10].
He travelled there to meet his future wife Rachel. It was some twenty-one years or more before Jacob returned to the area, but when he did he found Isaac living at Hebron [Genesis 35.27] . Jacob must have settled here too for some while, for we find him sending Joseph to search for his brothers with the flocks,
‘...out of the Valley of Hebron , and he went to Shechem’ [Genesis 37.14].
The next mention of Beersheba is when Jacob moves the whole family back there.
‘So Israel (Jacob) took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba , and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac'
[Genesis 46.1].
This offering of sacrifices confirms that Beersheba was to the patriarchs a place of worship.
The selling of Joseph, the favourite son of Jacob as a slave, although a cruel act on the part of his brothers, led to Joseph becoming a ruler in Egypt and the saving of the family from starvation as a result of the famine that came on these lands. We see how it also fulfilled God’s purpose with His chosen people. Jacob was told by God to move the whole of his family down into Egypt .
‘I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt , for I will make of you a great nation there. “I will go down with you to Egypt ...Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.” Then Jacob arose from Beersheba ; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him’
[Genesis 46.3-5].
More information in the Bible about Beersheba:
Where Abraham lived
Isaac's problems at Beersheba
Beersheba - in the times of Joshua
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