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Hebrew Text
כָּל־הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַבָּאָה לְיַעֲקֹב מִצְרַיְמָה יֹצְאֵי יְרֵכוֹ מִלְּבַד נְשֵׁי בְנֵי־יַעֲקֹב כָּל־נֶפֶשׁ שִׁשִּׁים וָשֵׁשׁ׃
English Translation
All the souls that came with Ya῾aqov into Miżrayim, who came out of his loins, besides Ya῾aqov’s sons’ wives, all the souls were sixty six.
Transliteration
Kol-hanefesh haba'a leya'akov mitzrayma yotz'ei yereikho milvad neshei vnei-ya'akov kol-nefesh shishim vashesh.
Hebrew Leining Text
כׇּל־הַ֠נֶּ֠פֶשׁ הַבָּאָ֨ה לְיַעֲקֹ֤ב מִצְרַ֙יְמָה֙ יֹצְאֵ֣י יְרֵכ֔וֹ מִלְּבַ֖ד נְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵי־יַעֲקֹ֑ב כׇּל־נֶ֖פֶשׁ שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וָשֵֽׁשׁ׃
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Parasha Commentary
📚 Talmud Citations
This verse is quoted in the Talmud.
📖 Bava Batra 123a
The verse is cited in a discussion about the number of Jacob's descendants who went down to Egypt, comparing it with other counts in the Torah.
Context and Overview
The verse (Bereshit 46:26) enumerates the total number of Yaakov's descendants who descended to Egypt, excluding his sons' wives. The count of 66 souls is significant in understanding the early growth of Bnei Yisrael before their enslavement and subsequent redemption.
Discrepancy in Numbers
Rashi notes a seeming contradiction: earlier in the parsha (Bereshit 46:15), the total count is 70, while here it is 66. Rashi resolves this by explaining that the 66 excludes Yaakov himself, Yosef, and Yosef's two sons (Ephraim and Menashe), who were already in Egypt. When these four are added, the total becomes 70, aligning with the earlier verse.
Counting Methodology
The Ramban questions why the verse specifies "who came out of his loins," excluding the wives. He explains that the Torah emphasizes lineage through Yaakov's direct descendants to highlight the fulfillment of Hashem's promise to Avraham of numerous offspring. The exclusion of the wives underscores that the count pertains only to those biologically descended from Yaakov.
Symbolism of 66
The Ba'al HaTurim connects the number 66 to the gematria (numerical value) of the word "בְּנֵי" (Bnei, "children of"), which equals 62, plus the four matriarchs (Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah). This hints at the foundational role of the matriarchs in building Klal Yisrael, even though they were no longer alive at the time of the descent to Egypt.
Midrashic Insight
The Midrash Tanchuma teaches that the 66 souls correspond to the 66 years of Yaakov's life before Yosef was born. This parallel suggests that each descendant represented a year of divine preparation, leading to the formation of the nation that would later leave Egypt.
Exclusion of Wives
The Ibn Ezra explains that the wives were excluded from the count because they were not of Yaakov's direct lineage. However, their inclusion in the broader narrative (e.g., the mention of Dinah's daughter, Serach) shows their importance in the family's continuity. The focus on male descendants follows the Torah's typical genealogical structure.