Then Jacob went to Egypt, where he and his sons died.

So Jacob got ready to go back to his father in the land of Canaan. He put his children and his wives on the camels, and drove all his flocks ahead of him, with everything that he had gotten in Mesopotamia.

(SEE 31:17)

Tell them also to take wagons with them from Egypt for their wives and small children and to bring their father with them.

Jacob's sons did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons, as the king had ordered, and food for the trip.

But when they told him all that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to take him to Egypt, he recovered from the shock.

The king called Moses and said, "You may go and worship the LORD; even your women and children may go with you. But your sheep, goats, and cattle must stay here."

No, we will take our animals with us; not one will be left behind. We ourselves must select the animals with which to worship the LORD our God. And until we get there, we will not know what animals to sacrifice to him."