The Land of Goshen (Hebrew גשׁן Goshen or Gōšen) is a place in Egypt, as referenced in the Biblical story of Joseph. According to Genesis 46:31-34:
- Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father's household, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. The men are Shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.' When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, 'What is your occupation?' you should answer, 'Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."
From Genesis 45:10, Goshen appears to have been a part of Egypt near the palace of Joseph's Pharaoh, who was of the 19th dynasty, and resided part of the year at Memphis, and during harvest time at Avaris, on the Bubastite or Pelusiac branch of the Nile River. Goshen was probably the extreme province of Egypt towards Canaan.
Traditionally, the Israelites lived there in peace for 400 years, until a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph (Exodus 1:8) and reduced them to slavery.
